Airmen Certification Standards

Question 1

(Preflight Preparation)

What are the eligibility requirements to become a private pilot?

Answer 1

-Must speak and write English.
-Must be over the age of 17.
-Valid and current medical certificate.

Question 2

(Preflight Preparation)

Which documents must you have with you for your private pilot checkride?

Answer 2

-Valid photo ID. Passports are okay.
-Pilot Certificate.
-Current Medical Cert. or Basic Med Cert.
-IACRA form filled out and endorsed.
-FTN and application number
-Airmen knowledge
-Logbook with instructor endorsement

-Review the aircraft maintenance records.
-Have the cross country flight plans ready.

AC61-65H covers the requirements as well.

3 hours of flight time within the previous 2 months

Question 3

(Preflight Preparation)

Which documents must you have with you to exercise private pilot privileges?

Answer 3

CLIMB

Certificate (Private Pilot)
Logbook
ID
Medical Certificate
Biannual Flight Review

Question 4

(Preflight Preparation)

What privileges and limitation apply to private pilots?

Answer 4

-Can be pilot in command of an aircraft and carry passengers.

-Acting as PIC for a charitable flight.

-Towing a glider or banner.

-Giving an aircraft sale demo flight.

-May not carry passengers for compensation or hire. Unless:
Common purpose for the travel and both/all are paying their fair share. (Ex. Lunch trip or visiting family.)

-May be reimbursed for search and rescue ops but not time.

FAR - 61.113 (Add more privileges later.)

Question 5

Does a private pilot certificate expire?

Answer 5

No

They can be suspended or revoked though.

Recency and currency to fly however:

PIC during the day:
-3 T/O’s and landings in the preceding 90 days.
-Sole manipulator of controls.
-Same A/C Category, Class, and Type rating.
-Full stop landings for tailwheels.

PIC during the night:
-3 T/O’s to a full stop in the preceding 90 days.
-Between the 1 hour after sunset and 1 hour before sunrise.
-Sole manipulator of the controls.
-Same A/C Category, Class, and Type rating.

Additionally:
A flight review must be completed every 24 calendar months. This involves:
-1 hour of ground training.
-1 hour of flight training.
-CFI must endorse logbook.
-Practical test for another certificate can substitute for a flight review.

Question 6

What are the classes, privileges, and limitations, of medical certificates?

Answer 6

3 classes:
-1st class
-2nd class
-3rd class

1st class:
-Allows you to exercise PIC privileges of an ATP Cert under part 121.
-Expiration - Under 40:
12th calendar month
-Expiration - Over 40:
6th calendar month

2nd class:
-Allows second in command privileges of an ATP cert under part 121
-Some airline and general commercial operations.
-Expiration - Under 40:
12th calendar month
-Expiration - Over 40:
12th calendar month

3rd class:
-Exercise the privilege of private, recreational, or student pilot. No flying for compensation or for hire.
-Expiration - Under 40:
60th calendar month
-Expiration - Over 40:
24th calendar month

Question 7

What is Basic Medical?

Answer 7

-Allows a pilot who had a valid medical after July 15, 2006 to exercise many of the same privileges offered by a 3rd class medical cert. Think of basic med as a 3rd class cert lite edition.

-must have a physical exam every four years and the physician must fill out the FAA paperwork.

-Must complete training every 2 years.

Can fly VFR or IFR in a covered aircraft with a maximum takeoff weight of under 6,000 pounds. 6 seats or fewer. can’t fly faster than 250 IAS or above FL180. Cannot fly compensation or for higher.

Question 8

(Preflight Preparation)

What do category, class, and type mean. In regards to aircraft?

Answer 8

Category:
-Means whether the aircraft in question is an airplane, glider, helicopter, hot air balloon, etc.

Class:
based on performance and design characteristics. Single engine land, multi engine land, single engine sea, and multi engine sea.

Type:
- Points directly to a specific make and model of aircraft. Only required for an aircraft 12,000 pounds or higher. Turbojet powered as well.

Question 9

(Preflight Preparation)

If a pilot changes their permanent mailing address, how long do they have to update the FAA?

Answer 9

30 days

Question 10

(Airworthiness Requirements)

What are the documents that must be onboard the aircraft before flight?

