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FAA Commercial Pilot Airplane (CAX) practice questions

212 free questions with answers and explanations.

Practice test
  1. 1.An airplane departing from a high-elevation airport on a hot day experiences a significant increase in density altitude. Compared to a standard-day sea-level departure at the same indicated airspeed and gross weight, the airplane will require a longer takeoff roll primarily because:Aerodynamics and Performance
  2. 2.An airport has a pressure altitude of 5,000 feet, but the outside air temperature is 35°C, well above the standard temperature of 5°C for that altitude. How will the resulting high density altitude affect the pilot's fuel planning for takeoff and climb to cruise altitude?Navigation and Flight Planning
  3. 3.A pilot receiving a weather briefing hears a forecast for possible thunderstorms along the route but focuses only on the portion of the briefing mentioning scattered clouds and good visibility, later telling a friend, 'The briefer said the weather looked fine.' This selective interpretation of the briefing is an example of which decision-making hazard?Human Factors and ADM
  4. 4.A pilot planning an IFR flight using GPS for primary navigation checks the receiver's RAIM prediction before departure. What is the purpose of this check?Navigation and Flight Planning
  5. 5.An airplane's retractable landing gear is actuated by an electrically driven hydraulic power pack consisting of a pump, reservoir, and relief valve. What is the primary function of this unit?Aircraft Systems
  6. 6.A pilot has flown three consecutive early-morning flights after averaging only 4-5 hours of sleep per night for the past week. Although not currently drowsy, the pilot has noticeably slower reaction times and impaired judgment during a checklist review. This condition is best described as:Human Factors and ADM
  7. 7.A commercial pilot plans a flight to be conducted at night under VFR. The airplane's cruise fuel burn is 9 gallons per hour, and fuel to the first point of intended landing is calculated at 27 gallons. What minimum amount of usable fuel must be aboard at takeoff to comply with 14 CFR Part 91?Navigation and Flight Planning
  8. 8.An airplane maintains a true airspeed of 120 knots in a coordinated 30° bank turn. Using the rate of turn formula, rate (°/sec) = (1,091 × tan(bank))/TAS, what is the approximate rate of turn?Aerodynamics and Performance
  9. 9.Compared to a float-type carburetor, which of the following is an advantage of a fuel injection system on a reciprocating engine?Aircraft Systems
  10. 10.A mechanic is asked when an aircraft must next undergo its required annual inspection. The aircraft's last annual inspection was signed off on March 15 of last year. By what date must the next annual inspection be completed to keep the aircraft airworthy?Regulations
  11. 11.A pilot enters an unintentional spin and must recover using the standard control inputs. Which sequence correctly follows the recommended spin recovery procedure?Aerodynamics and Performance
  12. 12.A pilot climbs an airplane toward its absolute ceiling. As altitude increases, what happens to the best angle-of-climb speed (Vx) and best rate-of-climb speed (Vy)?Aerodynamics and Performance
  13. 13.Company A leases an airplane, along with a flight crew employed by Company A, to Company B to transport Company B's cargo and passengers for compensation. Company A retains operational control of the flights. This arrangement is best classified as which of the following, requiring Company A to hold appropriate Part 119 operating authority?Regulations
  14. 14.A commercial pilot notices the fuel flow gauge is inoperative before departure on an aircraft without an approved Minimum Equipment List. According to 14 CFR 91.213(d), which condition must be met before the pilot may legally fly with this instrument inoperative?Regulations
  15. 15.A pilot flying a constant-speed propeller airplane in cruise moves the propeller control lever forward, commanding an increase in RPM. As the governor responds, what happens to the propeller blade angle?Aircraft Systems
  16. 16.A pilot leaning the mixture on a fuel-injected engine using an EGT gauge wants to establish best power for a climb, rather than best economy for cruise. Compared to peak EGT, where should the mixture be set for best power?Aircraft Systems
  17. 17.A constant-speed propeller governor uses flyweights sensitive to engine RPM to control the oil pressure directed to the propeller hub. What is the primary purpose of this system?Aircraft Systems
