Private-Pilot-Checkride-Oral-Exam
UPDATED ACTUAL QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT ANSWERS
If you were to be ramp checked by an appropriate FAA personnel and they asked you to
show them your documents, what would you need to show them?" - CORRECT
ANSWER✅✅Student Pilot Certificate & logbook or Pilot Certificate, Medical Certificate
and valid government photo ID
"Does your student pilot certificate expire?" - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅N
"What do you need on top of a student pilot certificate to fly in the checkride today?" -
CORRECT ANSWER✅✅I need to meet the requirements to receive an endorsement from
my flight instructor for the following: 90-day solo currency, checkride prep training in last 2
months, review of missed FAA knowledge test questions and have completed the required
training for a private pilot license
"Does your medical certificate expire?" - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅Yes. If you are less
than 40 years old it expires in 60 calendar months. If you are more than 40 years old it
expires in 24 calendar months.
"What is a calendar month? For example if you got your medical certificate on the 15th of a
month on what day would it expire?" - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅A calendar month means
that no matter which day of the month I receive my certificate it will expire at the last second
of the day of that month.
"What all is required for you to be a certificated private pilot?" - CORRECT
ANSWER✅✅A private pilot must be at least 17 years of age, be able to read, write and
speak English, have a current and valid medical certificate that is at least 3rd Class, meet all
aeronautical knowledge requirements, receive ground and knowledge exam endorsements
from certificated instructor, pass the FAA knowledge exam, meet all aeronautical experience
(flight hour) requirements, receive flight training and checkride endorsements from
certificated instructor, and finally pass the FAA private pilot oral and practical checkride
exam
"Let's say today goes well and you become a private pilot, what sort of things will you have
to do in order to stay compliant and legally fly over the years?" - CORRECT
ANSWER✅✅Once I have a private pilot license I will need to stay current in order to
legally fly. I will also want to stay proficient in whatever aircraft and equipment I am flying
with. To stay current I need to complete a biennial flight review every 24 months which
consists of 1 hour of ground training and 1 hour of flight training. Then, in order to carry
passengers during the day I must have logged 3 takeoffs and 3 landings in the last 90 days.
Finally, in order to carry passengers during the night I need to have logged 3 takeoffs and 3
landings to a full stop.
,"What is the definition of night in this instance when it pertains to currency requirements?" -
CORRECT ANSWER✅✅For currency requirements the definition of night is the time
between on hour after sunset to one hour before sunrise.
Say your friend wants you to take them flying and offers to pay for the whole flight, is this
okay? - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅No. A Private Pilot can not pay less than their pro rata
share of the flight. This means if you fly one passenger he/she can not pay more than 1/2
otherwise you would be considered 'for hire' which requires a commercial license.
Can you as the pilot pay for the entire flight?" - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅Yes
"Can your friend pay for dinner and a hotel at your destination?" - CORRECT
ANSWER✅✅Yes. The pro rata share rule only applies to aircraft rental, fuel, oil and
airport expenditures. It does not include things outside the airport. However, a private pilot
can not use this as a bargaining tool or an exchange for services scheme
"During an approach to land you are instructed by ATC to enter on a 45 degree into the
downwind of the pattern. As you are going to do this a flock of birds starts flying right
towards you at pattern altitude. Are you allowed to deviate from the ATC instructions?" -
CORRECT ANSWER✅✅Yes, if an in-flight emergency requires immediate action, the
PIC may deviate from any rule of 14 CFR Part 91 to the extent required to meet that
emergency
"How long do you have to submit the report you have to write for deviating from ATC
instructions?" - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅You only have to submit a report upon request.
If requested, I would submit the report ASAP to the Administrator
"Does the airworthiness certificate expire?" - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅No as long as
aircraft is kept airworthy by meeting all required inspections and airworthiness directives.
"Does the aircraft registration expire?" - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅Yes. Expires after 7
years or if aircraft changes ownership
"Can I fly my aircraft past the 100 hour mark since it's last 100 hour inspection? - CORRECT
ANSWER✅✅If your aircraft is not for hire, you do not require a 100 hour. If your aircraft
is for hire, like when a student flies a rented aircraft with a paid instructor, you do require a
100 hour inspection. You are only allowed to fly it over 100 hours by up to 10 hours over if
and only if you are flying it to a destination where you are getting the 100 hour inspection.
"What is the difference between a 100 hour and an annual inspection" - CORRECT
ANSWER✅✅There is no difference in the actual inspection performed by the mechanic
but the requirements are different. A 100 hour is required every 100 hours of Tach time and
only if the aircraft is "for hire". Furthermore, the mechanic performing both inspections must
be a certified A&P but to perform and sign off on an annual, the mechanic must also be
inspection authorized.
Can a 100 hour be substituted for an Annual?" - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅No.
, "If I am flying in Class E or uncontrolled airspace do I need my transponder to be inspected
every 24 months?" - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅You will only need a transponder in Class
E or G airspace if you fly through a mode C veil, above Class B or C airspace or above
10,000' MSL.
