FAA Sport Pilot Airplane (SPA) flashcards

An ADIZ is airspace over land or water in which aircraft must comply with special identification and reporting procedures, including a filed flight plan, radio contact, and transponder use, for national security purposes.

• Requires a filed and activated flight plan (DVFR for VFR flights)
• Requires two-way radio communication capability
• Requires an operating transponder with altitude reporting (Mode C)

Memory trick: ADIZ = 'Always Declare, Identify, Zone-in' before crossing the border

Adjustable cowl flaps regulate airflow through the engine compartment to control cylinder head temperature.

• Opening cowl flaps increases cooling airflow, lowering CHT
• Closing cowl flaps reduces drag but decreases cooling
• Most critical during climbs when airflow is reduced
• Overheating can lead to detonation and engine damage

Memory trick: Open the flaps, let the engine breathe and cool

Restricted Areas contain unusual, often invisible hazards such as artillery firing; entry without authorization from the controlling agency can be dangerous and is prohibited when active.

• Depicted with blue hatched lines and 'R-' designator on charts
• Activity times may be continuous or listed as 'by NOTAM'
• Pilots must confirm status with controlling agency or FSS before entry

Memory trick: Restricted = 'Really dangerous, Request permission first'

Unlike Class C and D, Class B airspace requires an explicit ATC clearance to enter, not just two-way radio communication.

• Governed by 14 CFR 91.131
• 'Radar contact' or a squawk code assignment is NOT clearance
• Clearance must explicitly state the aircraft may enter Class Bravo airspace

Memory trick: 'B is for Big permission' — Bravo needs a real go-ahead, not just a nod.

Time en route is found by dividing the distance to be flown by the groundspeed, not the true airspeed, since groundspeed accounts for wind effects.

• Time (hr) = Distance (NM) ÷ Groundspeed (kt)
• Always use groundspeed, not TAS, in this formula
• Headwinds reduce groundspeed, increasing flight time

Memory trick: Distance Divided by Ground speed gives Duration — 'D over G equals D-uration'

A squall line is a narrow, non-frontal band of active thunderstorms that frequently forms ahead of a fast-moving cold front, capable of producing severe turbulence, hail, and damaging straight-line winds.

• Non-frontal but often precedes a cold front
• Can produce severe/organized convective weather
• One of the most hazardous weather phenomena to aviation

Memory trick: Squall line: the storm's 'advance guard' racing ahead of the cold front.

Groundspeed is determined by dividing distance traveled by time elapsed; estimated time enroute (ETE) for remaining distance is found by dividing remaining distance by groundspeed.

• Groundspeed = distance ÷ time
• ETE = remaining distance ÷ groundspeed
• Convert hours to minutes by multiplying by 60

Memory trick: D=ST: Distance equals Speed times Time — rearrange to solve for any unknown.

A hazardous mindset where a pilot becomes fixated on completing a flight as originally planned, often ignoring safer alternatives such as delaying or canceling.

• Common contributing factor in weather-related accidents
• Driven by schedule pressure, external commitments, or ego
• Best countered by having and using personal minimums and alternate plans

Memory trick: 'Get-there-itis' = tunnel vision toward the destination, ignoring the storm clouds

A backup static pressure source, often vented inside the cabin, used when the primary static port is blocked.

• Cabin pressure is usually slightly lower than outside static pressure
• Causes altimeter to read higher than actual altitude
• Causes airspeed indicator to read higher than actual airspeed
• Pilot should consult POH for specific error corrections

Memory trick: Lower cabin pressure fools the altimeter into thinking you're higher

The rate at which temperature decreases with altitude in the standard atmosphere, used as a baseline for performance charts.

• 2°C (3.5°F) per 1,000 ft
• Standard sea-level temp = 15°C, pressure = 29.92 in Hg
• Used to compute pressure altitude and density altitude corrections

Memory trick: "Two degrees a grand" — 2°C per 1,000 ft.

