DGAC Bolivia Air Traffic Controller (CTA) case studies
DGAC Bolivia Air Traffic Controller (CTA) · Put your knowledge to work in context.
The Controlador de Tránsito Aéreo (CTA) licence examination is the Bolivian civil aviation authority's assessment of whether a candidate has the aeronautical knowledge and procedural judgement required to control air traffic under DGAC Bolivia oversight. It is aimed at trainee controllers completing ab initio or rating training at an approved centre, at military or aerodrome personnel seeking civil licensing, and at holders of foreign licences pursuing validation in Bolivia. The DGAC Bolivia Air Traffic Controller (CTA) case studies are 5 cases and about 3,310 words.
1VFR on top request over the Altiplano with deteriorating ceiling
A Cessna 172 departs El Alto (LPB, elevation 13,325 ft) VFR at 14:10 UTC toward Oruro (ORU, elevation 12,150 ft), route time 50 minutes. At 14:25 the pilot reports level at 16,500 ft, in and out of cloud tops, and requests 'VFR on top' to remain above an 8,000 ft broken layer with bases at 15,500 ft.
685 words, about 3 min2Wake turbulence spacing after a heavy departs a short high-elevation runway
At Cochabamba (CBB, elevation 8,360 ft), runway 32 is in use, length 2,650 m, temperature 28 C, QNH 1020. A Boeing 767-300 departs at 15:02, rotates late and is reported airborne abeam the departure end.
732 words, about 4 min3Procedural separation when radar coverage is lost in the eastern lowlands
The Santa Cruz approach radar (SRE) fails at 18:40 UTC. Two IFR aircraft are in the terminal area: flight BOV 720, a 737-800 inbound from the east descending through FL150 on the VOR/DME approach transition, and flight BOV 314, an ATR 42 outbound to the north climbing through FL110.
632 words, about 3 min4Bird strike and runway closure during a peak arrival bank
At Viru Viru (VVI), runway 15/33 is the only runway. At 16:20, a landing A320 reports a bird strike on short final and a possible tyre damage; the aircraft stops on the runway, unable to vacate.
591 words, about 3 min5Class D boundary crossing and a VFR aircraft without a clearance
El Alto's control zone is Class D from the surface to 12,000 ft AMSL, with a 5 NM radius. A locally based Piper Cherokee is flying VFR at 12,500 ft, above the zone ceiling, and requests to descend into the zone to land at LPB.
670 words, about 3 min