Answer 10

ARROW

Airworthiness Cert (Must be placed in view of passengers)

Registration Cert (Proof the aircraft is registered with the FAA. Expires every 7 years)

Radio operators Cert (only required for international operations)

Operating limitations (POH) FAR 91.9

Weight and Balance (POH)

Question 11

(Airworthiness Requirements)

When will an aircraft registration certificate expire?

Answer 11

7 years

Question 12

(Airworthiness Requirements)

Does an Airworthiness Certificate ever expire?

Answer 12

Remains valid as long as the aircraft meets its approved type design; is in a condition for safe operation; and maintenance, preventive maintenance, and alterations are performed in accordance 14CFR parts 21, 43, and 91.

No it doesn’t expire. For the airworthiness certificate to remain valid, the owner or operator needs to perform all maintenance and any modifications to FAA standards and be properly documented.

Question 13

(Airworthiness Requirements)

What is preventive maintenance and who can perform it?

Answer 13

Sport, Recreational, or Private pilots and above can perform preventive maintenance.

The FAA definition of preventive maintenance is:
simple or minor preservation operations and the replacement of small standard parts not involving complex assembly operations.

Any work performed must be done to the same performance expectation of an aircraft mechanic.

FAR part 43 has a very detailed list of all the preventive maintenance that can be done.

All preventive maintenance needs to be documented in the maintenance logbook.

Question 14

(Airworthiness Requirements)

What is the difference between AFM and POH?

Answer 14

Both AFM and POH satisfy the operating limitations documents necessary to have on board the aircraft.

The AFM or POH used must have the specific serial number and registration of the particular aircraft for it to be considered to be an approved FAA flight manual.

Question 15

(Airworthiness Requirements)

Who is responsible for ensuring that an aircraft is maintained in an airworthy condition?

Answer 15

The owner or operator is responsible for the maintenance of any aircraft.

Before any flight it is the PIC who is responsible to deem an aircraft as airworthy.

Question 16

(Airworthiness Requirements)

What are the required aircraft inspections?

Answer 16

AAV1ATE

Airworthiness Directives

Annual Inspection (12 calendar months)

VOR Very high frequency omni directional range. (only required for IFR)

100 Hour (For hire) an annual inspection can substitute for a 100 hour.

Altimeter. (91.411) only needed during IFR.

Transponder (24 calendar months)

ELT (12 calendar months)
-half the battery has been used.
-1 hour cumulative use.

Question 17

(Airworthiness Requirements)

Can you over fly an annual or a 100 hour inspection?

Answer 17

yes a 100 hour can be overflown by 10 hours. However, the flight in question must be to get to an area where the inspection will take place.

An annual requires a special flight permit to overfly. also known as a ferry permit from a FSDO. allows an aircraft that is safe to fly but in a legally unairworthy condition to make it to a location where the inspection can be performed.

Question 17

(Airworthiness Requirements)

What different kinds of Airworthiness Directives are there?

Answer 17

Emergency AD: Require immediate action by an owner or operator

1 time AD: These are AD’s that once complied with are no longer further obligations.

Recurring AD: These must be complied with at specified intervals.

Special Airworthiness Bulletins are similar to AD’s but are not regulatory.

Should be addressed by the maintenance team. Pilots should keep an eye out though.

Question 18

(Airworthiness Requirement)

Do you need to have an ELT in the airplane today?

Answer 18

Almost always.

ELT’s are not required:
-Aircraft that can only carry one person.
-Aircraft operated by scheduled air carriers.
-Aircraft participating in training exercises within 50 nautical miles of an airport.
-Aircraft involved in flight operations for design testing.
-Brand new aircraft.
-Aircraft involved in flight operations for applying chemicals and other substances for agricultural purposes.

Question 19

(Airworthiness Requirement)

When does an ELT battery need to be replaced or recharged?

Answer 19

-1 hour cumulative use
-Expired battery
-50% of the battery has been used

Question 20

(Airworthiness Requirement)

What equipment are you required to have in the plane for todays flight?

