Pre-Solo Flight Exam

photo credit: Armchair Aviator

This plan of action for a typical pre-solo flight exam is an example only and should be used used as a reference tool for both students and CFI’s. This stage check will in no way be limited to the items included here. The Check Instructor has discretion as to what material and concepts will be covered/tested beyond what is listed on these pages.

1. Lesson Objective:

A. This Flight Exam, conducted by a designated check instructor, will evaluate the student’s readiness for solo flight. Both the student’s aeronautical knowledge and flight proficiency will be assessed. This lesson would typically complete Stage One of an approved Private Pilot training syllabus.

2. Introduction and Briefing

A. Put the applicant at ease and advise applicant of available comfort facilities (rest room, water fountain, vending machine, etc).
B. Confirm type of practical test or retest.
C. Provide a casual overview of the test.
D. Verify that the applicant is aware of the requirements and tolerances required under the Federal Aviation Regulations for solo flight.
E. Advise the applicant:

• The Flight Exam is conducted in accordance with the Private Pilot Practical Test Standards.
• The examiner should be using a written Plan Of Action (Used to Organize the Stage Check).
• Will be taking notes for the debrief – good or bad.
• Oral questioning will continue throughout the test.
• Perfection is not the standard.
• Three possible outcomes are:

1. Satisfactory
2. Unsatisfactory – Further training required.
3. Incomplete (Aircraft malfunction, weather, etc).

3. Paperwork Validation

A. Student Pilot Certificate
B. Minimum Third Class FAA Medical
C. Photo ID – State/Government Issued
D. Aircraft Documents (certificates, inspection endorsements, and equipment)

• Current aeronautical Charts.
• Computer and plotter.
• Flight plan form and logs.
• Current FAR/AIM, A/FD, and PTS.
• View limiting device for flight test.

E. Any Questions??
F. Announce “THE TEST HAS BEGUN”

4. Oral Quiz – Private PTS

A. Certificates and Documents

• How old do you have to be to be eligible for a student pilot certificate?
• If your student pilot certificate was issued on April 15, 2008 what day will your certificate expire on?
• What endorsements does a student pilot need prior to going solo?
• How long does each endorsement last?
• After receiving the required logbook endorsements for solo flight, your friend (who is not a pilot) asks you if he can go for a ride. Are you allowed to take your friend flying?
• Please name ALL the student pilot limitations
• Does the Private certificate expire? If so, when?
• What kind of currency must you maintain with a Private certificate?
• What class of medical must be maintained to exercise the privileges of the Private certificate?
• How long is the above-mentioned medical good for?
• If I received a medical on January 4th, 2007, and I am 36, what is the last day I can legally fly with a:
• 3rd class medical?
• 2nd Class medical?
• 1st Class medical?
• What is a SODA?
• What is a Special Issuance?
• As a Private pilot, are you required to log every flight in a logbook?
• What, if any, flights are you required to log?
• What documents are required to be on board your aircraft?
• What items must a pilot have in their possession during a flight?
• What is an airworthiness certificate and when does it expire?
• What is a registration certificate and when does it expire?
• What is a POH?
• What is an AFM?
• What is a PIM?
• What are the differences between a POH, an AFM, and a PIM?

B. Airworthiness Requirements

• Who is responsible for assuring an aircraft is in an airworthy condition prior to flight?
• After reviewing than maintenance log for the airplane you will be flying for this stage check you notice that the altimeter has not been tested. Can you fly this airplane under VFR for this stage check?
• In order for an aircraft to be in a safe condition for flight, the FAA requires certain inspections. What are they?
• What required equipment is necessary for VFR Day?
• What required equipment is necessary for VFR Night?
• What is a MEL?
• Do all aircraft have MEL’s?
• How do we determine, when there is inoperative equipment, that our flight is still legal?
• What is special flight permit and give a few examples of why you would need one?
• What is an airworthiness directive and who is responsible for ensuring they are properly complied with?
• How often and when must ELT batteries be changed?