A category of aircraft defined by 14 CFR 1.1 with specific limits on weight, speed, seating, and configuration.

• Max weight 1,320 lb (landplane) or 1,430 lb (seaplane)
• Max airspeed 120 knots CAS
• Max 2 seats, single reciprocating engine, fixed-pitch/ground-adjustable prop

Memory trick: '1,320 for land, 1,430 for the pond' (seaplane).

A spatial disorientation illusion where a pilot senses being in a bank when the aircraft is actually level, or vice versa, due to a slow return to level flight.

• Most common vestibular illusion in flight
• Caused by insufficient stimulation of inner ear during a gradual bank correction
• Corrected by trusting flight instruments over bodily sensations

Memory trick: Leans, Coriolis, Graveyard, Somatogravic — trust your gauges, not your gut.

Before taking the aeronautical knowledge test, an applicant must have an endorsement from an authorized instructor certifying required ground training was completed and the applicant is prepared for the test.

• Endorsement must come from an authorized flight instructor
• Certifies completion of ground training or home-study course
• Required before scheduling the FAA knowledge test

Memory trick: CFI signs off readiness before the test, like a hall pass

Pilots must become familiar with all available information for a flight, including NOTAMs and temporary flight restrictions, regardless of flight rules or distance.

• Applies to VFR and IFR flights alike
• Includes NOTAMs, TFRs, weather, runway lengths, alternates
• Violating a TFR can result in certificate action even under VFR

Memory trick: 'Check the map for fire zones before you fly, VFR or not.'

Regulation requiring pilots to become familiar with all available information for a flight, including weather, fuel requirements, and alternatives, especially for flights away from an airport.

• Applies to all pilots before every flight
• Includes weather, runway lengths, fuel requirements, alternatives
• Extra items required for flights not in the vicinity of an airport

Memory trick: 'Know before you go' — weather, fuel, and a backup plan.

Basic VFR weather minimums for uncontrolled airspace at or below 1,200 feet AGL during daylight hours require 1 statute mile visibility and remaining clear of clouds.

• Applies only at or below 1,200 ft AGL during the day
• Requires 1 SM visibility, clear of clouds
• Above 1,200 ft AGL, standard 3SM/152 minimums apply

Memory trick: 'Low and slow, one and clear to go' for Class G near the surface.

As bank angle increases in a level turn, load factor increases, and stall speed increases proportionally to the square root of the load factor.

• 30° bank = 1.15G load factor
• 45° bank = 1.41G load factor
• 60° bank = 2G load factor
• Stall speed increase = original stall speed × √(load factor)

Memory trick: 60° bank doubles your weight and raises your stall speed by root-2

The airspeed that produces the greatest gain in altitude over the shortest horizontal ground distance, used for obstacle clearance.

• Slower than VY
• Used for short-field/obstacle takeoffs
• VY is used for maximum altitude gain per unit time

Memory trick: VX crosses obstacles, VY climbs fast over time.

A vestibular illusion in which rapid linear acceleration or deceleration is falsely perceived as a change in pitch attitude.

• Common during rapid takeoff acceleration or go-arounds
• Causes pilots to push the nose down, risking controlled flight into terrain
• Combat by trusting the attitude indicator over bodily sensation

Memory trick: Speed feels like the sky is tipping — trust the gauges, not the gut.

A weather advisory for significant convective activity, including severe thunderstorm lines, embedded thunderstorms, and areas of thunderstorms covering 40% or more of a region.

• Implies possible severe/extreme turbulence, severe icing, and wind shear
• Covers 40%+ areal coverage or lines of thunderstorms
• Issued for continental U.S., valid for 2 hours
• Also issued for tornadoes, hail 3/4 inch or greater, or wind gusts 50 knots or greater

Memory trick: Convective SIGMET = Storm Squad Alert: Line, 40%, or Severe.

Airport symbols on sectional charts are color-coded: blue indicates an airport with an operating control tower, and magenta indicates one without.

