Air Traffic Control in the USA Reading Answers

Dec 15, 2022

Air Traffic Control in the USA Reading Answers has 13 questions that need to be answered in 20 minutes. It is about air traffic control in the USA and the measures taken to regulate traffic. Air Traffic Control in the USA Reading Answers passage discusses the causes and impacts of child obesity. Air Traffic Control in the USA Reading Answers comprises two types of questions- choose the correct headings for the paragraph and write true/false/not given. IELTS reading passage should be read carefully to decide which heading belongs to which paragraph from the given options. Candidates must read the IELTS Reading passage to decide whether the given statement is true/false or information not given. Candidates can undertake IELTS Reading practice papers to practise more on different topics.

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Section 1

Read the Passage to Answer the Following Questions

Air Traffic Control in the USA Reading Answers

An accident that occurred in the skies over the Grand Canyon in 1956 resulted in the establishment of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to regulate and oversee the operation of aircraft in the skies over the United States, which were becoming quite congested. The resulting structure of air traffic control has greatly increased the safety of flight in the United States, and similar air traffic control procedures are also in place over much of the rest of the world.
Rudimentary air traffic control (ATC) existed well before the Grand Canyon disaster. As early as the 1920s, the earliest air traffic controllers manually guided aircraft in the vicinity of the airports, using lights and flags, while beacons and flashing lights were placed along cross-country routes to establish the earliest airways. However, this purely visual system was useless in bad weather, and, by the 1930s, radio communication was coming into use for ATC. The first region to have something approximating today's ATC was New York City, with other major metropolitan areas following soon after.
In the 1940s, ATC centres could and did take advantage of the newly developed radar and improved radio communication brought about by the Second World War, but the system remained rudimentary. It was only after the creation of the FAA that full-scale regulation of America's airspace took place, and this was fortuitous, for the advent of the jet engine suddenly resulted in a large number of very fast planes, reducing pilots' margin of error and practically demanding some set of rules to keep everyone well separated and operating safely in the air.
Many people think that ATC consists of a row of controllers sitting in front of their radar screens at the nation's airports, telling arriving and departing traffic what to do. This is a very incomplete part of the picture. The FAA realised that the airspace over the United States would at any time have many different kinds of planes, flying for many different purposes, in a variety of weather conditions, and the same kind of structure was needed to accommodate all of them.
To meet this challenge, the following elements were put into effect. First, ATC extends over virtually the entire United States. In general, from 365m above the ground and higher, the entire country is blanketed by controlled airspace. In certain areas, mainly near airports, controlled airspace extends down to 215m above the ground, and, in the immediate vicinity of an airport, all the way down to the surface. Controlled airspace is the airspace in which FAA regulations apply. Elsewhere, in uncontrolled airspace, pilots are bound by fewer regulations. In this way, the recreational pilot who simply wishes to go flying for a while without all the restrictions imposed by the FAA has only to stay in uncontrolled airspace, below 365m, while the pilot who does want the protection afforded by ATC can easily enter the controlled airspace.
The FAA then recognised two types of operating environments. In good meteorological conditions, flying would be permitted under Visual Flight Rules (VFR), which suggests a strong reliance on visual cues to maintain an acceptable level of safety. Poor visibility necessitated a set of Instrument Flight Rules (IFR), under which the pilot relied on altitude and navigational information provided by the plane's instrument panel to fly safely. On a clear day, a pilot in controlled airspace can choose a VFR or IFR flight plan, and the FAA regulations were devised in a way that accommodates both VFR and IFR operations in the same airspace. However, a pilot can only choose to fly IFR if they possess an instrument rating that is above and beyond the basic pilot's licence that must also be held.
Controlled airspace is divided into several different types, designated by letters of the alphabet. Uncontrolled airspace is designated Class F, while controlled airspace below 5,490m above sea level and not in the vicinity of an airport is Class E. All airspace above 5,490m is designated Class A. The reason for the division of Class E and Class A airspace stems from the type of planes operating in them. Generally, Class E airspace is where one finds general aviation aircraft (few of which can climb above 5,490m anyway), and commercial turboprop aircraft. Above 5,490m is the realm of the heavy jets, since jet engines operate more efficiently at higher altitudes. The difference between Class E and A airspace is that in Class A, all operations are IFR, and pilots must be instrument-rated, that is, skilled and licensed in aircraft instrumentation. This is because ATC control of the entire space is essential. Three other types of airspace, Classes D, C and B, govern the vicinity of airports. These correspond roughly to small municipal, medium-sized metropolitan and major metropolitan airports respectively, and encompass an increasingly rigorous set of regulations. For example, all a VFR pilot has to do to enter Class C airspace is establish two-way radio contact with ATC. No explicit permission from ATC to enter is needed, although the pilot must continue to obey all regulations governing VFR flight. To enter Class B airspace, such as on approach to a major metropolitan airport, an explicit ATC clearance is required. The private pilot who cruises without permission into this airspace risks losing their licence.