C. 14 CFR ? Regulations applicable to student pilots:

• What is Title 14 CFR?
• What is 14 CFR Part 1?
• For the purpose of pilot certification, what does the term Aircraft Category mean? Aircraft class?
• Is multiengine-land a category or class?
• What is 14 CFR Part 61?
• After obtaining a private pilot certificate, you decide to take your friends up for a ride. In order to carry passengers, what must you do prior to your flight? What must you do if your flight is at night?
• After obtaining you private pilot certificate, your permanent address changes. Two months have passed. Can you continue to use your pilot certificate? Why?
• After obtaining your private pilot certificate, you decide it would be fun to fly a faster airplane. You decide to get checked out in the Piper Arrow. What must you receive prior to operating that airplane by yourself?
• What is 14 CFR Part 91?
• According to Part 91.119 what is the lowest altitude you can fly at over a congested area?
• According to Part 91.119 what is the lowest altitude you can fly at in other than a congested area?
• According to Part 91.151, what are the fuel requirements for DAY VFR flight? NIGHT VFR flight?
• What is the minimum visibility and ceiling conditions that a pilot may operate under VFR in controlled airspace?
• Under 91.17 what is the minimum amount of time required to wait after the consumption of any alcohol?
• If you decide to go out drinking heavily the night before a flight, but you stop drinking 8 hours prior to the flight, will you be legal to proceed with your flight? Why or why not? Name ALL aspects of that regulation.
• What class of airspace is the airport where the solo flight is to be conducted located in?
• What is Airspace ? Class A, B, C, D, E, G ? Explain in detail each one? Part 71 and Part 91.126 – 91.135
• What is a Restricted area? Part 73 and 91.133
• What is an MOA? What is TFR? What is an Alert Area?
• While flying outside of Class D airspace, you notice that you are unable to establish two-way radio contact with Melbourne Tower. What actions should you take?
• While flying within Class D airspace, you lose radio contact. You notice a steady red light coming from the control tower. What actions should you take?
• What does each of the following light gun signals mean? Ground and in flight.

D. Private PTS Introduction:

• What is the purpose of the PTS?
• Discuss the difference between the terms “shall” and “must” versus “should” and “may.”
• Name some FAA special emphasis areas as listed in the Private Pilot PTS
• Which is required to be accomplished first, the ground or flight portion?
• What is an Area of Operation?
• What is a Task?
• What is the purpose of sections labeled as “NOTE?”
• Name at least four (4) sources that the PTS is based on.
• If a Designated Pilot Examiner (DPE) elects to begin a particular Area of Operation, how many Tasks in that Area of Operation must they complete?
• Can you fail the Practical Test if only one (1) Task is failed?

D. Performance and Limitations:
Please name all of the following V-speeds for the airplane to be used for the solo flight :

• Vso =
• Vs1 =
• Vx =
• Vy =
• Cruise Climb =
• Vglide =
• Vfe =
• Vno =
• Vne =
• Va =
• Max crosswind =
• Define maneuvering speed. What is its purpose?
• How do you calculate maneuvering speed?
• Name the various control surfaces that manipulate lift.
• What is the wing chord?
• What is meant by angle of attack?
• What is the relative wind?
• What is a forward slip?
• What is a side slip?
• Define Stall.
• What is the difference between center of pressure and center of gravity?
• How would flying with an aft CG affect aircraft performance? Forward CG?

E. Take off and Landing Distance Calculations:

• Have the student to determine the take off and landing distance.
• Name some factors that affect take off and landing distance.

