FAA Private Pilot Review Questions with Complete Solutions Graded A+
When departing a satellite airport without an operative control tower located within Class C airspace,
what requirement must be met? (91.130) - Answers Each person must establish and maintain two-way
radio communications with the ATC facilities having jurisdiction over the Class C airspace area as soon as
practicable after departing.
What minimum weather conditions are required when conducting VFR flight operations within Class C
airspace? (91.156) - Answers VFR flight operations within Class C airspace requires 3 statue miles flight
visibility and cloud clearance of at least 500 feet below, 1,000 feet above and 2,000 feet horizontal to
clouds.
What are the eligibility requirements for a private pilot (airplane) certificate? (61.103) - Answers a. Be at
least 17 years of age.
b. Be able to read, speak, write and understand the English language.
c. Hold a U.S. student pilot certificate, sport pilot certificate, or recreational certificate.
d. Hold at least a current Third Class medical certificate.
e. Have received the required ground and flight training endorsements.
f. Meet the applicable aeronautical experience requirements.
g. Have passed the required knowledge and practical tests.
What privileges and limitations apply to a private pilot? - Answers No person who holds a private pilot
certificate may act as a pilot-in-command of an aircraft that is carrying passengers or property for
compensation or hire; nor may that person, for compensation or hire, act as PIC of an aircraft. A private
pilot may:
a. act as PIC of an aircraft in connection with any business or employment if it is only incidental to that
business or employment and does not carry passengers or property for compensation or hire.
b. not pay less than the pro-rate share of the operating expenses of a flight with passengers, provided
the expenses involve only fuel, oil, airport expenditures, or rental fees.
c. act as PIC of a charitable, nonprofit, or community event flight described in 91.146 if the sponsor and
pilot comply with the requirements of that regulation.
d. be reimbursed for aircraft operating expenses that are directly related to search and rescue
operations, provided the expenses involve only fuel, oil, airport expenditures, or rental fees, adn the
operation is sanctioned and under the direction and control of local, state or federal agencies or
organizations that conduct search and rescue operations.
,e. demonstrate an aircraft in flight to a prospective buyer if the private pilot is an aircraft salesman and
has at least 200 hours of logged flight time.
f. act as PIC of an aircraft towing a glider or unpowered ultralight vehicle, provided they meet the
requirements of 61.69.
g. act as PIC for the purposes of conducting a production flight test in a light-sport aircraft intended for
certification in the light-sport category, provided they meet the requirements of 61.113.
To act as a required pilot flight crewmember of a civil aircraft, what must a pilot have in his/her physical
possession or readily accessible in the aircraft? (61.3) - Answers a. A pilot certificate or special purpose
pilot authorizatio
b. A government photo ID
c. A medical certificate (with exceptions as provided in 61.3)
What is the definition of a high-performance airplane, and what must one do to act as PIC of such an
airplane? (61.31) - Answers A high-performance airplane is an airplane with an engine of more than 200
horsepower. To act as PIC of a high-performance airplane, one must have:
a. received and logged ground and flight training from an authorized flight instructor in a high-
performance airplane, or in a flight simulator or flight training device that is representative of a high-
performance airplane and have been found proficient in the operation and systems of that airplane.
b. received and logged a one-time endorsement in one's logbook from an authorized instructor who
certifies you are proficient to operate a high-performance airplane.
Note: exemption if person has logged PIC time in high-performance airplanes prior to August 4, 1997
Other than high-performance and complex aircraft, what other types of aircraft require specific training
and logbook endorsements from an appropriately rated flight instructor? (61.31) - Answers High-altitude
Airplanes- No person may act as PIC of a pressurized airplane that has a service ceiling or maximum
operating altitude (whichever is lower) above 25,000 MSL unless that person has completed the ground
and flight training specified and has received a logbook or training record endorsement from an
authorized instructor certifying satisfactory completion of the training.
Tailwheel Airplances- No person may act as PIC of a tailwheel airplane unless that pilot has received
flight instruction form an authorized flight instructor who has found the pilot competent to operate a
tailwheel airplane and has made a one-time endorsement so stating in the pilot's logbook. The
endorsement is not required if a pilot has logged flight time as PIC of tailwheel airplanes prior to April 5,
1991.
,What is the definition of a complex airplane, and what must you do to act as PIC of such an airplane?
