AFOQT Practice Test

What does Minimum Safe Airspeed (MSA) primarily help with during a landing?

1. Increasing altitude quickly

2. Clearing obstacles on a short runway

3. Decreasing fuel consumption

4. Improving climb rates

The correct answer is: Clearing obstacles on a short runway

Minimum Safe Airspeed (MSA) is crucial during a landing primarily because it ensures that the aircraft maintains sufficient lift and control while safely navigating around any obstacles that may be in proximity to the runway. By adhering to MSA, pilots can effectively manage their approach and landing, particularly when dealing with shorter runways where obstacles could pose a threat to a safe landing. Maintaining MSA helps to ensure that the aircraft can successfully clear any obstacles in the flight path, reducing the risk of an accident during what is often a critical phase of flight. This also enhances the pilot's ability to assess and manage risk during the landing phase, allowing for necessary adjustments if obstacles are detected, thus promoting safety. The other options relate to aspects of flight performance but are not directly linked to the primary purpose of MSA during landing.