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FAA Flight Instructor Airplane (FIA) practice questions

300 free questions with answers and explanations.

Practice test
  1. 151.A flight instructor explains to a student that the attitude indicator's gyro maintains a stable horizon reference even as the airplane pitches and rolls. This stability is primarily a result of which gyroscopic property, aided by an erecting mechanism that corrects small precession errors?Aircraft Systems and Instruments
  2. 152.According to 14 CFR 91.17, a pilot may not act as a crewmember of a civil aircraft within how many hours after consuming any alcoholic beverage?Regulations (14 CFR 61/91)
  3. 153.An airplane's wing has an area of 180 square feet and a lift coefficient (CL) of 1.2 while flying at a true airspeed of 169 ft/sec in air with a density of 0.002378 slugs/ft³ (standard sea level). Using the lift equation L = CL × 0.5ρV²S, approximately how much lift is the wing producing?Aerodynamics and Principles of Flight
  4. 154.An airplane's unaccelerated, wings-level stall speed is 60 knots. During a steep turn at a 60° bank angle, maintaining altitude, the load factor is 2 G. What is the approximate accelerated stall speed in this turn?Aerodynamics and Principles of Flight
  5. 155.A pilot begins a rapid descent from cruise altitude by significantly reducing engine power. To help prevent engine damage during this descent, what should the pilot do regarding the cowl flaps?Aircraft Systems and Instruments
  6. 156.A commercial pilot applicant is rolling out of a 45° bank steep turn on the practical test. To roll out precisely on the entry heading, the applicant should begin the rollout by leading the desired heading by approximately:Flight Maneuvers and Endorsements
  7. 157.While planning a flight from Ohio to Colorado, a pilot notices the compass rose on the sectional chart shows a line labeled '4°W' passing through the route. A flight instructor explains this line represents:Navigation and Airspace
  8. 158.At a coastal airport on a clear summer afternoon, surface winds blow steadily from the ocean toward the land. A student pilot asks what causes this pattern. Which explanation is correct?Weather and Weather Services
  9. 159.A student pilot plans to make repeated solo cross-country flights over the same route to a specific airport not more than 50 nautical miles from the point of departure. Per 14 CFR 61.93, an instructor's logbook endorsement authorizing these repeated solo flights is valid for a maximum of how many days?Flight Maneuvers and Endorsements
  10. 160.An airplane flying straight and level at a constant altitude and airspeed demonstrates Newton's first law of motion because:Aerodynamics and Principles of Flight
  11. 161.A high-performance jet approaches its critical Mach number (Mcrit), and a local shock wave forms over the wing's upper surface aft of the point of maximum camber. The pilot experiences an uncommanded nose-down pitching moment. Which phenomenon is this?Aerodynamics and Principles of Flight
  12. 162.An airplane departs a high-elevation airport on a hot afternoon, resulting in a high density altitude. Compared to standard sea-level conditions, in order to generate the same amount of lift at the same true airspeed, the wing must operate at:Aerodynamics and Principles of Flight
  13. 163.A certificated private pilot last logged 3 night takeoffs and landings to a full stop 95 days ago. The pilot now wants to carry a passenger on a flight departing 1 hour after sunset. According to 14 CFR 61.57, may this pilot legally carry the passenger?Regulations (14 CFR 61/91)
  14. 164.A CFI explains to a client that flying at or below maneuvering speed (Va) protects the airframe during turbulence or abrupt control inputs. Why does this protection occur?Aerodynamics and Principles of Flight
  15. 165.A pilot is planning a takeoff on a dry grass runway that slopes downhill 2%. Compared to the takeoff distance computed for a paved, level runway under the same conditions, the pilot should expect:Performance, Weight and Balance
  16. 166.A technician explains to a student why a light airplane's alternator can produce full rated electrical output even at engine idle RPM, while an older generator system could not. What is the reason for this difference?Aircraft Systems and Instruments
