FAA Sport Pilot Airplane (SPA)Airspace and NavigationMedium
A pilot in Denver, Colorado (Mountain Standard Time, UTC−7) plans to depart on a cross-country flight at 1400 local time. What departure time should the pilot record in UTC (Zulu time) on the flight plan?
- A2100Z
- B1900Z
- C0700Z
- D2300Z
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: A. 2100Z
Mountain Standard Time is UTC−7, meaning UTC is 7 hours ahead of local time. Adding 7 hours to 1400 local gives 2100Z.
Why the other options are wrong
- B. This adds only 5 hours, an incorrect offset for MST.
- C. This subtracts 7 hours instead of adding, giving the wrong direction of conversion.
- D. This adds 9 hours, an incorrect offset for MST.
UTC (Zulu) Time Conversion
UTC is a standardized worldwide time reference used in aviation; local standard time zones are converted to UTC using a fixed hour offset.
- Mountain Standard Time = UTC−7
- Add the offset hours to convert local standard time to UTC
- During daylight saving time, offsets typically decrease by 1 hour
Memory trick: Add hours going toward Zulu, like flying east across time zones.