AVIATION LAW: EXAM 1 | QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS | 2026
UPDATE | WITH COMPLETE SOLUTION
You are an engineer for an avionics company that is designing a new
navigational system for civil aviation use. What organization establishes the
technical specifications for radio aids to navigation? In what series of
publications would you look to find these specifications? Answer - The
International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) establishes technical standards.
These technical standards, known as Standards and Recommended Practices
(SARPs), are published in a series of documents known as Annexes to the treaty
Convention on International Civil Aviation.
You are the human resources director for a regional airline. One of your duties
includes screening new pilots and maintenance personnel applying for jobs
with the airline. As part of the process, your staff should check the FAA's
records on each applicant's
certificates, ratings, accident history, and FAR violation history. Where would
they find
this information? Answer - The FAA's Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center in
Oklahoma City is a major record-keeping and training facility. The Airman
Records Branch keeps a dossier on every person ever issued an FAA certificate.
Your aircraft has been involved in an accident. What agency or agencies will
investigate the accident? What agency will determine the probable cause of
the accident? Answer - The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is
primarily responsible for investigating transportation accidents, determine
probable cause of the accident, and recommend to the FAA measures that
,might prevent similar accidents in the future. The FAA also investigates virtually
all aircraft accidents in the U.S.
An agency of the U.S. government is presently experimenting with and assisting
in the development of technical standards for the components of the next
generation air traffic control system (NextGen). What agency is responsible for
that work, and where is it being carried out? Answer - The National
Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is providing research support in
connection with the development of the NextGen ATC system.
An agency of the U.S. government is conducting research and experimentation
of methods for detecting airframe ice and conveying the information to the
flight crew in a useful format. What agency would be responsible for such
experimentation? If that research and experimentation leads to a new
technology, what agency of the U.S. government would establish the
airworthiness standards for incorporation that technology into U.S. civil
aircraft? Answer - NASA would be responsible for conducting research and
experimentation of these methods. If a new technology is developed, ICAO
establishes airworthiness standards for incorporation of that technology into
U.S. civil aircraft.
An emerging nation wishes to enter into an agreement with the United States
to facilitate regular airline service between the two nations. Which of the so-
called "five freedoms of the air" would this involve? What agency of the U.S.
government would it deal with to
negotiate a treaty to provide such service? Once the treaty has been
negotiated, is any further action by the U.S. government required to bring it
into effect? Answer - If a nation wishes to enter into an agreement with the
U.S. to facilitate an airline service between two nations, this would involve the
third and fourth freedom. Passage from A to B and then passage from B to A.
The DOT consults with the State Department in the approval process. permit
issuance requires presidential approval.
, The treaty (discussed above) providing for reciprocal air service is now in effect.
The other nation wishes to designate its new national airline to provide a
portion of the service under that agreement. Does the U.S. government have
any say whether that airline will be permitted to provide that service to the
U.S.? If so, how? Answer - Yes. The DOT issues foreign air carrier permits to
foreign airlines designated by their nations to provide service to the United
States pursuant to treaty. Presidential approval is required for the airline to
operate within the U.S. regardless of the contract agreed upon by the DOT,
State Department, and foreign entity
What has proved to be the most intractable problem facing international civil
aviation on which to gain global agreement? Why? Answer - Hijacking and
terrorism. The frequent presence of a political motive for such acts greatly
complicates efforts to achieve global consensus on an appropriate approach to
solutions. The nation whose airliner is attacked and others unsympathetic to
the attackers' cause may view the attackers as terrorists or criminals while
others who are sympathetic to their cause may view them as heroic freedom
fighters or even religious martyrs (9-11)
Does the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have any aviation
responsibilities not relating directly to aircraft accidents? If so, describe.
Answer - Yes, the NTSB also serves as the first level of appeal in cases where
the FAA has taken enforcement action to suspend or revoke a certificate or to
impose a fine.
Does the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) have any
aviation responsibilities other than technological and aerodynamic research
and development? If so, describe. Answer - Yes, NASA also administers the
confidential Aviation Safety Reporting Program (ASRP), designed to identify
problems in the National Air Transportation System, especially those related to
air traffic control.
What are the powers of the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) today? Answer -
None. The CAB ceased to exist on January 1, 1985.
