General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) Aeronautical Information Publication (AIP) Practice Exam

When should the autopilot be disengaged if LAND 2 or LAND 3 is not annunciated?

1. Below 100 Feet AGL

2. Below 150 Feet AGL

3. Below 200 Feet AGL

4. Below 250 Feet AGL

The correct answer is: Below 200 Feet AGL

The correct answer, which indicates that the autopilot should be disengaged below 200 feet AGL if LAND 2 or LAND 3 is not annunciated, is grounded in safety and operational protocols for aircraft landing operations, particularly in automated systems. In operations involving Category II and Category III autoland systems, the aircraft is equipped to perform landing procedures with high levels of precision—specifically, in low visibility conditions. When the system detects that it cannot achieve the necessary conditions for safe landing (indicated by the absence of LAND 2 or LAND 3), it becomes essential to manually control the aircraft at a higher altitude, to allow the pilot the necessary reaction time to respond to any anomalies or issues. Disengaging the autopilot above 200 feet AGL provides the pilot with a margin to assess the landing conditions and make necessary adjustments. This is strategically important as it aligns with guidelines provided in aviation regulations and operational standards, where the altitude range below 200 feet is critical for ensuring a controlled descent and stable approach when automatic systems are not fully engaged or functional. By setting the disengagement altitude at 200 feet AGL rather than at lower altitudes (like 100 or 150 feet), the pilot has more time for manually