Private Pilot Certificate Practice Flashcards

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering pilot certification, aircraft systems, weather, regulations, and human factors based on the lecture notes provided lecture notes.

Private Pilot Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible for a private pilot certificate, a person must be at least $17$ years old, be able to read, write, and speak English, hold at least a third-class medical certificate, meet aeronautical experience requirements per $61.109$, receive required training endorsements, and pass knowledge and practical tests.

Pro-Rata Share

The proportional share of a flight's operating expenses, specifically limited to fuel, oil, airport fees, and rental fees.

Required Documents for PIC

To act as Pilot in Command (PIC) or a required crewmember, a pilot must possess a Pilot Certificate, a Photo ID, and a Medical Certificate.

High Performance Airplane

An airplane with an engine of more than $200$ horsepower.

Complex Airplane

An aircraft equipped with flaps, an adjustable pitch propeller, and retractable landing gear.

Category (Aircraft)

A broad classification of aircraft, such as airplane, rotorcraft, and glider.

Class (Aircraft)

A smaller classification within a category, such as single-engine land or multi-engine land.

Type (Aircraft)

A specific make and basic model of aircraft.

Private Pilot Currency for Passengers

To carry passengers, a pilot must have made three takeoffs and landings in the same category and class within the preceding $90$ days; for night currency, these must be to a full stop.

Flight Review Requirement

To remain current, a pilot must accomplish a flight review consisting of at least $1$ hour of ground and $1$ hour of flight training every $24$ calendar months.

BasicMed Requirements

To fly under BasicMed, a pilot must hold a $US$ driver's certificate, have held a medical certificate after July $14$, $2006$, answer health questions on a CMEC, get a physical from a state-licensed physician, and complete an online education course.

ARROW (Aircraft Documents)

The documents required to be on board during flight: Airworthiness Certificate, Registration (state and federal), Radio Station License (if outside the $US$), Operating Limitations (AFM/POH, placards, markings), and Weight and Balance data.

Airworthiness Certificate

A certificate issued to an airplane confirming it meets its approved type design and is in a condition for safe operation; it remains valid as long as the aircraft is maintained in an airworthy condition.

Airworthiness Directive (AD)

A regulatory notification from the FAA to owners and pilots regarding potential unsafe conditions due to design defects, manufacturing errors, or maintenance issues.

Aviation Maintenance Inspections (AAVIATE)

Required inspections include: Annual ($12$ months), Airworthiness Directives, VOR check ($30$ days for IFR), $100$-hour inspection (if for hire/instruction), Altimeter/Static system ($24$ months for IFR), Transponder ($24$ months), and ELT ($12$ months).

Special Flight Permit

A permit issued by the FAA to allow an aircraft that does not currently meet airworthiness requirements to be flown to a base for repairs, alterations, or maintenance, or for evacuation from danger.

TOMATO FLAMES (VFR Day Equipment)

Required equipment for VFR day flight: Tachometer, Oil pressure gauge, Manifold pressure gauge, Altimeter, Temperature gauge (liquid cooled), Oil temperature gauge, Fuel gauges, Landing gear indicator, Airspeed indicator, Magnetic direction indicator, ELT, and Safety belts/harnesses.

High Pressure System

A weather system characterized by outward, downward, and clockwise air movement.

Low Pressure System

A weather system characterized by inward, upward, and counterclockwise air movement.

Standard Atmosphere

Standard sea level values are defined as $15^{\circ}C$ ($59^{\circ}F$) and $29.92"\,Hg$ ($1013.2\,mbar$).

Isobars

Lines on a weather map that connect areas of similar pressure; closely spaced isobars indicate strong winds.

Dew Point

The temperature at which air must be cooled to reach saturation and a measure of actual moisture in the air.

Four Forces of Flight

The forces acting on an airplane are Lift (perpendicular to the wing), Gravity (downward), Thrust (forward), and Drag (opposite to thrust).

Angle of Attack

The angle measured between the relative wind and the chord line of the wing.

Bernoulli's Principle

The principle stating that the pressure of a fluid decreases when the speed of the fluid increases, which contributes to the generation of lift.

Left Turning Tendencies

The four tendencies are Torque, Gyroscopic Precession, P-factor (asymmetric loading), and Spiraling Slipstream.

Maneuvering Speed ($V_a$)

The maximum speed at which the limit load can be imposed without causing structural damage; this speed increases with an increase in aircraft weight.

Stall

A condition that occurs when the wing exceeds its critical angle of attack.

Spin

An aggravated stall that results in autorotation about the vertical axis, consisting of a stall with a yawing moment.

Density Altitude

Pressure altitude corrected for non-standard temperature; it is the altitude the airplane 'feels' like it is flying at.

Engine Stroke Cycle

The four strokes of a reciprocating engine are Intake, Compression, Power, and Exhaust.

Aircraft Electrical System

The system is typically a $28$-volt direct current system powered by a $70$-amp alternator and a $24$-volt battery.

Detonation

The uncontrolled, explosive ignition of the fuel-air mixture within a cylinder, often caused by using a lower fuel grade than specified.

Pre-ignition

The ignition of the fuel-air mixture prior to the engine's normal ignition timing, usually caused by a residual hotspot in the combustion chamber.

Indicated Airspeed (IAS)

The airspeed shown directly on the airspeed indicator instrument.

True Airspeed (TAS)

Calibrated airspeed corrected for non-standard pressure and temperature.

AHRS (Attitude and Heading Reference System)

An advanced avionics component that provides attitude and heading information to the cockpit displays.

ADC (Air Data Computer)

A computer that processes information from the pitot-static system to provide airspeed, altitude, and vertical speed data.

Class A Airspace

Controlled airspace existing above $18,000\,ft\,MSL$ where flights must be conducted under IFR.

Class B Airspace

Controlled airspace around the busiest airports, usually surface to $10,000\,ft\,MSL$, requiring specific ATC clearance for entry.

VFR Weather Minimums (Class C/D/E < $10k$)

The standard weather minimums are $3\,sm$ visibility and cloud clearance of $500\,ft$ below, $1000\,ft$ above, and $2000\,ft$ horizontal.

NTSB Immediate Notification

The NTSB must be notified immediately for accidents or specific incidents including flight control malfunctions, in-flight fires, aircraft collisions, or property damage over $\$25,000$.

Wake Turbulence

Disrupted air (wingtip vortices) generated behind an aircraft that is heaviest, cleanest, and slowest.

Hypoxic Hypoxia

A state of oxygen deficiency in the body caused by insufficient oxygen in the air, usually due to high altitude.

IMSAFE Checklist

A personal health/readiness checklist: Illness, Medication, Stress, Alcohol, Fatigue, and Emotion/External Pressures.