• Blue symbol = towered airport
• Magenta symbol = non-towered airport
• CT frequency listed nearby indicates part-time tower operations

Memory trick: Blue sky, Big tower — magenta means make your own calls

The art and science of managing all available resources — human, hardware, and information — to ensure a safe and efficient flight conducted by a single pilot.

• Includes use of ATC, briefings, checklists, automation, and outside expertise
• Encourages situational awareness, task management, and risk management
• Distinguishes single-pilot operations from crew resource management (CRM) used in multi-pilot crews

Memory trick: One pilot, many tools — SRM means use them all.

The maximum density altitude at which an airplane can still achieve a 100 feet-per-minute rate of climb.

• Defined by 100 fpm climb rate, not zero climb
• Absolute ceiling is where climb rate = 0 fpm
• Both ceilings decrease with increased weight or reduced power

Memory trick: Service ceiling: still serving 100 feet a minute.

Time-critical aeronautical information not known far enough in advance to be published in charts, such as runway closures or NAVAID outages.

• Required review item under 91.103 preflight action
• Cover closures, obstructions, NAVAID/lighting outages, TFRs
• Available through Flight Service and online briefing sources

Memory trick: NOTAMs = 'Notice Of Temporary Airport Mess'

A dashed line on aeronautical charts connecting points of equal magnetic variation, labeled with the variation value.

• Used to convert true course to magnetic course (TC ± variation)
• An agonic line marks where variation equals 0°
• Variation differs from compass deviation, which is aircraft-specific
• Labeled in degrees East or West of true north

Memory trick: 'East is least, West is best' for applying variation from the isogonic line

Non-standard temperatures cause the altimeter to misrepresent true altitude because it is calibrated for standard atmospheric conditions.

• Colder than standard: true altitude is lower than indicated
• Warmer than standard: true altitude is higher than indicated
• Mnemonic: 'From hot to cold or high to low, look out below'
• Most critical when flying over mountainous terrain in cold weather

Memory trick: Cold air shrinks the atmosphere — you're lower than you think

The sequence of intake, compression, power, and exhaust strokes that a piston completes to produce mechanical work in a reciprocating engine.

• Intake stroke draws in fuel/air mixture
• Compression stroke compresses the mixture before ignition
• Power stroke is created by spark ignition driving the piston down
• Exhaust stroke expels burned gases from the cylinder

Memory trick: 'In Comes Power, Out' — Intake, Compression, Power, Out(exhaust)

Virga is precipitation that falls from a cloud but evaporates before reaching the surface, often producing a rapid cooling and sinking of air that can generate a dry microburst.

• Visible as streaks trailing beneath cloud base that don't reach ground
• Evaporative cooling accelerates downward air movement
• Associated with dry microburst hazard even without a mature storm

Memory trick: Virga 'vanishes' but leaves a violent gust behind.

A cold front is the leading edge of a cold air mass advancing under and lifting a warmer air mass, producing steep frontal slopes and often violent weather.

• Faster movement than warm fronts
• Steep slope produces cumulonimbus and thunderstorms
• Weather is brief but often severe, followed by rapid clearing

Memory trick: 'Cold fronts crash in fast and hard'

The recommended way to enter a traffic pattern at a non-towered airport is on a 45° angle to the downwind leg, at pattern altitude, to maximize visibility of other traffic.

• Pattern legs: upwind, crosswind, downwind, base, final
• Standard entry: 45° to downwind at pattern altitude
• Left-hand traffic is standard unless otherwise indicated

Memory trick: Uncle Charlie Drives Below Fast — Upwind, Crosswind, Downwind, Base, Final, and enter at 45°

A chart printed on the back of a Terminal Area Chart depicting flyway routes to help VFR pilots avoid Class B airspace.

