Air Methods Critical Care Exam (Actual
2025/2026) – 199 Questions and Verified
Answers
SECTION 1: FLIGHT OPERATIONS & REGULATIONS (Questions 1–35)
1. How many feet shall an obstacle be cleared by on takeoff?
Resolution Result Verified Answers 30 ft
2. What is the maximum descent rate below 300 ft AGL?
Resolution Result Verified Answers 200 fpm
3. How do you choose a reference point for landing?
Resolution Result Verified Answers 150 ft above the highest obstacle — used
to make a decision to fly away or land during emergency.
4. Unusual attitude — how do we correct?
Resolution Result Verified Answers 1. Attitude → 2. Heading → 3. Power →
4. Airspeed
5. How often is removable medical equipment weighed?
Resolution Result Verified Answers 6 months
6. How often are multi-engine aircraft weighed? Resolution Result Verified
Answers 36 months
7. What is the legal definition of "night" for flight operations?
Resolution Result Verified Answers End of evening civil twilight to beginning
of morning civil twilight.
,8. Minimum altitudes for helicopter operations?
Resolution Result Verified Answers 1000 ft anytime possible; 300 ft day / 500
ft night (fly neighborly, avoid noise abatement areas).
9. FAR 135.207 — Helicopter Surface Reference requirement?
Resolution Result Verified Answers Need visual surface reference day and night
to maintain VFR.
10. IIMC Procedure (Inadvertent IMC) — correct order?
Resolution Result Verified Answers 1. Positive control with reference to
instruments
2. Attitude → Level, Heading → Avoid obstacles, Power → Climb, Airspeed →
Climb
3. Climb to MSA and de-goggle
4. Keep turns standard rate (3°/sec)
5. Contact nearest approach control
6. Declare emergency, squawk 7700
7. Give position report (souls aboard)
8. Ask for vectors to VMC or nearest instrument approach
11. SVFR operations requirements — day vs night?
Resolution Result Verified
Answers Day: 700 ft & 2 sm
Night: 800 ft & 3 sm
12. NVG currency for pilots?
Resolution Result Verified Answers 6 HNVGOs — lookback begins month
before current month. 2 months to carry passengers, 4 months without.
13. NVG currency for crew? Resolution Result Verified Answers 3 HNVGOs
in 180 days
, 14. What is SMS, and what level is Air Methods?
Resolution Result Verified Answers Safety Management System — a way to
systematically guide, track, and recognize safety issues. Level 4
15. No-fly NVG defects?
Resolution Result Verified Answers Shading, edge glow, flashing, flickering,
intermittent operation.
16. To be current in aircraft — requirements?
Resolution Result Verified Answers 3 takeoffs and landings within 90 days
(FARs) or 60 days (Ops Manual)
17. VFR ceiling and visibility for Class G airspace — non-mountainous?
Resolution Result Verified Answers Day: 800 ft & 2 sm (local) / 800 ft & 3 sm
(XC)
Night: 1000 ft & 3 sm (local) / 1000 ft & 5 sm (XC)
NVG: 800 ft & 3 sm / 1000 ft & 5 sm
18. IFR — Do I need an alternate? Ceiling requirement to NOT need an
alternate?
Resolution Result Verified Answers 1 hour before and after ETA: ceiling must
be 1500 ft above lowest circling approach. If no circling approach: 1500 ft above
lowest published minimum OR 2000 ft above airport elevation (whichever
higher).
19. IFR — visibility requirement to NOT need an alternate?
Resolution Result Verified Answers Visibility must be forecasted at 3 miles OR
2 miles more than lowest applicable visibility minimum (whichever higher).
20. When checking destination approach plate for alternate requirement,
what should you also look for?
Resolution Result Verified Answers Notes in upper left corner (e.g., "Circling
not authorized at night").
2025/2026) – 199 Questions and Verified
Answers
SECTION 1: FLIGHT OPERATIONS & REGULATIONS (Questions 1–35)
1. How many feet shall an obstacle be cleared by on takeoff?
Resolution Result Verified Answers 30 ft
2. What is the maximum descent rate below 300 ft AGL?
Resolution Result Verified Answers 200 fpm
3. How do you choose a reference point for landing?
Resolution Result Verified Answers 150 ft above the highest obstacle — used
to make a decision to fly away or land during emergency.
4. Unusual attitude — how do we correct?
Resolution Result Verified Answers 1. Attitude → 2. Heading → 3. Power →
4. Airspeed
5. How often is removable medical equipment weighed?
Resolution Result Verified Answers 6 months
6. How often are multi-engine aircraft weighed? Resolution Result Verified
Answers 36 months
7. What is the legal definition of "night" for flight operations?
Resolution Result Verified Answers End of evening civil twilight to beginning
of morning civil twilight.
,8. Minimum altitudes for helicopter operations?
Resolution Result Verified Answers 1000 ft anytime possible; 300 ft day / 500
ft night (fly neighborly, avoid noise abatement areas).
9. FAR 135.207 — Helicopter Surface Reference requirement?
Resolution Result Verified Answers Need visual surface reference day and night
to maintain VFR.
10. IIMC Procedure (Inadvertent IMC) — correct order?
Resolution Result Verified Answers 1. Positive control with reference to
instruments
2. Attitude → Level, Heading → Avoid obstacles, Power → Climb, Airspeed →
Climb
3. Climb to MSA and de-goggle
4. Keep turns standard rate (3°/sec)
5. Contact nearest approach control
6. Declare emergency, squawk 7700
7. Give position report (souls aboard)
8. Ask for vectors to VMC or nearest instrument approach
11. SVFR operations requirements — day vs night?
Resolution Result Verified
Answers Day: 700 ft & 2 sm
Night: 800 ft & 3 sm
12. NVG currency for pilots?
Resolution Result Verified Answers 6 HNVGOs — lookback begins month
before current month. 2 months to carry passengers, 4 months without.
13. NVG currency for crew? Resolution Result Verified Answers 3 HNVGOs
in 180 days
, 14. What is SMS, and what level is Air Methods?
Resolution Result Verified Answers Safety Management System — a way to
systematically guide, track, and recognize safety issues. Level 4
15. No-fly NVG defects?
Resolution Result Verified Answers Shading, edge glow, flashing, flickering,
intermittent operation.
16. To be current in aircraft — requirements?
Resolution Result Verified Answers 3 takeoffs and landings within 90 days
(FARs) or 60 days (Ops Manual)
17. VFR ceiling and visibility for Class G airspace — non-mountainous?
Resolution Result Verified Answers Day: 800 ft & 2 sm (local) / 800 ft & 3 sm
(XC)
Night: 1000 ft & 3 sm (local) / 1000 ft & 5 sm (XC)
NVG: 800 ft & 3 sm / 1000 ft & 5 sm
18. IFR — Do I need an alternate? Ceiling requirement to NOT need an
alternate?
Resolution Result Verified Answers 1 hour before and after ETA: ceiling must
be 1500 ft above lowest circling approach. If no circling approach: 1500 ft above
lowest published minimum OR 2000 ft above airport elevation (whichever
higher).
19. IFR — visibility requirement to NOT need an alternate?
Resolution Result Verified Answers Visibility must be forecasted at 3 miles OR
2 miles more than lowest applicable visibility minimum (whichever higher).
20. When checking destination approach plate for alternate requirement,
what should you also look for?
Resolution Result Verified Answers Notes in upper left corner (e.g., "Circling
not authorized at night").
