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1. The description "Racon" beside an illustration on a
chart would mean a _____.
A. radar conspicuous beacon
B. circular radiobeacon
C. radar transponder beacon
D. radar calibration beacon
2. When navigating using DGPS (Differential Global
Positioning System) you may expect your position to
be accurate to within a radius of _________.
A. 10 meters
B. 20 meters
C. 50 meters
D. 100 meters
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3. When using GPS, how many position lines are
required for a 3D (dimensional) fix that takes into
account altitude?
A. 1
B. 2
C. 3
D. 4
4. As a vessel changes course to starboard, the
compass card in a magnetic compass remains
A. aligned with compass north
B. also turns to starboard
C. first turns to starboard then counterclockwise to
port
D. turns counterclockwise to port
5. Which of the following is the approximate
time a radar pulse travel out to and the echo
return from a target at 24 miles?
 A. 400 microsec. 1mile = 1852 mtrs.
VEL.OF RADAR WAVE = 300 MTRS.
 B. 200 microsec. PER MILLION OF SEC.(MICROSEC.)
 C. 300 microsec. 48 X 1852 MTRS
300 MTRS./MICROSEC.
 D. 100 microsec. = 296.3 MICROSEC
 6. When facing into the wind in the Northern
Hemisphere the center of low pressure lies:
 A. directly in front of you
 B. directly behind you
 C. to your left and behind you
 D. to your right and behind you
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7. You are enroute to assist vessel A. Vessel A is
underway at 4.5 knots on course 233° T, and bears
264° T, 68 miles from you. What is the time to
O.S.
intercept if you make 13 Knots?
C
TGT.
A
A. 6h 31m
A
B. 6h 47m
C. 7h 03m
D. 7h 34m
+
B
ANGLE A = BRG.OF O.S. FR.TGT. – TGT.CO.
= 84 – 233
= 149˚
+
SIN ANGLE C = TGT.SPD X SIN ANGLE A
O.S.SPD.
= 4.5 X SIN 149
13
= 10.27˚
TRUE CO. TO STEER = TGT.BRG. +/- ANGLE C
= 264 – 10.27
= 253.73˚
ANGLE B = 180 – (ANGLE A + ANGLE C)
= 180 – (149 + 10.27)
= 20.73
RUNNING TIME TO INTERCEPT = TGT.RANGE X SIN ANGLE A
SIN ANGLE B X O.S. SPD.
= 68 X SIN 149
SIN 20.73 X 13
= 7.61 HRS. = 7 HRS. 37 MINS.
8. As your vessel is heading southward along
the east coast of the United States, you
encounter a buoy showing a red flashing light.
How should you pass this buoy?
 A. Pass it about 50 yards off on either side.
 B. Leave it to your starboard.
 C. Leave it to your port.
 D. Pass it well clear on either side.
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9. Which statement about a simple conic chart
projection is TRUE?
 A. It is an equal-area projection.
 B. It is a conformal projection.
 C. Meridians appear as curved lines.
 D. The scale is correct along any meridian.
 10. Your dead reckoning position should be
plotted _______________.
 A. whenever an estimated position is plotted
 B. when it agrees with your loran position
 C. when coming on or going off soundings
 D. at least every hour on the hour in the open
waters of the sea
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11. What causes the error of collimation with regards
to the four adjustments to a sextant?
A. Telescope not parallel to the frame
B. Personal error
C. The frame and index mirror not perpendicular
D. The frame and horizon glass not perpendicular
12. The Sun at a maximum declination north would be
approximately at ______________.
A. aphelion
B. perihelion
C. autumnal equinox
D. first point of Aries
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13. If an observer in the Northern Hemisphere faces
the surface wind, the center of low pressure is to his:
A. left, slightly behind him
B. right, slightly behind him
C. left, slightly in front of him
D. right, slightly in front of him
14. What will be the time after 0800 EST (ZD +5) that
the height of the tide at South Freeport, ME, will be 6.0
feet (1.8 meters) on 7 November 1983?
A. 0936
B. 0942
Inc.question
C. 0951
D. 1001
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15. A great circle crosses the equator at 134° E. It will
also cross the equator at what other longitude?
A. 46° W
B. 124° W
C. 134° W
D. 34° E
16. You are underway on course 050‚ T and your
maximum speed is 11 knots. The eye of a hurricane
bears 070‚ T, 80 miles from your position. The
hurricane is moving towards 270‚ T at 19 knots. What
course should you steer at 11 knots to have the
maximum CPA?
