FAA GLIDER PILOT LICENSE EXAMINATION
LATEST UPDATE 2026|2027|A COMPREHENSIVE
REVIEW OF 300 PRACTICE QUESTIONS WITH
ANSWERS AND RATIONALES |PASS
GUARANTEED
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requires all applicants for a Private
Pilot Certificate with a Glider Category Rating to pass a knowledge test and a
practical test. The knowledge test consists of multiple-choice questions drawn from
the FAA's official test bank (PGL series), covering regulations, aerodynamics,
soaring weather, navigation, aeromedical factors, and emergency procedures. The
practical test (check ride) evaluates oral knowledge and flight proficiency through
scenarios that integrate aeronautical decision-making and risk management.
This practice set contains 300 multiple-choice questions organized in the FAA's
standard format. The questions are drawn from official FAA sample exams, the
Glider Flying Handbook (FAA-H-8083-13B), and publicly available training
resources. Correct answers are randomized throughout the options (A, B, C, D) to
simulate actual test conditions. Each question includes a rationale explaining the
correct answer.
SECTION 1: REGULATIONS AND PILOT PRIVILEGES
1. What is the minimum age to be eligible for a private pilot certificate with a
glider category rating?
A. 14 years
B. 16 years
,C. 17 years
D. 18 years
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Under 14 CFR 61.103, an applicant for a private pilot certificate with a
glider rating must be at least 16 years old. This differs from the 17-year minimum
required for airplane and other powered categories.
2. Is an FAA medical certificate required to exercise private pilot privileges in
a glider?
A. Yes, a third-class medical certificate is required.
B. Yes, but only for cross-country flights.
C. No, no medical certificate is required for glider operations.
D. Yes, a second-class medical certificate is required.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Under 14 CFR 61.23, a medical certificate is not required to operate a
glider. The pilot must still self-certify that they have no known medical deficiency
that would make them unable to operate safely.
3. What is the minimum age to solo a glider in the United States?
A. 14 years
B. 15 years
C. 16 years
D. 17 years
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Under 14 CFR 61.83, a student pilot must be at least 14 years old to
solo a glider. This is lower than the 16-year minimum for soloing an airplane.
,4. What transponder code should a glider pilot squawk when not in contact
with ATC?
A. 1200
B. 1202
C. 7700
D. 7600
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: VFR aircraft not in contact with ATC should squawk 1200 (the
standard VFR code). Code 1202 is used by gliders in some regions but is not the
standard nationwide VFR code.
5. What is the minimum visibility requirement for VFR flight in a glider in
Class G airspace below 1,200 feet AGL during the day?
A. 1 statute mile
B. 2 statute miles
C. 3 statute miles
D. 5 statute miles
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Under 14 CFR 91.155, the minimum flight visibility for VFR
operations in Class G airspace below 1,200 feet AGL during daytime is 1 statute
mile. Gliders have this specific relief from the standard 3-mile requirement.
6. What recent flight experience is required to carry passengers in a glider?
A. Three takeoffs and landings within the preceding 90 days
B. Three takeoffs and landings within the preceding 180 days
C. A flight review within the preceding 12 months
D. Both A and C
Correct Answer: A
, Rationale: Under 14 CFR 61.57, to carry passengers in a glider, the pilot must
have made at least three takeoffs and three landings within the preceding 90 days
in the same category and class. A separate flight review (every 24 months) is also
required, but the 90-day currency is specific to passenger carrying.
7. What documents must be aboard a glider during flight?
A. Airworthiness Certificate, Registration, and Operating Limitations
B. Pilot certificate and medical certificate
C. Weight and Balance data and Maintenance logs
D. All of the above
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Under 14 CFR 91.203, the required documents aboard an aircraft are
the Airworthiness Certificate, Registration Certificate, and Operating Limitations.
The pilot's certificates are carried by the pilot, not the aircraft.
8. When is a glider required to have a transponder?
A. When operating above 10,000 feet MSL
B. When operating within Class B airspace
C. When operating within 30 NM of a Class B primary airport
D. Both B and C
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Under 14 CFR 91.215, transponder requirements apply within Class B
airspace and within 30 NM of Class B primary airports. Gliders are not
automatically exempt from these requirements.
