Private Pilot Knowledge Exam Study Guide

Area of Operation: Certification Requirements

  • Prerequisites and Experience: Fulfill requirements before testing for a pilot's license.
    • Hours of solo flight.
    • Cross-country experience.
    • Night flying experience.
    • Time at airports with operating control towers.
  • Specific Hour Requirements:
    • Three hours of night flight.
    • Ten hours of solo flight.
    • Five hours of solo cross-country flight.
    • Three takeoffs and landings to a full stop at an airport with an operating control tower.
    • One solo cross country with a total distance of at least 100 nautical miles.
    • Three hours of simulated instrument time, including straight and level flight, turns, climbs, descents, and unusual attitudes.
    • Total flight hours needed: 40 (though many do not achieve it at this minimum).
  • Other Requirements:
    • Minimum age: 17 years old.
    • Ability to fluently speak, read, write, and understand English.

Recent Flight Experience

  • Currency and Recency: Terms used somewhat interchangeably.
  • Passenger Requirements: To carry passengers, specific recency requirements must be met.
    • Three takeoffs and landings within the preceding 90 days for day flight.
    • For night flights, these must be full-stop landings.
  • Biannual Flight Review: Required every 24 calendar months.
    • Ensures continued competence.
    • Can be a check ride, stage check (for Part 141 schools), or end-of-course check.
  • Record Keeping: Logbook must be up-to-date and accurate.

Privileges and Limitations of a Private Pilot Certificate

  • FAR 61.113: Governs privileges and limitations.
  • Prohibition on Flying for Compensation or Hire: A private pilot may not act as pilot in command for compensation or hire.
  • Pro Rata Share: When sharing flight expenses with friends, the pilot in command must pay no less than a pro rata share of the costs.
    • Pro rata share means splitting the cost equally (e.g., 50/50).
    • The pilot cannot pay less than 50% of the costs; otherwise, it's considered compensation.
  • Permitted Activities:
    • Towing a glider or unpowered ultralight aircraft.
    • Acting as PIC for flight testing new aircraft for certification.
    • Acting as PIC for charitable, nonprofit, or community events, where reimbursement for expenses is allowed.
    • Assisting in search and rescue operations, with reimbursement for expenses.
    • Acting as pilot in command for a demonstration flight if an aircraft salesperson with at least 200 hours of total flight time.
  • Total Time: Refers to total flight experience.

Medical Certificates

  • Types of Medical Certificates: Class 1, Class 2, and Class 3.
  • Requirement for Private Pilot: Class 3 medical certificate is required.
  • Duration of Third-Class Medical (Under 40): 60 months (5 years).
  • Duration of Third-Class Medical (Over 40): 24 months.
  • Second Class Medical:
    • Supports commercial pilot privileges.
    • Duration (Under 40): 12 months.
    • Duration (Over 40): 12 months.
  • First Class Medical:
    • Supports airline transport pilot (ATP) certificate, as well as commercial and private pilot.
    • Duration (Under 40): 12 months.
    • Duration (Over 40): 6 months.

Required Documentation

  • Pilot in Command Requirements:
    • Government-issued photo ID.
    • Pilot certificate.
    • Medical certificate.

Basic Med Privileges and Limitations (Part 68)

  • Eligibility: For individuals with medical conditions that disqualify them from obtaining a first, second, or third-class medical certificate, often cardio, pulmonary, or neurological related.
  • Process: Doctor reviews medical history to ensure the applicant is not a flight risk.
  • Privileges: Allows exercise of privileges associated with a third-class medical certificate (private pilot privileges).
  • Aircraft Limitations:
    • Maximum takeoff weight of 12,500 pounds.
    • Up to seven occupants (pilot + six passengers).
    • Flight below 18,000 feet MSL.
    • Speed limit of 250 knots indicated.

Risk Management: Proficiency vs. Currency

  • Currency: FAA minimum requirements to legally fly.
    • Three takeoffs and landings in the preceding 90 days.
    • Biannual flight review every two years.
  • Proficiency: How confident you are in your flying abilities.
    • Example: A pilot who hasn't flown in a year may be technically current but not proficient.
  • Importance of Recognizing Limits: A pilot must recognize their own limits, which may be more conservative than FAA minimums.
  • Recommendation: When in doubt, fly with an instructor to regain proficiency.
  • Flying Unfamiliar Aircraft: Avoid flying aircraft or using flight display systems and avionics without proper knowledge and training.

