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FAA Commercial Pilot Airplane (CAX) practice questions

212 free questions with answers and explanations.

Practice test
  1. 51.A turbocharged engine can maintain 30 inHg manifold pressure up to its critical altitude of 18,000 feet MSL. Above the critical altitude, the wastegate is fully closed and manifold pressure decreases at approximately 1 inHg per 1,000 feet of additional altitude gained. Assuming full throttle is maintained, what manifold pressure should the pilot expect at 21,000 feet MSL?Aircraft Systems
  2. 52.A pilot flying a turbocharged airplane with a fixed-position wastegate notices the manifold pressure oscillating up and down by several inches without any throttle input, particularly during climb power settings. This phenomenon, caused by the interaction between exhaust gas flow, turbocharger RPM, and throttle position, is best described as?Aircraft Systems
  3. 53.An aircraft is tracking outbound from a VOR station on the 150° radial. The OBS is set to 150°, and the CDI needle is centered. What should the TO/FROM indicator display?Navigation and Flight Planning
  4. 54.A commercial pilot wants to conduct nonstop sightseeing flights for compensation that begin and end at the same airport and remain within a 20 statute mile radius of that airport. Under Part 119, what certification is required for this operation?Regulations
  5. 55.A repair station completes a major repair on an airplane's wing spar. According to 14 CFR Part 43, what documentation is required before the aircraft may be returned to service?Regulations
  6. 56.On a V-n (velocity versus load factor) diagram used to depict an airplane's structural and aerodynamic limits, the design maneuvering speed (Va) corresponds to which point on the chart?Aerodynamics and Performance
  7. 57.An airplane's pressurization system maintains a cabin altitude equivalent to an ambient pressure of 22.22 inHg while cruising at a flight altitude where the ambient pressure is 11.10 inHg. Using a conversion factor of approximately 0.491 psi per inHg, and given that the airplane's maximum allowable cabin differential pressure is 5.5 psi, what is the actual cabin differential pressure, and is it within limits?Aircraft Systems
  8. 58.A commercial pilot owns a small airplane that is not used in any air carrier operation. The pilot wants to replace safety wire and service the landing gear struts without holding a mechanic certificate. According to 14 CFR Part 43, is the pilot permitted to perform this work?Regulations
  9. 59.A pilot is briefed that an airplane's service ceiling has been reached during a performance climb test. By FAA definition, the service ceiling is the altitude at which the airplane's maximum rate of climb has decreased to:Aerodynamics and Performance
  10. 60.A pilot maintains a constant indicated airspeed and a constant 45° bank angle while climbing from 5,000 feet to 25,000 feet density altitude in a coordinated turn. How do the turn radius and rate of turn change during this climb?Aerodynamics and Performance
  11. 61.During a dive recovery, a pilot pulls out along a circular arc at a constant velocity of 200 feet per second and a radius of 2,000 feet. Using the pull-up load factor formula n = 1 + V²/(gR), where g = 32.2 ft/sec², what approximate load factor does the pilot experience?Aerodynamics and Performance
  12. 62.During a slow cabin pressurization leak, an airplane's cabin altitude climbs from 1,000 feet to 8,000 feet over a 4-minute period before the crew initiates an emergency descent. What was the average cabin rate of climb during this period?Aircraft Systems
  13. 63.While flying straight and level at night over sparsely lit terrain, a pilot stares at a single ground light for an extended period. The pilot begins to perceive the light moving erratically even though the airplane is not maneuvering. This illusion is known as:Human Factors and ADM
  14. 64.A pilot departs with a gross weight of 3,000 pounds and a stall speed of 60 KCAS. After burning off fuel during the flight, the airplane's weight decreases to 2,700 pounds. Assuming all other factors remain constant, what is the new stall speed?Aerodynamics and Performance
  15. 65.A pilot flying in smooth air intentionally increases airspeed beyond Vne during a shallow dive. What is the primary aerodynamic risk being taken?Aerodynamics and Performance
