Private Pilot Certificate – Comprehensive Bullet-Point Study Notes

Aeronautical Experience Required – Private Pilot (§61.109)

Total: 40 hr minimum flight time
- $\ge 20\,hr$ dual instruction
- $\ge 10\,hr$ solo (piloting solo)
- $\ge 5\,hr$ solo cross-country (XC)
- $\ge 3$ take-offs & landings to full stop at towered airport
- One solo XC $\ge100\,NM$ total distance
- One solo XC $\ge150\,NM$ , 3 full-stop landings, with one leg $>50\,NM$ straight-line
Dual Content (included in 20 hr)
- $\ge 3\,hr$ XC training
- $\ge 3\,hr$ night (incl. 10 T/O & landings to full stop, pattern laps)
- $\ge 3\,hr$ instrument reference (hood) in single-engine airplane
- $\ge 3\,hr$ dual prep for practical test within preceding 2 calendar months

Eligibility Requirements – Private Pilot (§61.103, §61.105, §61.107)

Age $\ge17$
Read/Speak/Write/Understand English
Hold: U.S. Student, Sport, Recreational, or other PPL in different category/class
Pass FAA Knowledge Test (aeronautical areas §61.105) – logbook endorsement required
Receive & log ground + flight training for all Areas of Operation (§61.107)
Meet aeronautical experience (above) & obtain instructor endorsement for practical test

Recency & Currency (§61.57)

Carry passengers DAY: 3 T/O & landings (any configuration) within preceding 90 days, same category & class (tailwheel → full-stop)
Carry passengers NIGHT (1 hr after SS to 1 hr before SR): 3 full-stop T/O & landings at night within preceding 90 days, same cat/class/type
Instrument currency (IFR) not included here
6- & 24-month references = “calendar months” (example: 6 calendar months from Dec 2 = Jun 30)

Additional Endorsements (§61.31)

Tailwheel – specific maneuvers, full-stop landings
Complex – retractable gear, flaps, controllable-pitch propeller (no min hrs)
High-Performance – engine $>200\,hp$
High-Altitude – service ceiling/operating altitude $>25{,}000\,ft\,MSL$
- Training topics: high-alt aerodynamics/met, hypoxia, O₂ use, decompression, gas expansion, etc.

Limitations as a Private Pilot (§61.113)

No PIC “for compensation or hire” carrying persons/property EXCEPTIONS
- May share expenses pro-rata (fuel, oil, airport fees, rental)
- Charitable/non-profit/community event flights
- Aircraft salesperson (>200 hr) demonstrating aircraft
- Tow gliders or unpowered ultralights (after meeting §61.69)
- Incidental to business, no passengers/property for hire

Solo Requirements – Student Pilot (§61.87, §61.95)

Pre-solo Aeronautical Knowledge Test (instructor-developed) covering regs, airspace, aircraft limitations
Logged dual training in required maneuvers/procedures; demonstrate proficiency
Endorsements (valid 90 days per make/model)
- Initial solo
- Each additional 90-day period
- Solo night flight: additional dual (night T/O, landings, nav in vicinity) + separate endorsement
- Solo in Class B requires §61.95 endorsement (and some Class B areas prohibited)

NTSB Part 830 – Accident/Incident Reporting

Accident: occurrence from boarding intent of flight to disembark in which:
- Death/serious injury OR
- Substantial aircraft damage (― prop strike NOT substantial)
Serious injury: hospital >48 hr (within 7 days), fractures (except fingers/toes/nose), severe hemorrhage/nerve/tendon damage, internal organ injury, 2°/3° burns >5 % body surface
Incident: other occurrence affecting safety

Special Flight Permit (§21.197)

Issued for: ferry to maintenance/storage, delivery/export, production test, evacuation from danger, customer demos after production test

Documents & Personal Items (§61.3, §61.60)

While acting PIC carry:
- Pilot Certificate
- Government photo ID (driver license, passport, etc.)
- Medical (class appropriate to privileges)
- FCC Radio Operator Permit (only outside U.S.)
Address change: notify FAA (IACRA) within 30 days

Medical Certificates (§61.23)

1st-Class: ATP privileges 12 mo (<40) / 6 mo (≥40) → then 2nd/3rd class
2nd-Class: Commercial 12 mo any age → then 3rd class
3rd-Class: PPL/FI/Student 60 mo (<40) / 24 mo (≥40)
BasicMed: Driver’s license, held med after 14 Jul 2006, physical every 48 mo + online course every 24 mo; limits: $\le6$ occupants, $\le12{,}500\,lb$ , $<18{,}000\,ft$ , $<250\,kt$ , no compensation/hire

Fuel Requirements (§91.151)

DAY VFR: Departure → Destination + 30 min reserve at normal cruise
NIGHT VFR: + 45 min reserve

