Thursday, October 15, 2026
Capt. Mike's Question of the Day.
Two questions for the Transport Canada pilot written exams every day: a morning warm-up and an evening Captain's Challenge. Each one answered, explained and cited, free. Tap your answer to see how you did.
This is a past question.The latest question
Capt. Mike: Here's the question I asked that day. Tap your answer.
A pilot is cleared to taxi to the runway in use without a hold short clearance. To get there, the aircraft must cross two taxiways and one runway. This authorizes the pilot to taxi to
Question 3.13 of TP 11919E, Department of Transport, Canada; reproduced with the Department's permission.
TC's answer
4the runway in use, but further clearance is required to cross the other runway.
Explanation
TC AIM RAC 4.2.5: "Upon receipt of a normal taxi authorization, a pilot is expected to proceed to the taxi-holding position for the runway assigned for takeoff. If a pilot is required to cross any runway while taxiing towards the departure runway, the ground or airport controller will issue a specific instruction to cross or hold short. If a specific authorization to cross was not received, pilots should hold short and request authorization to cross the runway." Taxiways need no separate clearance; runways do.
Exam note. Two options sound right: you do stop at the holding position for the runway in use, but the point being tested is that crossing any other runway needs its own clearance.
Memory tip: Taxiways: free to cross. Runways: always need a clearance.
Source
TC AIM (October 1, 2026) RAC 4.2.5; NAV CANADA VFR Phraseology Guide (Version 3, April 2022) ("Before crossing any runway, you must be given a clearance by ATS").
Question 3.13 of TP 11919E, Study and Reference Guide: Student Pilot Permit or Private Pilot Licence for Foreign and Military Applicants, Aviation Regulations (7th ed., December 2022), Department of Transport, Canada; reproduced with the Department's permission. The keyed answer agrees with Transport Canada's published answer key (December 2022); the explanation is TC Exam Prep's.
Taught in: PSTAR › Visual Signals & Radio CommunicationsWriting the PSTAR? It's free with an account
A free account opens all 181 of Transport Canada's PSTAR questions for aeroplane pilots, explained like this one, 3 mock exams in the real 50-question format, and the 5 chapters that teach them.
TC Exam Prep is independent and not affiliated with Transport Canada. The question and its answer key are Transport Canada's; the explanation is ours. New questions go up every day: the warm-up at 9 am and the Captain's Challenge at 6 pm Pacific time.