• Found on the reverse of Terminal Area Charts (TACs)
• Shows suggested VFR routes and altitudes around Class B shelves
• Does not require ATC clearance to use
• Available for major metropolitan areas with Class B airspace

Memory trick: 'Flyway = fly away from Class B' using the chart on the flip side of the TAC

A private or sport pilot may share flight expenses with passengers as long as the pilot pays at least an equal share of fuel, oil, airport fees, or rental costs.

• Applies to fuel, oil, airport expenditures, and rental fees only
• Pilot must pay at least the pro rata share
• Prevents flight from being classified as compensation or hire

Memory trick: 'Split the bill, not skip the bill' — pilot pays their fair share.

Occurs when stable air is forced over a mountain ridge by strong perpendicular winds, creating oscillating waves and severe turbulence on the leeward side.

• Requires strong wind (typically 25+ kt) roughly perpendicular to ridge
• Produces rotor clouds and lenticular (cap) clouds
• Can cause severe turbulence and updrafts/downdrafts far above ridge height

Memory trick: Mountain wave = wind 'surfing' over the ridge, crashing hard on the lee side.

An FAA risk-management model consisting of three steps—Perceive, Process, Perform—used to systematically manage in-flight hazards.

• Perceive: identify hazards affecting a flight
• Process: evaluate impact using tools like PAVE and determine action
• Perform: implement, monitor, and adjust the decision as needed

Memory trick: Perceive it, Process it, Perform it.

A condition where fuel boils in the fuel lines due to heat, forming vapor bubbles that block or restrict fuel flow to the engine.

• More common in fuel-injected engines and hot weather
• Often occurs after shutdown when engine heat soaks into fuel lines
• Can cause hard starting or engine stoppage
• Different from carburetor icing, which involves cooling, not heating

Memory trick: Vapor lock: fuel gets so hot it turns to gas bubbles, locking out flow

Minimum flight training requirements to earn a sport pilot certificate in a single-engine airplane, totaling 20 hours.

• 20 hours total time minimum
• At least 15 hours of flight training with an instructor
• At least 5 hours of solo flight, including a specific cross-country

Memory trick: '20 for sport, 40 for private' — half the hours, still solid training.

An indication error that occurs when the OBS is set to the reciprocal of the course being flown, causing CDI corrections to work backwards.

• Occurs when flying with the tail toward the selected course
• Turning toward the needle moves the aircraft away from the desired track
• Avoided by setting the OBS to match the direction of flight (course, not reciprocal)
• Common trap when tracking radials inbound versus outbound

Memory trick: 'Reverse sensing = your instrument is lying backwards, so turn AWAY from the needle instead'

A fuel delivery system, common in high-wing airplanes, where fuel tanks positioned above the engine allow fuel to flow to the carburetor by gravity without requiring a fuel pump.

• Common on high-wing light sport/general aviation aircraft
• Provides simple, reliable fuel delivery without mechanical pump dependency
• Low-wing aircraft typically require engine-driven or electric fuel pumps

Memory trick: High wing, fuel falls down by gravity alone

An upward angle of the wings from root to tip that provides lateral (roll) stability by generating a restoring rolling moment during a sideslip.

• Lower wing in a sideslip gets a higher effective angle of attack
• Produces more lift on the lower wing, rolling airplane level
• Excessive dihedral can cause undesirable 'Dutch roll' tendencies
• Works together with wing sweep to provide lateral stability

Memory trick: Dihedral = wings shaped like a shallow V, always self-leveling

Clouds are grouped into low, middle, high, and vertically developed families based on the altitude of their bases.

• Low clouds: surface to ~6,500 ft AGL (stratus, stratocumulus, nimbostratus)
• Middle clouds: ~6,500-20,000 ft (altostratus, altocumulus)
• High clouds: above ~20,000 ft (cirrus, cirrostratus, cirrocumulus)
• Vertical clouds: cumulus and cumulonimbus can span multiple levels

Memory trick: Low, Alto, Cirro — think Low House, Middle Apartment, High Tower.