  17. 167.A pilot enters a turn using coordinated aileron and rudder inputs. Without rudder input, the airplane would initially yaw toward the outside of the turn due to greater drag on the raised aileron's wing. This tendency is known as:Aerodynamics and Principles of Flight
  18. 168.A flight instructor is teaching a chandelle to a commercial pilot applicant. During the second 90° of the turn (from the 90° point to the 180° rollout point), the pitch attitude should be:Flight Maneuvers and Endorsements
  19. 169.An airplane's POH lists a best glide speed of 68 KIAS at a gross weight of 2,300 lb. After burning fuel in flight, the airplane's weight is now 1,900 lb. What best glide speed should the pilot use at this reduced weight?Performance, Weight and Balance
  20. 170.A pilot obtains an upper air sounding showing the environmental (existing) lapse rate between the surface and 5,000 feet is 4°C per 1,000 feet. The dry adiabatic lapse rate is approximately 3°C per 1,000 feet. How would this layer of the atmosphere be classified?Weather and Weather Services
  21. 171.Under which combination of conditions is radiation fog most likely to form?Weather and Weather Services
  22. 172.A 15-year-old applicant wants to begin training toward solo flight in a glider. According to 14 CFR 61.83, is this applicant eligible to hold a student pilot certificate for glider training?Regulations (14 CFR 61/91)
  23. 173.While reviewing a surface analysis chart, a flight instructor points to a plotted station model where the sky cover symbol is a circle completely filled in black. What does this symbol indicate about the reporting station's sky condition?Weather and Weather Services
  24. 174.A 39-year-old private pilot receives a third-class medical certificate on June 10. According to 14 CFR 61.23, when does this medical certificate expire?Regulations (14 CFR 61/91)
  25. 175.A pilot reviews an airplane's weight and balance data: maximum gross weight is 2,400 lb, and the licensed empty weight (including unusable fuel and full oil) is 1,450 lb. What is the airplane's useful load?Performance, Weight and Balance
  26. 176.An airplane weighs 2,100 lb with its CG located 82.0 inches aft of datum. A flight instructor loads 100 lb of baggage at a compartment with an arm of 95.0 inches. What is the new CG location?Performance, Weight and Balance
  27. 177.A pilot operating a turbocharged engine at high altitude notices the turbine inlet temperature (TIT) gauge approaching the maximum redline value during climb. What immediate action should the pilot take to prevent turbine damage?Aircraft Systems and Instruments
  28. 178.A commercial pilot applicant asks a CFI at what point during a slow, gradual increase in pitch the wing will stall. The instructor should explain that a stall always occurs when the wing reaches:Aerodynamics and Principles of Flight
  29. 179.A flight instructor gave ground and flight training to several students last year. According to 14 CFR 61.189, for how long must the instructor retain a record of the endorsements and training given to those students?Regulations (14 CFR 61/91)
  30. 180.An airplane's maximum structural maneuvering speed (Va) is 108 KIAS at its maximum gross weight of 2,700 lb. The airplane is now being flown at a reduced weight of 2,200 lb after fuel burn. What is the approximate reduced Va, and why does this matter for turbulence penetration?Performance, Weight and Balance
  31. 181.A pilot plans to operate VFR at night in Class G airspace at 700 feet AGL. According to 14 CFR 91.155, what are the minimum flight visibility and cloud clearance requirements?Regulations (14 CFR 61/91)
  32. 182.A CFI is teaching a ground school lesson on special use airspace. A student asks about the difference between a Restricted Area and a Prohibited Area. Which statement correctly distinguishes the two?Navigation and Airspace
  33. 183.A pilot must depart from a short runway with 50-ft trees located close to the departure end. To maximize altitude gained over the shortest horizontal distance, the pilot should climb atPerformance, Weight and Balance
  34. 184.A pilot planning an early-morning departure notes calm winds at the surface but a PIREP reports 40-knot winds at 2,000 feet AGL, just above a shallow surface-based temperature inversion. What hazard should the pilot anticipate during climb-out?Weather and Weather Services