Section 2

Solution and Explanation
Questions 14-19:
This reading passage has seven paragraphs, A-G. Choose the correct heading for paragraphs A & C-G from the list below. Write the correct number i-ix, in boxes 14-19 on your answer sheet.

List of Headings: i Disobeying FAA Regulations ii Aviation disaster prompts action iii Two coincidental developments iv Setting Altitude Zones v An oversimplified view vi Controlling pilots' licence vii Defining airspace categories viii Setting rules to weather conditions ix Taking of Safety x First step towards ATC

Paragraph A

Answer: ii- Aviation disaster prompts action
Supporting Sentence: An accident that occurred in the skies over the Grand Canyon in 1956 resulted in the establishment of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to regulate and oversee the operation of aircraft in the skies over the United States, which were becoming quite congested.
Keywords: Aviation, disaster, prompts, action
Keyword Location: Paragraph A, Lines 1-4
Explanation: The Federal Aviation Administration was founded as a result of a 1956 accident that happened over the Grand Canyon. This is stated in the first few lines of paragraph A. The United States' skies were getting increasingly crowded, therefore it was created to control and supervise aircraft operating in certain areas.

Paragraph C

Answer: iii- Two coincidental developments
Supporting Sentence: It was only after the creation of the FAA that full-scale regulation of America's airspace took place, and this was fortuitous, for the advent of the jet engine suddenly resulted in a large number of very fast planes, reducing pilots' margin of error and practically demanding some set of rules to keep everyone well separated and operating safely in the air.
Keywords: Coincidental, developments, creation of FAA, advent, jet engine
Keyword Location: Paragraph C, Lines 3-7
Explanation: The full-scale regulation of American airspace did not begin until after the FAA was established, as stated in lines 3 to 7 of paragraph C. Because of the development of the jet engine, this was fortunate. A big number of very fast planes appeared out of nowhere. And decreasing the pilots' margin for error and essentially necessitating a set of rules to keep everyone well apart and flying safely.

Paragraph D

Answer: v- An oversimplified view
Supporting Sentence: This is a very incomplete part of the picture.
Keywords: Oversimplified, view, incomplete, part, picture
Keyword Location: Paragraph D, Line 3
Explanation: According to line 3 of paragraph D, a lot of individuals have developed the simplistic belief that the ATC employs controllers. At the airports, they wait in front of the radar screen, directing traffic that is coming in and going out.

Paragraph E

Answer: iv- Setting Altitude Zones
Supporting Sentence: In general, from 365m above the ground and higher, the entire country is blanketed by controlled airspace. In certain areas, mainly near airports, controlled airspace extends down to 215m above the ground, and, in the immediate vicinity of an airport, all the way down to the surface.
Keywords: Setting, altitude, zones, controlled, ground, higher, airspace, extends
Keyword Location: Paragraph E, Lines 2-5
Explanation: A regulated airspace zone surrounds the entire country at altitudes of 365 metres or higher, according to lines 2 to 5 of paragraph E. Controlled airspace can reach 215 metres above the earth in some places, mostly around airports, and can even reach the surface there.

Paragraph F

Answer: viii- Setting rules to weather conditions
Supporting Sentence: The FAA then recognised two types of operating environments.
Keywords: Setting, rules, weather, conditions, FAA, recognised, two types, operating, environment
Keyword Location: Paragraph F, Line 1
Explanation: According to the first sentence of paragraph F, the FAA has established two rules dependent on the weather. They are Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) and Visual Flight Rules (VFR) (IFR).

