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Role of ATC at a towered airport

Remote Pilot (Part 107) practice question 1 of 15 on Operations / Radio Communications. ACS element UA.V.A.K1 · difficulty: recall. Want to answer it in a timed quiz? Use the Remote Pilot (Part 107) practice mode.

Question bank updated 2026-09-22

QUESTIONAt an airport with an operating control tower, what is air traffic control (ATC) responsible for providing?

  1. AAirport advisory broadcasts on the MULTICOM frequency of 122.9
  2. BThe safe, orderly, and expeditious flow of air traffic
  3. CA looped recording of local weather updated once per hour
Show the answer and explanation

Correct answer: B. The safe, orderly, and expeditious flow of air traffic

  • A — incorrect MULTICOM 122.9 is used at a non-towered airport that has no FSS or UNICOM; it is not an ATC service at a towered airport.
  • B — correct The study guide defines a towered airport as one with an operating control tower, where ATC is responsible for providing the safe, orderly, and expeditious flow of air traffic.
  • C — incorrect That describes the Automated Terminal Information Service (ATIS) recording, not the control function ATC performs.

BACKGROUND

The Remote Pilot Study Guide divides airports into towered and non-towered. A towered airport has an operating control tower, and air traffic control (ATC) provides the safe, orderly, and expeditious flow of traffic where the type of operations or volume of traffic requires it. A non-towered airport has no operating control tower, and pilots coordinate among themselves on a common frequency. Under 14 CFR part 107, a remote pilot needs ATC authorization to operate in Class B, C, or D airspace or the surface area of Class E airspace designated for an airport, which is where towered airports are typically found.

STUDY TIP

Memorize the three-word description of ATC's job at a towered airport: safe, orderly, expeditious. Contrast it with the non-towered airport, where no control service exists.

KEY POINTS

  • A towered airport has an operating control tower.
  • ATC provides the safe, orderly, and expeditious flow of air traffic.
  • At a non-towered airport pilots rely on a common frequency instead of ATC.

SOURCES

  • remote_pilot_study_guide.txt ch11 "Towered Airport"
  • 14 CFR 107.41
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MORE ON OPERATIONS / RADIO COMMUNICATIONS

SkyDrill is not affiliated with the FAA. This is an original practice item based on 14 CFR part 107, 14 CFR part 89, and the FAA Remote Pilot – Small UAS Study Guide (FAA-G-8082-22). Regulations and handbooks are revised; confirm details against the current edition.