Federal Aviation Regulations Practice Test

If your transponder is inoperative, what must you do to enter Class B airspace?

1. Notify the nearest airport

2. Submit a request for a deviation to the controlling ATC facility

3. Contact the flight service station

4. Delay the flight until the transponder is repaired

The correct answer is: Submit a request for a deviation to the controlling ATC facility

To enter Class B airspace with an inoperative transponder, a request for a deviation must be submitted to the controlling Air Traffic Control (ATC) facility. Class B airspace has specific requirements, including the need for a functioning transponder, which allows air traffic controllers to track aircraft within the area. This transponder helps ensure safe and effective traffic management in busy airspace. When a pilot identifies that their transponder is inoperative, the protocol is to communicate this issue to ATC and formally request permission to enter Class B airspace without the required equipment. ATC can evaluate the situation and determine whether a deviation can be granted based on factors such as traffic conditions and safety considerations. It is essential for pilots to follow this process in order to maintain safety and comply with regulations governing airspace entry. The other choices do not adequately address the requirement for entering Class B airspace without a functioning transponder. Notifying an airport or contacting a flight service station does not resolve the issue of airspace access, and delaying the flight only postpones the flight without addressing the regulatory requirements or potential safety protocols in place.