Questions for Oral + Flight Test Flashcards
What documents must be in your possession when you are pilot-in-command of a glider?
Both an FAA pilot certificate and photo ID (driver’s license, State or military ID, passport…). Must be presented upon request by any official representing FAA, NTSB, TSA or any Federal, State or local law enforcement entity.
If you move to a new address, must you notify FAA in writing of your change in address?
Yes, within 30 days.
Is your Private Pilot Glider license permanent?
Yes, unless it is surrendered, revoked, or the pilot dies.
Can a private pilot share expenses?
Yes, but cannot fly for hire.
When can a private pilot charge for flights?
When the money charged is given to an approved charity.
What are the medical requirements for Private Pilot Glider?
The pilot must sign a statement stating that they have no known medical defect which would make them unfit to fly.
Is a Third Class Airman’s Medical Certificate necessary to fly as PIC of a glider?
No
Do the FARs require that every flight be logged?
No
What flights must be logged in order to carry passengers in a glider?
At least 3 TOs and landings in a glider preceding 90 days. A biennual flight review (BFR) must also have been accomplished and logged within the preceding 24 months.
Even if you never carry pax when you fly, must you have had and logged a BFR within the preceding 24 months to fly a glider as PIC?
Yes
What flights must be logged in order to take an FAA Practical Test?
The minimum experience requirements for such a test, as specified in Part 61 of the FARs.
What flights must be logged to fly a glider as PIC?
A flight review (BFR in accord with FAR 61.56) must have been accomplished and logged within the preceding 24 months. If you carry a passenger, you must also have accomplished and logged at least 3 TOs and landings in a glider within the preceding 90 days.
What are the minimum requirements for a glider pilot Flight Review (Part 61.56 BFR)?
A min of one hour ground instruction and min one hour of flight instruction/at least 3 flights.
When does a Flight Review expire?
At the end of the 24th month after the BFR is completed.
What flight information should be logged when making a pilot logbook entry?
- Date, duration of flight, place, type of glider flown, N-number of glider flown, and type of experience (PIC or dual).
Must you have your pilot logbook in your possession every time you fly?
No
What documents must be in the glider to be legal for flight?
AROW: Airworthiness certificate, Registration certificate, Operating limitations, Weight and balance information.
Is an Airworthiness Certificate permanent?
Yes.
What information is on the Registration certificate?
The name and address of the owner of the glider.
What are the acceptable ways that Operating Limits can be aboard?
Placard, airspeed indicator markings, or glider operating manual.
What are the required operating limits of the glider?
Max ground launch and aerotow speeds, maneuvering speed, rough air speed, and never exceed speed.
Where is the authoritative information regarding the operating limits of a glider found?
In the manufacturer’s handbook.
What are the acceptable ways that Weight and Balance information can be abord?
Placards or the operating manual.
Why is flight unsafe if the CG is out of aft limits?
Lowering the nose to recover from a stall may be difficult or impossible, leading to loss of control of the glider.
Why is flight unsafe if the CG is out of forward limits?
It may be difficult or impossible to raise the nose of the glider particularly during landing.
What 2 conditions must be satisfied when solving weight and balance problems?
Weight of the loaded glider must be at or below the max gross weight and CG must be within the manufacturer’s specified limits.
What inspections must be performed on a glider operated commercially?
Annual inspection and 100-hour inspection.
Who can perform an Annual Inspection
An Authorized Inspector (IA).
Must these inspections be logged?
Yes, in the glider’s airframe logbook.
Who is responsible for determining in the glider is in airworthy condition?
The pilot-in-command.
Who is responsible for maintaining a glider in airworthy condition?
The ownder.
What is a METAR?
Meteorological Aerodrome Reports. A routine aviation weather report.
Decode the following METAR:
METAR KRNO 290456Z AUTO 27016G21KT 10SM SCT100 16/M02 A3001
Metar report for Reno, NV airport, 29th day of the month at 0456 Zulu, Automated weather report. Wind from 270deg true at 16 gusting 21 knots. Visibility 10 statute miles with scattered clouds at 10,000ft AGL, temperature 16deg C, dewpoint -2deg C. Altimeter 30.01 inHg.
What is a TAF?
Terminal Aerodrome Forecast.
