Checkride-ready
See how you measure up to FAA standards with these questions from the AOPA Pilot Information Center.
1. For aviation purposes, ceiling is defined as the height above the Earth’s surface of the
A. lowest reported obscuration and the highest layer of clouds reported as overcast.
B. lowest broken or overcast layer or vertical visibility into an obscuration.
C. lowest layer of clouds reported as scattered, broken, or thin.
2. Clouds are divided into four families according to their
A. composition.
B. height range.
C. outward shape.
3. The portion of a runway designated as a displaced threshold may be used for
A. taxiing and takeoff.
B. taxiing and landing.
C. landing.
4. What is the primary purpose of the rudder on an airplane?
A. To initiate a turn.
B. To skid the airplane.
C. To control yaw.
5. What is the specific fuel requirement for flight under VFR during daylight hours in an airplane?
A. Enough to fly to the first point of intended landing and to fly after that for 45 minutes at normal cruising speed.
B. Enough to fly to the first point of intended landing and to fly after that for 30 minutes at normal cruising speed.
C. Just enough to complete the flight so that the engine does not quit while taxiing to the tiedown.
Ace
Can you correctly answer these questions from retired TWA captain and 28,000-hour pilot Barry Schiff?
6. A VFR pilot enters the traffic pattern at an airport that is not in Class B airspace. Airport elevation is 200 feet and the published traffic pattern altitude is 1,200 feet. The tower controller reports a 1,300-foot overcast. The downwind leg, therefore, should be flown at an altitude of
A. 1,200 feet msl.
B. 1,100 feet msl.
C. 1,000 feet msl.
D. 800 feet msl.
7. What is the difference between a turbocharger and a supercharger?
8. True or false? A light plane pilot on final approach is number two to land following a Boeing 777. If he could see the wingtip vortices of the Boeing, he would notice that the vortex generated by the right wing tip is rotating in a clockwise direction.
9. An airplane at high altitude is climbing at an indicated airspeed of 120 knots, a true airspeed of 180 knots, and a vertical speed of 600 fpm. The resultant climb gradient, therefore, is
A. 200 feet per nm.
B. 250 feet per nm.
C. 300 feet per nm.
D. The answer cannot be determined with the information provided.
10. True or false? During a climb in icing conditions, the pitot tube becomes obstructed with ice. As the climb progresses, indicated airspeed becomes increasingly less than would normally be expected.
Illustrations by Ryan Snooks
Final Exam Ansers
- The answer is B. FAR 1.1 defines ceiling as the height above the earth’s surface of the lowest layer of clouds or obscuring phenomena that is reported as broken, overcast, or obscuration, and not classified as thin or partial.
- The answer is B. Cloud type is determined by its height, shape, and characteristics. They are classified according to the height of their bases as low (up to 6,500 feet agl), middle (6,500 to 20,000 feet agl), or high clouds (above 20,000 feet agl), as well as clouds with extensive vertical development such as towering cumulus and cumulonimbus. (Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge, Chapter 12)
- The answer is A. The displaced threshold is a threshold located at a point on the runway other than the designated beginning of the runway. Displacement of a threshold reduces the length of runway available for landings to ensure obstacle clearance on the approach path. That would not affect taxiing or takeoffs, and this part of the runway can be used for those two operations. (Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge, Chapter 14)
- The answer is C. The rudder controls movement of the aircraft about its vertical axis. This motion is called yaw. The rudder is used to coordinate a turn, but not initiate a turn. Excessive deflection will cause a skid, which is an undesirable flight condition. (Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge, Chapter 6)
- The answer is B. FAR 91.151 requires a 30-minute fuel reserve for daylight operations. Most pilots prefer to have a larger margin of fuel reserve in the event of unforeseen circumstances; however, the regulations require only 30 minutes, or about four gallons in most training airplanes.
- The answer is C. The base of the overcast is 1,500 feet msl. Being in controlled airspace, the pilot must observe cloud-clearance requirements and remain at least 500 feet below the overcast.
- A turbocharger is exhaust driven, and a supercharger is mechanically driven.
- False. Simplifying the explanation, a vortex forms as high-pressure air from beneath the wing curls around the wing tip in an attempt to “fill the void” of low-pressure air above the wing.
- The answer is D. Climb gradient cannot be determined without knowing groundspeed. The correct answer would be A if the wind were calm.
- False. The airspeed indicator will behave like an altimeter. As altitude increases, indicated airspeed becomes increasingly greater than normally would be expected.
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