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100+ Free AL Runway Practice Questions

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2026 Statistics

Key Facts: AL Runway Exam

70%

Passing Score

PSI AL GC Bulletin

30 Q

Official Exam Questions

PSI AL GC Bulletin

75 minutes

Time Allowed

PSI AL GC Bulletin

$96

PSI Exam Fee

PSI AL GC Bulletin

Open book

Exam Format

PSI AL GC Bulletin

Alabama AL Runway trade exam via PSI: 30 questions, 70% pass, 75 minutes, fee $96. Open-book specialty classification under the Alabama Licensing Board for General Contractors (bulletin 1/23/26).

Sample AL Runway Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to test your AL Runway exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1Under FAA Item P-152, what is the primary purpose of proof-rolling a prepared subgrade before placing base or pavement?
A.To increase the asphalt binder grade
B.To locate soft spots, pumping, or unstable areas that need undercutting or rework
C.To establish runway magnetic azimuth
D.To cure freshly placed concrete
Explanation: Proof-rolling uses a loaded roller or truck to load the finished subgrade so soft, wet, or unstable areas show as rutting, pumping, or deflection. Those defects are undercut, dried, recompacted, or replaced before base or pavement is placed. It is a quality check, not a substitute for density testing.
2When compacting embankment under typical FAA P-152 earthwork requirements, moisture content is controlled primarily to:
A.Keep the soil well above the liquid limit
B.Allow densification near optimum moisture so specified density can be achieved
C.Prevent any need for nuclear density testing
D.Eliminate the need for lifts
Explanation: Compaction effort is most effective when soil moisture is near optimum as defined by the Proctor curve. Too dry or too wet soil resists densification and fails density tests. Specs commonly allow a narrow band around optimum (often about ±2%) before rolling.
3Clearing and grubbing for an airport project typically requires removal of which materials within the work limits?
A.Only grass that is taller than 12 inches
B.Trees, stumps, roots, brush, and other vegetation that would interfere with grading or create soft spots
C.Only marketable timber, leaving stumps in place
D.Only surface litter above the subgrade elevation
Explanation: Clearing and grubbing removes vegetation and organic root mass that would decay, create voids, or prevent uniform compaction. Stumps and major roots are excavated to specified depths so embankment and subgrade perform uniformly under aircraft loads.
4Unsuitable material discovered in the runway subgrade should generally be:
A.Left in place and paved over to save time
B.Undercut and replaced or reworked as directed to produce a stable, compactable foundation
C.Covered with geotextile only, with no densification
D.Mixed with liquid asphalt at the subgrade surface
Explanation: Organic, wet, frozen, or otherwise unstable soils cannot reliably support base and pavement. Standard practice is to undercut to competent material and replace with approved fill, or rework/dry/stabilize as the engineer directs, then recompact and retest.
5Blue tops on an airport grading job are primarily used to:
A.Mark underground cable depths only
B.Provide finished grade reference stakes for subgrade or base elevations
C.Identify temporary runway closure Xs
D.Indicate temporary fence locations
Explanation: Blue tops (grade stakes) mark the design elevation of the finished subgrade or intermediate layer so equipment operators and checkers can cut/fill accurately. Survey control from them keeps longitudinal and cross-slope grades within tolerance.
6Under OSHA excavation rules commonly applied on sitework, spoil piles and equipment generally must be kept at least how far from the edge of an excavation?
A.6 inches
B.2 feet
C.10 feet
D.25 feet
Explanation: OSHA requires excavated material and equipment to be kept at least 2 feet from the excavation edge, or retained so they cannot fall in or surcharge the walls. This reduces cave-in risk and keeps the edge clear for workers and shoring.
7A trench 4 feet deep on the airfield requires a safe means of egress so that no worker travels more than how far laterally to reach it?
A.10 feet
B.15 feet
C.25 feet
D.50 feet
Explanation: OSHA 29 CFR 1926.651 requires a ladder, ramp, stairway, or other safe egress in trenches 4 feet or deeper, located so lateral travel does not exceed 25 feet. The rule ensures rapid exit if conditions change.
8For airport embankments, material is typically placed in lifts primarily to:
A.Reduce the need for compaction equipment
B.Allow uniform compaction throughout the full fill depth
C.Increase the plastic limit of the soil
D.Eliminate moisture testing
Explanation: Thin, controlled lifts let rollers densify the full thickness of each layer. Thick dumps leave soft bottoms and density failures. Specs set maximum loose lift thickness based on equipment and material type.
9What is the main function of an underdrain system installed under or beside airfield pavement?
A.To heat the pavement in winter
B.To intercept and remove subsurface water that would weaken base and subgrade
C.To carry aircraft fuel spills to the runway end
D.To replace surface crown drainage entirely
Explanation: Underdrains lower the water table and remove seepage from pavement structure layers so base and subgrade stay strong. Saturated support leads to pumping, frost damage, and early pavement failure. Surface drainage still handles runoff from the pavement surface.
10Silt fence on an airport sitework project is primarily intended to:
A.Replace permanent storm sewers
B.Trap sediment and reduce erosion leaving the disturbed area
C.Serve as aircraft security fencing
D.Mark the runway object free area permanently
Explanation: Temporary silt fence intercepts sheet flow and settles out sediment from disturbed soils until permanent stabilization is in place. It is an erosion and sediment control BMP, not a structural or security fence.