Decode the following TAF:
KMSP 241139Z 241212 15007KT 5SM BR SCT015 BKN040 FM1600 16011KT 6SM HZ BKN040 FM2300 14012G20KT P6SM BKN120 FM0300 11010KT P6SM -SHRA OVC040 FM0900 07008KT 4SM -RA OVC020
Minneapolis-St Paul Airport, issued on the 24th day of the month at 1139 Zulu, Valid from 1200Z on the 24th day to 1200Z on the 25th day:
From 1200Z, Wind from 150deg at 7knots, Visibility 5 statute miles in mist, Scattered clouds at 1500ft, broken clouds at 4000ft.
From 1600Z, Wind from 160deg at 11knots, Vis 6sm in haze, broken cloud layer at 4000ft.
from 2300Z, Wind from 140deg with 12 gusting 20knots, Vis greater than 6sm, broken cloud layer at 12000ft.
From 0300Z, Wind from 110deg at 10knots, Vis greater than 6sm, light rainshowers, overcast at 4000ft.
from 0900Z, Wind from 70deg at 8knots, Vis 4sm, light rain, overcast at 2000ft.
What is an FA?
An Area Forecast is a forecast of VFR clouds and weather conds over an area as large as the size of several states. Must be used in conjunction with IFR bulletin.
Decode the following FA excerpt:
MN…AGL SCT-BKN040 BKN090 TOP 170. OCNL -SHRA. NRN THIRD… AFT 07Z AGL SCT-BKN015 CIG BKN040. AREAS VIS 3-5SM -RA -SN. OTLK… VFR.
Minnesota area (altitudes given in feet AGL) 4000ft scattered to broken, ceiling 9000ft broken, 17000ft broken. Occasional light rainshowers. Northern third, after 0700Z, 1500 scattered to broken with ceiling at 4000 broken, scattered areas with Vis 3-5sm, light rain and light snow. Outlook is VFR.
What cloud heights (MSL vs AGL) are FAs?
Cloud heights are normally MSL in the western and mountainous states, while AGL is used mainly in the central and eastern states. Thus, 10,000ft broken clouds in Utah and Nevada means that cloudbases are mostly below mountain top level and it is not a very good soaring day. while 10,000ft clouds in Minnesota might be a good day for soaring.
What is an FD?
Winds and temperature aloft forecast.
Decode the following FD excerpt:
3000 6000 9000 12000
2124 2524+09 2630+02 2640-06
At 3000ft, Winds from 210deg at 24kts. At 6000ft, winds from 250deg at 24kts and 9deg C. At 9000ft, winds from 260deg at 30kts and 2deg C. At 12000ft, winds from 260deg at 40kts and -6deg C.
What is a significant weather prog chart?
A prog chart forecasts cloud cover, turbulence, and freezing level. Prog charts also predict the location of fronts and high/low pressure systems.
What information is shown on a radar summary chart?
The location of precipitation radar echoes and their coverage, movement, and tops. Precipitation type and intensity are also identified.
What information is shown on a surface analysis chart?
Fronts, pressure systems, isobars, wind direction and velocity, temperature and dewpoint.
What information is shown on a weather depiction chart?
Areas of VFR, marginal VFR, and IFR weather. Also shown are visibility, ceiling height and sky coverage.
How are PIREPS files?
By radio to the nearest flight service facility or by telephone after landing. In flight, you can use FSS Flight Watch (EFAS 122.00MHz). On land, call 1-800-WX-BRIEF.
What useful information do PIREPs contain?
Weather observations which would otherwise not be available to ground-based personnel.
What does UA mean in weather report coding?
UA means PIREP
Decode this UA:
DEC UA /OV DEC /TM 1236 /FLDURD/TP LR35 /RM +/-5KTS ON FINAL
Pilot report, Decatur Illinois: Over Decatur / time 1236Zulu / flight level: during descent / type: Learjet 35 / Report: airspeed fluctuating +/- 5 knots on final approach (low level wind shear warning).
SIGMET
Significant Meteorological Information. Advisories of nonconvective weather that is potentially hazardous to all aircraft. Issues for severe icing, sever or extreme turbulence, or clear air turbulence, dust storms or sandstorms lowering surface or in-flight vis to below 3 miles. Convective SIGMETs are issued in the conterminous US for the following:
1. Severe thunderstorms (sfc winds >= 50kts and/or hail >= 3/4in dia)
2. Tornadoes
3. Embedded t-storms
4. A line of t-storms
5. T-storms producing precipitation >= a VIP level 4 affecting +40% of an area over 3000 sq.miles.
Convective SIGMET implies sever or greater turbulence, severe icing, and low level wind shear.
