Airworthy PrepArea III of 11
Airport and Seaplane Base Operations
7% of the Private Pilot test, about 4 of the 60 questions. The FAA's test standard lists 2 tasks and 13 knowledge elements and 7 risk management elements for this area. Here is every one, plus sample questions to try.
What the FAA tests
From the Private Pilot Airplane test standard, FAA-S-ACS-6C.
Task A. Communications, Light Signals, and Runway Lighting Systems
Knowledge: what you must know
- PA.III.A.K1How to obtain appropriate radio frequencies.
- PA.III.A.K2Proper radio communication procedures and air traffic control (ATC) phraseology.
- PA.III.A.K3ATC light signal recognition.
- PA.III.A.K4Appropriate use of transponder(s).
- PA.III.A.K5Lost communication procedures.
- PA.III.A.K6Equipment issues that could cause loss of communication.
- PA.III.A.K7Radar assistance.
- PA.III.A.K8National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) accident/incident reporting.
- PA.III.A.K9Runway Status Lighting Systems.
Risk management: hazards you must be able to spot and manage
- PA.III.A.R1Communication.
- PA.III.A.R2Deciding if and when to declare an emergency.
- PA.III.A.R3[Archived]
- PA.III.A.R4Use of non-standard phraseology.
Task B. Traffic Patterns
Knowledge: what you must know
- PA.III.B.K1Towered and nontowered airport operations.
- PA.III.B.K2Traffic pattern selection for the current conditions.
- PA.III.B.K3Right-of-way rules.
- PA.III.B.K4Use of automated weather and airport information.
Risk management: hazards you must be able to spot and manage
- PA.III.B.R1Collision hazards.
- PA.III.B.R2Distractions, task prioritization, loss of situational awareness, or disorientation.
- PA.III.B.R3Windshear and wake turbulence.
Try a sample question
Airport and Seaplane Base Operations ยท PA.III.B.K2
Using the figure, you are on final to a runway with a standard 2-bar VASI, and the lights look like illustration C. What does this show, and what should you do?
Practice all of airport and seaplane base operations
The full course has questions on every element listed here, with an explanation and FAA source for each.