Private Pilot Oral Exam Guide

What documents must you carry while flying?

You must carry a valid pilot certificate, a current medical certificate (or BasicMed), and a government-issued photo ID. Remember the mnemonic: certificate, medical, photo ID.

What are the requirements to act as PIC?

You must hold the appropriate category, class, and type rating (if required) for the aircraft. You must also have a current flight review (within the preceding 24 calendar months) and a valid medical certificate.

When does your medical certificate expire?

For a third-class medical under age 40, it expires 60 calendar months from the date of examination. Over age 40, it expires after 24 calendar months.

How do you maintain currency for carrying passengers?

Under 14 CFR 61.57 you need three takeoffs and landings within the preceding 90 days in the same category, class, and type. For night passengers, those must be full-stop landings at night.

What is the difference between current and proficient?

Currency means you meet the minimum legal requirements to fly (e.g., recent experience, valid medical). Proficiency means you actually have the skill and knowledge to fly safely — currency does not guarantee proficiency.

What endorsements do you need as a private pilot?

You need an instructor endorsement for your knowledge test, your practical test, and for any additional training like high-performance or complex aircraft. Solo endorsements are also required during training.

Can you fly with an expired medical certificate?

No. You cannot act as PIC or a required crew member without a valid medical certificate (or BasicMed approval). Flying without one is a violation of the FARs.

What is BasicMed and who qualifies?

BasicMed is an alternative to the traditional FAA medical certificate. You must have held a medical at some point after July 14, 2006, complete an online course every 24 months, and get a physical exam from any state-licensed physician.

Describe Class B airspace and its requirements.

Class B surrounds the busiest airports (like LAX, JFK). It looks like an upside-down wedding cake. You need an ATC clearance to enter, a two-way radio, a transponder with Mode C, and at least a private pilot certificate (or student with endorsement).

What equipment is required for Class C airspace?

You need a two-way radio and a transponder with Mode C (altitude reporting). You must establish two-way radio communication with ATC before entering.

What are the VFR weather minimums for Class E airspace?

Below 10,000 feet MSL: 3 statute miles visibility, 500 feet below, 1,000 feet above, and 2,000 feet horizontal from clouds. Above 10,000 feet MSL: 5 miles visibility, 1,000 below/above and 1 statute mile horizontal.

When do you need a transponder?

A Mode C transponder is required in Class A, B, and C airspace, within 30 nm of a Class B primary airport (the Mode C veil), and above 10,000 feet MSL (except below 2,500 AGL).

What is a TFR and how do you check for them?

A Temporary Flight Restriction limits flight in a specific area for reasons like presidential movements, sporting events, or disasters. Check TFRs through the FAA website, a preflight briefing from 1-800-WX-BRIEF, or ForeFlight/other EFBs.

What are the VFR weather minimums for Class G airspace at night?

Below 1,200 AGL at night in Class G: 3 statute miles visibility, 500 below, 1,000 above, and 2,000 feet horizontal from clouds. Day minimums are lower: 1 mile visibility and clear of clouds.

What is special use airspace?

Special use airspace includes prohibited areas (no entry ever), restricted areas (hazardous activity, need permission), MOAs (military operations, VFR may proceed with caution), warning areas, and alert areas. Each has different rules for entry.

How is Class D airspace depicted on a sectional chart?

Class D is shown as a dashed blue line. It typically extends from the surface to 2,500 feet AGL and requires two-way radio communication with the tower before entry.

What causes wind?

Wind is caused by differences in atmospheric pressure. Air flows from high-pressure areas to low-pressure areas. The greater the pressure difference (gradient), the stronger the wind. The Coriolis force deflects wind to the right in the Northern Hemisphere.

Explain the types of fog.

Radiation fog forms on clear, calm nights as the ground cools the air. Advection fog occurs when warm, moist air moves over a cooler surface. Upslope fog forms when air rises along terrain. Steam fog occurs when cold air moves over warm water.

What are the signs of an approaching warm front?

A warm front typically brings lowering ceilings and decreasing visibility over a wide area. Cloud progression is cirrus, cirrostratus, altostratus, then nimbostratus with steady precipitation. Conditions can persist for long periods.

How do you read a METAR?

A METAR includes station ID, date/time in Zulu, wind direction and speed, visibility, present weather, cloud layers, temperature/dewpoint, and altimeter setting. For example, winds 27015KT means from 270 degrees at 15 knots.

What is a convective SIGMET?

A convective SIGMET warns of dangerous convective activity: tornadoes, lines of thunderstorms, embedded thunderstorms, or hail 3/4 inch or larger. They are issued for the contiguous US and are valid for 2 hours.

Where do you get weather briefings?

You can get an official briefing from Flight Service (1-800-WX-BRIEF), aviationweather.gov, Leidos Flight Service online, or approved EFBs like ForeFlight. Always get a standard briefing for the full picture before a flight.

What is the difference between AIRMET and SIGMET?