Required Aircraft Documents – “ARROW”

Airworthiness Certificate
Registration Certificate
Radio License (Intl only)
Operating Limitations/POH/Placards
Weight & Balance data

Required Equipment – Day VFR “A TOMATO FLAMES” (§91.205)

A – Altimeter
T – Tachometer (each engine)
O – Oil pressure gauge (each engine)
M – Manifold pressure (altitude engines)
A – Airspeed indicator
T – Temperature gauge (liquid-cooled)
O – Oil temperature (air-cooled)
F – Fuel quantity (each tank)
L – Landing gear position lights
A – Anti-collision lights (post-11 Mar 1996 cert)
M – Magnetic compass
E – ELT
S – Seat belts/shoulder harnesses

Night VFR add “FLAPS”

F – Spare fuses (or 2x of each kind)
L – Landing light (if for-hire)
A – Anti-collision lights
P – Position/nav lights
S – Source of electrical power

Required Inspections – “AV1ATES”

A – Annual (12 calendar mo)
V – VOR check (30 days, IFR only)
1 – 100-hour (if for-hire instruction/passengers)
A – Altimeter/pitot-static (24 cal mo, IFR)
T – Transponder (24 cal mo)
E – ELT (12 cal mo / 1 hr cumulative use / 50 % battery)
S – Static system (with altimeter, 24 mo)

Inoperative Equipment (§91.213)

Aircraft with MEL: follow MEL
Without MEL: may fly if item NOT required by: §91.205 day/night, POH equipment list, ADs, or for flight type; item removed/deactivated & placarded “INOP” & PIC/MX determine airworthy
Otherwise: obtain special flight permit

Pre-Flight Risk Tools

Personal IMSAFE (Illness, Medication, Stress, Alcohol, Fatigue, Emotion/Eating)
PAVE risk matrix (Pilot, Aircraft, enVironment, External pressures)
DECIDE model (Detect, Estimate, Choose, Identify, Do, Evaluate)

VFR Minimums & Airspace Review

Class A: IFR only $18{,}000\,–\,60{,}000\,MSL$
Class B: $3\,SM$ , clear of clouds; entry clearance “Cleared into Bravo”; equipment: two-way radio, Mode-C transponder/ADS-B, PPL or endorsements
Class C: $3\,SM$ , $500\,!\downarrow,\ 1000\,!\uparrow,\ 2000\,h$ ; two-way radio contact, Mode-C/ADS-B; student pilot OK
Class D: $3\,SM$ , $500/1000/2000$ ; two-way radio contact
Class E <10k: same as C/D; ≥10k: $5\,SM$ , $1000/1000/1\,SM$
Class G: Day <1,200 AGL $1\,SM$ clear of clouds; other regimes per chart (see transcript)

ADS-B-Out Required

At/above 10k MSL (≥2.5k AGL), inside Class B/C, within 30 NM Mode-C veil, above Gulf within 12 NM & ≥3k MSL

Transponder / ADS-B Deviation (§91.215)

Request at least 1 hr before flight from controlling ATC if not equipped; if fails in flight request immediate deviation

Portable Electronic Devices (§91.21)

Operator/PIC must prohibit PEDs that may interfere with nav/comm, except: voice recorders, hearing aids, pacemakers, shavers, or equipment specifically determined non-interfering

Compass Errors & Memory Aids

“DV MONA” – Deviation, Variation, Magnetic dip, Oscillation, North/South turn error (UNOS), Acceleration errors (ANDS)

V-Speeds & U.S. Airspeed Limits (§91.117)

250 KIAS below 10k MSL
200 KIAS under Class B shelves / inside VFR corridors
200 KIAS at/below 2,500 AGL within 4 NM of Class C/D primary
Mach 1 prohibited unless authorized (§91.817)
Key V-speeds: $VS,V{SO},V{S1},VF,V{FE},V{LE},VA,VX,VY,VG,V{NO},V{NE},V_{REF}$

Aeromedical Factors

Hypoxia types: Hypoxic, Hypemic, Stagnant, Histotoxic
- Symptoms: cyanosis, euphoria, impaired judgment; remedy: descent/O₂
Hyperventilation: excessive CO₂ loss → light-headed, tingling; cure: slow breathing/bag re-breath
CO Poisoning: colorless/odorless; symptom drowsiness → land ASAP, shut heat, ventilate
Alcohol (§91.17): $\le0.04\%$ BAC & 8 hr “bottle-to-throttle” (better 12 hr); impairment persists >8 hr

Spatial Disorientation / Illusions

The Leans, Coriolis, Graveyard Spiral, Somatogravic, Inversion, Elevator, False Horizon, Autokinesis
Prevention: rely on instruments, proper scan, avoid abrupt maneuvers