A reduction in induced drag and change in airflow pattern that occurs when an airplane flies within approximately one wingspan of the surface.

• Reduces induced drag and downwash
• Can cause floating during landing flare
• Can cause premature liftoff at too-low airspeed during takeoff

Memory trick: Close to ground, drag goes down, float goes up.

A state of overconfidence or reduced vigilance resulting from repeated exposure to a task, leading to overlooked hazards or skipped safety steps.

• Common in experienced pilots doing routine, familiar flights
• Leads to skipped checklists or reduced situational awareness
• Countered by treating every flight with fresh discipline and full checklist use

Memory trick: 'Complacency' = comfortable couch potato skipping the checklist

An imaginary 30 NM radius circle around a Class B primary airport, from the surface to 10,000 feet MSL, within which an operating Mode C transponder and ADS-B Out are required.

• 30 NM radius from Class B primary airport
• Applies even if aircraft avoids Class B airspace itself
• Extends from surface up to 10,000 feet MSL
• Charted on sectional charts as a thin blue circle

Memory trick: 30 miles out, transponder's about

The height above ground of the lowest layer of clouds reported as broken (BKN) or overcast (OVC), or the vertical visibility into an indefinite ceiling.

• Sky cover codes: SKC/CLR, FEW, SCT, BKN, OVC
• Only BKN or OVC layers count as a ceiling
• Cloud heights in METARs are reported in hundreds of feet AGL

Memory trick: 'Broken or Overcast Blocks the View' = ceiling

Airspace established to separate certain military training activities from IFR traffic; VFR flight is permitted but caution is advised.

• No ATC clearance required for VFR flight
• Contact controlling agency for advisories when active ('hot')
• Different from Restricted or Prohibited Areas, which do restrict entry

Memory trick: 'MOA = Maybe OK, Ask the controller.'

A condition where a pilot focuses so heavily on one task that other important information or tasks are ignored, degrading overall situational awareness.

• Common during high-workload emergencies
• Can cause failure to monitor airspeed, altitude, or traffic
• Countered by prioritizing tasks and using checklists

Memory trick: 'Tunnel vision' task saturation—seeing only the flashlight beam, not the room

To exercise sport pilot privileges, a pilot must hold a valid U.S. driver's license (meeting 61.23(c)(3) conditions) or a current FAA medical certificate—BasicMed does not qualify.

• BasicMed applies to private pilot privileges under 61.113, not sport pilot
• Sport pilots may use a driver's license or a medical certificate
• Driver's license eligibility requires no denied/revoked medical application unless later issued

Memory trick: 'Sport pilots drive or get a doc's note—not the BasicMed road.'

A deficiency of body water that impairs physical and cognitive performance, often worsened by heat, altitude, and diuretics like caffeine or alcohol.

• Symptoms include headache, fatigue, dizziness, and poor concentration
• Heat, low humidity, and caffeine/alcohol accelerate fluid loss
• Pilots should drink water regularly throughout the day, not just when thirsty

Memory trick: No water, no wits — hydrate before you fly.

A TFR is a NOTAM-published restriction on flight in a specific area for a limited time, often for security, disaster relief, or major events; it applies to all pilots regardless of certificate type or flight rules.

• Published via NOTAM before and during the restriction
• Applies to VFR and IFR pilots alike
• Pilots must check NOTAMs during preflight planning to identify active TFRs

Memory trick: 'TFR: Totally Forbidden Region' — check before you fly, no exceptions.

The initial tendency of an aircraft, when disturbed from equilibrium, to either return toward, remain at, or move further away from its original attitude.

• Positive static stability: tends to return toward original attitude
• Neutral static stability: remains in new attitude without returning or diverging
• Negative static stability: continues to move further from original attitude
• Distinct from dynamic stability, which describes behavior over multiple oscillations

Memory trick: Positive stability = the airplane 'wants' to come home to level flight

14 CFR 61.315(c)(1) prohibits a sport pilot from acting as PIC of an aircraft in furtherance of a business.

• Separate from the pro rata expense-sharing rule
• Applies regardless of airspace, distance, or compensation method
• One of several fixed operating limitations in 61.315

Memory trick: 'Sport pilots fly for fun, not for company funds.'