"Where can I find the 1/2 life of an ELT battery to ensure it's up to date on it's inspections?" -
CORRECT ANSWER✅✅Printed on the battery itself or in the aircraft maintenance logs
"What is a progressive inspection? - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅Progressive inspections are
approved maintenance schedules that allow for more frequent but quicker inspections for the
purpose of shorter downtime of aircraft for places such as flight schools and FBOs.
"What aircraft equipment is required for our flight today?" - CORRECT
ANSWER✅✅Our flight today is during the day so the required equipment can be
remembered by ATOMATOFLAMES which is airspeed indicator, compass, altimeter, fuel
gauges, oil temperature indicator, oil pressure indicator, tachometer, seat belts & harnesses,
ELT and anti-collision lights. We also need to check the POH for any specific required
equipment listed in there for our type of operation for today.
"Doesn't the MEL tell us what equipment we need?" - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅Yes, the
MEL or minimum equipment list tells us the required equipment needed for our aircraft but
only if our aircraft has an MEL. Our aircraft does not so we use a combination of 91.205 or
ATOMATOFLAMES, airworthiness directives and the POH.
"If our flight was at night, would we still require an airspeed indicator? - CORRECT
ANSWER✅✅Yes, at night we are required to carry all the required equipment for day
flight some additional that is required for night flight.
"What additional equipment is required for night?" - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅We use the
mnemonic FLAPS to remember this. This stands for Fuses or circuit breakers, landing light
(if for hire), anti-collision light (which I already mentioned for day), position lights and a
source of electricity.
"What if for our flight during daylight today we find out during preflight that our landing
light is not working, can we fly?" - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅Landing lights are only
required for flights during the night and for hire and therefore we are not required to have
one. However, since we found that it is not operational we are required to have it either
removed or have it deactivated and placarded as inoperative by a certified mechanic.
"If you were a private pilot could you remove the landing light on your aircraft that is not
working and then fly?" - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅Private Pilots are allowed to do
preventative maintenance and an inoperative landing light is not preventative and therefore I
would not be able to. I would need a certified mechanic to do the work and sign off on it.
"If the CG is too far forward, how would that effect flight?" - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅A
too far forward center of mass can cause the aircraft to pitch so far down that it makes
climbing in the aircraft nearly impossible. It would also put a lot of stress on the control
surfaces and decrease performance. In landing, a nose heavy CG condition would make it
UPDATED ACTUAL QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT ANSWERS
If you were to be ramp checked by an appropriate FAA personnel and they asked you to
show them your documents, what would you need to show them?" - CORRECT
ANSWER✅✅Student Pilot Certificate & logbook or Pilot Certificate, Medical Certificate
and valid government photo ID
"Does your student pilot certificate expire?" - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅N
"What do you need on top of a student pilot certificate to fly in the checkride today?" -
CORRECT ANSWER✅✅I need to meet the requirements to receive an endorsement from
my flight instructor for the following: 90-day solo currency, checkride prep training in last 2
months, review of missed FAA knowledge test questions and have completed the required
training for a private pilot license
"Does your medical certificate expire?" - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅Yes. If you are less
than 40 years old it expires in 60 calendar months. If you are more than 40 years old it
expires in 24 calendar months.
"What is a calendar month? For example if you got your medical certificate on the 15th of a
month on what day would it expire?" - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅A calendar month means
that no matter which day of the month I receive my certificate it will expire at the last second
of the day of that month.
"What all is required for you to be a certificated private pilot?" - CORRECT
ANSWER✅✅A private pilot must be at least 17 years of age, be able to read, write and
speak English, have a current and valid medical certificate that is at least 3rd Class, meet all
aeronautical knowledge requirements, receive ground and knowledge exam endorsements
from certificated instructor, pass the FAA knowledge exam, meet all aeronautical experience
(flight hour) requirements, receive flight training and checkride endorsements from
certificated instructor, and finally pass the FAA private pilot oral and practical checkride
exam
"Let's say today goes well and you become a private pilot, what sort of things will you have
to do in order to stay compliant and legally fly over the years?" - CORRECT
ANSWER✅✅Once I have a private pilot license I will need to stay current in order to
legally fly. I will also want to stay proficient in whatever aircraft and equipment I am flying
with. To stay current I need to complete a biennial flight review every 24 months which
consists of 1 hour of ground training and 1 hour of flight training. Then, in order to carry
passengers during the day I must have logged 3 takeoffs and 3 landings in the last 90 days.
Finally, in order to carry passengers during the night I need to have logged 3 takeoffs and 3
landings to a full stop.
,"What is the definition of night in this instance when it pertains to currency requirements?" -
CORRECT ANSWER✅✅For currency requirements the definition of night is the time
between on hour after sunset to one hour before sunrise.