(61.31) - Answers A "complex airplane" is defined as an airplane that has a retractable landing gear,
flaps, and a controllable-pitch propeller, including airplanes equipped with a full-authority digital engine
control (FADEC). To act as PIC of such an airplane you much have:
a. received and logged ground and flight training from an authorized flight instructor in a complex
airplane, or in a flight simulator or flight training device that is represenative of a complex airplane and
have been found proficient in the operation and systems of that airplane.
b. received a one-time endorsement in your logbook from an authorized instructor who certifies you are
proficient to operate a complex airplane.
Note- requirements not in effect if person has PIC time in complex aircraft prior to August 4, 1997
With respect to certification, privileges, and limitations of airmen, define the terms 'Category' , 'Class'
and 'Type' (Part 1) - Answers Category- a broad classification of aircraft, such as airplane, rotorcraft,
glider, etc
Class- a classification of aircraft within a category having similar operating characteristics, such as single-
engine land, multi-engine land, seaplane, etc.
Type- a specific make and basic model of aircraft including modifications that do not change its handling
or flight characteristics, such as DC-9, Cessna 172, etc.
What are the requirements to remain current as a private pilot? (61.56, 61.57) - Answers a. Within the
preceding 24 months, accomplished a flight review given in an aircraft for which that pilot is rated by an
authorized instructor and received a logbook endorsement certifying that the person has satisfactorily
completed the review.
b. To carry passengers, a pilot must have made, within the preceding 90 days:
* three takeoffs and landings as the sole manipulator of flight controls of an aircraft of the same
category and class, and if type rating is required, of the same type.
* if the aircraft is a tailwheel airplane, the landings must have been made to a full stop in an airplane
with a tailwheel.
* if operations are to be conducted during the period beginning 1 hour after sunset and ending one
hour before sunrise, with passengers on board, the PIC must have, wihtin the preceding 90 days, made
at least three takeoffs and three landings to a full stop during that period in an aircraft of the same
category, class and type (if type rating required) of aircraft to be used.
Note- takeoffs and landings required by this regulation may be accomplished in a flight simulator or
flight training device that is approved by the Administrator and used in accordance with an approved
course conducted by a certified training center.
, To exercise the privileges of a private pilot certificate, what medical certificate is required, and how long
is it valid? (61.23) - Answers You must hold at least a third-class medical certificate. The medical
certificate expires at the end of the last day of:
a. the 60th month after the month of the date of examination shown on the certificate, if on the date of
yoru most recent medical examination you were under the age of 40.
b. the 24th month after the month of the date of examination shown on the certificate, if on the date of
your most recent medical examination you were over the age of 40.
if a pilot changes his/her permanent mailing address and fails to notify the FAA Airmen Certification
branch of the new address, how long may the pilot continue to exercise the privileges of his/her pilot
certificate? (61.60) - Answers 30 days after the date of the move.
What documents are required on board an aircraft prior to flight? (91.9) - Answers A-R-O-W
A: Airworthiness Certificate
R: Registration Certificate
O: Owner's manual or operating limitations (POH)
W: Weight and Balance data
How can a pilot determine if his/her aircraft is equipped with a Mode C altitude-encoding transponder? -
Answers By referencing the current weight and balance equipment list for the aircraft, a pilot could
positively determine whether or not a Mode C transponder is installed.
Does an aircraft's registration certificate have an expiration date? (47.40) - Answers Yes; as of October 1,
2010, specific registration expiration dates have been established for all aircraft registered before
October 1, 2010. Those aircraft require re-registration according to a specific schedule. All initial aircraft
registrations issued on or after October 1, 2010 will expire three years after the last day of the month in
which they were issued.
Who is responsible for ensuring that an aircraft is maintained in an airworthy condition? (91.403) -
Answers The owner or operator of an aircraft is primarily responsible for maintaining an aircraft in an
airworthy condition.
After aircraft inspections have been made and defects have been repaired, who is responsible for
determining that the aircraft is in an airworthy condition? (91.7) - Answers The PIC of a civil aircraft is
responsible for determining whether that aircraft is in condition for safe flight. The PIC shall discontinue
the flight when unairworthy mechanical, electrical, or structural conditions occur.
What records or documents should be checked to determine that the owner or operator of an aircraft
has complied with all required inspections and airworthiness directives? (91.405) - Answers The
maintenance records (aircraft and engine logbooks); each owner or operator of an aircraft shall ensure