Answer 20

ATOMATOFLAMES (Daytime VFR)

-Airspeed indicator
-Tachometer
-Oil pressure gauge
-Manifold pressure gauge
-Altimeter
-Temperature gauge (needed for each air cooled engine)
-Oil temperature gauge
-Fuel gauge for each tank
-Landing gear position indicator
-Anti-collision light
-Magnetic compass
-ELT
-Seat belts

FLAPS (Night VFR)

-Fuses
-Landing light
-Anti-collision light
-Position indicator lights
(Red on the left, Green on the right, white on the tail.)
-Source of power

Note that FLAPS is in addition to ATOMATOFLAMES at night.

Question 21

(Airworthiness Requirements)

What is a Minimum Equipment List?

Answer 21

MEL is a list of equipment and instruments that can be inoperative on a specific aircraft type without compromising safety.

Question 22

(Airworthiness Requirements)

Can an aircraft owner change an MEL?

Answer 22

Yes

MEL’s are not set in stone. Can be changed, but the new MEL must be sent for approval by the FAA.

Question 23

(Weather)

What are the standard pressure and temperature values for sea level?

Answer 23

ISA (International Standard Atmosphere)

Pressure: 29.92
inches of mercury pressure at sea level.
Pressure: 1013.25
millibars pressure at sea level

Temperature: 15 degrees Celsius or 59 degrees Fahrenheit.

Question 24

(Weather)

What are the layers of the atmosphere aircraft fly in?

Answer 24

Troposphere, Tropopause, and Stratosphere

The Tropopause acts as a weather stop in the majority of cases. This is because of the very stable conditions the layer possesses which doesn’t usually allow the temperatures to change. Anvil tops to cumulus clouds are indicators of the tropopause.
Note: Some serious thunderstorms punch through the tropopause.

Stratosphere temperatures are relatively stable and do not follow the lapse rate of 2 degree decrease per thousand feet gained. In fact the temperature starts to increase with altitude.

Question 25

(Weather)

What is the composition of the atmosphere?

Answer 25

78% Nitrogen 21% Oxygen 1% Other

Question 26

(Weather)

What causes weather?

Answer 26

Unequal heating of the Earth’s surface.
Uneven heating causes pressure differences. Hot air is less dense and makes for an area of low pressure. Cold air is more dense leading to areas of high pressure.

The Coriolis effect deflects the movement of air to the right in the northern hemisphere.

Heat exchange is also an answer.

Question 27

(Weather)

What are Isobars? What does it mean when Isobars are close together?

Answer 27

lines on weather charts that indicate areas with equal atmospheric pressure.

When Isobars are close together it means the bigger the difference in pressure in a given region. This translates to stronger winds.

Question 28

(Weather)

What type of clouds, precipitation, or weather would you expect from stable/unstable air?

Answer 28

Stable air: Usually accompanied by strato-form clouds, relatively poor visibility, smooth air (little or no turbulence), and steady/continuous precipitation.

Unstable air: Usually forms cumulo-form clouds or other cloud types with vertical development (Ex. thunderstorms), visibility is good or even very good, Turbulence is usually found, precipitation is showery.

Question 29

(Weather)

What are the general characteristics of low and high pressure areas?

Answer 29

Low: The air converges inward and up in a counterclockwise motion. Higher pressure air flows into a low pressure area to replace the air that moves upwards. This makes for unstable conditions, as the air rises it creates more clouds as moisture cools down and brings with it a higher chance for precipitation.

High: The airmass descends spreads outwards and rotates in a clockwise motion. High pressure areas generally have dry and stable air.

Note: When flying go with the direction of the airmass. It will boost the groundspeed of the flight.

Question 30

(Weather)

What conditions must be present for a thunderstorm to form?

Answer 30

1. Unstable atmosphere. Temp is decreasing faster than normal with altitude. Faster than 2 degrees per 1,000 feet.
2. Presence of a lifting force. Ex. heating from below or frontal lifting then there is Orographic lifting.
3. Presence of moisture. As an air parcel saturated with moisture rises the water vapor within the parcel condenses. With enough condensation nuclei a cloud will form. The cloud continues to climb until the parcel of air reaches a point of temperature equilibrium with the surrounding air. This often happens at the Tropopause, since the air stops getting colder.

Question 31

(Weather)

What are the three stages of a thunderstorm?

