Study Guide for the PAR (Private Pilot Airplane Rating) Knowledge Test
1. What is the minimum age to be eligible for a private pilot certificate?
Answer: 17 years old (16 for a student pilot certificate for gliders or balloons).
2. How many hours of flight time are required to be eligible for a private pilot
certificate in an airplane?
Answer: 40 hours total, including at least 20 hours of flight training and 10 hours of
solo flight.
3. What medical certificate is required to exercise private pilot privileges?
Answer: A third-class medical certificate (or BasicMed authorization).
4. How long is a third-class medical certificate valid for a pilot who is under 40 years
of age?
Answer: 60 calendar months (5 years).
5. How long is a third-class medical certificate valid for a pilot who is 40 years of age
or older?
Answer: 24 calendar months (2 years).
6. Under what conditions may a private pilot act as PIC of an aircraft carrying
passengers?
Answer: When the pilot meets the recency of experience requirements (3 takeoffs and
landings in the preceding 90 days in the same category, class, and type).
7. What documents must a pilot have in personal possession when acting as PIC?
Answer: Pilot certificate, medical certificate (or BasicMed), and government-issued
photo ID.
8. What documents must be on board the aircraft during flight? (ARROW)
, Answer: Airworthiness certificate, Registration, Radio station license (international),
Operating handbook (AFM/POH), Weight and balance data.
9. What is the definition of 'night' for logging flight time?
Answer: The period beginning one hour after sunset and ending one hour before
sunrise.
10. What is the definition of 'night' for the purpose of passenger-carrying currency?
Answer: The period from the end of evening civil twilight to the beginning of
morning civil twilight.
11. How many takeoffs and landings are required to carry passengers at night?
Answer: 3 takeoffs and 3 full-stop landings to a full stop at night within the preceding
90 days.
12. Under FAR 91, who has final authority and responsibility for the operation of an
aircraft?
Answer: The pilot in command (PIC).
13. What is the maximum blood alcohol content (BAC) allowed while acting as a
crewmember?
Answer: 0.04% by weight of alcohol in the blood.
14. How many hours must elapse after consuming alcohol before acting as a
crewmember?
Answer: 8 hours ('8 hours from bottle to throttle').
15. Under what regulation must a pilot comply when ATC issues an instruction that
conflicts with an FAR?
Answer: The pilot must follow the FAR; however, an emergency may require
deviation from any rule.
16. What is a 'special VFR' clearance?
Answer: A clearance that allows VFR flight in controlled airspace when weather is
below VFR minimums, with a minimum of 1 SM visibility and clear of clouds.
17. When is a flight plan required?
Answer: A flight plan is not legally required for VFR flight in the U.S., but is highly
recommended for safety.
18. What is the cloud clearance requirement for Class G airspace below 1,200 feet
AGL during the day?
Answer: Clear of clouds, 1 SM visibility.
, 19. What are the VFR weather minimums for Class E airspace at or above 10,000
feet MSL?
Answer: 5 SM visibility; 1,000 feet below, 1,000 feet above, and 1 SM horizontally
from clouds.
20. What are the VFR weather minimums for Class B airspace?
Answer: 3 SM visibility, clear of clouds.
21. What equipment is required for flight in Class B airspace?
Answer: ATC clearance, Mode C transponder, two-way radio, and ADS-B Out.
22. Up to what altitude above the surface does Class G airspace extend in most
areas?
Answer: 700 feet AGL (or 1,200 feet AGL in some areas), where Class E begins.
23. What is the speed limit below 10,000 feet MSL?
Answer: 250 knots indicated airspeed (KIAS).
24. What is the speed limit within 4 NM of a Class C or D airport below 2,500 feet
AGL?
Answer: 200 knots.
25. What is the speed limit in Class B airspace?
Answer: 250 knots.
26. What are the cruising altitude rules for VFR flight above 3,000 feet AGL?
Answer: 0-179° magnetic: odd thousands + 500 feet. 180-359° magnetic: even
thousands + 500 feet.
27. What is a 'TFR' and where can one find active TFRs?
Answer: Temporary Flight Restriction. Active TFRs can be found via NOTAMs,
FAA website, or preflight briefing.
28. What preflight action is required for any flight not in the vicinity of an airport?
Answer: Review weather reports and forecasts, fuel requirements, alternatives,
NOTAMs, and any known ATC delays.
29. How long must a pilot retain records of aeronautical experience for the purpose
of a rating?
Answer: No regulatory requirement, but records should be kept until the rating is
obtained.
