Private Study Guide

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms, regulations, weather, airspace, performance, and human factors for the Private/Commercial ACS study guide.

Pilot in Command (PIC) Required Documents

Pilot certificate, medical certificate, and government-issued photo ID needed to act as PIC.

High-Performance Airplane Endorsement

Logged ground and flight training plus an endorsement required to act as PIC in aircraft with engines over 200 HP.

Complex Airplane Endorsement

Logged ground and flight training plus an endorsement required to fly aircraft with retractable gear, flaps, and controllable-pitch propeller.

Flight Review

Minimum 1-hour flight and 1-hour ground every 24 calendar months to keep pilot certificate current.

Passenger Currency (Day)

Three takeoffs and landings in the preceding 90 days in aircraft of same category and class.

Passenger Currency (Night)

Three full-stop takeoffs and landings between 1 hr after sunset and 1 hr before sunrise within preceding 90 days.

Logging Flight Time

Only flight time required for currency, ratings, or training must be logged.

Pro Rata Share

Private pilot may split operating costs of a flight proportionally with passengers; no profit allowed.

Medical Certificate Classes

Three classes: 1st (ATP), 2nd (Commercial), 3rd (Private/Student). Differ in privileges and duration.

First-Class Medical Certificate

ATP privileges 12 mo (6 mo if ≥40); then 2nd-class for 6 mo and 3rd-class remainder.

Second-Class Medical Certificate

Commercial privileges for 12 calendar months.

Third-Class Medical Certificate

Private pilot privileges for 60 mo (24 mo if ≥40).

BasicMed

Alternative to medical certificate; requires physician exam every 48 mo and online course every 24 mo.

Currency vs. Proficiency

Currency is legal compliance; proficiency is safe operational competence.

AROW

Airworthiness certificate, Registration, Operating limitations, and Weight & Balance documents required on board.

Airworthiness Certificate

FAA document affirming aircraft meets approved design; must be displayed visibly in aircraft.

Registration Certificate

Legal proof of aircraft ownership; check expiration date (3 years).

Operating Limitations

Manufacturer limitations found in POH/placards that must be aboard aircraft.

Weight and Balance Documentation

Current aircraft empty weight, CG, and equipment list—part of AROW.

AV1ATE

Acronym for required inspections: Annual, VOR, 100-hour, Altimeter/static, Transponder, ELT.

Annual Inspection

Comprehensive inspection every 12 calendar months for all certified aircraft.

VOR Check

IFR VOR accuracy test within preceding 30 days.

100-Hour Inspection

Inspection required for aircraft used to carry passengers for hire or for flight instruction for hire.

Altimeter/Pitot-Static Inspection

Required every 24 calendar months for IFR operations.

Transponder Inspection

Mode C transponder test every 24 calendar months.

ELT Inspection

Emergency Locator Transmitter check every 12 months; battery replaced after 50% life or 1 hr cumulative use.

Airworthiness Directive (AD)

FAA regulatory notice mandating corrective action for safety issues.

Service Bulletin / Airworthiness Bulletin

Manufacturer advisory (non-regulatory) recommending maintenance or changes.

Minimum Equipment List (MEL)

FAA-approved list specifying equipment allowed to be inoperative for flight.

Type Certificate Data Sheet (TCDS)

FAA document listing aircraft design and required equipment/limitations.

FAR 91.205

Regulation listing required minimum equipment for day and night VFR/IFR flight.

Preventive Maintenance (Pilot)

Simple tasks pilots who are owners may perform (e.g., oil change, tire servicing).

1800WXBrief

Official FAA flight service for weather briefings by phone or web.

METAR

Aviation routine weather report issued hourly describing current weather at an airport.

TAF

Terminal Aerodrome Forecast providing 24-30-hour weather outlook for an airport.

Surface Analysis Chart

Chart showing pressure systems, fronts, and isobars at observation time.

Winds Aloft Forecast

Forecast of wind direction, speed, and temperature at various altitudes.

PIREP

Pilot Weather Report conveying actual in-flight conditions.

AIRMET

Advisory for moderate weather hazards: turbulence, icing, IFR, mountain obscuration.

SIGMET

Advisory for severe weather hazards affecting all aircraft: severe icing, turbulence, dust/sandstorms.

Convective SIGMET

Advisory for convective activity: thunderstorms, hail ≥3/4″, tornadoes.

Composition of Atmosphere

78 % nitrogen, 21 % oxygen, 1 % argon/other gases.

Stable Atmosphere

Smooth air, poor visibility, stratus clouds, steady precipitation.

Unstable Atmosphere

Turbulent air, good visibility, cumulus clouds, showery precipitation.

Wind Shear

Abrupt change in wind speed and/or direction; found near storms, fronts, terrain.

Mountain Waves

Turbulent oscillations downwind of mountain ridges, up to 100 NM and 2,000 ft above peaks.

Dew Point

Temperature at which air becomes saturated and condenses; convergence with temp signals fog risk.