  16. 66.A flight instructor notices a commercial applicant repeatedly saying, 'It doesn't really matter what I do, ATC and the weather will decide the outcome anyway.' This statement is most indicative of which hazardous attitude?Human Factors and ADM
  17. 67.A commercial pilot operates a company airplane on a business trip and receives a salary from the company but is not paid specifically per flight. The pilot occasionally flies company executives to meetings in this aircraft. Under Part 61 and Part 119, is an operating certificate required for these flights?Regulations
  18. 68.While cruising at FL250 in a pressurized airplane, the cabin altitude warning light illuminates and horn sounds. This warning most likely indicates that:Aircraft Systems
  19. 69.A pilot is making a night visual approach over a coastline where a line of well-lit boats parallels the shore below a sloping bank of clouds. The pilot notices the wingtip appears to align naturally with the line of clouds above the horizon, so they roll the aircraft to keep the wings level with this reference. This action places the airplane in an unusual attitude relative to the true horizon. Which illusion caused this error?Human Factors and ADM
  20. 70.An aircraft's VOR receiver has the OBS set to 270°, and the CDI is centered with a FROM indication while the aircraft holds its position. The pilot then rotates the OBS to 090° without moving the aircraft. What will the CDI now indicate?Navigation and Flight Planning
  21. 71.In a continuous-flow fuel injection system, which component receives metered fuel from the fuel control unit and evenly distributes it to the individual injector lines for each cylinder?Aircraft Systems
  22. 72.An airplane climbs from sea level to 30,000 feet while maintaining a constant indicated airspeed and a constant 45° angle of bank in a coordinated turn. How do the load factor and true airspeed change during this climb?Aerodynamics and Performance
  23. 73.An aircraft flies 165 nautical miles in 55 minutes with no change in heading or power setting. What is the aircraft's groundspeed?Navigation and Flight Planning
  24. 74.An airplane is in stabilized, level flight at 100 knots. The pilot smoothly accelerates to 150 knots while maintaining level flight and constant weight. What must happen to the wing's angle of attack?Aerodynamics and Performance
  25. 75.Regardless of airspeed, weight, bank angle, or flight attitude, an airplane's wing always stalls at the same:Aerodynamics and Performance
  26. 76.A pilot with an anti-authority hazardous attitude is most likely to respond to a new company operating procedure by thinking:Human Factors and ADM
  27. 77.A commercial pilot plans a day VFR cross-country flight. The airplane's computed fuel burn to the destination is 32 gallons, and the engine consumes fuel at a cruise rate of 8 gallons per hour. Under 14 CFR Part 91, what is the minimum amount of usable fuel that must be on board at takeoff?Navigation and Flight Planning
  28. 78.Even with a properly designed wastegate, a turbocharged reciprocating engine could still experience a dangerous overboost condition if the wastegate actuator fails in the fully closed position. Which additional component is commonly installed in the induction system specifically to protect the engine from this overboost failure mode?Aircraft Systems
  29. 79.On a total drag curve (parasite drag plus induced drag) plotted against airspeed, at airspeeds slower than the speed for L/D max, which drag component dominates the total drag?Aerodynamics and Performance
  30. 80.An airplane's pressurization controller operates in an 'isobaric' control mode during a climb below the maximum differential pressure limit. What does this mean for the cabin environment?Aircraft Systems
  31. 81.What is the primary function of the outflow valve in an aircraft cabin pressurization system?Aircraft Systems
  32. 82.A newly certificated commercial pilot holds an airplane single-engine land rating but has not passed an instrument rating checkride. According to 14 CFR 61.133(b), what limitation is placed on this pilot's certificate regarding carrying passengers for hire?Regulations
  33. 83.On many retractable landing gear systems, the main gear doors close snugly around the extended wheel after gear extension, then reopen briefly before the gear retracts. What is the primary purpose of this door sequencing?Aircraft Systems
