What is advised if a pilot is unsure of an ATC instruction?

• A. Ignore it and hope the next transmission clarifies.
• B. Ask for clarification or say 'say again.'
• C. Immediately file a report after flight.
• D. Rely on the autopilot to interpret instructions.

Answer: (B)

When a pilot is unsure of an ATC instruction, the priority is to confirm what was meant before acting. Asking for clarification using standard phraseology, such as “Say again,” is the safest and most reliable approach. This directly reduces the risk of misinterpreting critical details like altitude, heading, or speed and helps ensure correct separation from other traffic. If you don’t understand, you should prompt for repetition and, once the instruction is clear, read it back to confirm you have it exactly right. Relying on autopilot to interpret unclear instructions isn’t appropriate, and hoping for clarification later, or filing a postflight report, doesn’t address the immediate safety issue.