FAA Ground School Practice Test

What must a pilot do if they deviate from ATC instructions during an emergency and are given priority?

1. Continue to the destination without reporting

2. File a detailed report within 48 hours to the chief of the appropriate ATC facility, if requested

3. Notify the nearest airport upon landing

4. Apologize to ATC immediately

The correct answer is: File a detailed report within 48 hours to the chief of the appropriate ATC facility, if requested

In situations where a pilot deviates from Air Traffic Control (ATC) instructions due to an emergency, it's crucial that the pilot complies with specific procedures afterward. When an emergency occurs, safety becomes the top priority, and pilots are often granted prioritization to handle the situation effectively. However, the FAA requires that pilots file a detailed report within 48 hours to the chief of the appropriate ATC facility if requested. This requirement ensures that there is a documented account of the circumstances surrounding the deviation for safety analysis and procedural improvements in the future. This detail is important because it helps ATC to understand the context of the emergency and possibly identify any systemic issues that need addressing. While other actions such as continuing to the destination or notifying an airport may seem appropriate, they do not fulfill the regulatory obligation to report deviations when requested, thus they are not the correct answer in this context. Apologizing to ATC does not constitute the necessary follow-up report that is required by regulations following an emergency deviation.