  35. 185.A flight instructor is preparing a student pilot for a first solo flight. According to 14 CFR 61.87, what must the instructor confirm before endorsing the student pilot's logbook for solo flight?Regulations (14 CFR 61/91)
  36. 186.An instrument student is reviewing a sectional chart and notices an airport surrounded by a blue vignette that fades outward, with no magenta shading present. The CFI explains that the floor of Class E airspace in this vignetted area is:Navigation and Airspace
  37. 187.A pilot is flying at an indicated airspeed of 120 knots at a density altitude of 8,000 ft. Using the rule of thumb that true airspeed increases about 2% per 1,000 ft of density altitude above indicated airspeed, what is the approximate true airspeed?Performance, Weight and Balance
  38. 188.A pilot's instrument currency lapsed more than six calendar months ago. According to 14 CFR 61.57(d), to act as pilot in command under IFR, the pilot must:Flight Maneuvers and Endorsements
  39. 189.A pilot plans to fly over a sparsely populated area, not over open water, at a low altitude. According to 14 CFR 91.119(c), what is the minimum safe altitude requirement in this situation?Regulations (14 CFR 61/91)
  40. 190.A high-wing airplane carries most of its fuel in tanks located forward of the airplane's empty-weight CG. During a long cross-country flight as fuel is consumed, the airplane's CG will most likelyPerformance, Weight and Balance
  41. 191.A flight instructor tells a student that the FAA has replaced the text-based Area Forecast (FA) for the contiguous United States with a web-based product depicting forecast ceiling, visibility, wind, icing, and turbulence on interactive maps. What product is being described?Weather and Weather Services
  42. 192.A technician installs winglets (small, nearly vertical extensions) on the wingtips of a light twin to improve cruise efficiency. Aerodynamically, how do winglets primarily improve performance?Aerodynamics and Principles of Flight
  43. 193.A CFI explains to a client that on a cambered (non-symmetrical) airfoil operated at cruise angle of attack, the center of pressure is located relatively far aft on the chord. As angle of attack is gradually increased toward (but not exceeding) the critical angle of attack, what happens to the center of pressure?Aerodynamics and Principles of Flight
  44. 194.A pilot planning to overfly a major Class B airport at 8,000 feet MSL, remaining 25 NM laterally from the primary airport, asks a CFI about transponder requirements. The CFI correctly explains that this flight is within the Mode C veil and therefore requires:Navigation and Airspace
  45. 195.A pilot computes a loaded airplane weight of 2,650 lb and a moment index of 82.0 (moment/1000). When plotted on the CG moment envelope graph, this point falls outside the aft boundary of the utility category envelope but inside the normal category envelope. What should the pilot conclude?Performance, Weight and Balance
  46. 196.A pilot flying at 16,000 feet MSL is using a diluter-demand oxygen system. What distinguishes this system from a continuous-flow oxygen system?Aircraft Systems and Instruments
  47. 197.A CFI is reviewing the three axes of rotation with a client. Which pairing of axis, primary control surface, resulting movement, and type of stability is correct?Aerodynamics and Principles of Flight
  48. 198.A technician inspecting a retractable-gear airplane explains the purpose of the landing gear squat switch (weight-on-wheels switch) to a new pilot. What is its primary function?Aircraft Systems and Instruments
  49. 199.During a local flight, a private pilot performs steep turns and rapid low-altitude passes directly over a crowded public beach to entertain sunbathers below. The pilot never descends below the altitudes required by 14 CFR 91.119, but is later cited by the FAA for endangering people on the surface. Which regulation was most likely violated?Regulations (14 CFR 61/91)
  50. 200.A private pilot has never logged flight time as pilot in command in an airplane with an engine rated at more than 200 horsepower. The pilot now wants to rent a single-engine airplane with a 230-horsepower engine, fixed landing gear, and a fixed-pitch propeller. According to 14 CFR 61.31(f), what must the pilot obtain before acting as PIC of this airplane?Regulations (14 CFR 61/91)