FAA Sport Pilot Airplane (SPA) flashcards

The tendency of an airplane's nose to yaw toward the outside of a turn when ailerons alone are used, due to unequal induced drag between the two wings.

• Caused by greater induced drag on the wing with the down-deflected aileron
• Corrected by applying coordinated rudder in the direction of the turn
• More pronounced at low airspeeds and high angles of attack
• Differential and Frise ailerons help reduce adverse yaw

Memory trick: Adverse yaw: the raised wing drags its feet

As altitude increases, air density decreases, causing true airspeed to exceed calibrated/indicated airspeed for a given dynamic pressure.

• Rule of thumb: TAS ≈ CAS + 2% of CAS per 1,000 ft of altitude
• At sea level with standard temperature, CAS and TAS are nearly equal
• TAS is used for actual navigation and groundspeed calculations
• An E6B flight computer gives a more precise TAS conversion

Memory trick: 'IAS, CAS, TAS, GS' — like climbing stairs, each speed grows with altitude and wind

The portion of reported wind acting perpendicular to the runway, calculated as wind speed multiplied by the sine of the angle between wind direction and runway heading.

• Crosswind = wind speed x sin(angle difference)
• Headwind = wind speed x cos(angle difference)
• Larger angle differences produce greater crosswind components

Memory trick: 'Sine for crosswind, cosine for headwind'

Fog that forms over land on clear, calm nights when the ground radiates heat rapidly, cooling nearby air to its dew point; it typically burns off after sunrise.

• Requires clear skies, light wind, and high humidity
• Forms shortly after sunset and thickens near sunrise
• Usually shallow and dissipates as the sun warms the ground

Memory trick: 'Radiation fog: the ground shivers itself into a blanket'

Asymmetric propeller thrust caused by the descending blade producing more thrust than the ascending blade at high angles of attack.

• Most pronounced at high AOA and low airspeed
• Causes left-yawing tendency in U.S.-built engines/props
• One of four left-turning tendencies

Memory trick: P-factor pushes the nose left when the nose is high.

Special use airspace over domestic or international waters, beginning 3 NM from the U.S. coast, containing activity hazardous to nonparticipating aircraft.

• Depicted in blue on sectional charts
• Not sovereign U.S. airspace so entry isn't legally restricted
• Pilots should use extreme caution due to military/hazardous activity
• Similar hazard level to Restricted Areas but located offshore

Memory trick: 'PRAWNC' — Prohibited, Restricted, Alert, Warning, National Security, Controlled Firing

A block of airspace within which flight is prohibited for security or other reasons, charted with a blue border and the letter 'P' followed by a number.

• Charted as 'P-XXX' with blue hatched border
• No entry is allowed, even with ATC clearance
• Established for national security or safety reasons
• Examples include areas over the White House and Camp David

Memory trick: 'P' is for Positively No Entry!

A small-scale, intense downdraft that spreads outward at the surface, producing rapid and dangerous changes in wind speed and direction, often associated with thunderstorms.

• Downdrafts can exceed 6,000 feet per minute
• Causes a headwind followed by a sudden tailwind and loss of performance
• Typically short-lived, lasting 5 to 15 minutes

Memory trick: 'Microburst: a fist punching down and splashing outward'

Forms when a fast-moving cold front overtakes a slower warm front, lifting the warm air mass off the ground and often producing complex weather.

• Cold-type occlusion: coldest air stays at surface, colder than air ahead
• Warm-type occlusion: overtaking air is not as cold, rides up over air ahead
• Weather often mixed and complex, similar to both cold and warm fronts

Memory trick: Occluded = cold front 'sneaks up and squeezes out' the warm front.

A sport pilot may never act as PIC at night, regardless of aircraft equipment or training received.

• Found in 14 CFR 61.315(c)
• No endorsement can remove this limitation
• Pilot must upgrade certificate/medical to fly at night

Memory trick: Sport pilots go to bed when the sun does.

Special use airspace depicted on charts to inform pilots of a high volume of pilot training or unusual aerial activity; entry is not restricted.

• Charted with letter 'A' and a number
• No ATC clearance required to enter
• Pilots must exercise extreme caution
• All activity is conducted under FAA regulations

Memory trick: Alert = Attention needed, not authorization

When flying from warm air into significantly colder-than-standard air, true altitude is lower than indicated altitude because cold, dense air compresses the vertical spacing between pressure levels.

• Cold air: true altitude lower than indicated (hazard near terrain)
• Warm air: true altitude higher than indicated
• Remember: 'From hot to cold or high to low, look out below'

Memory trick: 'High to low or hot to cold, look out below!'

To qualify as an LSA, an airplane must have fixed landing gear and a fixed or ground-adjustable pitch propeller (exceptions for gliders and aircraft for water operations).

• Retractable gear disqualifies an airplane (except water operations)
• Controllable-pitch propellers are not allowed
• Single reciprocating engine required

Memory trick: LSA = 'Fixed and Simple' — fixed gear, fixed prop

Frost is ice crystals that form directly from water vapor on a surface below freezing, disrupting smooth airflow over lifting surfaces.

• Forms on clear, cold nights with high humidity
• Must be completely removed before flight, even if thin
• Increases stall speed and decreases lift
• Can also affect pitot/static ports if not cleared

Memory trick: Frost is Fine Sandpaper on the Wing — smooth flow breaks down.

14 CFR 91.159 requires specific VFR cruising altitudes based on magnetic course when more than 3,000 feet above the surface, to help separate opposite-direction traffic.

• Magnetic course 000°–179°: odd thousands + 500 ft (e.g., 5,500, 7,500)
• Magnetic course 180°–359°: even thousands + 500 ft (e.g., 6,500, 8,500)
• Rule applies only above 3,000 feet AGL

Memory trick: 'Odd East, Even West' — odd course headings get odd altitudes, even headings get even altitudes.

A student pilot must receive a specific logbook endorsement for each solo cross-country flight or defined series of flights, with any instructor-imposed limitations.

• Applies under 61.93
• Must specify route/conditions/limitations
• Separate from general solo flight endorsement in 61.87

Memory trick: Each cross-country trip needs its own signed permission slip.

Filing a VFR flight plan is not required by FAA regulation but is strongly recommended for search-and-rescue purposes.

• IFR flight plans ARE required (91.153/91.169); VFR flight plans are not
• AIM recommends filing for flight-following/SAR benefits
• Pilot must remember to close the flight plan upon arrival

Memory trick: 'VFR plan: not the law, but your lifeline if you're lost.'