ROC-A Practice Test (Aeronautical Radio) 2026: Practice test 3

1. Question 1 of 25

   A ground station needs a few minutes before it can take your message. What should it say?

   • AOUT
   • BSTAND BY, followed by the expected delay in minutes
   • CSEELONCE
   • DWILCO
   Show answer

   Answer: B. STAND BY, followed by the expected delay in minutes

   A station that cannot take a message right away replies STAND BY and gives the expected wait in minutes.

2. Question 2 of 25

   You make a mistake while sending a message. What do you do?

   • AStart the whole call again without saying anything
   • BSay OOPS and continue
   • CSay CORRECTION, repeat the last correct word or phrase, then give the correct version
   • DSay DISREGARD and stop transmitting for the day
   Show answer

   Answer: C. Say CORRECTION, repeat the last correct word or phrase, then give the correct version

   RIC-21 says to say CORRECTION, repeat the last correct word or phrase, and then send the corrected words.

3. Question 3 of 25

   You heard the start of a message but missed the end. What do you ask?

   • AREAD BACK
   • BSAY AGAIN ALL AFTER, followed by the last word you heard correctly
   • CWORDS TWICE
   • DSAY AGAIN ALL BEFORE, followed by the first word
   Show answer

   Answer: B. SAY AGAIN ALL AFTER, followed by the last word you heard correctly

   To get the end of a message repeated, say SAY AGAIN ALL AFTER and the last word you received correctly.

4. Question 4 of 25

   How long should a signal (radio) check last?

   • AAt least 30 seconds
   • BAs long as needed to tune the radio
   • CAbout 1 minute
   • DNo more than 10 seconds
   Show answer

   Answer: D. No more than 10 seconds

   RIC-21 says signal checks should not take more than 10 seconds, so the frequency stays free for other traffic.

5. Question 5 of 25

   On the readability scale, what does a reading of 3 mean?

   • AUnreadable
   • BReadable now and then
   • CReadable, but with difficulty
   • DPerfectly readable
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   Answer: C. Readable, but with difficulty

   The readability scale goes from 1 (unreadable) to 5 (perfectly readable). A 3 is fair: readable with difficulty.

6. Question 6 of 25

   On the readability scale, what does "5" mean?

   • APerfectly readable
   • BUnreadable
   • CReadable now and then
   • DReadable with difficulty
   Show answer

   Answer: A. Perfectly readable

   On the 1 to 5 readability scale, 5 is excellent and means perfectly readable.

7. Question 7 of 25

   Several aircraft call a ground station at the same time. Who decides the order of reply?

   • AThe aircraft that is lowest
   • BThe aircraft that called most often
   • CThe ground station, based on message priority
   • DThe aircraft with the loudest signal
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   Answer: C. The ground station, based on message priority

   When several stations call at once, the ground station decides the order based on the priority of their messages.

8. Question 8 of 25

   What is the spoken distress signal?

   • AMAYDAY
   • BSECURITE
   • CSOS SOS SOS
   • DPAN PAN
   Show answer

   Answer: A. MAYDAY

   MAYDAY is the spoken distress signal. It means grave and imminent danger and a need for immediate help.

9. Question 9 of 25

   What is a distress condition?

   • AA routine weather report
   • BA delay in your flight plan
   • CGrave or imminent danger that needs immediate assistance
   • DA safety concern that does not need immediate help
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   Answer: C. Grave or imminent danger that needs immediate assistance

   Distress means the aircraft or vehicle is threatened by grave or imminent danger and needs immediate assistance.

10. Question 10 of 25

    On which frequency should the first distress call be made?

    • AThe frequency of the nearest FM station
    • BAlways 121.5 MHz first
    • CAny amateur frequency
    • DThe air-ground frequency already in use
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    Answer: D. The air-ground frequency already in use

    RIC-21 says the first distress call goes out on the air-ground frequency in use. Other frequencies are tried if there is no answer.

11. Question 11 of 25

    You get no answer to a distress call on the frequency in use. Which frequency should you try next?

    • A100.1 MHz
    • B121.5 MHz, the aeronautical emergency frequency
    • C156.8 MHz
    • D446.0 MHz
    Show answer

    Answer: B. 121.5 MHz, the aeronautical emergency frequency

    If contact cannot be made, the distress call is repeated on 121.5 MHz, the aeronautical emergency frequency, or any other frequency available.

12. Question 12 of 25

    What is the correct form of a distress call?

    • APAN PAN three times, then your call sign
    • BMAYDAY once, then the full message
    • CMAYDAY three times, THIS IS, then your call sign three times
    • DYour call sign, then MAYDAY once
    Show answer

    Answer: C. MAYDAY three times, THIS IS, then your call sign three times

    RIC-21 gives the distress call as MAYDAY three times, THIS IS, and the aircraft call sign three times.

13. Question 13 of 25

    On whose authority may a distress call be sent from an aircraft?

