FAA Ground School Practice Test

Which device is crucial for pilots to communicate their emergency status?

1. Terrain awareness warning system

2. Emergency locator transmitter

3. Automatic dependent surveillance–broadcast

4. Ground proximity warning system

The correct answer is: Emergency locator transmitter

The emergency locator transmitter (ELT) is crucial for pilots to communicate their emergency status. When activated, typically upon a crash or significant impact, the ELT transmits a distress signal that can be picked up by search and rescue organizations. This signal aids in locating the downed aircraft, which is critical during emergencies where time is of the essence for rescuing survivors. While other devices serve important functions, they do not fulfill the specific role of directly communicating a pilot's emergency status in the same manner as the ELT. For example, the terrain awareness warning system focuses on alerting pilots to potential ground collisions, while the ground proximity warning system is designed to prevent controlled flight into terrain. The automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B) system provides situational awareness and traffic information but does not serve the specific function of signaling a distress situation in an emergency like the ELT does.