AIRMET
Airman’s Meteorological Information. Advisories of significant weather phenomena but describe conds at intensities lower than those which require the issuance of SIGMETs. Intended for dissemination to all pilots in preflight and in flight to enhance safety. Issued for moderate icing, moderate turbulence, sustained sfc winds +30kts, widespread area of IFR and extensive mountain obscuration.
How are SIGMETs and AIRMETs disseminated?
By Flight Service Stations
Decode the following SIGMET:
BOS 021340 SIGMET VICTOR 1 VALID UNTIL 021740 ME NH MA VT RI CT AND CSTL WTRS…FROM MPV TO BGR TO ACK TO BDR TO MPV… MOD TO OCNL SEV TURB BLW 070. LLWS POTENTIAL OVR RGN. CONDS EXP TO DVLP 14-15Z CONTG BYD 1740Z.
Boston SIGMET Victor 1 on 2nd day at 1340Z valid until 1740Z. For Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Vermont, Rhode Island, Connecticut, and coastal waters. Montpelier VT, Bangor ME, Nantucket MA, Bridgeport VT, and back to Montpelier (area on map)… moderate to occasional severe turbulence below 7000ft. Low level wind shear potential over region. Conditions expected to develop from 1400-1500Z continuing beyond 1740Z.
Decode the following convective SIGMET:
MKCC WST 281155 CONVECTIVE SIGMET 55C VALID UNTIL 1355Z
MO KS FROM 60N MKC 20NW MKC30SSE SLN LINE SEV TS 20 NM WIDE MOV FROM 31025KT. TOPS TO FL440. HAIL TO 1IN…WIND GUSTS TO 50KT POSS.
Convective SIGMET 55c issued on the 28th day at 1155Z. Valid until 1355Z in Missouri and Kansas. Sigmet from 60 nm north of Kansas City to 20 nm northwest of Kansas City to 30 nm SSE of Saline, KS. The sigmet is for a line of sever thunderstorms 20nm wide moving from 310deg at 25kts. Tops to flight level 440. Hail to 1in (dia), wind gusts to 50kts possible.
Decode the following AIRMET:
CHIT WA 280745 AIRMET TANGO UPDT 1 FORTUB VALID UNTIL 281400 AIRMET TURB…NE KS IA MO FROM IOW TO COU TO LBL TO HLC TO OVR TO IOW OCV=NL MOD TURB BLW 060 DUE TO INCRSG SWRLY LOW MID LEVEL FLOW. CONDS CONTG BYD 14Z…ENG 16-18Z
AIRMET Tango update #1 for turbulence, valid until 28th day at 0745Z Area covers the states… Occasional moderate turbulence below 6000ft due to increasing southwesterly low to mid level flow. Conditions continuing beyond 1400z but ending bw 16-1800z.
NOTAMS
Notices to airmen.
What kind of information is available through NOTAMS?
A broad array of info which may be useful to pilots. Includes notices of airshows, runway closings, TFRs…
Wind-Shear Reports
Warn pilots of potentially hazardous wind shear which may affect airspeed during approach to landing. Significant wind shear may have substantial affect on glide angle of glider, airspeed, and glide angle over the ground.
What is pressure lapse rate?
The reduction in barometric pressure that occurs with altitude increase in the atmosphere.
What is the approximate pressure lapse rate in the lowest portion of the atmosphere?
From sea level to roughly 14,000ft MSL, approximately 1inch of barometric pressure is lost per thousand ft of ascent.
What is the barometric pressure at sea level in the ICAO Standard Atmosphere?
29.92 in Hg
What are temperature lapse rates?
Decrease in temperature with increasing altitude above sea level.
What is the temperature at sea level in the ICAO Standard Atmosphere?
59deg F or 15deg C
What is the temperature lapse rate in the ICAO Standard Atmosphere?
3.5deg F per thousand ft of ascent.
What is the dry adiabatic lapse rate useful for?
It tells us how much a rising parcel of air will cool as it ascents. The cooling occurs as a result of reduced atmospheric pressure at increasing altitudes.
What is the dry adiabatic rate of cooling for a rising parcel of dry air?
5.4deg F per thousand ft of ascent.
Why is the temperature-dewpoint convergence rate useful?
It allows us to predict the height of cumulus cloudbases.