Answer 31

1. Developing: There are only updrafts feeding the storm
2. Mature: precipitation marks the mature stage. There are updrafts and downdrafts.
3. Dissipating: When downdrafts overpower the updrafts the thunderstorm enters the dissipating stage. Downdrafts in the dissipation stage can cause windspeeds of over 100ft and hour. Microbursts can even be 150ft per hour.

Rule of thumb with thunderstorms is to stay 20 nautical miles away from a thunderstorm.

Question 32

(Weather)

What is windshear? Why is it an operational hazard?

Answer 32

Wind shear is a sudden drastic change in wind speed or direction over a small area.

(Low level wind shear occurs within 2,000 feet of the Earth’s surface). If the wind speed changes at least 10 knots per hundred feet of elevation and this layer of shear is at least 200 feet in thickness it is considered low level wind shear.

Likely to encounter wind shear near thunderstorms, frontal systems, and temperature inversions where the upper winds are greater than 25 knots.

In the case of thunderstorms you will encounter convective wind shear when near downdrafts.
When a downdraft hits the ground it fans out. An aircraft depending on the approach will either hit performance adding headwinds or performance decreasing tailwinds (the tailwind takes away the relative wind that the wings are using for lift).

Question 33

(Weather)

Name some types of fog and where they can be found.

Answer 33

Radiation Fog: Clear calm night in a low lying area. Often found in temperature inversions. Ground fog is a certain type of radiation fog. Clears in a couple hours after dawn.

Advection Fog: Occurs when moist warm air moves over colder land or water and condenses into fog. Often found on coastlines when sea breezes bring warm ocean air onto colder land. Can last for days. Requires wind to form, if it is over 15kts the fog tends to lift and form low lying stratos clouds.

Upslope Fog: Occurs when moist stable air is forced up a slope such as a mountain range. When the warm moist air cools to its due point it forms fog. Requires wind and can last for days. Can reach very high.

Precipitation Fog: Occurs when rain falls through cold air, causing water to evaporate and condense into fog.

Steam Fog: Occurs when cold dry air moves over warm water. The water evaporates and cools as it rises. This forms fog. often called sea smoke. Needs very cold conditions of -25 degrees Fahrenheit to form. Is associated with icing and turbulence.

Frontal Fog: Can be found around frontal zones. One example is when rain falls into a cold stable airmass raising the dew point. Frontal fog can also be formed through interactions between warm and cool airmasses, warm and cool ground temperatures, and increased moisture levels.

Freezing Fog: The temperature is so low that the water vapor present immediately crystalizes into ice.

Question 34

(Weather)

What is icing and how does it affect aircraft performance?

Answer 34

Structural and induction

Structural Icing: Icing that accumulates on the aircraft surface like wing and horizontal stabilizer leading edges or propellers. Icing needs freezing temperatures and moisture to be present.

Types of ice:

Clear: often clear and smooth. Caused by supercooled water hitting the aircraft and freezing. This is the most dangerous type of ice. Hard to see, thick, and it can run back from the leading edge of the wing. Generally forms when the temperature is between 0 and -10 degrees Celsius.

Rime: Can be found in slightly colder temperatures, usually -10 to -20 degrees Celsius. Rime ice is rough and white. Often found in stratus clouds.

Mixed (a combination of clear and mixed ice) The worst of both worlds.

Frost: Frost that forms on the wings while the aircraft is on the ground must be completely thawed before a flight can take place.

All ice that forms on the structure of an aircraft it will disturb the natural smooth airflow that is necessary to generate lift. Also creates extra drag. According to the AOPA a layer of ice no thicker than rough sandpaper can decrease lift by 30% and increase drag by as much as 40%. The stall speed can increase too.

Induction Icing: Ice that forms within the engine induction systems. Most commonly in carb. systems. Can also form in fuel injected systems.

Question 35

(Weather)

When planning your flight what information could you use to avoid icing?

Answer 35

The only way to avoid icing is to never approach or be in the conditions for icing by planning ahead. PIREPS, METARS and TAFS, and other weather data like airmets and sigmets.

Avoid visible moisture when the temperature is close to 0 degrees Celsius. Ice will not form without water and freezing temps.

Avoid flying through clouds.

Avoid freezing rain. It often occurs around warm fronts.

Question 36

(Weather)

How do you exit icing conditions should you find that your aircraft is accumulating ice?