Basic Aerodynamics

Four Forces: Lift, Weight (Gravity), Thrust, Drag (Parasitic + Induced)
Bernoulli: velocity ↑ ⇒ pressure ↓ creating lift
Angle-of-Attack vs. Critical AOA (stall independent of airspeed)
Load Factor $n=\frac{L}{W}$ increases with bank: e.g., $60^\circ \Rightarrow 2\,G$
Left-Turning Tendencies (prop): Torque, Spiraling Slipstream, Gyroscopic Precession, P-Factor

Stalls & Stability

Stalls: Power-off (approach), Power-on (departure), Turning, Accelerated
Static vs. Dynamic stability (positive, neutral, negative)

Weight & Balance Concepts

Datum → reference line; Arm (inches); Moment $=W\times A$
Empty, Basic Empty, Useful Load, Max Ramp/Take-off/Landing Weights
CG Forward vs. Aft effects: forward = ↑stability, ↑stall speed, ↓efficiency; aft = opposite + harder stall/spin recovery

Icing (§91.527 guidance)

Types: Clear (glaze), Rime, Mixed, Frost
Intensities: Trace, Light, Moderate, Severe (anti-ice fails → exit)
Frost: even thin layer ↑ stall speed 5–10 %; must remove before T/O

Weather Products

METAR (hourly); decode: station, datetime Z, wind, vis, phenomena, clouds, temp/dew, altimeter, remarks
TAF (24/30 hr forecast): groups – FM, TEMPO, PROB
SIGMET, Convective SIGMET, AIRMET, NOTAM categories (D/FDC/Pointer, GPS, etc.)

Thunderstorms & Microbursts

Life cycle: Cumulus (updraft), Mature (up & down drafts, hail, lightning), Dissipating (downdraft)
Microburst: <=2.5 NM, 100 kt winds; avoid ±15 min of storm
Wind Shear: sudden change speed/dir → hazardous on approach

Light Gun Signals (Tower Failure)

Color & Type	Aircraft – Flight	Aircraft – Ground	Vehicles
Steady Green	Cleared to land	Cleared for T/O	–
Flash Green	Return for landing	Cleared to taxi	–
Steady Red	Give way/continue circling	Stop	Stop
Flash Red	Airport unsafe DO NOT LAND	Taxi clear rwy	Clear rwy
Flash White	–	Return to start	Return to start
Alt Red/Green	Extreme caution	Extreme caution	Caution

Airport Signs & Markings (Highlights)

Red w/ white inscription = mandatory hold short (e.g., “4-22”)
Yellow on black = location (“B”)
Black on yellow arrows = direction (“→B2”)
ILS hold bars (ladder) with sign “ILS” – protect critical area
Runway distance remaining: white numbers on black (thousands ft)

Night Operations Definitions (§1.1)

Night: end of evening civil twilight → beginning morning civil twilight (per Air Almanac)
Civil Twilight: sun center $6^\circ$ below horizon (~25 min)
Logging night time: that same period
Passenger night currency: 3 full-stop T/O & landings within 90 days during “night” period
Lights: Position & anti-collision ON sunset→sunrise; landing light required for-hire

Flight Planning Essentials (NW KRAFT)

NOTAMs, Weather, Known delays, Runway lengths, Alternates, Fuel, TO/Landing performance
Pilotage, Dead-reckoning, VOR/GPS; use plotter & E6-B to compute TC, WCA, MH, CH, GS, ETAs
Hemispherical altitude rule (>3k AGL): East odd +500, West even +500

Engine & Systems Highlights

Magnetos: self-contained ignition; even with master OFF prop movement may spark if “P-lead” broken
Mixture: lean for taxi & cruise; too-lean at high power → detonation; too-rich + low temp → spark-plug fouling
Detonation: uncontrolled explosive burn; causes: low-octane fuel, high MP w/ low RPM, over-lean
Pre-ignition: charge ignites before spark; usually hot spot (carbon/hot plug)
Propellers
- Fixed-pitch: blade angle fixed
- Constant-speed: throttle controls MP, prop lever sets RPM (governor adjusts blade angle)

Preventive Maintenance (Part 43 App A (c))

PPL may perform simple PM on owned aircraft (e.g., oil change, tire, spark plugs) not used in Part 121/135
Life-limited parts: mandatory replacement limits (e.g., King Air 200 wing bolts 15 yrs)
MEL: aircraft-specific list of equipment allowed inoperative w/ procedures; if no MEL use §91.213 flow

Terms & Acronyms (sample)

AGL, MSL, TAS, CAS, ISA, CAT, MVFR, NMAC, IAP, HSI, RNAV, VORTAC, RMI, etc. (see transcript full list)

These bullet-point notes capture every major and minor concept, regulation, definition, number, example, and practical implication contained in the supplied transcript, organized by topic for rapid study and reference.