About the AL Runway Exam

The Alabama Runway Contractor Examination is a classification trade examination administered by PSI for the Alabama Licensing Board for General Contractors. The official open-book exam has 30 questions, a 70% (21 of 30 correct) passing standard, and 75 minutes allowed. PSI examination fee is $96 per attempt (bulletin updated 1/23/26). This English-language MCQ bank is a study aid for the trade knowledge on the official content outline; it is not an official PSI form, does not replace the required Business & Law exam for primes, and is not a substitute for board-approved experience or the official open-book examination.

Questions

30 scored questions

Time Limit

75 minutes

Passing Score

70%

Exam Fee

$96 (PSI Services LLC (for Alabama Licensing Board for General Contractors))

AL Runway Exam Content Outline

50%

Runways

Runway pavement construction

33%

Sitework

Airfield sitework

10%

FAA Regulations

FAA airfield construction requirements

7%

Lighting

Airfield lighting coordination

How to Pass the AL Runway Exam

What You Need to Know

  • Passing score: 70%
  • Exam length: 30 questions
  • Time limit: 75 minutes
  • Exam fee: $96

Keys to Passing

  • Work through all 100 available questions
  • Review every answer and explanation
  • Track weak areas and revisit them
  • Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

AL Runway Study Tips from Top Performers

1Study only the approved references listed for your classification in the current PSI Alabama General Contractors bulletin
2Practice open-book navigation with permanent tabs and indexes before test day
3Drill OSHA 29 CFR 1926 topics that appear across nearly every trade outline
4Work quantity takeoff and plan-reading problems under timed conditions
5Confirm Board eligibility and classification scope on genconbd.alabama.gov before scheduling with PSI

Frequently Asked Questions

How many questions are on the AL Runway exam?

The official PSI trade examination has 30 scored questions (plus possible experimental items). Passing is 70% (21 of 30 correct) within 75 minutes.

How much does the AL Runway exam cost?

PSI lists $96 per examination registration for this Alabama general contractor classification exam (Candidate Information Bulletin updated 1/23/26). License application fees to the Board are separate.

Is the Alabama specialty contractor exam open book?

Yes. PSI administers these classification exams as open book. Only the bulletin-listed approved references are allowed; temporary tabs like Post-it notes are prohibited.

Do I still need the Business and Law exam?

Prime contractor applicants must also pass the Alabama Business & Law examination (50 questions, 70%, 120 minutes). Reciprocity may waive a trade exam in some cases but does not waive Business & Law.