Answer 36

Divert to an area of better weather. Descend and or climb to warmer temperatures. Slow the plane down to decrease ice accumulation.

Be gentle on the bank angle and use minimum flaps on landing.

Question 37

(Weather)

What kind of weather will you experience when flying near or through a warm front/cold front?

Answer 37

Warm Front:
-Slow moving
-Associated with a layer of stratiform clouds.
-Drizzly/steady rain in the warmer months.
-Snow or sleet in the winter.
-Poor visibility. Fog can form as well.
-Thunderstorms can form in warm fronts.

Cold front:

-Fast moving can travel between 30 and 60 miles per hour.
-Towering cumulus and cumulo nimbus clouds often form. Bringing thunderstorms, heavy rain, hail, and tornadoes.
-Winds are gusty and variable.
-Look out for squall lines ahead of the front.

Question 38

(Weather)

Can you use FIS-B to avoid thunderstorms?

Answer 38

No

FIS-B does not update fast enough to track thunderstorms reliably.

Question 39

(Weather)

What is a METAR and how often are they issued?

Answer 39

Meteorological Aerodrome Report is an hourly surface weather report at an airport.

Can be auto generated or hand generated.

If the weather changes faster than the regular hourly report than a SPECI is released.

Question 40

(Weather)

What would the letters G and V represent in the winds section of a METAR?

Answer 40

G= Gusty/Gusting

V=Variable
The wind direction changes more than 60 degrees.

Question 41

(Weather)

What does -TSRA mean in a METAR?

Answer 41

Thunderstorm with light rain.

Question 42

(Weather)

What is a PIREP? Why are they useful and where can you find them?

Answer 42

Weather reports generated by pilots while they are in flight.

Pilots usually give these reports to ATC while airborne. They can call them in when landed.

Inform pilots of conditions as the exist at present. Is not a forecast.

Question 43

(Weather)

What is a TAF?

Answer 43

Terminal Aerodrome forecast for a particular airport. 5SM radius of the airport in question. Generated 4 times a day.

Each TAF is valid 24 or 30 hours depending on the airport.

TAF is in Zulu time.

Question 44

(Weather)

What is an Airmet?

Answer 44

An airmet is an advisory of significant weather. Airmets are important for GA light aircraft in particular.

Issued every six hours.

Types of Airmet’s:

-Airmet Sierra. Defines areas of IFR or Mountain air weather.

-Airmet Tango. Defines areas of moderate turbulence. Winds up to 30 knots and wind shear not connected to convective activity.

-Airmet Zulu. Defines areas of moderate icing and freezing level heights.

Question 45

(Weather)

What is a Sigmet? How does it differ from a convective Sigmet?

Answer 45

Sigmets are areas of weather that are hazardous to all aircraft including airliners.

Sigmets include severe icing and turbulence not associated with thunderstorms, dust storms, or volcanic ash.

Valid for 6 hours

Question 46

(Weather)

What is a Convective Sigmet?

Answer 46

Convective Sigmets are associated with thunderstorms. They might include areas of turbulence, icing, or low level wind shear. Surface winds over 50kts or tornadoes.

Valid for 2 hours

Question 47

(Weather)

What are the ceiling and visibility criteria for the following flight rules categories (VFR, MVFR, IFR, LIFR)?

Answer 47

-VFR:
Ceiling greater than 3,000 AGL and/or visibility 5 miles.

-MVFR: (MarginalVFR)
Ceilings from 1,000-3,000 AGL and/or visibility between 3 and 5 statute miles.

-IFR:
Ceilings of 500-1,000 AGL and/or visibility from 1 to 3 statute miles.

-LIFR: (LowIFR)
Ceiling of less than 500 AGL or visibility of less than 1 statute mile.

Question 48

(Weather)

What are personal minimums?

Answer 48

A pilot’s own personal customized conditions that they feel comfortable or confident to fly in.

Question 49

(Weather)

What are some flight planning weather products that are available to pilots?

Answer 49

AviationWeather.gov

1800WXBrief.com

Aviation weather center

Flight service station

Question 50

(Weather)

What is a surface analysis chart?

Answer 50

A weather map that shows the conditions at the Earth’s surface at a specific time.

Published 3 times a day

Question 51

(Weather)