Airworthiness Requirements

  • General Airworthiness Requirements: Compliance for airplanes.
    • Location and expiration dates of required aircraft certificates.
    • The registration expires after seven years.
  • **AV1ATES Acronym for inspections:
    • Annual inspection: Every 12 calendar months.
    • VOR check: Every 30 days (for IFR flights).
    • 100-hour inspection: If aircraft is flown for hire.
    • Airworthiness directives (ADs): As needed basis, issued by the FAA, sent to the aircraft owner, and recorded in maintenance logs.
    • Transponder: Every 24 calendar months.
    • ELT (Emergency Locator Transmitter): Inspected every 12 months, replaced after 1 hour of cumulative use or 50% of battery life.
    • Static system: (airspeed, altimeter, vertical speed indicator) Every 24 calendar months.
  • Special Flight Permit (Ferry Permit): Allows flying an unairworthy aircraft to a maintenance location.
    • Required when an inspection lapses.
    • Obtained through the Flight Standards District Office (FSDO).
    • Permit is specific to a particular flight from home base to the maintenance location.
  • Owner, Operator, and Pilot in Command Responsibilities: Proper maintenance.
  • Equipment Requirements for Day VFR Flight:
    • A TOMATO FLAMES Acronym
      • Airspeed indicator
      • Tachometer (engine RPM)
      • Oil pressure gauge
      • Manifold pressure gauge (for constant speed propeller aircraft)
      • Altimeter
      • Temperature gauge (oil temperature for air-cooled engines)
      • Oil temperature gauge
      • Fuel gauges
      • Landing gear position indicator (for retractable gear aircraft)
      • Anticollision lights (beacon)
      • Magnetic direction indicator (compass)
      • Emergency locator transmitter (ELT)
      • Seat belts
  • Equipment Requirements for Night VFR Flight: Day VFR requirements plus
    • Fuses (spares).
    • Landing light (if for hire).
    • Anti-collision light (strobe lights).
    • Position lights (navigation lights: red, green, and white).
    • Source of power (alternator).
  • Inoperative Equipment:
    • Reference FAR 91.205, and compare to equipment on board.
    • If equipment is required for VFR or IFR, the aircraft cannot be flown until repaired.
  • Procedure for Inoperative Equipment Not Required by 91.205:
    • Deactivate the system (e.g., pull the breaker).
    • Placard the inoperative equipment with an "INOP" label.
    • If on the plane, then it cannot be flown.

Weather

  • Approved Sources of Weather Information:
    • ForeFlight
    • National Weather Service
    • Aviationweather.gov
    • Flight service (for tailored weather briefs).
  • METAR (Meteorological Aerodrome Report): Current weather report.
  • TAF (Terminal Aerodrome Forecast): Forecasted weather.
  • METAR Structure:
    • Airport identifier: (e.g., KDTO).
    • Date and time: (e.g., 171451Z) - 17th day of the month at 1451 Zulu time.
    • Winds: (e.g., 18015G21KT) - 180 degrees at 15 knots, gusting to 21 knots.
    • Visibility: (e.g., 10SM) - 10 statute miles.
    • Clouds: (e.g., FEW018) - Few clouds at 1,800 feet.
    • Temperature/Dew point: (e.g., 27/21) - Temperature 27°C, dew point 21°C.
    • Altimeter setting: (e.g., A2995) - 29.95 inches of mercury.
    • Remarks: (e.g., AO2) - Automated station with precipitation discrimination.
    • SLP: Sea level pressure.
  • TAF Structure:
    • Issuance time: and valid period.
    • Wind, visibility, and cloud forecasts for specific time periods.
  • Surface Analysis Charts: Indicate fronts, pressure systems, and other weather features.
    • Cold front: blue line.
    • Warm front: red line.
    • Stationary front: alternating red and blue line.
    • Occluded front: purple line.
    • Trough: dashed orange lines (area of low pressure).
    • Dry line: orange with semi-circles. Boundary between dry mountain air and humid coastal air.
    • Isobars: brown lines connecting points of equal pressure.
    • Outflow boundary: pushing air in front of the storm.
  • Barometric Pressure: Changes in pressure drive wind and weather patterns.