FAA Private Pilot Airplane (PAR) practice questions
213 free questions with answers and explanations.
- 1.A pilot's weather briefing reveals a temperature profile with a surface temperature of -3°C, but a layer of warmer air aloft above 4,000 feet reporting temperatures around +5°C. Rain is falling from that warm layer into the sub-freezing air near the surface. What icing hazard does this scenario describe?Weather Theory and Services
- 2.A pilot approaching to land at an airport within Class D airspace establishes two-way radio contact with the tower, but the tower controller has not yet responded with the aircraft's call sign. According to regulations, may the pilot enter the airspace?Airspace and Airports
- 3.A pilot is briefed that the density altitude at the departure airport is significantly higher than the field elevation. What does density altitude represent?Performance, Weight and Balance
- 4.A pilot reviewing a METAR observes the entry '1/2SM R28L/2600FT'. How should this information be interpreted?Weather Theory and Services
- 5.A private pilot has just been informed of an unexpected schedule change that requires them to fly a longer route than planned, arriving after dark. The pilot thinks, 'I've flown at night before, nothing bad will happen to me,' and departs without reviewing night currency requirements or a flashlight for the cockpit. This thought process best reflects which hazardous attitude?Aeromedical Factors and ADM
- 6.A pilot notices a Military Operations Area (MOA) along the planned VFR route. What is the correct understanding of flight through this airspace?Airspace and Airports
- 7.A pilot flying a standard rectangular traffic pattern at a nontowered airport with no published pattern altitude should plan to fly the pattern at what altitude above the airport elevation, using what turn direction unless otherwise indicated?Airspace and Airports
- 8.A pilot reviewing a METAR notices the remark 'PK WND 28045/1552'. How should this remark be interpreted?Weather Theory and Services
- 9.At an airport with a field elevation of 1,000 feet MSL, the surface temperature is 24°C and the dew point is 14°C. Using the standard rule of thumb relating temperature-dew point spread to convective cloud base height, approximately what height MSL should the pilot expect the base of any developing cumulus clouds to be?Weather Theory and Services
- 10.A pilot reviewing weather products for a cross-country flight sees that an AIRMET Zulu has been issued for the route. What hazard does this specifically indicate?Weather Theory and Services
- 11.A pilot's weather briefing indicates a surface temperature of 20°C and a temperature of 5°C at 6,000 feet MSL. Using a dry adiabatic lapse rate of 3°C per 1,000 feet, what does this tell the pilot about the stability of the atmosphere?Weather Theory and Services
- 12.A pilot plans a flight at 20,000 feet MSL over the continental United States. What airspace classification will the pilot be operating in, and what minimum equipment is required?Airspace and Airports
- 13.A pilot applies right aileron to begin a coordinated turn to the right. Immediately after aileron input, but before rudder is applied, the airplane's nose initially yaws slightly to the left. What causes this adverse yaw?Aerodynamics and Aircraft Systems
- 14.A pilot becomes anxious during unexpected turbulence and begins breathing rapidly and deeply. Shortly after, the pilot experiences tingling in the fingers, dizziness, and a feeling of lightheadedness. What is the most likely cause of these symptoms, and what is the recommended corrective action?Aeromedical Factors and ADM
- 15.While flying over a lake on a cool autumn morning, a pilot notices wisps of fog rising directly off the water's surface as cold air moves across it. This phenomenon is best classified as which type of fog?Weather Theory and Services
- 16.A pilot on final approach beneath a thunderstorm's rain shaft notices the airspeed suddenly increase and the aircraft balloon above the glidepath, followed within seconds by a rapid airspeed decrease and increasing sink rate. This sequence is most characteristic of which hazard?Weather Theory and Services
- 17.A flight instructor asks a student what three conditions must be present for a thunderstorm to develop. Which combination correctly answers this question?Weather Theory and Services
- 18.Using the PAVE checklist for personal risk management, a pilot notices that passengers are pressuring them to depart despite deteriorating weather so they won't miss a scheduled event. This factor falls under which PAVE element?Aeromedical Factors and ADM
- 19.A pilot approaching a nontowered airport observes a segmented circle with a set of traffic pattern indicators showing a right-hand pattern for the runway in use. What should the pilot do?Airspace and Airports
- 20.An airplane is flying straight and level when a wind gust momentarily banks the right wing down without changing heading. The airplane's wings have noticeable dihedral. Assuming the pilot makes no control input, what will the airplane tend to do?Aerodynamics and Aircraft Systems
- 21.An airplane is loaded with its CG near or beyond the aft loading limit. Which characteristic is this airplane most likely to exhibit?Performance, Weight and Balance
- 22.A METAR for KDEF reports: SCT025 BKN040 OVC080. What is the reported ceiling at this airport?Weather Theory and Services
- 23.While taxiing for departure during daylight hours, a pilot notices the airport's rotating beacon is turned on. What does this indicate?Airspace and Airports
- 24.A pilot flying near a developing thunderstorm notices very heavy rain, frequent lightning, and strong gusty surface winds spreading outward from the storm, along with both updrafts and downdrafts occurring simultaneously within the cell. Which stage of the thunderstorm life cycle is this?Weather Theory and Services
- 25.A TAF for KABC includes the group 'PROB30 2116/2119 1/2SM +TSRA'. How should a pilot interpret this forecast element?Weather Theory and Services
- 26.While flying in a coordinated turn in instrument conditions, a pilot abruptly tilts their head down to pick up a dropped chart. Immediately afterward, the pilot experiences a strong, disorienting sensation of tumbling or rotating on a completely different axis than the actual turn. This dangerous illusion is best identified as which spatial disorientation phenomenon?Aeromedical Factors and ADM