A form of hypoxia caused by insufficient oxygen reaching the blood due to reduced atmospheric pressure at altitude.

• Most common form encountered by pilots flying without oxygen at high altitude
• Symptoms include impaired judgment, cyanosis (blue skin), and euphoria
• FAA requires supplemental oxygen for extended flight above 12,500 feet MSL

Memory trick: High altitude, Hemoglobin, Heart flow, Harmful chemicals — the four H's of hypoxia.

Pressure altitude corrected for nonstandard temperature; it represents the altitude the aircraft 'feels' it is performing at.

• Standard temp decreases 2°C per 1,000 ft
• High density altitude reduces engine power, lift, and propeller efficiency
• Hot, high, humid conditions produce the highest density altitudes

Memory trick: 'High, Hot, Humid = Hurts performance'

An aircraft in distress has the right-of-way over all other air traffic under 14 CFR 91.113(c).

• Distress overrides all category-based right-of-way rules
• Applies to any aircraft declaring an emergency
• Other right-of-way rules apply in order: balloons, gliders, airships, airplanes/rotorcraft

Memory trick: 'Distress trumps the rest.'

Regulation specifying minimum altitudes for different surface conditions to ensure safety in an emergency landing.

• Congested areas: 1,000 ft above highest obstacle within 2,000 ft radius
• Other than congested: 500 ft above surface
• Sparsely populated/open water: 500 ft from any person, vessel, vehicle, or structure

Memory trick: 'Cities need 1,000 over the tallest, open land just 500.'

SIGMETs warn of weather hazardous to all aircraft (severe icing, turbulence, dust storms); AIRMETs warn of weather hazardous primarily to light aircraft.

• SIGMET: severe turbulence, severe icing, dust/sandstorms, volcanic ash
• AIRMET Sierra: IFR/mountain obscuration
• AIRMET Tango: moderate turbulence/strong winds
• AIRMET Zulu: moderate icing/freezing level

Memory trick: SIGMET = 'Significant for everyone'; AIRMET = 'Advisory for light craft'.

When a desired magnetic heading falls between two values listed on a compass correction card, the pilot linearly interpolates between the two nearest compass heading values to determine the compass heading to fly.

• Correction cards list compass headings to fly for select magnetic headings
• Interpolate between listed values for headings not directly shown
• Deviation varies with heading due to aircraft magnetic influences
• Correction card is mounted near the magnetic compass in the cockpit

Memory trick: Between the lines, split the difference

A NOTAM contains time-critical aeronautical information that could affect a pilot's decision to fly, such as closures, hazards, or changes not yet published in other sources.

• NOTAM D covers airport/navaid changes like runway or taxiway closures
• FDC NOTAMs cover regulatory items like TFRs and chart changes
• Must be checked during every preflight briefing

Memory trick: NOTAM = 'Notice Of Trouble Ahead, Man!' — check it before you fly

Abnormally rapid or deep breathing that disrupts the balance of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the blood, often triggered by anxiety.

• Symptoms mimic hypoxia: dizziness, tingling, lightheadedness
• Caused by excessive elimination of carbon dioxide, not lack of oxygen
• Treated by consciously slowing breathing and talking aloud

Memory trick: Slow it, Talk it, Solve it.

The freezing level is the altitude where the outside air temperature reaches 0°C; structural icing typically occurs at or above this altitude in visible moisture.

• Icing requires visible moisture and temperatures at or below 0°C
• Descending below the freezing level is a common icing avoidance strategy
• PIREPs provide real-time confirmation of icing altitudes and severity

Memory trick: Below freezing level = 'melt zone' — descend to escape the ice.