Paragraph G

Answer: vii- Defining airspace categories
Supporting Sentence: Controlled airspace is divided into several different types, designated by letters of the alphabet.
Keywords: Airspace, categories, controlled
Keyword Location: Paragraph G, Line 1
Explanation: According to the first sentence of paragraph G, there are various different forms of controlled airspace, each one identified by an alphabetic letter.

Questions 20-26:
Do the following statements agree with the given information of the reading passage? In boxes 20-26 on your answer sheet, write:

TRUE if the statement agrees with the information
FALSE if the statement contradicts the information
NOT GIVEN if there is no information on this

The FAA was created as a result of the introduction of the jet engine.

Answer: FALSE
Supporting Sentence: An accident that occurred in the skies over the Grand Canyon in 1956 resulted in the establishment of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to regulate and oversee the operation of aircraft in the skies over the United States, which were becoming quite congested.
Keywords: FAA, created, result, introduction, jet engine
Keyword Location: Paragraph A, Lines 1-4
Explanation: The FAA was established as a result of the disaster that occurred above the Grand Canyon in 1956, according to the opening sentences of paragraph A. Not as a result of the development of jet aircraft. As a result, the statement is false.

Air traffic control started after the Grand Canyon crash in 1956.

Answer: FALSE
Supporting Sentence: Rudimentary air traffic control (ATC) existed well before the Grand Canyon disaster.
Keywords: Air traffic, control, started, after, Grand Canyon, crash, 1956
Keyword Location: Paragraph B, Line 1
Explanation: In the opening sentences of paragraph B, it is stated that the ATC predated the disaster over the Grand Canyon by a significant amount of time. Therefore, the assertion is false.

Beacons and flashing lights are still used by the ATC today.

Answer: NOT GIVEN
Explanation: The passage does not include information that is relevant to the question.

Some improvements were made in radio communication during World War II.

Answer: TRUE
Supporting Sentence: In the 1940s, ATC centres could and did take advantage of the newly developed radar and improved radio communication brought about by the Second World War, but the system remained rudimentary.
Keywords: Improvements, made, radio communication, World War II
Keyword Location: Paragraph C, Line 1-3
Explanation: The opening sentence of paragraph C states that ATC centres could and did make use of newly developed radar in the 1940s. The Second World War also enhanced radio communication, although the system remained archaic.

Class F airspace is airspace that is below 365m and not near airports.

Answer: TRUE
Supporting Sentence: In general, from 365m above the ground and higher, the entire country is blanketed by controlled airspace and uncontrolled airspace is designated Class F
Keywords: Class F, airspace, below, 365m
Keyword Location: Paragraph E, Line 2 and Paragraph G, Line 2
Explanation: The second line of paragraph G specifies that all of the country is included in controlled airspace at altitudes of 365 metres and higher. Additionally, Class F airspace is designated as uncontrolled airspace. As a result, the assertion is accurate.

All aircraft in class E airspace must use IFR.

Answer: FALSE
Supporting Sentence: The difference between Class E and A airspace is that in Class A, all operations are IFR, and pilots must be instrument-rated, that is, skilled and licensed in aircraft instrumentation.
Keywords: Aircraft, class E, airspace, IFR
Keyword Location: Paragraph G, Lines 9-10
Explanation: The distinction between Class E and Class A airspace is that in Class A, according to lines 9 and 10 of paragraph G. All operations are conducted under IFR, and all pilots must be instrument-rated, or knowledgeable and authorised to operate an aircraft's instrumentation.

A pilot entering class C airspace is flying over an average-sized city.

Answer: TRUE
Supporting Sentence: Three other types of airspace, Classes D, C and B, govern the vicinity of airports. These correspond roughly to small municipal, medium-sized metropolitan and major metropolitan airports respectively, and encompass an increasingly rigorous set of regulations.
Keywords: Pilot, entering, class C, airspace, flying, average-sized, city
Keyword Location: Paragraph G, Lines 12-14
Explanation: The proximity of airports is governed by three additional classes of airspace, known as Classes D, C, and B, according to lines 12 and 14 of paragraph G. These approximately correlate to smaller municipal, mid-sized metropolitan, and large metropolitan airports, respectively. It also includes a growing number of stricter rules.

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