A. 250
(O.S.SPD.) 11 = .0578 INV.SIN = 35.376
B. 234
(HUR.SPD) 19
C. 227
90 – 35.376 = 54.623
D. 215
(HUR.CO.) 270 – 54.376 = 215˚
17. Prevailing winds between 30° N and 60° N
latitude are from the __________________.
 A. north
 B. south
 C. east
 D. west
 18. Which buoy may be odd numbered?
 A. Mid-channel buoy
 B. Unlighted nun buoy
 C. Lighted green buoy
 D. All of the above
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19. You would find the variation on a polyconic
projection chart __________.
 A. on the compass rose
 B. on the mileage scale
 C. written on the chart title
 D. at each line of longitude
 20. There are seven sources of error in the
marine sextant. Of the four errors listed, which
one is adjustable?
 A. Error of collimation
 B. Prismatic error
 C. Graduation error
 D. Centering error
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21. If the Sun's observed altitude is 47°50', the zenith
distance is _____.
A. 42°10'
90
B. 42°50'
Ho = 47˚ 50’
C. 47°50'
ZX = 42˚ 10’
D. 132°10'
22. According to Buys Ballot's law, when an observer
in the Northern Hemisphere experiences a northeast
wind the center of low pressure is located to the
__________.
A. northeast
B. west-southwest
C. northwest
D. south-southeast
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23. A navigator fixing a vessel's position by radar
_________.
A. should never use radar bearings
B. can use radar information from one object to fix the
position
C. should only use radar bearings when the range
exceeds the distance to the horizon
D. must use information from targets forward of the
beam
24. The steady current circling the globe at about 60°
S is the __________.
A. Prevailing Westerly
B. Sub-Polar Flow
C. West Wind Drift
D. Humboldt Current
25. Prevailing winds between 30° N and 60° N
latitude are from the ______.
 A. east
 B. west
 C. north
 D. south
 26. A nun buoy will ________.
 A. be green in color
 B. have an even number
 C. be left to port when entering from seaward
 D. be cylindrical in shape
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27. Which would you consult for information
about the general current circulation in the
North Atlantic Ocean?
 A. Pilot chart
 B. Coast Pilot
 C. Current Table
 D. Climatological Atlas
 28. Which is a nonadjustable error of the
sextant?
 A. Error of perpendicularity
 B. Side error
 C. Error of collimation
 D. Centering error
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29. The difference of latitude (l) between the
geographic position (GP) of a celestial body and your
position, at the time of upper transit, is represented by
_____.
A. colatitude
B. codistance
C. zenith distance
D. altitude
30. The edge of a hurricane has overtaken your vessel
in the Gulf of Mexico, and the northwest wind of a few
hours ago has shifted to the west. This is an indication
that you are located in the __________.
A. navigable semicircle
B. dangerous semicircle
C. low pressure area
D. eye of the storm
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31. During the winter months, the southeast trade
winds are ________.
A. stronger than during the summer months
B. weaker than during the summer months
C. drier than during the summer months
D. wetter than during the summer months
32. When outbound from a U.S. port, a buoy
displaying a flashing red light indicates:
A. a junction with the preferred channel to the left
B. a sharp turn in the channel to the right
C. the port side of the channel
D. a wreck to be left on the vessel's starboard side
33. A pilot chart does NOT contain information
about ________.
 A. average wind conditions
 B. tidal currents
 C. magnetic variation
 D. average limits of field ice
 34. An instrument designed to maintain a
continuous record of atmospheric pressure is
a(n):
 A. mercurial barometer
 B. aneroid barometer
 C. barograph
 D. thermograph
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35. If the Sun's observed altitude is 27°12',
the zenith distance is _____.
 A. 62°48'
 B. 27°12'
90
Ho = 27˚ 12’
 C. 152°48'
ZX = 62˚ 48’
 D. 43°12'
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36. Your vessel is on course 150° T, speed 17 knots.
The apparent wind is from 40° off the starboard bow,
speed 15 knots. What is the speed of the true wind?
A. 9.0 knots
er = VSL.CO. / SPD
B. 10.2 knots
ew = TRUE WIND / SPD
C. 11.0 knots
rw = APP.WIND / SPD
D. 12.0 knots
A
e
– 2ac COS.A
b = √(15)2 + (17)2 – 2(15)(17)COS.40
= 11.02
b2 =
a2 +
c2
b
+
c
17
wC
a
40
15
r
B
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37. The velocity of the apparent wind can be less
than the true wind and from the same direction, if
certain conditions are present. One condition is that
the ___________.
