Step2Study

FAA Flight Instructor Airplane (FIA) practice questions

300 free questions with answers and explanations.

Practice test
  1. 251.A CFI is explaining magnetic compass errors to an instrument student. While flying a constant heading of due west in the northern hemisphere and accelerating, how will the compass momentarily indicate, and why?Aircraft Systems and Instruments
  2. 252.Two pilots agree to fly their airplanes in close proximity for a photography session, with no passengers carried for hire. According to 14 CFR 91.111, what condition must be satisfied before this formation flight is conducted?Regulations (14 CFR 61/91)
  3. 253.A pilot inbound to a Class D airport experiences a two-way radio communication failure in VFR conditions. According to AIM guidance, the pilot should:Navigation and Airspace
  4. 254.A flight instructor is briefing a student on fog formation along the California coast. Warm, moist air is moving horizontally inland over the cool coastal waters and the adjacent cool land surface, causing the air to be cooled to its dew point. Which type of fog is most likely to form under these conditions?Weather and Weather Services
  5. 255.A student pilot notices that the vertical speed indicator (VSI) shows a brief reversed indication for a second or two immediately after abruptly leveling off from a steep climb. What is the best explanation for this phenomenon?Aircraft Systems and Instruments
  6. 256.Using a landing performance table, a pilot finds a ground roll of 1,400 ft at a pressure altitude of 2,000 ft and 1,600 ft at a pressure altitude of 4,000 ft, with all other variables held constant. What is the interpolated ground roll for a pressure altitude of 3,000 ft?Performance, Weight and Balance
  7. 257.A commercial pilot applicant is performing a steep turn at a 50° bank angle. According to the Commercial Pilot ACS, what is the maximum altitude deviation allowed during the maneuver?Flight Maneuvers and Endorsements
  8. 258.A pilot plans a leg with a true course of 060° and a true airspeed of 130 knots. The forecast wind is from 030° at 20 knots. Using the wind component relationship, what is the approximate groundspeed?Navigation and Airspace
  9. 259.A pilot requests a Special VFR clearance to depart a Class D airport at night in weather below VFR minimums. According to 14 CFR 91.157, this clearance may only be granted if:Navigation and Airspace
  10. 260.A CFI explains that as angle of attack increases toward the critical angle, the airflow over the upper wing surface transitions from smooth to turbulent and finally separates from the surface. This separation of the boundary layer from the wing surface is the direct aerodynamic cause of:Aerodynamics and Principles of Flight
  11. 261.A pilot wants to achieve the best power mixture setting during a cruise climb using the EGT gauge. After leaning the mixture until EGT peaks, what adjustment should the pilot make next?Aircraft Systems and Instruments
  12. 262.A pilot is planning an IFR flight that is not in the vicinity of the departure airport. According to 14 CFR 91.103, which combination of information must the pilot become familiar with before the flight?Regulations (14 CFR 61/91)
  13. 263.A student pilot completing a weight and balance worksheet must find the moment for the front seat occupants. Their combined weight is 340 lb, and the front seat station arm is 85 inches aft of the datum. What is the moment for this station?Performance, Weight and Balance
  14. 264.During an engine runup, a CFI has a student switch the magneto selector from BOTH to LEFT only. The RPM drops slightly and runs smoothly. The student then switches to RIGHT only, and the engine stops firing completely. What should the instructor conclude?Aircraft Systems and Instruments
  15. 265.A CFI is teaching a client about the two components of total drag. The client asks which condition produces the greatest induced drag, the drag associated with the formation of wingtip vortices.Aerodynamics and Principles of Flight
  16. 266.A flight instructor is explaining the difference between a flight director and an autopilot to a client transitioning to a technically advanced airplane. What is the correct distinction between the two systems?Aircraft Systems and Instruments
  17. 267.A pilot flying an airplane equipped with a TKS "weeping wing" ice protection system notices during a preflight briefing that the system is described as anti-ice rather than de-ice. Which statement best explains this distinction as it applies to the TKS system?Aircraft Systems and Instruments
  18. 268.During a ramp check, an FAA inspector asks a pilot to produce the documents required to be aboard the airplane. The pilot presents the airworthiness certificate, registration certificate, and the operating limitations, but cannot locate one additional required item. According to 14 CFR 91.203 and 91.9, which document is also required to be aboard?Regulations (14 CFR 61/91)
  19. 269.A student pilot planning a flight notices a shaded area on the sectional chart labeled 'MOA' with a name and altitude block. During the preflight briefing, the CFI should explain that this designation means:Navigation and Airspace
  20. 270.A pilot operating a turbocharged reciprocating engine notices that manifold pressure is not automatically controlled and instead relies entirely on pilot throttle input, with the wastegate fixed in one position. What type of turbocharger control system does this aircraft most likely have?Aircraft Systems and Instruments
  21. 271.A CFI is explaining an oscillatory motion in which the airplane experiences a combination of yawing and rolling that continues with little damping, most commonly associated with swept-wing airplanes that have strong directional stability relative to their dihedral effect. This motion is known as:Aerodynamics and Principles of Flight
  22. 272.A flight instructor is reviewing a surface analysis chart with a student and points out an area where the isobars are drawn very close together, in tight, parallel bands, over the route of flight. Based on this pattern, the student should expect which surface wind condition in that area?Weather and Weather Services
  23. 273.A CFI notices during a cross-country flight that the heading indicator has drifted 12 degrees from the magnetic compass heading after 45 minutes of flight, despite no turns being made. What is the most likely explanation, and what should the pilot do?Aircraft Systems and Instruments
