Which characteristic must a student's plan of action have when communicating to the Radar Controller?

• A. The plan of action must be feasible.
• B. The plan must be perfect.
• C. The plan must involve only altitude changes.
• D. The plan must be kept secret from other controllers.

Answer: (A)

The essential idea is that the plan you tell the Radar Controller must be feasible. In practice, this means the proposed actions are realistic and doable given the airplane’s performance, fuel, weather, and airspace constraints, and they fit within the clearances and procedures you’re expected to follow. A feasible plan allows the controller to coordinate safely with other traffic and to adapt if conditions change, without risking inability to meet the plan or violate safety.

Perfection isn’t required or expected; conditions can shift, and plans are often adjusted in real time to stay safe and compliant. Limiting the plan to altitude changes only isn’t appropriate because you may need to specify speed changes, route deviations, holds, or altitudes in combination to stay within performance limits and clearance. Keeping the plan secret from other controllers would undermine safety, since sharing pertinent information helps maintain separation and prevent conflicts with other aircraft.