Private Pilot Checkride Gouge Flashcards

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering the PPL oral exam topics based on the checkride gouge.

Private Pilot Certificate Eligibility

$17$ years of age, able to read, write, speak, and understand English, hold at least a 3rd class medical, pass the written exam, and log a minimum of $40$ hours ($20$ with a CFI and $10$ Solo).

FAR 61.57 Recent Flight Experience

To carry passengers, a pilot must have made $3$ takeoffs and landings within the preceding $90$ days as the sole manipulator of controls in an aircraft of the same category and class.

Night Currency Requirements

To carry passengers at night, the required $3$ takeoffs and landings must be made to a full stop between one hour after sunset and one hour before sunrise.

Flight Review Requirement

A pilot must have a flight review acting as PIC every $24$ calendar months to maintain legal currency.

End of Evening Civil Twilight

The period between the end of evening civil twilight and the beginning of morning civil twilight when pilots may log flight time as "night" flight time.

Acting PIC vs. Logging PIC

Logging PIC is for the sole manipulator of the controls; acting as PIC refers to the pilot with final authority over the operation and safety of the flight.

Private Pilot Privileges

Act as PIC of an aircraft carrying passengers, share operating expenses on a pro-rata basis, be reimbursed for Search and Rescue, tow a glider (with endorsement), and demonstrate aircraft to buyers (after $200$ hours).

Pro-rata share

The equal splitting of operating expenses between the pilot and passengers for fuel, oil, airport expenditures, or rental fees.

3rd Class Medical Validity (Under 40)

$60$ calendar months.

3rd Class Medical Validity (Over 40)

$24$ calendar months.

BasicMed Requirements

Must have held an FAA medical after July 14, 2006, complete a medical exam checklist with a physician every $48$ months, and complete an online course every year.

BasicMed Limitations

No more than $5$ passengers, VFR or IFR, altitude lower than $18,000$ feet MSL, airspeed less than $250$ kts, and no operation for compensation or hire.

Documents Required for Pilot Privileges

Pilot certificate, government-issued photo ID, medical certificate, and logbook endorsements (if required).

Address Change Notification

The FAA must be notified within $30$ days of an address change to continue exercising pilot privileges.

ARROW (Aircraft Airworthiness Documents)

Airworthiness certificate, Registration certificate, Radio station license (international only), Operating limitations (POH), and Weight & balance data.

Aircraft Registration Expiration

Registration lasts for $7$ years from the issuance date as of January 2023.

NWKRAFT (Preflight Action)

NOTAMS, Weather, Known ATC delays, Runway lengths, Alternates, Fuel requirements, and Takeoff/landing distances.

Required Maintenance Inspections (AAVIATE)

Annual ($12$ calendar months), VOR ($30$ days for IFR), $100$-hour (if used for hire/instruction), Altimeter ($24$ calendar months), Transponder ($24$ calendar months), and ELT ($12$ calendar months, $1$ hour use, or $50\%$ battery life).

Maintenance 10-Hour Extension

A $10$-hour extension is allowed only to fly the aircraft to a place where the inspection can be done, provided no passengers or instruction are carried.

Airworthiness Directive (AD)

A legally enforced regulation issued by the FAA to correct an unsafe condition; compliance is mandatory.

Service Bulletin (SB)

A recommendation issued by the aircraft manufacturer that is not legally mandatory like an AD.

Special Flight Permit (Ferry Permit)

Obtained from the local FSDO via form 8130-6 to operate an aircraft that is not currently airworthy but is safe for a specific flight.

Aircraft Category

Classification of aircraft such as Airplane, Glider, or Helicopter.

Aircraft Class

Classification within a category, such as Single-engine land, Single-engine sea, or Multi-engine.

Aircraft Type

Required for aircraft with a max takeoff weight of $12,500$ lbs or greater, or turbojet-powered aircraft.

Preventive Maintenance

Simple or minor procedures listed in 14 CFR part 43, Appendix A, that can be performed by certified pilots (e.g., oil changes, replacing tires, or spark plugs).

ATOMATOFLAMES (VFR Day Equipment)

Altimeter, Tachometer, Oil pressure gauge, Manifold pressure gauge, Airspeed indicator, Temperature gauge (liquid cooled), Oil temperature gauge (air cooled), Fuel gauge, Landing gear position indicator, Anti-collision lights, Magnetic direction indicator, ELT, and Safety belts.

FLAPS (VFR Night Equipment)

All day VFR equipment plus Fuses (spare set), Landing light (if for hire), Anti-collision lights, Position lights, and a Source of electrical energy.

Kinds of Operation Equipment List (KOEL)

A list from the manufacturer in the POH specifying required equipment for different types of operations (e.g., VFR Day, VFR Night, IFR).

Standard vs. Special Airworthiness Certificate

Standard is for normal, utility, or transport aircraft; Special is for experimental, restricted, or limited aircraft which may have passenger-carrying limitations.

Weather Briefing Types

Standard (pre-flight), Abbreviated (update previous briefing), and Outlook (flight is $6$ or more hours in the future).

METAR

A standard hourly report of current weather at an airport.

SPECI

An unscheduled weather report issued when significant and rapid changes occur.

PIREP

A Pilot Report, providing real-time weather information as observed by pilots in flight.

Surface Analysis Chart

Published every $3$ hours, showing pressure systems, isobars, fronts, and wind patterns.

Terminal Aerodrome Forecast (TAF)

A weather forecast for a $5\,SM$ radius around an airport, issued every $6$ hours and valid for $24$-$30$ hours.

Graphical Forecast for Aviation (GFA)

An interactive web tool providing real-time weather and forecasts in $1$-hour increments up to $15$ hours ahead ($18$ hours total planning).

FB Winds Aloft Code 9900

Indicates light and variable winds.