UPDATE | WITH COMPLETE SOLUTION
You are an engineer for an avionics company that is designing a new
navigational system for civil aviation use. What organization establishes the
technical specifications for radio aids to navigation? In what series of
publications would you look to find these specifications? Answer - The
International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) establishes technical standards.
These technical standards, known as Standards and Recommended Practices
(SARPs), are published in a series of documents known as Annexes to the treaty
Convention on International Civil Aviation.
You are the human resources director for a regional airline. One of your duties
includes screening new pilots and maintenance personnel applying for jobs
with the airline. As part of the process, your staff should check the FAA's
records on each applicant's
certificates, ratings, accident history, and FAR violation history. Where would
they find
this information? Answer - The FAA's Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center in
Oklahoma City is a major record-keeping and training facility. The Airman
Records Branch keeps a dossier on every person ever issued an FAA certificate.
Your aircraft has been involved in an accident. What agency or agencies will
investigate the accident? What agency will determine the probable cause of
the accident? Answer - The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is
primarily responsible for investigating transportation accidents, determine
probable cause of the accident, and recommend to the FAA measures that
,might prevent similar accidents in the future. The FAA also investigates virtually
all aircraft accidents in the U.S.
An agency of the U.S. government is presently experimenting with and assisting
in the development of technical standards for the components of the next
generation air traffic control system (NextGen). What agency is responsible for
that work, and where is it being carried out? Answer - The National
Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is providing research support in
connection with the development of the NextGen ATC system.
An agency of the U.S. government is conducting research and experimentation
of methods for detecting airframe ice and conveying the information to the
flight crew in a useful format. What agency would be responsible for such
experimentation? If that research and experimentation leads to a new
technology, what agency of the U.S. government would establish the
airworthiness standards for incorporation that technology into U.S. civil
aircraft? Answer - NASA would be responsible for conducting research and
experimentation of these methods. If a new technology is developed, ICAO
establishes airworthiness standards for incorporation of that technology into
U.S. civil aircraft.
An emerging nation wishes to enter into an agreement with the United States
to facilitate regular airline service between the two nations. Which of the so-
called "five freedoms of the air" would this involve? What agency of the U.S.
government would it deal with to
negotiate a treaty to provide such service? Once the treaty has been
negotiated, is any further action by the U.S. government required to bring it
into effect? Answer - If a nation wishes to enter into an agreement with the
U.S. to facilitate an airline service between two nations, this would involve the
third and fourth freedom. Passage from A to B and then passage from B to A.
The DOT consults with the State Department in the approval process. permit
issuance requires presidential approval.
, The treaty (discussed above) providing for reciprocal air service is now in effect.
The other nation wishes to designate its new national airline to provide a
portion of the service under that agreement. Does the U.S. government have
any say whether that airline will be permitted to provide that service to the
U.S.? If so, how? Answer - Yes. The DOT issues foreign air carrier permits to
foreign airlines designated by their nations to provide service to the United
States pursuant to treaty. Presidential approval is required for the airline to
operate within the U.S. regardless of the contract agreed upon by the DOT,
State Department, and foreign entity
What has proved to be the most intractable problem facing international civil
aviation on which to gain global agreement? Why? Answer - Hijacking and
terrorism. The frequent presence of a political motive for such acts greatly
complicates efforts to achieve global consensus on an appropriate approach to
solutions. The nation whose airliner is attacked and others unsympathetic to
the attackers' cause may view the attackers as terrorists or criminals while
others who are sympathetic to their cause may view them as heroic freedom
fighters or even religious martyrs (9-11)
Does the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have any aviation
responsibilities not relating directly to aircraft accidents? If so, describe.
Answer - Yes, the NTSB also serves as the first level of appeal in cases where
the FAA has taken enforcement action to suspend or revoke a certificate or to
impose a fine.
Does the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) have any
aviation responsibilities other than technological and aerodynamic research
and development? If so, describe. Answer - Yes, NASA also administers the
confidential Aviation Safety Reporting Program (ASRP), designed to identify
problems in the National Air Transportation System, especially those related to
air traffic control.
What are the powers of the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) today? Answer -
None. The CAB ceased to exist on January 1, 1985.
