FAA Commercial Pilot Airplane (CAX) flashcards

An aircraft with an overdue altimeter and static system inspection (91.411) may be operated under VFR to a place where the inspection can be performed, provided a special flight permit is obtained.

• Applicable when 91.411 inspection is overdue.
• Operation must be VFR only.
• Requires a special flight permit (ferry permit).
• Destination must be a place where inspection can be performed.

Memory trick: Overdue instruments, VFR-only, special permit to the shop.

To give flight instruction in an aircraft for compensation, a pilot must hold a flight instructor certificate with the appropriate aircraft category and class rating.

• Flight instructor certificate is mandatory.
• Must hold appropriate category and class ratings.
• Commercial or ATP certificate is a prerequisite for CFI.

Memory trick: To teach to fly, a CFI you must be, with the right class and category.

An ATC transponder must be inspected and found to comply with 14 CFR Part 91, Appendix F, within the preceding 24 calendar months.

• Required for all aircraft using an ATC transponder.
• Interval is 24 calendar months.
• Must comply with Part 43, Appendix F.

Memory trick: Two years for the transponder, two years for its squawk.

The minimum age to be eligible for a Commercial Pilot Certificate is 18 years old.

• 18 years old for Commercial Pilot Certificate.
• 16 years old for Student Pilot Certificate.
• 17 years old for Private Pilot Certificate.
• 21 years old for Airline Transport Pilot Certificate.

Memory trick: Each pilot certificate has its own 'age gate' to open the cockpit door.

Aircraft certificated before August 11, 1971, may operate at night without an anticollision light system if operated in accordance with an approved procedures manual or a certificate of aircraft equivalency.

• Anticollision lights generally required at night.
• Exception for aircraft certificated before August 11, 1971.
• Requires approved procedures manual or certificate of equivalency.

Memory trick: Night lights are a must, unless your bird is old and has a special permit.

The static pressure system, altimeter, and automatic pressure altitude reporting system must be inspected every 24 calendar months for aircraft operated under Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) in controlled airspace.

• Required every 24 calendar months.
• Specifically for IFR operations in controlled airspace.
• Covers altimeter, static system, and transponder's altitude reporting function.

Memory trick: For IFR in controlled airspace, altimeters and transponders need a biennial checkup.

Certain aircraft maintenance records, specifically Airworthiness Directive (AD) compliance status, must be retained indefinitely.

• AD compliance records are critical.
• Show method of compliance, AD number, and next action date.
• Retained by owner/operator throughout the aircraft's life.

Memory trick: Keep AD records forever, like a timeless treasure map.

14 CFR Part 137 outlines the rules governing agricultural aircraft operations, including dispensing substances for agriculture, forestry, or pest control.

• Specific rules for crop dusting, seeding, pest control.
• Requires an Agricultural Aircraft Operator Certificate.
• Covers both pilot and operator requirements.

Memory trick: Each type of flight has its own rulebook, like a specialized dictionary.

A pilot may intentionally drop objects from an aircraft in flight under Part 91 if reasonable precautions are taken to avoid injury or damage to persons or property.

• Prohibited if it creates a hazard.
• Permitted if reasonable precautions are taken.
• No specific waiver is required by 91.15.

Memory trick: Drop if safe, no harm, no foul.

A Flight Instructor Certificate (CFI) is required for a pilot to provide flight instruction for compensation or hire.

• Separate certificate from Commercial Pilot Certificate.
• Requires specific aeronautical knowledge and experience.
• Allows for compensation when providing flight training.

Memory trick: To teach flying, you need a special 'CFI' certificate.

A temporary pilot certificate is initially valid for 120 days, and may remain valid beyond that period until the applicant receives a permanent certificate or a notice of disapproval.

• Initial validity period is 120 days.
• Can extend beyond 120 days if permanent certificate not issued and no denial.
• Issued after successful completion of a practical test.

Memory trick: Temporary certificates give you four months to fly while the permanent one arrives.

A fixed-pitch propeller has blades set at a permanent angle, optimized for one flight condition. A constant-speed propeller can adjust its blade angle (pitch) to maintain a selected engine RPM, optimizing efficiency across various flight conditions and altitudes.

• Fixed-pitch: simple, light, optimized for one speed/altitude.
• Constant-speed: complex, heavier, optimizes engine/propeller efficiency.
• Constant-speed maintains best RPM for power output.
• Fixed-pitch becomes inefficient in varying air densities (e.g., high altitude climb).

