Air Traffic Skills Assessment (ATSA) Practice Test 2025 – All-in-One Comprehensive Guide to Exam Success

To determine where the pilot should look for the traffic based on the advisory "TRAFFIC 3 O'CLOCK, 2 MILES, SOUTHBOUND," it's essential to understand the meaning of the terms used in the advisory.

In aviation, the concept of "o'clock" position refers to the relative direction of another aircraft in relation to the pilot's current heading. When a pilot receives an advisory that states "3 O'CLOCK," it indicates that the traffic is located to the pilot's right side. The additional information, "SOUTHBOUND," clarifies the direction in which that traffic is moving.

Since "3 O'CLOCK" corresponds to the right side (west) of the aircraft and the traffic is specifically moving "SOUTHBOUND," the pilot should look to the east to visually locate the other aircraft. The proper interpretation of this advisory would lead the pilot to scan towards the east, observing for any traffic approaching from that direction.

Thus, the combination of the relative heading and the movement direction enables the pilot to accurately track the position and trajectory of the nearby traffic.