GFA RADIO TELEPHONE OPERATOR ENDORSEMENT EXAMINATION P a g e | 36

COMPULSORY CORE QUESTIONS [WITH ANSWERS]

8.1 COMMUNICATIONS
8.1.1 What control is used on an aeronautical radio communication set to minimize unwanted
background noise?
a) Frequency selector knob
b) Squelch control knob
c) On/off switch
d) Bass boost knob

8.1.2 What effect does an increase in the height of the aircraft VHF antenna above the surface of
the earth have on the range of transmission?
a) Increased range
b) Decreased range
a) No effect
b) Depends on the volume control setting

8.1.3 If your transmission button becomes stuck in the transmit position, will that effect other
receivers by blocking out that frequency?
a) No, effect on other receivers
b) Yes, all other receivers transmission is blocked
c) Yes, but only if I talk
d) No, other receivers will receive signals loud and clear

8.1.4 How would you transmit the number 8,500?

a) EIGHT FIVE ZERO ZERO
b) AIT FIFE FIFE ZEE-RO ZEE-RO
c) AIT TOU-SAND FIFE HUN-DRED
d) EIGHT THOUSAND FIVE HUND-E-RED

8.1.5 What standard radio call phrase or word means “NO”?

a) STOP STOP STOP
b) NOUGHT (OR NORT)
c) NEGATIVE
d) NO

8.1.6 What word or phrase is used to express “That is correct”?

a) Correct
b) Affirmative
c) Yes
d) Roger that

Airways & Radio Procedures for Glider Pilots Revised October 2013 ver. 10
 GFA RADIO TELEPHONE OPERATOR ENDORSEMENT EXAMINATION P a g e | 36

8.1.7 If you hear the radio transmission “Mayday, Mayday, Mayday” you should immediately take
the following action:-
a) Call up the Aircraft and ask for more information about the number and age of any
passengers on board
b) Make short continuous broadcasts to the distressed aircraft so they can hear a friendly
voice and then notify the authorities (i.e. CASA, Air Services, Police)
c) Don’t respond because the aircraft did not address you specifically
d) Write down the details of the aircraft transmission, acknowledge the transmission
(using a brief radio call) and notify appropriate authorities.

8.1.8 An aircraft is unsure of the quality of their radio transmission and asks you for a radio check
call, which you receive as perfectly loud and clear. How would you reply?
a) Reading you ‘FIFE’
b) Reading you ‘OK’
c) Reading you ‘WUN’
d) Reading you ‘NIN-ER’

8.1.9 When using the microphone, ‘best practice’ would have you:-
a) Hold the mike 100mm from your mouth and speak quickly
b) Hold the mike 100mm from your mouth and speak normally
c) Hold the mike 2-5cm in front of your lips and speak normally
d) Hold the mike 2-5cm in front of your lips and speak quickly

8.1.10 VHF Communication is “Line of Sight” which means…

a) The higher the aircraft is flying the greater the range that can be expected
b) The aircraft needs to fly low to stay in the direct line of sight
c) You must always be able to see the other radio visually so range is never greater than
30NM
d) None of the above

8.1.1 When communicating by radio, you should only…

a) Use the English language in a concise and unambiguous manner
b) Be very polite using manners and correct grammar (you never know who might be
listening)
c) Swear occasionally if you know the other person, particularly if it gets your point across
d) Use phraseology that you and the other person worked out earlier before takeoff (for
privacy).

Airways & Radio Procedures for Glider Pilots Revised October 2013 ver. 10
 GFA RADIO TELEPHONE OPERATOR ENDORSEMENT EXAMINATION P a g e | 36

8.1.2 You are thermalling in Glider IUF 3 NM South West of Bathurst Aerodrome climbing through
3,500 feet. “Polair 1” calls ‘Polair 1 a Squirrel is 10 miles South East of Bathurst at 10,000
feet, overflying for Orange’. As Pilot in Command of the glider, what would YOU do to
maintain separation?