  24. 274.A student pilot notices that some airport symbols on a sectional chart are printed in blue, while others are printed in magenta. What does this color difference represent?Navigation and Airspace
  25. 275.During ground school, a CFI explains the operational check tolerances required by 14 CFR 91.171 for VOR equipment used under IFR. A pilot performs a dual VOR check using two independent receivers tuned to the same VOR station. Receiver A indicates a bearing of 182°, and Receiver B indicates 177°. What should the pilot conclude?Navigation and Airspace
  26. 276.During a cross-country flight planning briefing, a flight instructor explains the polar front jet stream to a student. Which statement best describes this feature?Weather and Weather Services
  27. 277.A private pilot who holds an instrument rating has not logged the approaches, holding, and course tracking required by 14 CFR 61.57(c) for the past 9 months. What must this pilot do before acting as pilot in command under IFR?Regulations (14 CFR 61/91)
  28. 278.A private pilot applicant is performing a power-off 180° accuracy approach and landing. According to the Private Pilot ACS, the airplane's main wheels must touch down within how many feet beyond a specified point on the runway?Flight Maneuvers and Endorsements
  29. 279.A student pilot asks why many airplane wings are designed with washout (a twist reducing angle of incidence toward the wingtip). The CFI's best explanation is that washout:Aerodynamics and Principles of Flight
  30. 280.A pilot notices the alternator's low-voltage annunciator light illuminate in cruise flight, and the ammeter shows a discharge. What is the most likely cause?Aircraft Systems and Instruments
  31. 281.A pilot flying a pressurized airplane notices the cabin altitude climbing above the selected value even though the outflow valve appears to be closing normally. What system component, if malfunctioning, would most directly explain an inability to maintain cabin pressurization despite outflow valve operation?Aircraft Systems and Instruments
  32. 282.A student pilot rolls into a bank without applying rudder, and the airplane's wings return toward level flight on their own. A CFI explains this results from dihedral effect. What is the underlying aerodynamic cause?Aerodynamics and Principles of Flight
  33. 283.Two airplanes of the same category are converging at approximately the same altitude, and neither is on a head-on course. According to 14 CFR 91.113, which aircraft has the right of way?Regulations (14 CFR 61/91)
  34. 284.A swept-wing airplane enters a sideslip with the right wing forward into the relative wind. Instructors describe this producing a rolling moment away from the sideslip, similar to dihedral effect. What is the correct explanation?Aerodynamics and Principles of Flight
  35. 285.A CFI explains to a student that the stall warning system uses a small heated metal vane mounted on the leading edge of the wing. What triggers this system to activate the aural or visual warning?Aircraft Systems and Instruments
  36. 286.A private pilot passed a practical test (checkride) for an added instrument rating 20 calendar months ago and has not accomplished a flight review since that date. The pilot wants to act as pilot in command of an airplane next week without completing a separate flight review. According to 14 CFR 61.56, is this permitted?Regulations (14 CFR 61/91)
  37. 287.An applicant fails the practical test for a commercial pilot certificate. The applicant then receives additional flight training from a different instructor than the one who originally recommended the test. Per 14 CFR 61.49, who must endorse the applicant's logbook before retesting?Regulations (14 CFR 61/91)
  38. 288.A technician is inspecting a light twin-engine airplane's electrical system and explains to a CFI that the aircraft uses a split-bus system. What is the primary purpose of this design?Aircraft Systems and Instruments
  39. 289.A pilot is preparing for takeoff from an airport at 5,000 ft field elevation on a hot, humid afternoon. Compared to a standard-day takeoff at the same field elevation, the resulting high density altitude will most likely:Performance, Weight and Balance
  40. 290.A flight instructor is preparing to endorse a student pilot's logbook for a first solo flight. According to 14 CFR 61.87, which of the following must the instructor have done?Flight Maneuvers and Endorsements
  41. 291.While flying at night, a pilot observes an airport rotating beacon showing two quick white flashes followed by a green flash. This flash pattern identifies the airport as:Navigation and Airspace
  42. 292.An engineer compares two wings of identical area, span, and airfoil section: Wing A has a pure elliptical planform, and Wing B has a rectangular planform incorporating washout. Regarding stall progression across the span, which statement is correct?Aerodynamics and Principles of Flight
  43. 293.An airplane is loaded near its forward center of gravity (CG) limit for landing. Compared to a loading near the aft CG limit, what should the pilot expect during the landing flare?Aerodynamics and Principles of Flight
  44. 294.On a standard airspeed indicator, a pilot observes the needle in the yellow arc during a descent. What does this arc range represent?Aircraft Systems and Instruments
  45. 295.A METAR for KABC reads: KABC 151853Z 12015G25KT 3/4SM +TSRA BR OVC008CB 22/20 A2990. What is the reported ceiling at KABC?Weather and Weather Services
  46. 296.A CFI is explaining the difference between NOTAM (D) and FDC NOTAMs to a student pilot. Which statement best describes a NOTAM (D)?Navigation and Airspace
  47. 297.During a full-power climb at a high angle of attack, a single-engine airplane with a clockwise-rotating propeller (viewed from the cockpit) tends to yaw left. This is primarily the result of:Aerodynamics and Principles of Flight
  48. 298.A METAR reports SKC below 12,000 feet except SCT018 BKN035 OVC070. What is the reported ceiling at this airport?Weather and Weather Services
  49. 299.During a steep turn at a constant bank angle, a pilot notices the airplane tends to increase its bank angle further without additional control input, requiring slight opposite aileron pressure to maintain the desired bank. This overbanking tendency is caused by:Aerodynamics and Principles of Flight
  50. 300.A pilot receives a weather briefing that includes a forecast for 'moderate rime icing in clouds between 5,000 feet and 10,000 feet MSL.' What is the most significant hazard associated with rime icing?Weather and Weather Services