A. ship's speed is more than the true wind velocity
B. true wind is from dead astern
C. true wind is on the beam
D. true wind is from dead ahead
38. Where will you find information about the
duration of slack water?
A. American Practical Navigator
B. Sailing Directions
C. Tide Tables
D. Tidal Current Tables
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39. Information about the currents for the Pacific
Coast of the U. S. are found in the _____.
A. Ocean Current Tables
B. Nautical Almanac
C. Tide Tables
D. Tidal Current Tables
40. You are steaming in a westerly direction along the
Gulf Coast. You see ahead of you a lighted buoy
showing a red isophase light. Which action should you
take?
A. Alter course to port and leave the buoy to starboard.
B. Alter course to starboard and leave the buoy to port.
C. Alter course and leave the buoy near by on either
side.
D. Alter course and pass the buoy well-off on either
side.
41. All of the following can be found on a Pilot
Chart EXCEPT information concerning the:
 A. percentage of frequency of wave heights
 B. percentage of poor visibility conditions
 C. sea surface temperatures
 D. amounts of precipitation
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42. Your position is LAT 20°00' N, LONG 45°00' W
when you take a radio bearing on a ship in distress in
LAT 15°00' N, LONG40°00' W. Your RDF bearing
corrected for calibration error is 135.6° T. What is the
rhumb line course to rendezvous with the vessel in
distress.
A. 134.9° T
LAT1 = 20˚00 N -1217.25
LAT2 = 15˚00 N - 904.50
B. 135.6° T
DLAT = 5˚00 S
312.75
C. 136.2° T
D. 136.9° T
Tan Co. = DLO / DMP
LONG.1 = 45˚ 00 W
= 300 / 312.75
LONG.2 = 40˚ 00 W
= S 43.8 E
DLO
= 5˚ 00 E
= 136.2
300
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43. An aneroid barometer is an instrument ________.
A. used to measure the speed of wind
B. in which the pressure of the air is measured
C. that tells which direction a storm is coming from
D. used to measure the height of waves
44. At upper transit, if the zenith distance is 34°, the
geographical distance from the observer to a body's
GP is _____.
A. 510 miles
B. 1220 miles
34˚ X 60 =2040
C. 2040 miles
D. 2260 miles
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45. Your vessel is on course 135° T, speed 18 knots.
From the appearance of the sea you estimate the
speed of the true wind as 24.5 knots. The apparent
wind is 40° on the starboard bow. Determine the
wC
speed of the apparent wind.
A. 24.2 knots er = VSL.CO. / SPD
b
B. 28.4 knots ew = TRUE WIND / SPD 24.5
rw = APP.WIND / SPD
C. 32.2 knots
D. 36.0 knots
a
e
A+
b
=
c
Sin B
Sin C
Sin C = 18 Sin 40
24.5
= 28.2
a
= b
Sin A
Sin B
a = 24.5 Sin 111.8
Sin 40
a = 35.4
c 40
18
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46. On November 1st the zone time is 1700 EST (ZD
+5) in LONG 75° W. What is the corresponding zone
time and date in LONG 135° E?
A. 0700, November 2nd
B. 2200, November 1st
C. 0700, November 1st
D. 2200, October 31st
47. The red sector of a lighthouse that has a
characteristic of white and red sectors indicates:
A. identity characteristic of the lighthouse
B. danger area
C. safe area
D. limits of navigational channel
48. The direction of the meridian through the
observer towards the North geographic pole is:
 A. compass north
 B. geographic north
 C. true north
 D. magnetic north
 49. Which of the following publications is a
listing of Radio Weather services?
 A. Worldwide marine weather broadcast
 B. ALRS Vol 3
 C. WMO publication no. 9
 D. All of the above
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50. What is the position of arrival of a vessel
that steams 4,505 miles on course 135 T from
Lat 22 deg 35.0N Lon 157 deg 30.0W?
 A. Lat 30 deg 30.5’S, Long 162 deg 35.3W
 B. Lat 32 deg 20.5S, Long 104 deg 30.0W
 C. Lat 32 deg 20.0S, Long 102 deg 35.3W
 D. Lat 30 deg 30.5S, Long 104 deg 30.0W
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Sin 45 = OPP
4505
DLO = 53˚05.5
COS 45 = ADJ.
