FAA Ground School Practice Test

What happens if receiver autonomous integrity monitoring (RAIM) capability is lost in flight?

1. The pilot has no assurance of GPS position accuracy

2. The aircraft will automatically revert to VOR navigation

3. The autopilot will disengage

4. Flight operations are not affected

The correct answer is: The pilot has no assurance of GPS position accuracy

When receiver autonomous integrity monitoring (RAIM) capability is lost in flight, it means that the system is no longer able to verify the accuracy and integrity of the GPS position information being provided. RAIM is essential because it helps ensure that the data received from the GPS satellites is reliable and can be trusted for navigation decisions. If this capability is compromised, the pilot cannot be assured that the GPS position is accurate; this poses a significant risk, as the aircraft could be navigating using incorrect data without the ability to detect it. The other options suggest alternative actions or outcomes that are not directly related to the loss of RAIM capability. The system does not automatically revert to VOR navigation; that typically requires pilot intervention. Although the autopilot may disengage if there is a loss of certain navigation signals, that is not a guaranteed outcome of losing RAIM. Lastly, flight operations are affected because the pilot must now question the reliability of the GPS data and may need to switch to alternate navigation methods or maintain heightened situational awareness.