Practice question

What is generated by ATC computers upon the filing of a flight plan?

  1. The estimated fuel requirements
  2. The callsign, route, altitude, and speed of intended flights
  3. The departure and arrival gates
  4. The assigned runway number

Answer: B — The callsign, route, altitude, and speed of intended flights

When a flight plan is filed, ATC computers generate critical flight information, including the callsign, route, altitude, and speed of the intended flights. This information is essential for air traffic controllers to manage and coordinate air traffic effectively. The callsign uniquely identifies the flight, while the route outlines the planned path through controlled airspace. Altitude information is crucial for maintaining safe vertical separation between aircraft, and speed data helps controllers manage the flow of air traffic and prevent conflicts. The generation of this data is a fundamental part of ATC operations, as it enables controllers to have real-time awareness and control of flight operations, ensuring safety and efficiency in the national airspace system. Other options, such as estimated fuel requirements, departure and arrival gates, and assigned runway numbers, may be important elements of flight planning, but they are not the primary outputs generated from the filing of a flight plan in the initial ATC computer processing.

Practice more: NATS Air Traffic Controllers (ATC) Trainee Practice Exam →