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Written exam

PRE-SOLO WRITTEN EXAM

Complete this exam to show you understand the regulations, aircraft systems, flight operations, and weather knowledge required before your first solo flight.

Instructions for the FAR questions: For each FAR question, include (1) the answer to the question, and (2) where the answer was found — for example part 61.1b(2).

FAR’s

  1. For a student pilot gaining flight experience to obtain their Private Pilot Certificate, what is considered Cross-Country?
  2. List the available PILOT certificates.
  3. When does a Temporary Certificate expire?
  4. How long is your Student Pilot Certificate valid for? If it were issued today, what is the expiration date?
  5. List the duration of all three medical certificates.
  6. When is it necessary to document information into a logbook?
  7. Can you, as a student pilot, fly solo at night if you already have your solo endorsement and solo cross-country endorsement?
  8. Can a student pilot perform a flight into Class B Airspace?
  9. What are your GENERAL requirements for a Private Pilot Certificate?
  10. Who is ultimately responsible for the operation of an aircraft?
  11. When can pilots deviate from regulations? Why would this be necessary?
  12. Is it legal to drop objects out of an aircraft (assuming the aircraft is NOT in an emergency situation)?
  13. Concerning alcohol, what are the limitations a pilot must adhere to before being allowed to operate an aircraft?
  14. In each situation, what aircraft has the right of way?
    • A. Overtaking
    • B. Converging (90 degrees)
    • C. Approaching to land
    • D. Converging (head-on)
  15. After 3,000 feet AGL, what are the recommended VFR cruising MSL altitudes?
  16. While on the ground you see a light-gun signal from the tower — a series of white “blips”. What do you do?
  17. During the day, what is the minimum fuel requirement for flight in VFR conditions?
  18. What are the minimum safe altitudes in the following situations?
    • A. Anywhere
    • B. Non-congested
    • C. Sparsely populated
    • D. Congested
  19. What are the VFR-DAY aircraft instrument requirements for each aircraft to be flown?
  20. For night?
  21. When must an ELT battery be replaced?
  22. Your preflight is complete and you are ready to taxi for a flight to the practice area. What communication steps must be taken, from taxi to the practice area? Include who you talk to and what frequencies you use.
  23. For each airspace, list: what the airspace is comprised of, where it is located, what is required to enter it, and how it is depicted on VFR charts.
  24. On a cross-country flight from Concord to Fresno, what is a good VFR cruising altitude?

Aircraft Systems

  1. Upon run-up, the aircraft demonstrates an excessive mag drop. List some procedures for clearing an engine of excessive mag drop.
  2. How many fuel pumps are on your airplane?
  3. What is the purpose of the carburetor heat, and when is it used?

Aircraft Operations

  1. What is the maximum demonstrated crosswind component of your airplane?
  2. What fuels are approved for your aircraft? What are their colors?
  3. “Jet A” can be detected as a contamination by doing what?
  4. Describe the color codes on an airspeed indicator:
    • White arc
    • Green arc
    • Red line
    • Yellow arc
  5. How are VS1 and VS0 depicted on the airspeed indicator?
  6. There is an 11-knot wind during taxi. What are the proper control-surface positions during:
    • A. Wind from the right, rear?
    • B. Wind from the left front?
  7. What are these V-Speeds? VSO, VY, VNE, VG, VS, VA, VX, normal approach speed (flaps up/down), normal climb.
  8. Define each of those speeds.
  9. What is the oil capacity (min and max) and oil grade used in your aircraft?
  10. What is the maximum weight allowable for takeoff for your aircraft?

Airport Operations

  1. With the VASI light system, what do the following light indications mean?
    • RED over RED
    • WHITE over RED
    • WHITE over WHITE
    • RED over WHITE
  2. The term cleared for the option is often given (if requested) by ATC. What does this clearance mean?
  3. What are the go-around procedures for your aircraft?
  4. What are the touch-and-go procedures?
  5. Concerning wake turbulence, it is usually safer to land ____________ a large aircraft’s touchdown point and lift off _____________ a large aircraft’s rotation point.
  6. What concerns must be taken when taxiing behind a large aircraft (jet and prop blast)?
  7. What is the “after-hours” frequency for Concord airport? When is it in use?
  8. You are departing Concord 19R. There is a wind of 230 at 15 knots gusting to 19. What are the crosswind components (with and without gusts)?

Emergencies

  1. If time allows during an emergency, you should try to communicate on what emergency frequency?
  2. For these three situations, what are the procedures if an engine failure were to occur?
    • A. After takeoff
    • B. In cruise
    • C. Downwind — traffic pattern
  3. What is the first indication of an engine failure that may be caused by a loss of engine oil?
  4. The “Low Voltage” light illuminates in flight. What steps should be taken?
  5. During start-up the engine catches fire. What steps should you follow?
  6. What are the procedures to recover from a spin?

Weather

  1. Name at least 6 ways to obtain weather information.
  2. As a solo student, you are required to have at least ________ miles visibility and ________ foot ceiling.
  3. What are the weather minimums to obtain Special VFR clearance? Can you, as a solo-student pilot, obtain Special VFR clearance?
  4. What weather-related variables would make you cancel a flight in progress?
  5. What are YOUR (personal) weather minimums for flight?
  6. What are the basic VFR weather minimums in Class C, D, E, and G airspace?
  7. While checking the ATIS at Concord, the ceiling is reported as 1,555 feet. You had planned touch-and-go’s in the pattern. What will you do?