4505
DLAT = 53˚05.5
51. What is the corresponding zone of sunset
on 18 June in Lat 58 deg 10N, Long 172 deg
50E, the LMT of sunset is 2107H
 A. 20h 38m 20s
LMT = 21 – 07 - 00
Λ IN TIME = 11 – 31 – 20 (-)
 B. 21h 38m 20s
GMT = 09 - 35 - 40
 C. 21h 35m 40s
ZD = 12 (+)
LZT = 21 – 35 - 40
 D. 20h 40m 10s
 52. The gnomonic projection is based:
 A. cone tangent at one parallel
 B. cylinder target at the equator
 C. plane tangent at one point
 D. infinite series of cones tangent at selected
parallel
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53. The sextant error of a marine sextant when the
index arm set to zero and the reflected image in the
actual horizon is not in continuous line is:
A. prismatic error
B. graduation error
C. side error
D. no error
54. Where is the diagram viewed by the observer as a
diagram on the plane of the celestial equator?
A. South pole
B. North pole
C. Equator
D. The zenith
55. The compass that depend upon the earth’s
magnetic for its directive force is:
 A. duv
 B. gyro
 C. pelorus
 D. magnetic
 56. Which of the following is commonly
associated with fog?
 A. warm front at night
 B. cold front
 C. low pressure area
 D. depression
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57. Determine whether the following statements are
correct.
I. The correction for leeway is always plus when the
wind is on the port side of the ship.
II. The estimated leeway angle is always allowed away
from the wind direction.
A. I and II are not correct.
B. I and II are correct.
C. Only I is correct.
D. Only II is not correct.
58. Each navigation satellite orbits the earth in:
A. 24 hours
B. 16 hours
C. 6 hours
D. 106 mins
59. To get the true course from the magnetic
course, one of the following should be applied:
 A. magnetic adjustment
 B. magnetic dip
 C. deviation
 D. variation
 60. Who performs the shifting of the steering
from auto to manual and vice-versa?
 A. the bridge watch officer
 B. the AB
 C. the second officer
 D. the master
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61. The low pressure enclosed by one or more
isobars is called:
 A. frontal depression
 B. front
 C. occlusion
 D. trough
 62. By means of which device is the hunt
prevented from being transmitted to the
repeater?
 A. magnetic
 B. electrical
 C. lost motion
 D. speed corrector
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63. What is the weekly publication advising the
mariners of important matters affecting
navigation safety?
 A. weather bulletin
 B. Notice to Mariners
 C. Sailing directions
 D. Coast Pilot
 64. What is the altitude after applying the dip
and index error of the sextant?
 A. Observed Altitude
 B. Computed altitude
 C. Apparent altitude
 D. Sextant altitude
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65. What is the angle between the true meridian
and the compass needle?
 A. variation
 B. magnetic dip
 C. deviation
 D. compass error
 66. The navigation system used in Loran C is:
 A. short range electronic
 B. long range high frequency
 C. long range at 1950 khz
 D. hyperbolic long range
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67. Port facility information in European ports
can be obtained from:
 A. Nautical index
 B. Sailing Direction
 C. Chart Catalog
 D. World port index
 68. What is the great circle of the celestial
sphere that passes through the Zenith, the
Nadir and the eastern point.
 A. hour circle
 B. principal vertical
 C. celestial meridian
 D. prime vertical
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69. What is the circular path in the celestial where the
celestial appears to follow around the with the celestial
pole as the circle?
A. diurnal circle
B. hour circle
C. vertical circle
D. circle of equal altitude
70. What is the area where no signal is received, as
the radio wave signals extend out for less distance
than minimum sky wave distance?
A. blackout zone
B. shadow zone
C. skip zone
D. diffraction zone
71. Where you write the note that the chart has
been corrected?
 A. at the lower center margin
 B. at the left lower corner
 C. at the right lower corner
 D. at the vicinity of the chart title
 72. Where is the gyro compass at its maximum
directive force
 A. the magnetic poles
 B. the equator
 C. geographic poles
 D. 45 deg north latitude
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73. Find the true track of the ship when steering on
gyro course 010 deg., variation 2 deg. E, gyro error 2
deg. E, wind leeway angle is 15 deg?
A. 357 deg T
B. 023 deg T
C. 027 deg T
D .008 deg T
74. The difference between mean time and apparent
time is:
A. equation of time
B. civil time
C. local time
D. zone time
75. The bulletin issued by NMC for the period
stated the includes the anticipated wind,
visibility, weather and wave condition.