AIRMETs cover moderate hazards (turbulence, icing, IFR conditions) for an area and are valid for 6 hours. SIGMETs cover severe hazards (severe turbulence, icing, volcanic ash) and are valid for 4 hours (2 hours for convective SIGMETs).

What causes carburetor icing and what weather conditions favor it?

Carburetor icing forms when moist air passes through the carburetor venturi and temperature drops below freezing due to the pressure drop and fuel vaporization. It can occur at outside air temperatures as high as 70 degrees F with high humidity.

Explain the four forces of flight.

Lift opposes weight and is generated by the wings. Thrust opposes drag and is produced by the engine/propeller. In unaccelerated flight, lift equals weight and thrust equals drag.

What causes a stall?

A stall occurs when the wing exceeds its critical angle of attack (typically around 16-18 degrees). The airflow separates from the upper surface of the wing and lift is dramatically reduced. A stall can occur at any airspeed, any attitude, and any power setting.

Explain load factor and its relationship to bank angle.

Load factor is the ratio of lift to weight, measured in Gs. In a level turn, load factor increases with bank angle. At 60 degrees of bank, load factor is 2G — meaning the wings support twice the aircraft's weight. This increases stall speed.

What is P-factor?

P-factor (asymmetric propeller loading) occurs at high angles of attack. The descending blade (right side) takes a bigger bite of air than the ascending blade, producing more thrust on the right side and yawing the airplane left.

Explain adverse yaw.

When you bank, the raised aileron reduces lift on one wing while the lowered aileron increases lift and drag on the other. This extra drag pulls the nose opposite to the turn direction. Rudder input corrects adverse yaw.

What is ground effect?

Ground effect occurs within one wingspan of the surface. The ground disrupts wingtip vortices, reducing induced drag and making the airplane feel like it floats during landing. It can also cause a premature liftoff during takeoff.

What are the left-turning tendencies?

There are four: torque (engine turns right, airplane rolls left), P-factor (asymmetric thrust at high AOA), spiraling slipstream (wraps around fuselage and hits the left side of the vertical stabilizer), and gyroscopic precession (during attitude changes).

What is Vne and why is it important?

Vne is the never-exceed speed, marked as a red line on the airspeed indicator. Exceeding it risks structural failure or flutter. It is the maximum speed at which the aircraft can safely operate under any condition.

How does the engine work? (4-stroke cycle)

The four strokes are intake (fuel-air mixture enters the cylinder), compression (piston compresses the mixture), power (spark plug ignites the mixture, driving the piston down), and exhaust (burned gases are expelled). This cycle repeats continuously.

Explain the electrical system.

Most light aircraft have a 14- or 28-volt DC system. The alternator generates electricity when the engine is running, and the battery provides backup and starting power. The master switch controls the entire system, and circuit breakers protect individual circuits.

How does the pitot-static system work?

The pitot tube measures ram (dynamic) air pressure for the airspeed indicator. The static port measures ambient air pressure. The airspeed indicator uses both; the altimeter and vertical speed indicator use only static pressure.

What happens if the vacuum pump fails?

The vacuum-driven instruments — typically the attitude indicator and heading indicator — will slowly become unreliable and eventually fail. You would rely on the pitot-static instruments (airspeed, altimeter, VSI) and the magnetic compass instead.

Explain carburetor icing and how to prevent it.

Ice forms in the carburetor venturi when temperature drops due to the pressure reduction and fuel evaporation. Apply carburetor heat before entering conditions conducive to icing — it uses hot air from the exhaust shroud to melt and prevent ice formation.

Why do most aircraft engines have two magnetos?

Dual magnetos provide redundancy — if one fails, the engine continues running on the other. They also improve combustion efficiency by firing two spark plugs per cylinder simultaneously, giving a more complete burn of the fuel-air mixture.

What does the oil system do?

The oil system lubricates, cools, cleans, and seals the engine's internal components. Low oil pressure is an emergency — it can mean imminent engine failure. Always check oil level during preflight and monitor oil pressure in flight.

How does the fuel system work in a gravity-fed aircraft?

In high-wing aircraft like the Cessna 172, fuel flows from the wing tanks down to the engine by gravity. A fuel selector valve lets you choose left, right, or both tanks. The fuel strainer removes water and contaminants before fuel reaches the carburetor.

What are the fuel requirements for VFR flight?

For VFR day flight, you must have enough fuel to fly to your destination plus 30 minutes of reserve at normal cruise. For VFR night, the reserve increases to 45 minutes. This is per 14 CFR 91.151.

What is the minimum safe altitude?

Over congested areas: 1,000 feet above the highest obstacle within 2,000 feet horizontal. Over non-congested areas: 500 feet above the surface. Over open water or sparsely populated areas: no closer than 500 feet to any person, vessel, or structure.

When can you deviate from an ATC clearance?

You may deviate from an ATC clearance in an emergency. 14 CFR 91.123 states that in an emergency requiring immediate action, the PIC may deviate to the extent necessary. You may need to file a report with ATC if requested.

What are the rules for right-of-way?