  34. 84.During landing gear extension, a pilot places the gear selector down but the cockpit indicator shows a red/unsafe light instead of three green lights. This indication most likely means:Aircraft Systems
  35. 85.A pilot's flight plan shows a true course of 270°. Using a flight computer, the pilot determines a wind correction angle of 5° right. The isogonic line near the route indicates 8° east variation, and the compass correction card shows a deviation of -1° on the resulting heading. What compass heading should the pilot fly?Navigation and Flight Planning
  36. 86.In a fuel injection system, the fuel control unit (metering unit) primarily determines fuel flow to the engine cylinders based on:Aircraft Systems
  37. 87.In a turbocharged reciprocating engine, what component regulates the amount of exhaust gas that is diverted to drive the turbocharger's turbine?Aircraft Systems
  38. 88.An airplane experiences an engine failure at 6,500 feet AGL. The best-glide configuration normally yields a 10:1 glide ratio in still air, but a 10-knot headwind component is expected to reduce the effective glide ratio to 8:1. Approximately how many nautical miles can the airplane glide under these conditions?Navigation and Flight Planning
  39. 89.In a typical retractable-gear airplane, the landing gear aural warning horn is designed to sound automatically under which condition?Aircraft Systems
  40. 90.A commercial pilot flying a light twin decides to fly a demanding low approach in gusty crosswinds to impress a passenger, despite having a calmer alternate runway available. This decision is most consistent with which hazardous attitude?Human Factors and ADM
  41. 91.An airplane's maneuvering speed (Va) is published as 120 KCAS at maximum gross weight, regardless of altitude. A pilot flying at 20,000 feet notices that the true airspeed corresponding to 120 KCAS is significantly higher than it would be at sea level. What is the correct interpretation for turbulence penetration procedures?Aerodynamics and Performance
  42. 92.A commercial pilot loads an airplane near its maximum gross weight for a cross-country flight instead of a lighter, partial-fuel configuration. Compared to the lighter loading, how will the heavier gross weight most likely affect fuel planning for the same cruise altitude and airspeed?Navigation and Flight Planning
  43. 93.A twin-engine airplane's propeller system includes a small cylinder that stores engine oil under pressure specifically to allow a feathered propeller to be unfeathered and restarted in flight. What is this component called?Aircraft Systems
  44. 94.A student pilot experiences an engine failure and wants to maximize gliding distance to a suitable landing site. At which airspeed should the airplane be flown?Aerodynamics and Performance
  45. 95.Some turbocharging systems incorporate an automatic component that limits manifold pressure to a preset maximum by modulating the wastegate, protecting the engine even if the pilot advances the throttle too rapidly. This component is best described as the:Aircraft Systems
  46. 96.A pilot navigates a cross-country flight primarily by comparing checkpoints on a sectional chart with visual landmarks passing below the airplane, making only minor reference to computed headings and times. This method of navigation is best described asNavigation and Flight Planning
  47. 97.During a fully developed spin, which wing experiences a higher angle of attack, and what effect does this have on the spin?Aerodynamics and Performance
  48. 98.An aircraft is being planned for an IFR flight that requires a filed alternate. Fuel to the destination is computed at 45 gallons, fuel from the destination to the alternate is 15 gallons, and the airplane burns 10 gallons per hour at normal cruise. What minimum amount of usable fuel must be aboard at takeoff to comply with 14 CFR 91.167?Navigation and Flight Planning
  49. 99.Two airplanes of equal gross weight encounter an identical vertical gust. Airplane A has a wing area of 150 square feet (wing loading 20 lb/ft²); Airplane B has a wing area of 100 square feet (wing loading 30 lb/ft²). Which airplane will experience a smoother ride (smaller load factor increase) from the gust?Aerodynamics and Performance
  50. 100.While in cruise flight with the propeller control set for 2,400 RPM, engine RPM begins to decrease below the selected value (an underspeed condition). How does the constant-speed propeller governor respond?Aircraft Systems