  18. 18.A pilot notices blue exhaust smoke and unusually high oil consumption on a turbocharged airplane, along with normal manifold pressure indications. Which turbocharger-related failure is the most likely cause of these symptoms?Aircraft Systems
  19. 19.An airplane's pressurization system includes a valve that automatically opens to admit outside air into the cabin whenever cabin pressure would otherwise become lower than outside atmospheric pressure, such as during a rapid descent. This valve is the?Aircraft Systems
  20. 20.An airplane's positive limit load factor is 3.8G. While cruising at maneuvering speed, the airplane encounters turbulence that produces a momentary gust load factor of 3.5G. What is the most accurate conclusion?Aerodynamics and Performance
  21. 21.A pilot plans to carry three passengers on a flight departing at 2100 local time. The pilot's logbook shows the last three landings to a full stop at night were made 95 days ago. Under 14 CFR 61.57, is the pilot currently qualified to carry these passengers on this flight?Regulations
  22. 22.A student pilot asks why extending flaps allows the airplane to fly and land at a slower speed. Which explanation is correct?Aerodynamics and Performance
  23. 23.An airplane is flown in a coordinated turn at a true airspeed of 180 knots with a 50° angle of bank. Using r = V²/(11.26 × tan(bank)), what is the approximate turn radius (tan 50° ≈ 1.19)?Aerodynamics and Performance
  24. 24.An air taxi aircraft's last required 100-hour inspection was completed at a recorded tachometer time of 1,200.0 hours, making the next 100-hour inspection due at 1,300.0 hours. The aircraft is now at 1,301.5 hours, and the operator wants to fly it 3.5 hours to reach a maintenance facility that can perform the inspection. Is this flight permitted, and when is the next 100-hour inspection due?Regulations
  25. 25.An airplane, at a given weight and configuration, stalls at 60 KIAS at sea level. The same airplane, same weight and configuration, is flown to 10,000 feet density altitude and stalled again. What indicated stall speed should the pilot expect?Aerodynamics and Performance
  26. 26.An airplane's 1G stall speed is 50 knots. During a pull-up from a dive, the pilot imposes a load factor of 2G. What is the airplane's stall speed during this maneuver?Aerodynamics and Performance
  27. 27.An airplane is in a coordinated turn with a true airspeed of 150 knots and a 45° angle of bank. Using the turn radius formula r = V²/(11.26 × tan(bank)), what is the approximate radius of turn?Aerodynamics and Performance
  28. 28.A commercial pilot is scheduled to serve as second in command (SIC) in a company airplane that is type certificated for a minimum crew of two pilots. The pilot does not hold a type rating for that airplane and has never acted as SIC in it before. According to 14 CFR 61.55, what must occur before this pilot may act as SIC?Regulations
  29. 29.During a preflight briefing, a low-time commercial pilot states, 'Let's just get going, we can figure out the weight and balance in the air if needed.' This statement is most characteristic of which hazardous attitude?Human Factors and ADM
  30. 30.An aircraft owner wants an inspection program that spreads required inspection items across shorter, more frequent intervals to keep the aircraft continuously airworthy, rather than performing one large annual inspection. Which inspection program should the owner request from the FAA?Regulations
  31. 31.A mechanic completes an airworthiness directive (AD) compliance inspection and makes the appropriate logbook entry. Who bears ultimate responsibility for ensuring that all applicable airworthiness directives are complied with on the aircraft?Regulations
  32. 32.A sectional chart shows an isogonic line indicating 8° east variation along a planned route. The pilot's true course, measured with a plotter, is 250°. What magnetic course should the pilot use before applying compass deviation?Navigation and Flight Planning
  33. 33.An airplane's best-glide speed of 65 KIAS yields a 10:1 glide ratio in still air. During an engine failure at 5,000 feet AGL, the pilot maintains the same best-glide airspeed while gliding directly into a steady 20-knot headwind. Compared to a no-wind glide from the same altitude, the horizontal distance covered over the ground will be:Aerodynamics and Performance