 A. forecast
 B. prognosis
 C. synoptic
 D. analysis
 76. The difference between compass course
and true course is:
 A. compass error
 B. variation
 C. deviation
 D. magnetic clip
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77. Which buoyage system have shape, color and
number distinction indicating navigable waters?
A. lateral system
B. special bouys
C. danger bouys
D. cardinal system
78. What is indicated by a bouy with alternating red
and green horizontal bands in the IALA Buoyage
system?
A. Preferred channel
B. Fishing ground
C. Isolated danger
D. Spoil ground
79. What is the step to do when shifting from
telemotor steering to gyro steering?
 A. put on automatic and open bypass valve.
 B. Open the bypass valve and change to
automatic
 C. Turn rudder left or right
 D. Put on hand and open bypass valve
 80. What is the meaning of EC in ECDIS
system?
 A. equidistant calculator
 B. electronic chart
 C. electronic computer
 D. equatoril chart
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81. Where is the sun at aphelion?
 A. farthest from the earth
 B. moon and earth are in line
 C. farthest from the moon
 D. crosses the celestial equator
 82. Where is the compass card attached in the
master gyro compass?
 A. link arm
 B. sensitive element
 C. spider element
 D. pick up transformer
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83. Which of the following is not seen on the left
hand page of the Nautical Almanac?
 A. GHA of Mars
 B. GHA of Venus
 C. GHA of Aries
 D. GHA of the Sun
 84. With the use of INMARSAT and digital
selective calling, distress alerts can also be
receive with:
 A. NAVTEX
 B. Ambiguity
 C. Reliability
 D. Manually
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85. An electronic aid to navigation which can
detect coasts to indicate bearing and range.
 A. LORAN
 B. Echo sounder
 C. GPS
 D. Radar
 86. What will be used to plot great circle tracks
and way points if your navigation computer is
not working?
 A. gnomonic chart
 B. way points
 C. rhumb line
 D. mercator
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87. What is the equipment used to receive
DSC?
 A. INMARSAT receiver
 B. Telex/Fax
 C. OSC
 D. Navtex
 88. It is a term in ship’s routeing used to
indicate hazardous areas to be avoided by all
vessels:
 A. precautionary area
 B. traffic separation zone
 C. danger area
 D. area to be avoided
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89. On a voyage from New York to Durba,
South Africa you should expect the Agulhas
current to present a strong ____.
 A. offshore set
 B. head current
 C. onshore set
 D. fair or flowing current
 90. A resultant force of high and low pressures
is:
 A. pressure gradient force
 B. coriolis point
 C. cyclostropic
 D. all of the above
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91. It is an apparent force that causes a deflection of
ocean current to the right of N. hemisphere and left of
S. hemisphere.
A. convergence force
B. divergence force
C. gravitational force
D. coriolis force
92. What is the term used to identify the angular
distance between the prime vertical and the sun
during rising and setting?
A. azimuth angle
B. amplitude
C. altitude
D. zenith distance
93. Ships equipped with GMDSS are required to
have a communication capable of performing:
 A. 12 GMDSS communication functions
 B. 10 GDDSS communication functions
 C. 9 GMDSS communication functions
 D. 15 GMDSS communication functions
 94. What is the latitude between 30 deg – 35 deg
 A. horse latitude
 B. polar wind
 C. trade winds
 D. doldrums
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95. What is the position obtained by using two or more
lines of position?
A. running fix
B. fix
C. DR position
D. Estimated position
96. It is a term used to identify the gyro error that
occurs during the changes of course and speed as a
result used to damp the oscillation of the gyro axis.
A. Damping error
B. Apparent drift
C. Gyroscopic error
D. Gyroscopic drift
97. There are two codes used in GPS, one is :
 A. Aircraft
 B. Military
 C. Merchant marine vessel
 D. Public
 98. GPS code which is decoded by all receiver
is;
 A. Civilian Code
 B. Public code
 C. Merchant marine code
 D. Military code
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99. It is a very low frequency, hyperbolic navigation
system, employs lane identification and can be
provided by the use of a second frequency:
A. DECCA
B. OMEGA
C. LORAN C
D. GPS
100. Its symbol is described as Dashed Line and
dashed outlined arrows is used for
A. Separation zone
B. Recommended zone
C. Recommended track
D. Limits of restricted area