Memory trick: Fixed-pitch struggles to bite thin air, while constant-speed adapts to climb higher.

The limit load factor is the maximum load an aircraft can withstand without permanent deformation. The ultimate load factor is 1.5 times the limit load, representing the point of structural failure.

• Limit load: no permanent deformation.
• Ultimate load: structural failure.
• Operating above limit but below ultimate causes permanent damage.
• FAA requires a 1.5 safety factor (ultimate = 1.5 * limit).

Memory trick: Limit is the 'ouch' point, Ultimate is the 'snap' point.

True airspeed (TAS) increases with altitude when indicated airspeed (IAS) is held constant, because the air density decreases, requiring a higher true speed to generate the same dynamic pressure.

• IAS measures dynamic pressure, not true speed.
• As air density drops, a greater TAS is needed for the same dynamic pressure.
• Higher TAS at constant bank angle means a larger turn radius.

Memory trick: As you climb higher, the air thins, making your true speed faster for the same indicated speed, stretching your turn.

A condition in which the body or a region of the body is deprived of adequate oxygen supply. At high altitudes, it's caused by the decreased partial pressure of oxygen in the thinner air.

• Symptoms include impaired judgment, memory, and coordination.
• Onset can be insidious and difficult to self-recognize.
• Requires supplemental oxygen above certain altitudes (e.g., 12,500 ft for longer than 30 min, 14,000 ft at all times for crew).
• Affects vision, particularly night vision, at lower altitudes.

Memory trick: Climb too high without O2, and your brain's goodbye.

Mach number is a dimensionless quantity representing the ratio of an object's speed through a fluid to the local speed of sound in that fluid. It is calculated as True Airspeed (TAS) divided by the local Speed of Sound.

• Mach = TAS / Speed of Sound.
• Speed of sound varies with temperature (and thus altitude).
• Mach 1 is the speed of sound.
• Important for high-speed flight and compressibility effects.

Memory trick: Mach is how fast you are compared to the sound around you.

At high altitudes, maintaining a constant Mach number is often preferred over constant IAS to manage compressibility effects and ensure engine efficiency, as the speed of sound decreases with altitude.

• Mach number is TAS divided by the local speed of sound.
• Speed of sound decreases with temperature (and thus altitude).
• Compressibility effects (e.g., shock waves, drag rise) become significant at high Mach numbers.
• Engines are designed for specific Mach operating ranges at high altitudes.

Memory trick: At altitude, Mach keeps your engines happy and avoids speed-of-sound surprises, unlike IAS which gets tricky.

An engine-driven air compressor that increases the density of the air entering an internal combustion engine, allowing it to maintain or increase power output at higher altitudes where ambient air density is lower.

• Increases manifold pressure (boost).
• Maintains sea-level power to higher altitudes.
• Directly driven by the engine via gears or belts.
• Similar function to a turbocharger, but turbochargers are exhaust-gas driven.

Memory trick: Superchargers are like a power-up button for your engine in thin air.

The airspeed at which an airplane experiences the least amount of total drag, occurring when parasite drag and induced drag are approximately equal. This speed corresponds to the maximum lift-to-drag ratio (L/D max).

• Total drag is the sum of parasite and induced drag.
• Parasite drag increases with airspeed squared.
• Induced drag decreases with airspeed squared.
• The minimum total drag point is where the two curves intersect.

Memory trick: When parasite and induced drag hug, total drag is snug.

Under 14 CFR 91.213(d), a flight with inoperative equipment may proceed if the equipment is not required for the specific flight, is not on the Minimum Equipment List (MEL) or VFR-day type certificate, and is placarded.

• Applies to aircraft without an MEL.
• Equipment must not be required by the VFR-day type certificate.
• Equipment must not be required by 14 CFR 91.205 or other regulations for the flight.
• Equipment must be removed or placarded INOPERATIVE.

Memory trick: Don't Fly Unless Required, Placarded, and Safe.

A commercial pilot exercising the privileges of their certificate must hold at least a Second-Class Medical Certificate.

• Required for operations for compensation or hire.
• Second-Class is the minimum for commercial privileges.
• First-Class for ATP privileges.
• Third-Class for private pilot privileges.

Memory trick: Classes of Pilots need Classes of Meds.