    • AThe aircraft owner on the ground
    • BAny passenger
    • CThe nearest control tower
    • DThe person in command
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    Answer: D. The person in command

    A distress call may be sent only on the authority of the person in command of the aircraft.

14. Question 14 of 25

    Which item belongs in a distress message?

    • AThe price of the fuel
    • BThe number of persons on board
    • CThe departure gate number
    • DThe names of all passengers
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    Answer: B. The number of persons on board

    A distress message includes the nature of the distress, intentions, position, number of persons on board and other useful facts.

15. Question 15 of 25

    You hear a distress call and you are not involved. What should you do?

    • AChange to another frequency and forget it
    • BCall the aircraft to ask for details
    • CTransmit a radio check
    • DStop any transmission that could interfere and keep listening
    Show answer

    Answer: D. Stop any transmission that could interfere and keep listening

    Distress traffic has absolute priority. Other stations must stop transmissions that could interfere and keep listening.

16. Question 16 of 25

    Which words does the station in distress, or the station in control, use to impose silence on all other stations?

    • APAN PAN
    • BDISREGARD
    • CSEELONCE FEENEE
    • DSEELONCE MAYDAY
    Show answer

    Answer: D. SEELONCE MAYDAY

    SEELONCE MAYDAY imposes silence. It is used by the station in distress or the station controlling distress traffic.

17. Question 17 of 25

    What words show that distress traffic has ended?

    • ASEELONCE FEENEE
    • BWILCO
    • CMAYDAY RELAY
    • DSEELONCE MAYDAY
    Show answer

    Answer: A. SEELONCE FEENEE

    SEELONCE FEENEE means the distress is over and normal working may resume. It ends the cancellation message.

18. Question 18 of 25

    When do you use the words MAYDAY RELAY?

    • AWhen you cancel an urgency message
    • BWhen your own aircraft is in distress
    • CWhen you test your radio
    • DWhen you pass on a distress message for another station
    Show answer

    Answer: D. When you pass on a distress message for another station

    MAYDAY RELAY is the distress relay signal. A station uses it when it sends a distress message on behalf of another station.

19. Question 19 of 25

    What is the urgency signal?

    • AMAYDAY, said three times
    • BPAN PAN, said three times
    • CURGENT, said twice
    • DSEELONCE, said once
    Show answer

    Answer: B. PAN PAN, said three times

    The urgency signal is PAN PAN, said three times at the start of the first urgency communication.

20. Question 20 of 25

    What does an urgency condition mean?

    • ASafety is at risk, but immediate assistance is not needed
    • BGrave and imminent danger needing immediate help
    • CA radio check is needed
    • DA normal position report
    Show answer

    Answer: A. Safety is at risk, but immediate assistance is not needed

    Urgency covers a concern for the safety of an aircraft, vehicle or person when immediate assistance is not required.

21. Question 21 of 25

    After hearing an urgency signal, how long should stations keep listening on that frequency?

    • AAt least 30 seconds
    • BUntil the next day
    • CAt least 3 minutes
    • DAt least 1 hour
    Show answer

    Answer: C. At least 3 minutes

    RIC-21 says stations that hear the urgency signal must keep listening for at least three minutes.

22. Question 22 of 25

    Who must cancel an urgency message sent to all stations when help is no longer needed?

    • AThe nearest airport
    • BTransport Canada
    • CAny station that heard it
    • DThe station that sent it
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    Answer: D. The station that sent it

    The station that sent the urgency message must cancel it to ALL STATIONS once action is no longer needed.

23. Question 23 of 25

    A radio fuse has blown. What should you do?

    • ABypass the fuse with wire
    • BFit a fuse with a higher rating
    • CFind and fix the fault, then fit a fuse of the same rating
    • DKeep using the radio without a fuse
    Show answer

    Answer: C. Find and fix the fault, then fit a fuse of the same rating

    RIC-21 warns never to use a higher-rated fuse, because it defeats the protection and can cause a fire.

24. Question 24 of 25

    Why should exposed antenna and microphone connections be coated, for example with silicone?

    • ATo make the cable longer
    • BTo keep out water and prevent corrosion
    • CTo increase transmit power
    • DTo change the radio frequency
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    Answer: B. To keep out water and prevent corrosion

    RIC-21 says connections should be tight and clean, and exposed ones should be coated to stop corrosion and water getting in.

25. Question 25 of 25

    An ISED inspector asks to see your station's radio licence. What must you do?

    • AShow your pilot logbook instead
    • BShow the licence or a copy
    • CRefuse unless a lawyer is present
    • DNothing, licences are never checked
    Show answer

    Answer: B. Show the licence or a copy

    RIC-21 says the radio station licence, or a copy, must be shown to an inspector on request.

Keyboard: 1–4 to answer, Enter for the next question.

The real test: ISED does not publish a question count or pass mark. An accredited examiner gives the exam, which may include written, practical and oral parts.