FAA Private Pilot (PAR) Exam Prep

Correct answer: C. September 30, 2016.

Under 14 CFR 91.413(a) a transponder must have been tested and inspected within the preceding 24 calendar months. Calendar months run to the end of the month, so an inspection on September 1, 2014 remains valid through the last day of September 2016: September 30, 2016. September 30, 2015 would be only 12 months, and September 1, 2016 ignores the calendar-month rule.

Source: 14 CFR 91.413(a)ACS PA.I.B.K1b

Correct answer: C. Frost spoils the smooth flow of air over the wings, thereby decreasing lifting capability.

Frost roughens the wing surface and disrupts the smooth airflow over it, causing early airflow separation; as PHAK Ch. 12 explains, this reduces the wing's lifting capability and increases drag and stall speed, possibly preventing the airplane from becoming airborne. Frost never increases lift, and it does not improve control effectiveness.

Source: PHAK (FAA-H-8083-25)ACS PA.I.C.K3k

Correct answer: A. 1 mile and clear of clouds.

On Figure 26, Cooperstown Airport (S32) sits inside a magenta shaded vignette, meaning Class E airspace begins at 700 feet AGL, so the airspace at or below 700 feet AGL is Class G. For Class G at 1,200 feet AGL or less during the day, 14 CFR 91.155(a) requires 1 statute mile flight visibility and clear of clouds. The 3-mile and 1,000/500/2,000 cloud-clearance values are Class E (or Class G above 1,200 feet AGL) requirements.

Source: 14 CFR 91.155(a)ACS PA.I.E.K1

Correct answer: C. whether the flight is VFR or IFR.

AIM 5-1-1 says that when requesting a preflight briefing you identify yourself as a pilot and provide the type of flight planned (VFR or IFR), the aircraft number or pilot's name, aircraft type, departure airport, route, destination, altitude, ETD and ETE, so the briefer can tailor the briefing. A home address and a summary of your qualifications are not part of that background information.

Source: AIM 5-1-1ACS PA.I.C.K1

Correct answer: A. To enable the pilot to make steeper approaches to a landing without increasing the airspeed.

Flaps are secondary flight controls that increase both lift and drag, so the airplane can fly a steeper descent angle toward the runway without picking up speed (PHAK Ch. 6; AFH Ch. 9). Relieving the pilot of continuous control pressure is the job of trim tabs, not flaps. Flaps also do not decrease wing area; extending them increases camber (and on some designs wing area) to change lift.

Source: PHAK (FAA-H-8083-25)ACS PA.I.G.K1b

Correct answer: B. taxiing and takeoff.

Area A on Figure 48 is the paved runway section before Runway 12's threshold, marked with white arrows along the centerline and arrowheads ahead of the threshold bar. That is a displaced threshold. Per AIM 2-3-3 and PHAK Ch. 14, the pavement behind a displaced threshold is available for taxiing and for takeoffs in either direction. An aircraft landing on Runway 12 may not touch down there; only the rollout of an aircraft landing in the opposite direction may use it. So it is correctly described as usable for taxiing and takeoff, not for landing.

Source: AIM 2-3-3 · PHAK (FAA-H-8083-25)ACS PA.II.D.K3

Correct answer: C. Never-exceed speed.

The red radial line on an airspeed indicator marks VNE, the never-exceed speed; operating above it can cause structural damage or failure (PHAK Ch. 8). Maneuvering speed (VA) is not marked on the airspeed indicator, and the caution range for smooth air only is the yellow arc, whose lower end is VNO, the maximum structural cruising speed.

Source: PHAK (FAA-H-8083-25)ACS PA.I.F.R2

Correct answer: A. Monitor airport traffic and announce your position and intentions on 118.5 MHz.

The Lincoln Chart Supplement entry lists CTAF 118.5, the same frequency as the tower, which operates only 1130-0600Z. When the tower is closed, AIM 4-1-9 calls for pilots to monitor the CTAF and self-announce position and intentions on it, so reports go out on 118.5 MHz. The UNICOM frequency 122.95 is for airport services and advisories, not the CTAF at this airport.

Source: AIM 4-1-9ACS PA.III.A.K2