Airworthy PrepArea I of 11
Preflight Preparation
22% of the Private Pilot test, about 13 of the 60 questions. The FAA's test standard lists 9 tasks and 112 knowledge elements and 33 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. Pilot Qualifications
Knowledge: what you must know
- PA.I.A.K1Certification requirements, recent flight experience, and recordkeeping.
- PA.I.A.K2Privileges and limitations.
- PA.I.A.K3Medical certificates: class, expiration, privileges, temporary disqualifications.
- PA.I.A.K4Documents required to exercise private pilot privileges.
- PA.I.A.K5Part 68 BasicMed privileges and limitations.
Risk management: hazards you must be able to spot and manage
Task B. Airworthiness Requirements
Knowledge: what you must know
- PA.I.B.K1General airworthiness requirements and compliance for airplanes, including:
- PA.I.B.K1aLocation and expiration dates of required aircraft certificates
- PA.I.B.K1bRequired inspections and airplane logbook documentation
- PA.I.B.K1cAirworthiness Directives and Special Airworthiness Information Bulletins
- PA.I.B.K1dPurpose and procedure for obtaining a special flight permit
- PA.I.B.K1eOwner/Operator and pilot-in-command responsibilities
- PA.I.B.K2Pilot-performed preventive maintenance.
- PA.I.B.K3Equipment requirements for day and night VFR flight, including:
- PA.I.B.K3aFlying with inoperative equipment
- PA.I.B.K3bUsing an approved Minimum Equipment List (MEL)
- PA.I.B.K3cKinds of Operation Equipment List (KOEL)
- PA.I.B.K3dRequired discrepancy records or placards
- PA.I.B.K4Standard and special airworthiness certificates and their associated operational limitations.
Risk management: hazards you must be able to spot and manage
- PA.I.B.R1Inoperative equipment discovered prior to flight.
Task C. Weather Information
Knowledge: what you must know
- PA.I.C.K1Sources of weather data (e.g., National Weather Service, Flight Service) for flight planning purposes.
- PA.I.C.K2Acceptable weather products and resources required for preflight planning, current and forecast weather for departure, en route, and arrival phases of flight such as:
- PA.I.C.K2aAirport Observations (METAR and SPECI) and Pilot Observations (PIREP)
- PA.I.C.K2bSurface Analysis Chart, Ceiling and Visibility Chart (CVA)
- PA.I.C.K2cTerminal Aerodrome Forecasts (TAF)
- PA.I.C.K2dGraphical Forecasts for Aviation (GFA)
- PA.I.C.K2eWind and Temperature Aloft Forecast (FB)
- PA.I.C.K2fConvective Outlook (AC)
- PA.I.C.K2gInflight Aviation Weather Advisories including Airmen's Meteorological Information (AIRMET), Significant Meteorological Information (SIGMET), and Convective SIGMET
- PA.I.C.K3Meteorology applicable to the departure, en route, alternate, and destination under visual flight rules (VFR) in Visual Meteorological Conditions (VMC), including expected climate and hazardous conditions such as:
- PA.I.C.K3aAtmospheric composition and stability
- PA.I.C.K3bWind (e.g., windshear, mountain wave, factors affecting wind, etc.)
- PA.I.C.K3cTemperature and heat exchange
- PA.I.C.K3dMoisture/precipitation
- PA.I.C.K3eWeather system formation, including air masses and fronts
- PA.I.C.K3fClouds
- PA.I.C.K3gTurbulence
- PA.I.C.K3hThunderstorms and microbursts
- PA.I.C.K3iIcing and freezing level information
- PA.I.C.K3jFog/mist
- PA.I.C.K3kFrost
- PA.I.C.K3lObstructions to visibility (e.g., smoke, haze, volcanic ash, etc.)
- PA.I.C.K4Flight deck instrument displays of digital weather and aeronautical information.
Risk management: hazards you must be able to spot and manage
- PA.I.C.R1Making the go/no-go and continue/divert decisions, including:
- PA.I.C.R1aCircumstances that would make diversion prudent
- PA.I.C.R1bPersonal weather minimums
- PA.I.C.R1cHazardous weather conditions, including known or forecast icing or turbulence aloft
- PA.I.C.R2Use and limitations of:
- PA.I.C.R2aInstalled onboard weather equipment
- PA.I.C.R2bAviation weather reports and forecasts
- PA.I.C.R2cInflight weather resources
Task D. Cross-Country Flight Planning
Knowledge: what you must know
- PA.I.D.K1Route planning, including consideration of different classes and special use airspace (SUA) and selection of appropriate and available navigation/communication systems and facilities.
- PA.I.D.K1aUse of an electronic flight bag (EFB), if used
- PA.I.D.K2Altitude selection accounting for terrain and obstacles, glide distance of airplane, VFR cruising altitudes, and effect of wind.
- PA.I.D.K3Calculating:
- PA.I.D.K3aTime, climb and descent rates, course, distance, heading, true airspeed, and groundspeed
- PA.I.D.K3bEstimated time of arrival, including conversion to universal coordinated time (UTC)
- PA.I.D.K3cFuel requirements, including reserve
- PA.I.D.K4Elements of a VFR flight plan.