Aircraft in distress have right-of-way over all others. Balloons have right-of-way over all powered aircraft. Gliders over airplanes and helicopters. An aircraft being overtaken has right-of-way. When converging, the aircraft to the right has right-of-way.

What documents must be in the aircraft?

Remember AROW: Airworthiness certificate, Registration, Operating limitations (POH or placards), and Weight and balance data. All must be current and accessible in the aircraft.

What are the alcohol rules for pilots?

Under 14 CFR 91.17, you cannot fly within 8 hours of consuming alcohol, with a blood alcohol level of 0.04% or higher, or while under the influence of any drug that affects safety. The FAA's guidance is '8 hours bottle to throttle.'

What inspections are required to keep an aircraft airworthy?

Remember AV1ATE: Annual inspection (every 12 calendar months), VOR check (for IFR, every 30 days), 100-hour (if for hire), Airworthiness Directives (as required), Transponder (every 24 calendar months), ELT (every 12 months/battery life).

Can a private pilot carry passengers for compensation?

Generally no. However, a private pilot can share expenses equally with passengers for fuel, oil, airport fees, and rental. You can also fly for a charitable organization under certain conditions, or search and rescue operations.

How do you plan a cross-country flight?

Check weather, NOTAMs, and TFRs. Plot your course on a sectional chart, calculate headings with wind correction, determine fuel burn, and identify checkpoints. File a flight plan if desired, and always have alternates in mind.

Explain magnetic variation and deviation.

Variation is the angular difference between true north and magnetic north, caused by Earth's magnetic field. It is shown on isogonic lines on sectional charts. Deviation is the error caused by the aircraft's own magnetic fields, found on the compass correction card.

How does a VOR work?

A VOR (VHF Omnidirectional Range) transmits 360 radials from the station. Your receiver compares a reference signal with a variable signal to determine which radial you are on. You can navigate TO or FROM the station along any radial.

What is pilotage vs. dead reckoning?

Pilotage is navigating by visual reference to landmarks on the ground matched to your sectional chart. Dead reckoning is navigating by calculating headings, groundspeeds, and elapsed time from a known position. Most VFR pilots use both together.

How do you calculate fuel burn for a trip?

Use the POH to find fuel burn at your planned altitude and power setting. Multiply by the estimated flight time, then add the required VFR reserves (30 minutes day, 45 minutes night). Always round up for safety.

What is a sectional chart and what information does it provide?

A sectional chart is a VFR navigation chart at 1:500,000 scale. It shows airports, airspace boundaries, terrain elevation, obstacles, VORs, visual landmarks, and navigation aids. New editions are published every 56 days.

How does GPS navigation work in general aviation?

GPS uses signals from satellites to calculate your exact position. In GA, panel-mounted or portable GPS units provide direct-to navigation, moving maps, and terrain/obstacle awareness. For IFR, the GPS must be TSO-certified and the database current.

What are the hemispheric cruising altitude rules?

Above 3,000 AGL for VFR: fly odd thousands plus 500 (e.g., 3,500, 5,500) on headings 0-179 degrees, and even thousands plus 500 (e.g., 4,500, 6,500) on headings 180-359 degrees. This provides vertical separation between opposing traffic.

What do you do if the engine fails?

Immediately pitch for best glide speed (found in your POH). Pick a suitable landing site, attempt to restart if altitude permits (fuel selector, mixture, magnetos, carb heat), and declare an emergency. Aviate, navigate, communicate — in that order.

How do you handle an electrical fire?

Turn off the master switch to cut power to the electrical system. If the fire goes out, isolate the faulty circuit before restoring power. Open vents to clear smoke only after the fire is out. Land as soon as practicable.

What is the emergency transponder code?

Squawk 7700 for a general emergency. ATC will immediately see your aircraft highlighted on radar. Also: 7600 is for communication failure (lost comm) and 7500 is for hijacking.

When would you declare an emergency?

Anytime the safety of the flight is in question. You have the authority as PIC under 14 CFR 91.3 to deviate from any rule to handle an emergency. Never hesitate — controllers are there to help, and your life is more important than paperwork.

What are the light gun signals?

From the tower: steady green means cleared to land/takeoff. Flashing green means return or cleared to taxi. Steady red means stop or give way. Flashing red means airport unsafe or taxi clear of runway. Alternating red/green means exercise extreme caution.

What should you do if you encounter unexpected IMC conditions?

Do not continue into IMC if you are VFR-only. Execute a 180-degree turn to return to VMC. If that is not possible, maintain wings level using instruments, contact ATC for assistance, and declare an emergency. Use autopilot if equipped.

How do you handle a rough-running engine?

Apply carburetor heat (may be carb ice). Check mixture setting, fuel selector position, and engine gauges. Switch magnetos to identify a fouled plug or failed magneto. If the issue persists, plan to land at the nearest suitable airport.

What emergency equipment should you have on board?

A functioning ELT is required for most flights. Beyond that, consider a fire extinguisher, first aid kit, flashlight, and survival gear appropriate to your route terrain and weather. The aircraft must also have seatbelts for all occupants.