Say your friend wants you to take them flying and offers to pay for the whole flight, is this
okay? - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅No. A Private Pilot can not pay less than their pro rata
share of the flight. This means if you fly one passenger he/she can not pay more than 1/2
otherwise you would be considered 'for hire' which requires a commercial license.
Can you as the pilot pay for the entire flight?" - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅Yes
"Can your friend pay for dinner and a hotel at your destination?" - CORRECT
ANSWER✅✅Yes. The pro rata share rule only applies to aircraft rental, fuel, oil and
airport expenditures. It does not include things outside the airport. However, a private pilot
can not use this as a bargaining tool or an exchange for services scheme
"During an approach to land you are instructed by ATC to enter on a 45 degree into the
downwind of the pattern. As you are going to do this a flock of birds starts flying right
towards you at pattern altitude. Are you allowed to deviate from the ATC instructions?" -
CORRECT ANSWER✅✅Yes, if an in-flight emergency requires immediate action, the
PIC may deviate from any rule of 14 CFR Part 91 to the extent required to meet that
emergency
"How long do you have to submit the report you have to write for deviating from ATC
instructions?" - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅You only have to submit a report upon request.
If requested, I would submit the report ASAP to the Administrator
"Does the airworthiness certificate expire?" - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅No as long as
aircraft is kept airworthy by meeting all required inspections and airworthiness directives.
"Does the aircraft registration expire?" - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅Yes. Expires after 7
years or if aircraft changes ownership
"Can I fly my aircraft past the 100 hour mark since it's last 100 hour inspection? - CORRECT
ANSWER✅✅If your aircraft is not for hire, you do not require a 100 hour. If your aircraft
is for hire, like when a student flies a rented aircraft with a paid instructor, you do require a
100 hour inspection. You are only allowed to fly it over 100 hours by up to 10 hours over if
and only if you are flying it to a destination where you are getting the 100 hour inspection.
"What is the difference between a 100 hour and an annual inspection" - CORRECT
ANSWER✅✅There is no difference in the actual inspection performed by the mechanic
but the requirements are different. A 100 hour is required every 100 hours of Tach time and
only if the aircraft is "for hire". Furthermore, the mechanic performing both inspections must
be a certified A&P but to perform and sign off on an annual, the mechanic must also be
inspection authorized.
Can a 100 hour be substituted for an Annual?" - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅No.
, "If I am flying in Class E or uncontrolled airspace do I need my transponder to be inspected
every 24 months?" - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅You will only need a transponder in Class
E or G airspace if you fly through a mode C veil, above Class B or C airspace or above
10,000' MSL.
"Where can I find the 1/2 life of an ELT battery to ensure it's up to date on it's inspections?" -
CORRECT ANSWER✅✅Printed on the battery itself or in the aircraft maintenance logs
"What is a progressive inspection? - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅Progressive inspections are
approved maintenance schedules that allow for more frequent but quicker inspections for the
purpose of shorter downtime of aircraft for places such as flight schools and FBOs.
"What aircraft equipment is required for our flight today?" - CORRECT
ANSWER✅✅Our flight today is during the day so the required equipment can be
remembered by ATOMATOFLAMES which is airspeed indicator, compass, altimeter, fuel
gauges, oil temperature indicator, oil pressure indicator, tachometer, seat belts & harnesses,
ELT and anti-collision lights. We also need to check the POH for any specific required
equipment listed in there for our type of operation for today.
"Doesn't the MEL tell us what equipment we need?" - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅Yes, the
MEL or minimum equipment list tells us the required equipment needed for our aircraft but
only if our aircraft has an MEL. Our aircraft does not so we use a combination of 91.205 or
ATOMATOFLAMES, airworthiness directives and the POH.
"If our flight was at night, would we still require an airspeed indicator? - CORRECT
ANSWER✅✅Yes, at night we are required to carry all the required equipment for day
flight some additional that is required for night flight.
"What additional equipment is required for night?" - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅We use the
mnemonic FLAPS to remember this. This stands for Fuses or circuit breakers, landing light
(if for hire), anti-collision light (which I already mentioned for day), position lights and a
source of electricity.
"What if for our flight during daylight today we find out during preflight that our landing
light is not working, can we fly?" - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅Landing lights are only
required for flights during the night and for hire and therefore we are not required to have
one. However, since we found that it is not operational we are required to have it either
removed or have it deactivated and placarded as inoperative by a certified mechanic.
"If you were a private pilot could you remove the landing light on your aircraft that is not
working and then fly?" - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅Private Pilots are allowed to do
preventative maintenance and an inoperative landing light is not preventative and therefore I
would not be able to. I would need a certified mechanic to do the work and sign off on it.
"If the CG is too far forward, how would that effect flight?" - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅A
too far forward center of mass can cause the aircraft to pitch so far down that it makes
climbing in the aircraft nearly impossible. It would also put a lot of stress on the control
surfaces and decrease performance. In landing, a nose heavy CG condition would make it