30. What is the minimum fuel reserve required for VFR day flight?
1. What is the minimum age to be eligible for a private pilot certificate?
Answer: 17 years old (16 for a student pilot certificate for gliders or balloons).
2. How many hours of flight time are required to be eligible for a private pilot
certificate in an airplane?
Answer: 40 hours total, including at least 20 hours of flight training and 10 hours of
solo flight.
3. What medical certificate is required to exercise private pilot privileges?
Answer: A third-class medical certificate (or BasicMed authorization).
4. How long is a third-class medical certificate valid for a pilot who is under 40 years
of age?
Answer: 60 calendar months (5 years).
5. How long is a third-class medical certificate valid for a pilot who is 40 years of age
or older?
Answer: 24 calendar months (2 years).
6. Under what conditions may a private pilot act as PIC of an aircraft carrying
passengers?
Answer: When the pilot meets the recency of experience requirements (3 takeoffs and
landings in the preceding 90 days in the same category, class, and type).
7. What documents must a pilot have in personal possession when acting as PIC?
Answer: Pilot certificate, medical certificate (or BasicMed), and government-issued
photo ID.
8. What documents must be on board the aircraft during flight? (ARROW)
, Answer: Airworthiness certificate, Registration, Radio station license (international),
Operating handbook (AFM/POH), Weight and balance data.
9. What is the definition of 'night' for logging flight time?
Answer: The period beginning one hour after sunset and ending one hour before
sunrise.
10. What is the definition of 'night' for the purpose of passenger-carrying currency?
Answer: The period from the end of evening civil twilight to the beginning of
morning civil twilight.
11. How many takeoffs and landings are required to carry passengers at night?
Answer: 3 takeoffs and 3 full-stop landings to a full stop at night within the preceding
90 days.
12. Under FAR 91, who has final authority and responsibility for the operation of an
aircraft?
Answer: The pilot in command (PIC).
13. What is the maximum blood alcohol content (BAC) allowed while acting as a
crewmember?
Answer: 0.04% by weight of alcohol in the blood.
14. How many hours must elapse after consuming alcohol before acting as a
crewmember?
Answer: 8 hours ('8 hours from bottle to throttle').
15. Under what regulation must a pilot comply when ATC issues an instruction that
conflicts with an FAR?
Answer: The pilot must follow the FAR; however, an emergency may require
deviation from any rule.
16. What is a 'special VFR' clearance?
Answer: A clearance that allows VFR flight in controlled airspace when weather is
below VFR minimums, with a minimum of 1 SM visibility and clear of clouds.
17. When is a flight plan required?
Answer: A flight plan is not legally required for VFR flight in the U.S., but is highly
recommended for safety.
18. What is the cloud clearance requirement for Class G airspace below 1,200 feet
AGL during the day?
Answer: Clear of clouds, 1 SM visibility.
, 19. What are the VFR weather minimums for Class E airspace at or above 10,000
feet MSL?
Answer: 5 SM visibility; 1,000 feet below, 1,000 feet above, and 1 SM horizontally
from clouds.
20. What are the VFR weather minimums for Class B airspace?
Answer: 3 SM visibility, clear of clouds.
21. What equipment is required for flight in Class B airspace?
Answer: ATC clearance, Mode C transponder, two-way radio, and ADS-B Out.
22. Up to what altitude above the surface does Class G airspace extend in most
areas?
Answer: 700 feet AGL (or 1,200 feet AGL in some areas), where Class E begins.
23. What is the speed limit below 10,000 feet MSL?
Answer: 250 knots indicated airspeed (KIAS).
24. What is the speed limit within 4 NM of a Class C or D airport below 2,500 feet
AGL?
Answer: 200 knots.
25. What is the speed limit in Class B airspace?
Answer: 250 knots.
26. What are the cruising altitude rules for VFR flight above 3,000 feet AGL?
Answer: 0-179° magnetic: odd thousands + 500 feet. 180-359° magnetic: even
thousands + 500 feet.
27. What is a 'TFR' and where can one find active TFRs?
Answer: Temporary Flight Restriction. Active TFRs can be found via NOTAMs,
FAA website, or preflight briefing.
28. What preflight action is required for any flight not in the vicinity of an airport?
Answer: Review weather reports and forecasts, fuel requirements, alternatives,
NOTAMs, and any known ATC delays.
29. How long must a pilot retain records of aeronautical experience for the purpose
of a rating?
Answer: No regulatory requirement, but records should be kept until the rating is
obtained.
30. What is the minimum fuel reserve required for VFR day flight?
