Flight Planning

Question 1

Preflight Actions Checklist

Answer 1

(NWKRAFT)
N - NOTAMS
W - Weather (forecasted and current)
K - Known ATC delays
R - Runway lengths
A - Alternate airports
F - Fuel requirements
T - Takeoff/Landing distances

Question 2

Passenger Briefing Checklist

Answer 2

(SAFETY)
S - No smoking seatbelts/shoulder harness fastened for taxi/takeoff.
A - Air vent location, passenger comfort, all environmental controls.
F - Fire extinguisher, location and operation.
E - Exit doors; location and how to operate.
T - Traffic, scanning, spotting, notifying pilot.
Y - Your questions, no dumb questions.

Question 3

VFR Fuel Requirements

Answer 3

Day-time: Fuel to destination + 30 minutes flight time.
Night-time: Fuel to destination + 45 minutes flight time.

Question 4

VFR Cruising Altitudes

Answer 4

Magnetic Compass 0-179° - Odd thousand’ + 500’ MSL (3500’, 5500’, 7500’, etc)
Magnetic Compass 180-359° - Even thousand’ + 500’ MSL (4500’, 6500’, 8500’, etc)

Question 5

What does NOTAM stand for?

Answer 5

Notice to Airmen

Question 6

What is a NOTAM?

Answer 6

Time-critical aeronautical information that is either temporary or not known in advance to be printed on charts or in publications.

Question 7

What are the four types of NOTAMs

Answer 7

NOTAM(D)
FDC NOTAM
International NOTAM
Military NOTAM

Question 8

NOTAM(D)

Answer 8

Airport and navigation facilities, runway and taxiway closures, personnel or equipment near or crossing runways, airport lightning, etc.

Question 9

FDC NOTAM

Answer 9

Flight Data Center, amendments to published charts and publications, temporary flight restrictions, satellite-based systems, special notices.

Question 10

International NOTAM

Answer 10

Distributed to one or more countries. Published in ICAO format.

Question 11

Military NOTAM

Answer 11

Pertaining to the US armed forces; airports and navigation aids that are part of the National Airspace System

Question 12

Zulu Time

Answer 12

Universal Coordinated Time or UTC. All time zones are based on this reference. The entire world on one standard time.

Question 13

CFIT

Answer 13

Controlled Flight Into Terrain.
Unintentional flight into the ground/mountain/obstacle caused by inadequate situational awareness.

Question 14

Seatbelt Regulation

Answer 14

Everyone on board the aircraft must be fastened for taxiing, takeoff, and landing.

Question 15

Compass Terminology: Course

Answer 15

Actual path across the ground or the direction of intended flight.

Question 16

Compass Terminology: Heading

Answer 16

The direction the nose of the aircraft is pointing during flight measured from true north.

Question 17

Compass Terminology: True Course

Answer 17

(TC)
Intended path of the aircraft over the ground.

Question 18

Compass Terminology: True Heading

Answer 18

(TH)
Direction in which the nose of the aircraft points during flight.
True Course corrected for wind.

Question 19

Compass Terminology: Magnetic Heading

Answer 19

(MH)
True heading corrected for variation.

Question 20

Compass Terminology: Compass Heading

Answer 20

(CH)
Magnetic Heading corrected for deviation.

Question 21

Compass Terminology: Magnetic Course

Answer 21

(MC)
True Course corrected for variation.

Question 22

Compass Terminology: Magnetic Variation

Answer 22

Difference between magnetic north and true north.
VFR Sectional Charts are true north, while an aircraft’s compass uses magnetic north.

Question 23

Compass Terminology: Magnetic Deviation

Answer 23

The aircraft-specific magnetic compass error due to installation and the effect of the aircraft’s magnetic field on the compass.

Question 24

Compass Terminology: Isogonic Lines

Answer 24

Lines of equal magnetic variation shown on a VFR Sectional Chart

Question 25

Compass Terminology: Converting true north to magnetic north

Answer 25

(1) Determine the magnetic variation using a VFR Sectional Chart.
(2) True Course ± Magnetic Variation = Magnetic Course.
“West is best” so you add the magnetic variation.
“East is least” so you would subtract the magnetic variation.

Question 26

What is the purpose of a VFR flight plan?

Answer 26

Used to inform ATC about your planned flight.
The purpose of a flight plan is to activate rescue services if your flight plan is not closed.
Helps rescue works find your aircraft in an emergency.

Question 27

How do you file a VFR flight plan?

Answer 27

File by calling 1-800-WX-BRIEF, using 1800wxbrief.com or in the air via the radio frequency found on a VFR Sectional chart.

Question 28

Are VFR flight plans required?

Answer 28

VFR flight plans are not required by regulations.

Question 29

Minimum Safe Altitudes: Anywhere

Answer 29

An altitude allowing, if a power unit fails, an emergency landing can be executed without undue hazard to persons or property on the surface.

Question 30

Minimum Safe Altitudes: Congested Areas

Answer 30

1,000 feet above the highest obstacle within a horizontal radius of 2,000 feet.

Question 31

Minimum Safe Altitudes: Other than Congested Areas

Answer 31

500 feet above the surface, except over open water or sparsely populated areas.
In those cases, the aircraft may not be operated closer than 500 to any person, vessel, vehicle, or structure.

Question 32

Minimum Safe Altitudes: Wildlife Refuge Area

Answer 32

2000 feet AGL

Question 33

Right-of-way Rules: General

Answer 33

See and avoid other aircraft.

Question 34

Right-of-way Rules: In-distress

Answer 34

An aircraft in distress has the right-of-way over all other air traffic.

Question 35

Right-of-way Rules: Converging

Answer 35

When aircraft of the same category are converging, the aircraft to the other’s right has right-of-way.
If the aircraft are of different categories, the less maneuverable aircraft always has right-of-way.
(ex: Balloon has the right-of-way over any other category or aircraft.)

Question 36

Right-of-way Rules: Approaching Head-On

Answer 36

Each pilot of each aircraft shall alter their course to the right.

Question 37

Right-of-way Rules: Overtaking

Answer 37

The aircraft that is being overtaken has the right-of-way and the pilot performing the overtaking shall alter course to the right to pass.

Question 38

Right-of-way Rules: Landing

Answer 38

Aircraft on final approach to land have the right-of-way over all other aircraft in flight or operating on the surface.