Chapter 1 - Certificates and Documents

Question 1

What are the eligibility requirements for a private pilot (airplanes) certificate? (14 CFR 61.103)

Answer 1

a. Be at least 17 years old
b. Be able to read, speak, write, and understand English
c. Hold a U.S. student pilot certificate, sport pilot certificate, or recreational pilot certificate
d. Hold at least a current Third Class medical certificate
e. Received the required ground and flight training endorsements.
f. Meet the applicable aeronautical experience requirements.
g. Passed the required knowledge and practical tests.

Question 2

What privileges and limitations apply to a private pilot? (14 CFR 61.113)

Answer 2

a. May not act as a PIC of an A/C carrying passengers or property for compensation or hire.
b. Nor may they act as a PIC for an A/C for compensation or hire
c. A private pilot –
i. May act as a PIC of an A/C for a business or employment if it is only incidental to that business or employment.
ii. May not pay less than the pro rata share of the operating expenses of a flight with passengers, providing costs only include fuel, oil, airport expenses, and/or rental fee’s
iii. May act as PIC of a charitable, nonprofit, or community event flight described in 14 CFR 91.146, if the sponsor and pilot comply with the requirements for that reg.
iv. May be reimbursed for the a/c operating costs that are directly related to search and location services. Must be sanctioned under the federal, state or local authorities that conduct the operations.
v. May demo an a/c in flight to a prospective buyer if the pilot is a salesman and has 200 hours logged.
vi. May act as PIC of and a/c towing a glider or unpowered ultralight vehicle provided they meet the requirements of 14 CFR 61.69
vii. May act as PIC for a production test flight in a light sport a/c intended for cert in the light sport category, must meet 14 CFR 61.113(h).

Question 3

What is a high performance a/c, and what must you do to act as a PIC of one?

Answer 3

a. Engine with over 200 HP
b. To act as PIC a pilot must have –
a. Received and logged ground and flight training by an authorized flight instructor in a high perf a/c, or in a sim that meets the requirements of the high perf a/c
b. Received and logged a one-time endorsement in logbook from an authorized instructor that certifies you are proficient to operate a high perf a/c

Question 4

What must a pilot have on his/her person to act as a Pilot crew member?

Answer 4

a. pilot cert
b. photo identification
c. a medical certificate

Question 5

What other types of a/c require specific training and logbook endorsements?

Answer 5

a. High Altitude Aircraft

b. Tail Wheel aircraft

Question 6

What is a high altitude a/c?

Answer 6

any a/c that has a service ceiling or maximum operating altitude above 25,000 feet MSL

Question 7

What is a complex a/c?

Answer 7

an a/c that has retractable gear, flaps, and cotrollable pitch prop
Also includes a/c with a full-authority digital engine control (FADEC)

Question 8

What must a pilot do to act as PIC of a complex a/c?

Answer 8

a. receive and logged ground and flight training from an authorized flight instructor
b. received a one-time endorsement from an authorized flight instructor

Question 9

With respect to cert, privileges, and limitations of airmen, define a “category”?

Answer 9

a broad classification of aircraft; i.e., airplane, rotorcraft, glider, ect.

Question 10

With respect to cert, privileges, and limitations of airmen, define a “class”?

Answer 10

a classification of a/c within a category having simular operating characteristics; i.e., single engine land, multi engine land, etc.

Question 11

With respect to cert, privileges, and limitations of airmen, define a “type”?

Answer 11

a specific make and basic model of a/c including modifications that do not change its handling or flight characteristics.

Question 12

What are the requirements to remain current as a day time private pilot?

Answer 12

a. biannual flight review (24 months)
b. to carry pax, must have 3 take offs and landings in the last 90 days in same category and class.
c. if tailwheel, landings must be to a full stop

Question 13

What are the requirements to remain current as a night time private pilot carrying pax?

Answer 13

3 t/o’s and landing within the preceding 90 days, from 1 hour after sunset to 1 hour before sunrise in the same category and class.

Question 14

What medical certificate is required to act as a private pilot?

Answer 14

Must hold at least a 3rd class medical

Question 15

What are the types of medicals and when do they expire?

Answer 15

1st class-
under 40: 12th month after exam
over 40: 6th month after exam

2nd class-
under 40:
over 40: 24th month after exam

3rd class-
under 40: 60th month after exam
over 40: 24th month after exam

Question 16

If a pilot changes his/her address how long do they have to notify the FAA Airmen Cert. Branch?

Answer 16

30 days

Question 17

What documents are required on board the a/c prior to flight?

Answer 17

Airworthiness
Registration
Radio cert (if int'l)
Owners Manual
Weight and Balance

Question 18

How can a pilot determine if his/her a/c is equipped with a Mode C altitude encoding transponder?

Answer 18

by referencing the current W&B and looking at the equipment list.

Question 19

Does an a/c registration have an expiration date?