  34. 34.A commercial pilot is en route to a business meeting and encounters worsening weather ahead. Despite briefed alternates and a personal minimum to divert if visibility drops below 3 miles, the pilot presses on because 'we're already most of the way there' and the original plan called for landing at the destination. This behavior best illustrates which hazard to sound decision making?Human Factors and ADM
  35. 35.A mechanic installs and calibrates a new ATC transponder in a commercial operator's airplane used for IFR flights. According to 14 CFR 91.413, this transponder must be tested and inspected within the preceding how many calendar months, and in accordance with which standard?Regulations
  36. 36.A pilot flying a turbocharged airplane advances the throttle rapidly during a go-around. Manifold pressure momentarily spikes well above the takeoff-rated limit before settling back to normal. What is the most likely cause of this transient overboost, and how should the pilot avoid it?Aircraft Systems
  37. 37.An airplane's unaccelerated (1G) stall speed is 58 KCAS. If the pilot enters a coordinated turn with a 60° bank angle, what is the approximate accelerated stall speed?Aerodynamics and Performance
  38. 38.A pilot is flying a published 10 DME arc around a VORTAC. While maintaining the arc, the DME reading decreases to 9.5 NM without an intentional course change. Using the standard arc-correction technique, what should the pilot do to return to the 10 DME arc?Navigation and Flight Planning
  39. 39.A pilot studies a total drag curve (parasite drag plus induced drag) plotted against airspeed. At one specific airspeed, the curve reaches its lowest point, meaning total drag is at a minimum. What does this airspeed represent?Aerodynamics and Performance
  40. 40.A pilot is planning a descent from a cruising altitude of 9,500 feet MSL to a pattern altitude of 1,500 feet MSL, using a planned descent rate of 500 feet per minute and an expected groundspeed of 150 knots during the descent. Approximately how many nautical miles from the airport should the descent begin?Navigation and Flight Planning
  41. 41.During an annual inspection, a mechanic finds a discrepancy that renders an airplane unairworthy. The owner wants to fly the aircraft, without passengers, directly to a maintenance facility for repair. What must the owner obtain from the FAA before making this flight?Regulations
  42. 42.A fuel-injected engine's induction system includes a door that, when opened, allows warm, unfiltered air to bypass the normal induction air filter. Under what condition would a pilot use this alternate air source?Aircraft Systems
  43. 43.A commercial pilot completed a 13-hour duty day with back-to-back charter flights after getting only 5 hours of sleep the previous night, but reports feeling fully recovered after a normal night's rest. This scenario best describes which type of fatigue?Human Factors and ADM
  44. 44.On a sectional chart, a pilot notices a dashed line labeled '10°W' crossing the planned route. What does this line represent?Navigation and Flight Planning
  45. 45.A glider with a high-aspect-ratio wing and a fighter jet with a low-aspect-ratio wing generate the same amount of lift at the same airspeed. Compared to the fighter's wing, the glider's wing produces:Aerodynamics and Performance
  46. 46.An aircraft owner asks a mechanic when the emergency locator transmitter (ELT) battery must be replaced or recharged. According to 14 CFR 91.207, the battery must be replaced after how much cumulative time in use, or when what percentage of its useful life has expired, whichever occurs first?Regulations
  47. 47.A turbocharged engine has a critical altitude of 18,000 feet, at which it produces 30 inHg manifold pressure with full throttle. Above critical altitude, the wastegate is fully closed and manifold pressure decreases at approximately the standard non-turbocharged rate of 1 inHg per 1,000 feet. What manifold pressure would the pilot expect at 21,000 feet, full throttle?Aircraft Systems
  48. 48.An airplane's engine fails while the pilot is circling to reach a nearby airport rather than gliding in a straight line. The pilot wants to remain airborne as long as possible rather than cover maximum distance. Which airspeed should the pilot fly?Aerodynamics and Performance
  49. 49.An airplane flying slower than its L/D max speed requires progressively MORE power to maintain altitude as airspeed decreases further. This flight condition is known as the:Aerodynamics and Performance
  50. 50.A technician explains to an aircraft owner the difference between a 'turbonormalized' engine and a standard turbocharged engine. Which statement correctly describes a turbonormalized system?Aircraft Systems