cdexam

What the instructors grading your exam are looking for


1. Directions


1. This exam tests your familiarity with standard VFR and IFR clearance phraseology, your familiarity with our SOPs, and your familiarity with our LOAs with neighboring ARTCCs. This test is "open book" and you will need at a minimum to use the documentation on the ZLA website to complete the test successfully.

2. For each question, assume that you are working LAX_GND at noon local time and that LAX is using normal ops. There will be a few questions based on BUR, those will be indicated in the flight plan included with the question or in the question itself.

3. For Each Question, write the clearance you would issue word-for-word as you would speak it on voice. This includes all pronounceable items, such as callsigns, airport names, names of certain departure procedures, departure frequencies, and navaids. Names of Fixes and unpronounceable departure procedures are not subject to this rule . For example, writing "N887SP" will be marked incorrect, while "November Eight Eight Seven Sierra Papa" is correct. Writing "VNY8 departure" is incorrect, because the VNY8 departure is pronounced "Van Nuys Seven", but the writing the ELMOO5 Departure as "ELMOO Five Departure" is perfectly acceptable. Do not use abbreviations, such as "c/m 5000" or "dep. freq 124.5."

4. You can assume that the pilot has all charts and can comply with any clearance you provide, unless the question states otherwise.

5. You must use acceptable phraseology from the 7110.65.

6. This test is not timed and doesn't have to be finished in a single session. When you start the exam, you will be presented with 1 question at a time. After you have typed your answer, select the "Save" button, which will save your answer and advance you to the next question. DO NOT PRESS THE SUBMIT BUTTON until you have completed all the questions. You can edit any of your answers, and you can also stop at any time and return to this exam at a later time by selecting the "ZLA Exam Center" link on the nav bar to the left. Once you have selected the "Submit" button you will no longer be able to change the answers.

7. The test will be graded by a member of the training staff and will be returned to you with a score and any comments the grader provides. The minimum score to pass the test is 80%.

8. This test will be somewhat time consuming, especially if you have not done much studying of our procedures. If you can't seem to find an acceptable answer to a question, please send a private message to a member of the training staff. They won't be able to tell you the answer, but should be able to help point you in the right direction.


2. Examples


Here are some sample questions and answers that will give you an idea of what we are looking for:

1. A pilot calls up with this clearance:

Image

Answer:
We know from our LOA with Oakland ARTCC that arrivals from the Socal Area(which includes Burbank) are routed via either the GMN or AVE transitions of the PXN3 arrival. In order to get the phraseology correct, it would be a good idea to go to www.airnav.com(external link) and download the arrival. By rule 4, this aircraft can accept any clearance we provide, so we can assign the PXN3. The VNY8.GMN part of the route we know is correct, from 2-2-1 of this study guide. As a check, simroutes.com has VNY8.GMN.PXN3 as a valid route.

"American Seventy Six Forty Three, cleared to Oakland Airport, Van Nuys Eight Departure, Gorman Transition, Panoche Two Arrival. Maintain Five Thousand, expect Flight Level Three Six Zero Five Minutes After Departure. Departure Frequency One Three Four Point Two, Squawk One Zero Zero One."


2. This Pilot Calls for Clearance to French Valley airport from Burbank and advises that his aircraft type
is a Beech King Air.

Image

Answer:
Using the GH Aircraft utility or airnav.com, we find that French Valley Airport's ICAO code is F70. As airnav.com or a check of the ZLA Websites Airports and Charts page will tell you, the airport is in the SOCAL area, so therefore, a TEC route applies. Going to the ZLA website or simroutes.com, we find that the appropriate TEC route is BURM9 TEC route, which for J and M Class aircraft(a King Air is a turboprop, or M Class), has a final cruise altitude of 7000 feet. Remembering that we should try and see if a SID can get us to the first part of the route(V186), we see that the ELMOO5 departure matches up nicely with V186 Since the pilot didn't file anything, we need to read him a complete route to his destination.

"King Air One Three Five Kilo Tango, cleared to French Valley airport, ELMOO Five departure, Victor One Eighty Six to Paradise, track the Paradise Zero Seven Eight Radial to SETER, direct. Maintain Five Thousand, expect Seven Thousand Five Minutes after departure. Departure Frequency One Three Four Point Two, Squawk One Zero Zero Two".


3. This Pilot Calls for Clearance.

Image

Answer:
A quick check of the laartcc.org website or simroutes.com confirms this is the correct route at the correct altitude. Remember that aircraft filing the TEC route code need not have the SID and Transition explicitly read out. Accordingly; "November Three Five One Niner X-Ray, Cleared to Ramona Airport via the LAX Mike Six Zero TEC Route. Maintain Five Thousand. Departure Frequency One Two Four Point Three. Squawk One Zero Zero Three".


4. This Pilot Calls for Clearance.

Image

Answer:
Although this route just feels wrong(direct after DAG of course isn't preferred), we have no letter of agreement with ZAU(Chicago), and the routing does comply with our rules. Accordingly; "Gulfstream Five Zero Six Quebec Sierra, cleared to Chicago O'Hare Airport, LOOP Six Departure, Daggett Transition, then as filed. Maintain Five Thousand, expect Flight Level Three One Zero Five Minutes after departure. Departure Frequency One Two Four point Three, Squawk One Zero Zero Four".

  • Note: The word "direct" after Daggett Transition would be acceptable here as well, since there that is in fact the rest of the route.


3. A Final Word


This test will probably be one of the more time consuming things that you've done since joining VATSIM. At the end of it, however, you'll be well on your way to earning the ZLA Ground/Delivery Solo Rating, and your S1 promotion. Although it is a significant investment of your time now, having the solid understanding of the fundamentals and thought that goes into the clearance delivery process will be of great help to your VATSIM controlling career. Take your time, remember that you can save and come back to the test as necessary, and make sure to hit the save answer button before you move onto the next question.

Above all, this test is a learning experience. It is far more important that you demonstrate you comprehend the material than getting every little detail correct. It is graded by hand, not machine, so there is some discretion in how your test is graded.

Good luck, and feel free to ask the training staff any questions that you may have concerning the test; we won't give you the answer, but we'll be sure to put you in the right direction.

Tyler Goeggel
ZLA Training Administrator

This study guide was originally written by Mike Cassel