Winds Aloft Decoding (Wind > 100 kts)

If the wind speed is between $51$-$86$ kts, subtract $50$ from the direction and add $100$ to the speed (e.g., $731960 = 230^{\circ}$ true @ $119\,kts$, temp $-60^{\circ}C$).

AIRMET Sierra

Advisory for widespread IFR conditions and mountain obscuration.

AIRMET Tango

Advisory for moderate turbulence, sustained surface winds of $30\,kts$ or more, and non-convective low-level wind shear.

AIRMET Zulu

Advisory for moderate icing and freezing level information.

SIGMET

Significant Meteorological Information regarding hazardous weather for all aircraft (severe icing, extreme turbulence, dust storms, volcanic ash).

Convective SIGMET

Issued for severe thunderstorms (surface winds $50+ kts$, hail $\frac{3}{4}$ inch+), tornadoes, embedded thunderstorms, or lines of thunderstorms.

Atmospheric Stability Characteristics

Stable: stratiform clouds, smooth air, poor visibility, steady precipitation. Unstable: cumuliform clouds, turbulence, good visibility, showery precipitation.

Adiabatic Lapse Rate

Wet: $1.5^{\circ}$-$3^{\circ}C$ per $1000\,ft$ (saturated); Dry: approx $3^{\circ}C$ per $1000\,ft$ (unsaturated).

Wind Shear

A sudden change in wind speed and/or direction, often caused by fronts, thunderstorms, or temperature inversions.

Radiation Fog

Forms during clear nights with calm winds when the Earth's surface loses heat through radiation.

Advection Fog

Forms when warm, moist air moves horizontally over a cooler surface, common along coasts.

Pilotage vs. Dead Reckoning

Pilotage uses checkpoints and visual references; Dead Reckoning uses calculations of time, speed, distance, and wind.

RAIM (Receiver Autonomous Integrity Monitoring)

A GPS system check that requires at least $5$ satellites to ensure the reliability and coverage of the signal.

Lost Procedures (5 C's)

Confess, Climb, Circle, Communicate, and Conserve.

VOR Terminal (TVOR) Service Volume

Within $25\,NM$ and up to $12,000\,feet$ AGL.

VOR Low Altitude (LVOR) Service Volume

Up to $40\,NM$ and up to $18,000\,feet$ AGL.

VOR Errors

Line of Sight, Signal Interference, Cone of Confusion (directly over station), and Zone of Ambiguity (perpendicular to radial).

VOR Check Tolerances

VOT: $\pm 4^{\circ}$; Ground Checkpoint: $\pm 4^{\circ}$; Dual VOR: Within $4^{\circ}$; Airborne: $\pm 6^{\circ}$.

VFR Cruising Altitudes (VFR East/West Rule)

Magnetic Course $0^{\circ}$-$179^{\circ}$ (East): Odd thousands plus $500$; Magnetic Course $180^{\circ}$-$359^{\circ}$ (West): Even thousands plus $500$.

3:1 Rule for Descent

For every $1000\,ft$ of altitude to lose, you need $3\,NM$ of distance (e.g., descending $6000\,ft$ requires starting $18\,NM$ back).

VFR Fuel Reserve Requirements

Enough fuel to reach the destination plus $30$ minutes for day VFR or $45$ minutes for night VFR at normal cruising speed.

IMSAFE Checklist

Illness, Medication, Stress, Alcohol, Fatigue, and Emotions.

Class B Airspace Weather Minimums

$3\,SM$ visibility and "Clear of Clouds."

Class C/D Airspace Weather Minimums

$3\,SM$ visibility, $1000\,ft$ above, $500\,ft$ below, and $2000\,ft$ horizontal from clouds.

Special VFR (SVFR) Minimums

$1\,SM$ visibility and "Clear of Clouds."

Density Altitude

Pressure altitude corrected for non-standard temperature; it represents how the aircraft "feels" it is performing.

Aft CG Characteristics

Nose-up tendency, decreased stability, improved cruise performance/range, and a lower stall speed.

Forward CG Characteristics

Nose-down tendency, increased stability, higher stall speed, and easier stall recovery.

Bernoulli's Principle

As the velocity of a moving fluid (air) increases, the pressure within the fluid decreases.

4 Turning Tendencies

Torque effect, P-factor (asymmetric thrust), Gyroscopic precession, and Spiraling slipstream.

Adverse Yaw

The tendency of the aircraft to yaw in the opposite direction of a turn caused by higher drag on the outside wing with the downward-deflected aileron.

Vso

$45\,kts$; Stall speed in the landing configuration.

Vx

$64\,kts$; Best Angle-of-Climb speed (greatest altitude in shortest distance).

Vy

$76\,kts$; Best Rate-of-Climb speed (greatest altitude in shortest time).

Va/Vo (Piper Archer)

$113\,kts$ at $2550\,lbs$ to $98\,kts$ at $1917\,lbs$.

Carburetor Icing Range

$-20^{\circ}F$ to $70^{\circ}F$.

Electrical System (Piper Archer)

$28$-Volt DC system with a $24$-Volt lead-acid battery and a $70$-amp engine-driven alternator.

Types of Airspeed

Indicated (direct reading), Calibrated (corrected for position/instrument error), True (actual speed through air), and Groundspeed (speed over ground).

Types of Altitude

Indicated (from instrument), Pressure (referenced to $29.92$), True (height above MSL), and Absolute (height above AGL).

Hypoxia Types

Hypoxic (altitude), Hypemic (blood capacity/CO), Stagnant (flow issue), and Histotoxic (cell utilization/toxins).

Scuba Diving Wait Time

FAA recommends waiting $12$-$24$ hours after diving before flying.

Hazardous Attitudes

Anti-Authority, Impulsivity, Invulnerability, Macho, and Resignation.