9. What is the definition of "commercial glider pilot privileges"?
A. Acting as pilot in command of a glider carrying passengers for compensation or
hire
B. Acting as pilot in command of a glider for towing operations
LATEST UPDATE 2026|2027|A COMPREHENSIVE
REVIEW OF 300 PRACTICE QUESTIONS WITH
ANSWERS AND RATIONALES |PASS
GUARANTEED
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requires all applicants for a Private
Pilot Certificate with a Glider Category Rating to pass a knowledge test and a
practical test. The knowledge test consists of multiple-choice questions drawn from
the FAA's official test bank (PGL series), covering regulations, aerodynamics,
soaring weather, navigation, aeromedical factors, and emergency procedures. The
practical test (check ride) evaluates oral knowledge and flight proficiency through
scenarios that integrate aeronautical decision-making and risk management.
This practice set contains 300 multiple-choice questions organized in the FAA's
standard format. The questions are drawn from official FAA sample exams, the
Glider Flying Handbook (FAA-H-8083-13B), and publicly available training
resources. Correct answers are randomized throughout the options (A, B, C, D) to
simulate actual test conditions. Each question includes a rationale explaining the
correct answer.
SECTION 1: REGULATIONS AND PILOT PRIVILEGES
1. What is the minimum age to be eligible for a private pilot certificate with a
glider category rating?
A. 14 years
B. 16 years
,C. 17 years
D. 18 years
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Under 14 CFR 61.103, an applicant for a private pilot certificate with a
glider rating must be at least 16 years old. This differs from the 17-year minimum
required for airplane and other powered categories.
2. Is an FAA medical certificate required to exercise private pilot privileges in
a glider?
A. Yes, a third-class medical certificate is required.
B. Yes, but only for cross-country flights.
C. No, no medical certificate is required for glider operations.
D. Yes, a second-class medical certificate is required.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Under 14 CFR 61.23, a medical certificate is not required to operate a
glider. The pilot must still self-certify that they have no known medical deficiency
that would make them unable to operate safely.
3. What is the minimum age to solo a glider in the United States?
A. 14 years
B. 15 years
C. 16 years
D. 17 years
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Under 14 CFR 61.83, a student pilot must be at least 14 years old to
solo a glider. This is lower than the 16-year minimum for soloing an airplane.
,4. What transponder code should a glider pilot squawk when not in contact
with ATC?
A. 1200
B. 1202
C. 7700
D. 7600
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: VFR aircraft not in contact with ATC should squawk 1200 (the
standard VFR code). Code 1202 is used by gliders in some regions but is not the
standard nationwide VFR code.
5. What is the minimum visibility requirement for VFR flight in a glider in
Class G airspace below 1,200 feet AGL during the day?
A. 1 statute mile
B. 2 statute miles
C. 3 statute miles
D. 5 statute miles
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Under 14 CFR 91.155, the minimum flight visibility for VFR
operations in Class G airspace below 1,200 feet AGL during daytime is 1 statute
mile. Gliders have this specific relief from the standard 3-mile requirement.
6. What recent flight experience is required to carry passengers in a glider?
A. Three takeoffs and landings within the preceding 90 days
B. Three takeoffs and landings within the preceding 180 days
C. A flight review within the preceding 12 months
D. Both A and C
Correct Answer: A
, Rationale: Under 14 CFR 61.57, to carry passengers in a glider, the pilot must
have made at least three takeoffs and three landings within the preceding 90 days
in the same category and class. A separate flight review (every 24 months) is also
required, but the 90-day currency is specific to passenger carrying.
7. What documents must be aboard a glider during flight?
A. Airworthiness Certificate, Registration, and Operating Limitations
B. Pilot certificate and medical certificate
C. Weight and Balance data and Maintenance logs
D. All of the above
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Under 14 CFR 91.203, the required documents aboard an aircraft are
the Airworthiness Certificate, Registration Certificate, and Operating Limitations.
The pilot's certificates are carried by the pilot, not the aircraft.
8. When is a glider required to have a transponder?
A. When operating above 10,000 feet MSL
B. When operating within Class B airspace
C. When operating within 30 NM of a Class B primary airport
D. Both B and C
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Under 14 CFR 91.215, transponder requirements apply within Class B
airspace and within 30 NM of Class B primary airports. Gliders are not
automatically exempt from these requirements.
9. What is the definition of "commercial glider pilot privileges"?
A. Acting as pilot in command of a glider carrying passengers for compensation or
hire
B. Acting as pilot in command of a glider for towing operations
