Subchapter 10.8 – Exam Traps and Final Tips

The ECQB examination will test your knowledge of phraseology, readback rules, and procedure words. Here are the traps examiners frequently use:

Exam question: "You receive the instruction 'climb to flight level one-one-zero.' What do you respond?"

Wrong answer: "Roger, climbing to flight level one-one-zero." Right answer: "Wilco, climb to flight level one-one-zero." OR "Climb to flight level one-one-zero, roger."

Rationale: WILCO indicates you will execute the instruction. ROGER is for acknowledgment. In this case, WILCO is preferred for instructions.

Exam question: "ATC says 'contact Zurich Approach on one-two-six decimal eight-two-five.' How do you read back the frequency?"

Wrong answer: "Contact Zurich Approach one-two-six point eight." Right answer: "Zurich Approach one-two-six decimal eight-two-five."

Rationale: All three decimals must be read back. Even omitting the final zero creates ambiguity.

Exam question: "ATC says 'runway two-eight left, wind zero-nine-zero degrees at two-zero knots.' What is your response?"

Wrong answer: "Runway two-eight left, wind zero-nine-zero at two-zero, roger." Right answer: "Runway two-eight left, OE-DMS." (Wind is not read back unless ATC asks.)

Rationale: Wind is provided for information, not for readback. Reading it back creates unnecessary transmissions.

Exam question: "On your first call to ATC, what callsign format do you use?"

Wrong answer: "Tower, DMS, request engine start." Right answer: "Salzburg Tower, OE-DMS, Cessna one-seven-two, parking position Bravo Foxtrot one-four, request engine start."

Rationale: Use full callsign on initial contact. ATC will abbreviate first; then you may follow.

Exam question: "ATC says 'expect runway two-four right.' What does this mean?"

Wrong answer: "I am cleared to land on runway two-four right." Right answer: "I should be prepared for runway two-four right, but I am not yet cleared for it. Final clearance will come later."

Rationale: "Expect" is an expectation only. You must wait for "CLEARED" to proceed.

Exam question: "You reach your assigned altitude of flight level zero-eight-zero. What do you transmit?"

Wrong answer: "Level off." OR "OE-DMS, level." Right answer: "OE-DMS, level flight level zero-eight-zero."

Rationale: Always include the altitude in the report so ATC confirms you reached the correct level.

Exam question: "ATC says 'turn left heading one-eight-zero.' How do you respond?"

Wrong answer: "Roger." (Just acknowledgment, no readback.) Right answer: "Left heading one-eight-zero, OE-DMS." (Full readback.)

Rationale: Heading changes are mandatory readback items. Simple "roger" is insufficient.

Exam question: "ATC reports traffic at two o'clock, three miles. You look but don't see the aircraft. What do you say?"

Wrong answer: "Traffic in sight, OE-DMS." (You're guessing and lying.) Right answer: "Negative contact, request vectors, OE-DMS."

Rationale: Never lie about traffic sightings. Your honest answer protects safety.

Exam question: "ATC gives you QNH 1020 hectopascals. Where do you set this?"

Wrong answer: "In the QFE window on the altimeter." Right answer: "In the altimeter reference setting window. This is the mean sea level pressure used for flight level transitions."

Rationale: QNH is used for altitude reporting below transition altitude and for transitions. QFE (if published) is for low-level operations.

Exam question: "ATC says 'turn left heading zero-nine-zero, descend two-thousand feet, cleared approach ILS runway zero-eight right, report established.' How do you read back?"

Wrong answer: "Cleared approach ILS runway zero-eight right." Right answer: "Left heading zero-nine-zero, descend two-thousand feet, cleared approach ILS runway zero-eight right, report established, OE-DMS."

Rationale: All elements of the approach clearance must be read back: heading, altitude, approach type, and reporting requirements.