- PA.I.D.K5Procedures for filing, activating, and closing a VFR flight plan.
- PA.I.D.K6Inflight intercept procedures.
Risk management: hazards you must be able to spot and manage
Task E. National Airspace System
Knowledge: what you must know
- PA.I.E.K1Airspace classes and associated requirements and limitations.
- PA.I.E.K2Chart symbols.
- PA.I.E.K3Special use airspace (SUA), special flight rules areas (SFRA), temporary flight restrictions (TFR), and other airspace areas.
- PA.I.E.K4Special visual flight rules (VFR) requirements.
Risk management: hazards you must be able to spot and manage
- PA.I.E.R1Various classes and types of airspace.
Task F. Performance and Limitations
Knowledge: what you must know
- PA.I.F.K1Elements related to performance and limitations by explaining the use of charts, tables, and data to determine performance.
- PA.I.F.K2Factors affecting performance, including:
- PA.I.F.K2aAtmospheric conditions
- PA.I.F.K2bPilot technique
- PA.I.F.K2cAirplane configuration
- PA.I.F.K2dAirport environment
- PA.I.F.K2eLoading [e.g., center of gravity (CG)]
- PA.I.F.K2fWeight and balance
- PA.I.F.K3Aerodynamics.
Risk management: hazards you must be able to spot and manage
Task G. Operation of Systems
Knowledge: what you must know
- PA.I.G.K1Airplane systems, including:
- PA.I.G.K1aPrimary flight controls
- PA.I.G.K1bSecondary flight controls
- PA.I.G.K1cPowerplant and propeller
- PA.I.G.K1dLanding gear
- PA.I.G.K1eFuel, oil, and hydraulic
- PA.I.G.K1fElectrical
- PA.I.G.K1gAvionics
- PA.I.G.K1hPitot-static, vacuum/pressure, and associated flight instruments
- PA.I.G.K1iEnvironmental
- PA.I.G.K1jDeicing and anti-icing
- PA.I.G.K1kWater rudders (ASES, AMES)
- PA.I.G.K1lOxygen system
- PA.I.G.K2Indications of and procedures for managing system abnormalities or failures.
Risk management: hazards you must be able to spot and manage
Task H. Human Factors
Knowledge: what you must know
- PA.I.H.K1Symptoms, recognition, causes, effects, and corrective actions associated with aeromedical and physiological issues, including:
- PA.I.H.K1aHypoxia
- PA.I.H.K1bHyperventilation
- PA.I.H.K1cMiddle ear and sinus problems
- PA.I.H.K1dSpatial disorientation
- PA.I.H.K1eMotion sickness
- PA.I.H.K1fCarbon monoxide poisoning
- PA.I.H.K1gStress
- PA.I.H.K1hFatigue
- PA.I.H.K1iDehydration and nutrition
- PA.I.H.K1jHypothermia
- PA.I.H.K1kOptical illusions
- PA.I.H.K1lDissolved nitrogen in the bloodstream after scuba dives
- PA.I.H.K2Regulations regarding use of alcohol and drugs.
- PA.I.H.K3Effects of alcohol, drugs, and over-the-counter medications.
- PA.I.H.K4Aeronautical Decision-Making (ADM) to include using Crew Resource Management (CRM) or Single- Pilot Resource Management (SRM), as appropriate.
Risk management: hazards you must be able to spot and manage
Task I. Water and Seaplane Characteristics, Seaplane Bases, Maritime Rules, and Aids to Marine Navigation (ASES, AMES)
Knowledge: what you must know
- PA.I.I.K1The characteristics of a water surface as affected by features, such as:
- PA.I.I.K1aSize and location
- PA.I.I.K1bProtected and unprotected areas
- PA.I.I.K1cSurface wind
- PA.I.I.K1dDirection and strength of water current
- PA.I.I.K1eFloating and partially submerged debris
- PA.I.I.K1fSandbars, islands, and shoals
- PA.I.I.K1gVessel traffic and wakes
- PA.I.I.K1hOther characteristics specific to the area
- PA.I.I.K1iDirection and height of waves
- PA.I.I.K2Float and hull construction, and its effect on seaplane performance.
- PA.I.I.K3Causes of porpoising and skipping, and the pilot action needed to prevent or correct these occurrences.
- PA.I.I.K4How to locate and identify seaplane bases on charts or in directories.
- PA.I.I.K5Operating restrictions at various bases.
- PA.I.I.K6Right-of-way, steering, and sailing rules pertinent to seaplane operation.
- PA.I.I.K7Marine navigation aids, such as buoys, beacons, lights, sound signals, and range markers.
- PA.I.I.K8Naval vessel protection zones.
- PA.I.I.K9No wake zones.
Risk management: hazards you must be able to spot and manage
Try 0 sample questions
Sample questions for this area are on their way. The full course covers it already.
Practice all of preflight preparation
The full course has questions on every element listed here, with an explanation and FAA source for each.