Clarification on an incorrect answer on the Basic test.

[William Inman]

Hi,

I took the Basic test and failed it (was trying to do this entirely by memory and not do open book to see how much I retained). I missed several questions that were clearly in the training info and should have failed the test. There is one question that wasn't clear in the training info:

Question: The ATC position which normally selects the runway in use is:
A. DEP
B. GND
C. APP
D. TWR

I guess the correct answer would depend entirely on who is using the runway in question. By my understanding GND should determine what runway a particular flight takes off from based on traffic, delays, emergencies and such (assuming there is more than one outbound runway). TWR should determine what runway(s) is/are open or closed and APP should determine what flights use what inbound runway, yes? The ambiguity in the question is problematic here. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

Thank you,

William Inman

[Scott DeWoody]

Question: The ATC position which normally selects the runway in use is:
A. DEP
B. GND
C. APP
D. TWR

I could go in to a long discussion as to why, but that should be for interesting reading for you...

[Don Desfosse]

http://www.vatusa.net/training/tiki-index.php?page=tower
http://www.vatusa.net/training/tiki-index.php?page=tower#Runway_Selection
https://www.faa.gov/documentLibrary/media/Order/ATC.pdf

In short, Local owns the runways, and Ground owns the taxiways.  Ground gets aircraft to/from the active runway (and must coordinate use of inactive runways with Local, who owns them).  Approach simply gets people pointed toward the runway that Local has selected. 

Your note seems to be focused on outbound traffic, but Local sees the big picture for inbound, outbound and transiting traffic.

[William Inman]

Scott: I came to that conclusion after taking the test with the reasoning "In the abscense of any other information TWR is the answer"

Don:

My biggest concern isn't the answer to this question, it's the issue of the question in relation to the training that a new person to VATSIM and ATC would study. I'm new to both and when I looked at the training site I went to the basic area of the training and stopped there because S1 isn't the test I was preparing for. That area had the answer to every test question I was presented with but the one addressed here. That is the issue I have and the reason I posted this issue.

I would assume most folks would do the same as I did and study the basic area of training for the initial test. I would respectfully suggest limiting questions to what is covered in the basic training area for the initial test.

When I take the test again, I will do it open book to be sure to get through.

Thanks for taking the time to answer.

William Inman

[Don Desfosse]

Good point, thanks.