Scenario-Based Questions Flashcards
Your good friend has requested you to fly as safety pilot in his retractable gear Piper Arrow while he practices flight by reference to instruments. What do regulations require for you to be able to do this
I must meet safety pilot requirements, currency requirements to carry passengers, and the requirements for a complex endorsement, including:
Hold at least a PPL with ASAL Must be endorsed to act as PIC in a complex airplane Hold a valid medical Met requirements of a flight review 3 T/O and LND in the past 90 days
What personal items will you take with you to ensure that your are legal for this flight, carrying me as your passenger
Pilot Cert
Photo ID
Current medical
These must be in the cockpit
Verify in Log book a flight review in the past 24 months
3 T/O and LND in the past 90 days
Tell me about the FAA Pilot Proficiency Program (WINGS)
Its and FAA and industry accident prevention initiative
based on the ideal that pilots who maintain proficiency are safer pilots
encourages on-going flight training and aviation education
accomplished in little bits throughout the year, encouraging pilots to fly in different seasons and different flight conditions
meets the flight review requirements of 61.56e as long as at least basic level WINGS is met within the past 24 months
website faasafety.gov
AD 616-91
Let’s talk about the plane, how do you know it is airworthy
An A/C airworthiness involves 3 different levels of verification:
The Airworthiness Cert proves that the aircraft was manufactured in compliance with Regulations
The maintenance technician having an Inspector Auth. certifies the airworthiness at least annually by the return to service statement upon completion of the annual inspection
The PIC certifies airworthiness, and is the final authority, before each flight with a thorough preflight inspection and inspection status review
Prove to me the airplane is airworthy for our flight today
Airworthiness Cert
Registration
POH
W&B
Annual inspection done in the past 12 months
100-h inspection if needed
Transponder in the past 24 months
ELT battery is current and the system was inspected within the past 12 months
AD’s are complied with
Outstanding maintenance has been checked and InOps process followed
The A/C has the instruments and equipment for for day VFR vs night VFR, preflight inspection has been completed, the A/C has been serviced and is in airworthy condition safe for this flight
You planned a cross-country. Show me your true course, and what items you considered when choosing this course
For extra credit show alt. courses that were not chosen as well
Terrain - and I considered circumnavigating extreme high terrain, or areas of dense forest with no possible emergency landing area
Checkpoint that are easy to see and identify
Nav and Comm Reception - considered alt. courses and/or altitudes for reliable reception
Airspace - avoid SUA and Class B
Weather avoidance
Immediately after takeoff, you’re 100’ AGL when your kneeboard falls onto the floor. You reach down to get it and suddenly become aware of a buffeting feeling. What should you be concerned about
Immediately get the nose down - reduce the AOA
Buffeting means the A/C is on the brink of an unintended stall without having sufficient alt. to recover
The distraction may also mean the A/C is not in coordinated flight which could lead to a spin
Beginning with takeoff, and along your true course until landing, talk me through the different airspace we will fly through, and what implications each has no our flight
Class D airspace extends to the blue dashed line - while in this area i must maintain 2 way radio with ATC
By the time I clear D i’ll be in class E maintain VFR cloud clearance and 3SM Vis assuming i’m above 700 AGL
If below 700 AGL then it’s class G where you must be clear of clouds and 1 mile vis
Further along the course i’ll be in Class E with a base of 1,200 AGL
Why did you choose this altitude
Terrain clearance - high enough to exceed min. safe alt. As a new pilot I will maintain at least 1,500 AGL
Cloud clearance - it meets the requirements
Direction of flight - complies with regulations
Airspace - stay clear of any airspace I’d rather not fly close to or into
Favorable winds - a suitable alt. that allows the most favorable ground speed
Allows me to see visual checkpoints easily
Best for A/C performance - true airspeed vs fuel burn
Personal minimums - this is an alt. I feel comfortable flying and allows safety margins
Looking at your nav log how did you calculate fuel requirements
Fuel required for start, runup and taxi Fuel for takeoff and climb The chosen power setting and fuel flow for the duration of cruise Fuel for descent and landing 30 min fuel reserve 30 min personal min. safety margin
You are required to prepare a nav log. Why is having a nav log important
All available information is organized on 1 piece of paper - good cockpit management
Provides a mental rehearsal and preparation for each aspect of the flight - that’s good SA
During flight it is used to monitor the plane
Verify ground speed and fuel consumption
Verify ETA to checkpoints and final destination
Helping me think and plan ahead
