FAA Ground School Practice Test

When a pilot receives the advisory "TRAFFIC 9 OCLOCK, 2 MILES, SOUTHBOUND," where should they look if they are flying north?

1. East

2. North

3. South

4. West

The correct answer is: West

When a pilot receives the advisory "TRAFFIC 9 OCLOCK, 2 MILES, SOUTHBOUND," they should look to the west. The term "9 o'clock" refers to the position of the traffic relative to the pilot's current heading. In aviation, a clock system is used to describe the relative positions of other aircraft. If the pilot is flying north, 12 o'clock is directly in front, 3 o'clock is directly to the right (east), 6 o'clock is directly behind (south), and 9 o'clock is directly to the left (west). Since the advisory indicates that the traffic is southbound, it is moving toward the south, which means it is located to the west of the pilot's position. Therefore, the correct response is to look west in order to see the traffic that is located at 9 o'clock, 2 miles away, and flying south. Understanding this directional language is critical for maintaining situational awareness and ensuring safety during flight operations.