8.1.3 What would you say to make a standard downwind call when joining downwind for Runway
26 at Bathurst in Glider GUQ:

8.1.14 What is required before you enter a controlled airspace (except Class E)?

8.1.15 Recite the phonetic alphabet:

A ALFA N NOVEMBER
B BRAVO O OSCAR
C CHARLIE P PAPA
D DELTA Q QUEBEC
E ECHO R ROMEO
F FOXTROT S SIERRA
G GOLF T TANGO
H HOTEL U UNIFORM
I INDIA V VICTOR
J JULIETT W WHISKEY
K KILO X X-RAY
L LIMA Y YANKEE
M MIKE Z ZULU

Airways & Radio Procedures for Glider Pilots Revised October 2013 ver. 10
 GFA RADIO TELEPHONE OPERATOR ENDORSEMENT EXAMINATION P a g e | 36

8.1.6 What are the minimum positional broadcasts at non-towered aerodromes and where should
they be made?

Item Circumstances (non-towered aerodromes) Pilot’s Radio Broadcasts

1 The pilot intends to take off

2 The pilot intends to enter a runway

3 The pilot is inbound

4 The pilot is ready to join the circuit

a. The pilot intends to carry out a

5 straight-in approach; or
b. Join on base leg.

The pilot intends to fly through the vicinity

6 of, but not land at, a non-powered
aerodrome.

Airways & Radio Procedures for Glider Pilots Revised October 2013 ver. 10
 GFA RADIO TELEPHONE OPERATOR ENDORSEMENT EXAMINATION P a g e | 36

8.2 PRIVILEGES & LIMITATIONS

8.2.1 What is the language to be used for all radio transmissions?

8.2.2 What authority is conveyed by the GFA Flight Radiotelephone Operator endorsement?

8.2.3 What are the glider allocated frequencies?

8.3 CORE KNOWLEDGE

a. Which charts and sources can a pilot find out information about the appropriate radio
frequency to use?

b. What flattens a glider battery faster, transmitting or receiving?

c. What is the correct general sequence of actions when using the radio?

d. When transmitting what is the format used?

Airways & Radio Procedures for Glider Pilots Revised October 2013 ver. 10
 GFA RADIO TELEPHONE OPERATOR ENDORSEMENT EXAMINATION P a g e | 36

e. How would you report your altitude if you were 1,500 Ft. AMSL?

f. A station calls you asking for a radio check “How do you read?”

g. What is your response in the following circumstances:-

i.If the transmission is unreadable:

ii.If the transmission is intermittent:

iii.If the transmission is readable, but with difficulty :
iv.If the transmission is readable:
v.If the transmission is perfectly readable: OR

8.4 NON-TOWERED AERODROMES

a. What is a non-towered aerodrome?

Note: Pilots are reminded that non-towered aerodromes include those aerodromes with Class
C or D ATC services during the ties when such services are unavailable. Pilots should always
consult the ERSA and latest NOTAMs for operating times of ATC services at those aerodromes.

b. What are the pilot’s responsibilities at a non-towered aerodrome?

Airways & Radio Procedures for Glider Pilots Revised October 2013 ver. 10
 GFA RADIO TELEPHONE OPERATOR ENDORSEMENT EXAMINATION P a g e | 36

c. What detail must the pilot include?

d. All pilots must monitor and communicate on the CTAF frequency whenever they are operating at or
in the vicinity of a non-towered aerodrome. According to [CAR 166] “in the vicinity” is defined as:-

e. What are the recommended calls for the circuit?

f. What are the recommended calls for the straight in approach?

g. Do you need to use the gliding frequencies when they aren’t a local CTAF frequency?

Airways & Radio Procedures for Glider Pilots Revised October 2013 ver. 10
 GFA RADIO TELEPHONE OPERATOR ENDORSEMENT EXAMINATION P a g e | 36

8.5 EMERGENCY RADIO USE

a. When is it appropriate to transmit a “MAY DAY, MAY DAY, MAY DAY” call?

b. When is it appropriate to transmit a “PAN, PAN, PAN” call?

8.6 TIME KEEPING

a. Why do you need to carry a watch whilst gliding?

8.7 ALTIMETRY
a. It is strongly recommended that all glider pilots operate with a local QNH or area QNH set. What
does QNH mean?

b. What is the standard atmospheric pressure?

c. When is this used on the altimeter subscale?

Airways & Radio Procedures for Glider Pilots Revised October 2013 ver. 10