Radiation Fog

Fog forming on calm, clear nights as ground cools air to dew point.

Advection Fog

Fog from warm, moist air moving over colder ground or water.

Upslope Fog

Fog from air forced up terrain and cooling adiabatically.

Steam Fog

Fog over water as cold air moves across warmer surface, adding moisture.

Precipitation-Induced Fog

Fog formed when rain evaporates, saturating cool air below.

High-Pressure System

Clockwise-rotating air mass bringing generally fair weather.

Low-Pressure System

Counter-clockwise air mass associated with clouds and precipitation.

Warm Front

Leading edge of warm air; depicted red; winter warm fronts often bring freezing rain.

Cold Front

Leading edge of cold air; depicted blue; can produce squall lines and thunderstorms.

Stationary Front

Front with little movement; red/blue; yields low clouds, steady precipitation.

Occluded Front

Purple line where cold front overtakes warm front, lifting warm air aloft.

Isobars

Lines of equal pressure; closer spacing means stronger winds.

Maneuvering Speed (Va)

Maximum speed at which full, abrupt control deflection will not overstress aircraft.

Thunderstorm Ingredients

Unstable air, lifting force, and sufficient moisture.

Thunderstorm Stages

Cumulus (updrafts), Mature (up- & downdrafts), Dissipating (downdrafts).

Microburst

Violent downdraft up to 6,000 ft/min associated with convective storms.

Rime Ice

Rough, white ice from small super-cooled droplets freezing quickly.

Clear Ice

Glossy, transparent ice from large droplets freezing slowly and spreading.

Mixed Ice

Combination of clear and rime ice types.

Frost

Ice crystals formed by deposition; must be removed before flight due to lift loss.

ADS-B Weather

In-flight weather via ADS-B In; limited by update rate and coverage.

East/West Cruising Altitudes (VFR)

Odd + 500 ft when flying 0°–179°; even + 500 ft for 180°–359° above 3,000 ft AGL.

VFR Fuel Reserve Day

Minimum fuel to destination plus 30 minutes at cruise power.

VFR Fuel Reserve Night

Minimum fuel to destination plus 45 minutes at cruise power.

VFR Flight Plan

Search-and-rescue tool filed with Flight Service; must be opened and closed by pilot.

NOTAM

Notice to Air Missions conveying time-critical aeronautical information.

FDC NOTAM

Regulatory NOTAM concerning flight procedures, airspace, or IFR charts.

Distant (D) NOTAM

NOTAM on airport/navaid status such as runway closures or lighting.

Pointer NOTAM

NOTAM that points to another NOTAM for emphasis.

SAA NOTAM

Special Activity Airspace notice, often for drone or military operations.

Class B Airspace

Solid blue lines; requires ATC clearance, Mode C, ADS-B Out; cloud clearance: 3 SM, clear of clouds.

Class C Airspace

Solid magenta; 2-way radio, Mode C, ADS-B Out; 3-152 cloud clearance.

Class D Airspace

Dashed blue; 2-way radio; 3-152 cloud clearance.

Class E Airspace

Dashed magenta (surface), shaded magenta (700 AGL), or 1,200 AGL; 3-152 below 10,000; 5-111 above.

Class G Airspace

Uncontrolled; day 1 SM clear of clouds; night 3-152.

MOA (Military Operations Area)

Magenta hash; separates military training from IFR traffic; VFR entry allowed with caution.

Restricted Area

Blue hatched; contains hazardous activity; entry requires controlling agency permission.

Warning Area

Blue hatched offshore; may contain hazardous activity; begins 3 NM from coast.

Alert Area

Magenta border; contains high pilot training or unusual activity; no clearance required.

ADIZ

Air Defense Identification Zone protecting U.S. borders; special entry procedures.

Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR)

Short-term restricted airspace published by NOTAM for events, disasters, VIPs.

TRSA

Terminal Radar Service Area (gray line) offering optional radar services around Class D.

SFRA

Special Flight Rules Area (e.g., DC SFRA) requiring specific training and procedures.

National Security Area (NSA)

Advisory area that may become prohibited by NOTAM during heightened security.

Wildlife Refuge Area

Chart note advising at least 2,000 ft AGL over wildlife refuges and parks.

Runway Incursion

Incorrect presence of aircraft/vehicle/person on active runway.

Right-of-Way Hierarchy

Distress > balloon > glider > airship > powered parachute/weight-shift > airplane/helicopter.

Load Factor

Ratio of lift to weight; 60° bank produces 2 G.

Density Altitude

Pressure altitude corrected for temperature and humidity; higher DA reduces performance.

Bernoulli’s Principle

Faster airflow over wing top lowers pressure, contributing to lift.

Critical Angle of Attack

Maximum AOA before airflow separates and wing stalls.

Slip

Turn where aircraft’s tail drops inside; insufficient rudder for bank angle.

Skid

Turn where tail swings outward; too much rudder for bank angle.