- 27.A pilot climbing without supplemental oxygen begins to feel euphoric and notices degraded night vision and slowed reaction time, though the pilot feels completely normal otherwise. This condition, caused by insufficient oxygen reaching the brain and other body tissues due to reduced partial pressure of oxygen at altitude, is best classified as which type of hypoxia?Aeromedical Factors and ADM
- 28.A pilot is practicing steep turns and inadvertently increases back pressure too much. At what point will the wing actually stall?Aerodynamics and Aircraft Systems
- 29.A pilot is calculating takeoff performance on a hot, humid day at a high-elevation airport. In addition to the effects of temperature and altitude, what effect does high humidity have on aircraft performance?Performance, Weight and Balance
- 30.After being displaced from trimmed level flight by a gust, an airplane exhibits a slow, long-period oscillation in pitch attitude and airspeed that gradually decreases in amplitude until the airplane returns to its trimmed condition. This behavior demonstrates which characteristic?Aerodynamics and Aircraft Systems
- 31.A pilot's weather briefing includes a SIGMET for severe icing over a 200-mile-wide area and a Convective SIGMET for a line of embedded thunderstorms producing hail 1 inch in diameter. Which statement best describes the difference between these two advisories?Weather Theory and Services
- 32.While climbing through 5,000 feet, a pilot's static port becomes completely blocked by ice, but the pitot tube remains clear. Assuming the pilot continues the climb, how will the airspeed indicator most likely behave?Aerodynamics and Aircraft Systems
- 33.A pilot's weather briefing warns of a squall line developing ahead of an approaching fast-moving cold front. What hazard is most characteristic of a squall line?Weather Theory and Services
- 34.While flying through a layer of stratiform clouds at an outside air temperature of -8°C, a pilot notices ice forming on the wing leading edge that appears rough, opaque, and milky white rather than smooth and transparent. This type of icing is known as:Weather Theory and Services
- 35.A pilot reviewing surface analysis notices a front where the weather shows a mix of both cold-front and warm-front characteristics — an area of continuous precipitation ahead of the front along with a narrow band of showery precipitation embedded within it, and the temperature pattern does not cleanly match either front type. This is best classified as a(n):Weather Theory and Services
- 36.A pilot flying straight and level in low-visibility conditions enters a slow, gradual turn without realizing it because the inner ear's motion-sensing organs are no longer signaling the turn. Believing the aircraft is still flying straight and level, the pilot tightens the turn to correct a perceived overbank sensation, resulting in a descending spiral that steepens if uncorrected. Which spatial disorientation illusion does this describe?Aeromedical Factors and ADM
- 37.An airport has a field elevation of 1,500 feet MSL. The current altimeter setting is 30.42 inches of mercury. What is the pressure altitude at this airport?Weather Theory and Services
- 38.A pilot notes that during a climb through 5,000 feet the outside air temperature increases from 10°C to 14°C instead of decreasing. What atmospheric condition does this describe?Weather Theory and Services
- 39.A pilot arriving at a nontowered airport without an operating control tower wants to announce position on downwind. What frequency should the pilot use, and what information should be included in the transmission?Airspace and Airports
- 40.A pilot departs an airport at a field elevation of 2,000 feet MSL where the surface temperature is 20°C. Assuming a standard atmosphere and standard lapse rate, what outside air temperature should the pilot expect upon reaching 8,000 feet MSL?Weather Theory and Services
- 41.A pilot plans to land at an airport with a part-time control tower inside Class D airspace. Upon arrival, the pilot notices the tower is closed and the ATIS is off. What is the correct procedure?Airspace and Airports
- 42.A TAF for an airport includes the group 'FM2100 22015G25KT P6SM SCT030'. What does the 'FM2100' portion indicate to the pilot?Weather Theory and Services
- 43.A METAR report includes the group 'OVC008' followed by temperature and dew point values. What does this group indicate to the pilot?Weather Theory and Services
- 44.An airplane's empty weight is 1,350 lb at an arm of 78.0 in. The pilot and passenger weigh a total of 340 lb at an arm of 85.0 in. Fuel is loaded at 30 gallons (6 lb/gal) at an arm of 95.0 in, and baggage of 40 lb is loaded at an arm of 140.0 in. What is the airplane's center of gravity?Performance, Weight and Balance
- 45.A pilot plans to fly the day after scuba diving to a depth requiring a controlled ascent with a decompression stop. According to FAA guidance on flying after diving, how long should the pilot wait before flight to reduce the risk of decompression sickness?Aeromedical Factors and ADM
- 46.A pilot is comparing two otherwise identical piston engines: one normally aspirated and one turbocharged. Both are climbing to 14,000 feet density altitude. Which statement correctly describes the primary advantage of the turbocharged engine at this altitude?Aerodynamics and Aircraft Systems
- 47.During a preflight weather briefing, a pilot is told that a maritime tropical (mT) air mass will influence the route of flight. What characteristics should the pilot expect from this air mass?Weather Theory and Services
- 48.During takeoff roll in a single-engine airplane with a clockwise-rotating propeller (as viewed from the cockpit), the pilot must apply right rudder pressure to keep the nose tracking straight down the runway centerline, with the need for correction increasing as the tail rises and the airplane accelerates at high power and low airspeed. Which left-turning tendency is primarily responsible for this yaw during the initial climb at a high angle of attack?Aerodynamics and Aircraft Systems
- 49.A student pilot repeatedly disregards checklist procedures, believing that rules are meant for less experienced pilots and don't fully apply to their own flying. This attitude is best described as which hazardous attitude, and what is its recommended antidote?Aeromedical Factors and ADM
- 50.A pilot taxiing on a runway that has been permanently closed to traffic notices a large yellow marking painted across the runway surface. What does this marking depict, and how should the pilot respond?Airspace and Airports