Helping to prevent me from getting lost
Reminding me of tasks (check fuel, ATIS, cancel flight plan etc)
Assisting in diversion to an alt. if needed
When planning a cross-country that will require a fuel stop, what factors do you feel are important in selecting an airport for a stop
Airport airspace - similar to experience/training
Runway - length and relation to the wind
Size of the airport - not too small but not so big that traffic is intimidating
Pilot support facilities (FSS, Wx station, hours of ops)
Amenities - restroom, loaner car, services, food
Price of fuel and payment method
Considering your calculated takeoff distance for our flight, how would that change if the outside air temperature was 20 warmer or 20 cooler
recalculate based on POH data for 20 degrees more or less and explain effect of density alt on performance for each flight phase
Are the runways you plan to use today suitable for use
Yes, using the T/O and LND charts the runways are long enough. As a new pilot I added 50% more margin to the T/O and Land distance for safety as my percision isn’t that great yet
During our flight today with whom will you communicate
Ground/Tower/Departure Unicom or Multicom Enroute Flight following FSS for Wx and Alt settings Destination Airport Comms
How did you obtain weather information for our flight today
Last night watched TV - not good for aviation but helps to hear the Wx discussion
DUAT and got an outlook briefing
DUAT for a standard briefing
Called FSS to check on a abbreviation
1h ago called FSS for an abbreviated Wx briefing
Tell me about the Wx along our flight
Pressure areas affecting weather
Fronts affecting Ws and their direction of movement
Ceiling, winds and vis at departure at several points en route and destination
Wind direction and speed at cruise alt
Sig or adverse Wx near the route or during possible flight time, and how it may affect the flight; it included a plan to escape a possible problem of this kind
NOTAMS
Tell me about 2 different weather charts that you used in preparing for our flight and how you used them
Surface analysis chart - to see the pressure areas, fronts, wind, local weather, and vis obstructions. It is transmitted every 3 hours and covers the country
Wx depiction chart - to get an overview of the surface conditions as derived from METAR and other surface observations. It gives me an overall picture of the Wx across the US. It is transmitted every 3h
Sig Wx Prognostic chart to see the forecast. The chart has four panels that include 12 and 24 hour forecasts. Charts are issued four times a day. The valid time is printed on each panel. The upper two panels show forecast significant weather, which may include turbulence, freezing levels, and IFR or MVFR Wx
Tell me about 2 different Wx forecasts that you used in preparing for our flight and how you used them
Area forecast to get the big picture about the general Wx in the area, what is causing the Wx, and how it may change during the upcoming 24h
TAF to get specific Wx for certain Wx reporting area along my route, and for how conditions at those airport may change. This allows me to evaluate if the clouds and vis will allow my flight to continue VFR. I could also find area of VFR in case I run into unforecasted Wx that I need to escape
Wind and temp aloft forecast with the wind direction and velocity, I found the most desireable alt. giving the best ground speed. I also used the temp aloft to determine probable alt. for clouds to form
How will you obtain updated weather information while enroute
Technology - ForeFlight to see what the weather was 15-20min ago
Listen to nearby AWOS/ASOS/ATIS, also HIWAS
FSS on 122.4 or a remote transmitter associated with a VOR
If flight is becoming unsafe ATC might be of assistance
Collect information from all sources available to get the best picture for decision making
While enroute, we listen to the ATIS of a Class D airport near our course to update alt. setting and find that the ATIS is reporting visibility as 2SM. What does that mean for us
We have 2 priorities 1: remain legal 2 as a new pilot stay prudent and divert immediately
Option 1 is to fly in G airspace where regulations allow us to remain clear of clouds with 1SM vis while enroute to an uncontrolled airport
Option 2 is to fly in G airport while heading for the Class D airport and request a special VFR from ATC to land there
You have chosen to divert to an airport that you were not intending to visit. How will you obtain the needed information about your alternate airport
First turn on autopilot to manage workload
Most important info: Airspace, Runway length, elevation, and airport frequencies:
Use technology most GPS have this in their database
Use sectional charts
Chart Supplement US
Use a combination of the above
What deice or anti ice equipment is your airplane equipped with
Defrost - used to keep the windshield clear
Pitot heat - used to keep the pitot/static instruments operational
Carb. heat - used to keep fuel and air flowing to the engine
Most important a thinking pilot who in an icing condition will turn around and land as soon as practical
Tell me about the fuel system on your airplane
POH