Answer 19

yes, as of Oct. 31, 2010 specific registration dates have been established for all a/c registered before Oct. 31, 2010. All a/c registering after Oct. 10, 2010 will have an expiration after 36 months.

Question 20

Who is responsible for ensuring that an a/c is maintained in an airworthy condition?

Answer 20

Owner or operator

Question 21

After a/c inspections have been made and defects have been repaired, who is responsible for determining that the a/c is in an airworthy condition?

Answer 21

The PIC of that flight

Question 22

What records or documents should be checked to determine that the owner operator of an a/c has complied with all required inspections and A/D’s?

Answer 22

MX records, look for appropriate entries and sign off’s

Question 23

What regs apply concerning the operation of an a/c that has had alterations or repairs which may have substantially affected its operation in flight?

Answer 23

No person may operate or carry pax in any a/c that has substantial alterations until a pilot with at least a private pilots license:

a. flies the a/c
b. makes an operational check of the mx performed or alterations made
c. logs the flight in the a/c records

Question 24

What is an airworthiness certificate?

Answer 24

is issued by the FAA after an a/c has met all the requirements of 14 CFR Part 21, and is in a condition safe for operation. It is good for the life of the a/c or until it no longer meets the requirements of 14 CFR Part 21, or type A/D’s.

Question 25

Can a pilot conduct flight operations in an a/c with known inop equip?

Answer 25

yes, (1) operation with an MEL one can defer the item, (2) without an MEL as long as they are not essential for flight, 14 CFR 91.213(d)

Question 26

What are MEL’s?

Answer 26

Minimum Equipment List: precise listing of instruments, equipment, and procedures that allows the a/c to operate under specific conditions with inop equip.

Question 27

How is the deferral provision used?

Answer 27

It is a preflight provision that allows you to defer an item and release the a/c or ground the a/c and have mx done on it before returning it to flight, it is not an inflight provision

Question 28

What limitations apply to a/c operations being conducted using MEL’s?

Answer 28

Once an MEL is requested and issued it is mandatory to use the MEL for all mx deferrals.

Question 29

What inspections are required for a/c?

Answer 29

a. annual inspection

b. 100 hour inspection - if carrying person for hire or flight instruction

Question 30

If an a/c has been on schedule of inspection every 100 hours, under what condition may it continue to operate beyond the 100 hours without a new inspection?

Answer 30

the 100 hour limitation may be exceeded by not more than 10 hours while en route to a place where the inspection can be done. This time must be included in computing the next 100 hours of service time.

Question 31

What is the difference between an annual inspection and a 100 hour inspection?

Answer 31

No differences other than the annual requires an A&P with and Inspection Authorization, the 100 hour only requires that an A&P performs it.

Question 32

What does locating the required mx and inspection in the a/c and engine logbooks look like?

Answer 32

Annual inspection and applicable AD’s every 12 months
VOR Check if used every 30 days
100 hour inspection, if used for hire or flight instructing
Transponder tests and inspections every 24 calendar months
Emergency Location Transmitter, battery and operation condition inspected every 12 months

Question 33

What are some of the responsibilities that an a/c owner has pertaining to documents, inspections, and maintenance?

Answer 33

a. must have airworthiness cert, and a/c registration
b. maintain the a/c in an airworthy condition, comply with all AD’s
c. Ensure mx is properly recorded
d. keep up on the current regs concerning the operation of that a/c
e. notify the FAA Civil Aviation Registry immediately of any change of perm mailing address, or the sale or export of the a/c, or loss of citizenship
f. have current FCC radio station license if equipped with radios, including ELT, if operated outside the US.

Question 34

Define “preventative mx”?

Answer 34

simple or minor preservation operations and the replacement of small standard parts not including complex assembly operations. Certified private pilots may perform “preventative mx”

Question 35

What are “special flight permits” and when are they necessary?

Answer 35

may be issued for an a/c that may not currently meet applicable airworthiness requirements but is capable if safe flight.

Question 36

What are “special flight permits” issued for?

Answer 36

a. flying an a/c to a base where repairs, alterations, or mx is performed, or to storage.
b. delivering or exporting an a/c
c. production flight testing new production a/c
d. evacuating a/c from areas of impending danger
e. conducting customer demo flight in new production a/c that have completed production flights

Question 37

How are “special flight permits” obtained?

Answer 37

Must be obtained by the local FSDO or the Designated Airworthiness Representative.

Question 38

What are “Airworthiness Directives”?

Answer 38

medium for the FAA to notify a/c owners and other persons of unsafe conditions that may exist b/c of design defects, mx, or other causes, and to specify the conditions under which the product may continue to be operated. They are regulatory in nature and require mandatory compliance.

Question 39

Are Electronic Flight Bags (EFB) approved for use as a replacement for paper reference material in the cockpit?

Answer 39

Yes, during all phases of flight operations. It is recommended that secondary back up is carried for the flight.