Practice question

What is the function of the Minimum Safe Altitude Warning (MSAW) system?

It is a ground-based safety tool that generates an alert if an aircraft's radar track is predicted to descend below a safe altitude
It is an on-board cockpit instrument that audibly warns the pilot of terrain closeness
It is an ATC radar mode that automatically climbs an aircraft if it drops too low
It is a database containing terrain maps used to plan flight plan routing

Answer: A — It is a ground-based safety tool that generates an alert if an aircraft's radar track is predicted to descend below a safe altitude

The correct answer is shown above. Try the full quiz for additional practice.