F. Operation of Systems:

• What is the elevator / stabilator?
• What is the purpose of trim? What does it do?
• What is the purpose of flaps?
• What flap positions does your airplane have?
• Describe the engine on your airplane.
• What safety feature does the your airplane possess to retain engine power in the case of induction blockage?
• Describe the fuel system on the your airplane.
• How many usable gallons of fuel does your airplane hold?
• How many fuel sumps do you check during the pre-flight of your airplane?
• The octane rating of aviation fuel is designated by color. What type of fuel is used in your airplane?
• What items should you look for when examining fuel during any pre-flight?
• How should you properly dispose of contaminated fuel after draining it from the sump(s)?
• Where is the fuel mixed with air in your airplane engine?
• What kind of carburetor does the your airplane have?
• How many quarts of oil should your airplane be operated with?
• What things should you look for when checking the oil during the pre-flight?
• Does your airplane use hydraulic fluid?
• If so, for what system?
• Describe and discuss the electrical system on your airplane.
• How many amps and volts are the alternator and battery rated for?
• Which of the above is the primary source of electrical power?
• What are the indications of a alternator failure in-flight?
• What should you do if your alternator failed in-flight?
• Ask various GPS(If equipped), transponder, and audio panel related questions concerning their operation.
• Describe the heater on your airplane.
• What are Magnetos? What do they do?
• If after a solo flight, you shut down the aircraft engine, but you leave the key in the ignition in the BOTH position. Why is this a safety hazard?

G. Safety Procedures and Practices

• While conducting the pre-flight on the airplane you are using for your first solo flight, you notice that the left main tire is bald. What course or action do you take?
• Does the yellow painted taxiway line always provide wingtip clearance?
• After returning from a solo flight and while taxiing on the ramp you notice there is a shortcut in between two tied-down aircraft. Can you taxi through the line of airplanes en route to your parking spot?
• What is the required fuel reserve at all times?
• What actions should you take in the case of an engine fire during start-up? Please name the steps in the procedure in order of importance.
• You clear the prop and start the engine. You notice the oil pressure gauge does not indicate oil pressure within 30 second. What should be your next action?
• Take out the airport diagram: From the ramp, Tower clears you to taxi to the active runway. Can you taxi all the way to the beginning of the active runway from your position?
• While en route to the airport you experience engine power loss. What is the procedure in order of importance you will follow to handle the situation?
• Upon reaching the practice area during a flight, what are the first things you do prior to starting to maneuver?
• In order to recover from a stall, what do you need to do?
• While approaching to land on runway 9 you get a wind check from the Tower. They report the wind is at 150 at 15 knots. How do you handle the crosswind?
• Upon landing extremely hard you bounce back up into the air. What should be your next action?
• Where are the practice areas located?

H. Wake Turbulence Avoidance:

• You are holding short of the runway and are next in line after a departing Boeing 747 (a huge 4 engine jet). Tower clears you for takeoff. How should you depart the area?
• How do you land behind a large aircraft?
• When does an aircraft produce the greatest wake turbulence? What characteristics or configuration produces the greatest wake turbulence?

5. Flight Test (Areas to be covered during the flight exam)

A. Area of Operation II: Pre-flight Procedures

• Pre-flight Inspection
• Cockpit Management
• Engine Starting
• Taxiing
• Before Takeoff Check

B. Area of Operation III: Airport Operations

• Radio Communications
• Traffic Patterns

C. Area of Operation IV: Takeoffs, Landings, and Go-arounds

• Normal and Crosswind Takeoff and Climb
• Normal and Crosswind Approach and Landing
• Go-arounds/Rejected Landings

D. Area of Operation VI: Ground Reference Maneuvers

• Rectangular Course
• S-Turns
• Turns Around a Point

E. Area of Operation VIII: Slow Flight and Stalls

• Maneuvering During Slow Flight
• Power-off Stalls
• Power-on Stalls

F. Area of Operation IX: Basic Instrument Maneuvers

• Straight-and-Level Flight
• Constant Airspeed Climbs
• Constant Airspeed Descents
• Turns to Headings

G. Area of Operation X: Emergency Operations

• Emergency Approach and Landing (Simulated)
• Systems and Equipment Malfunctions
• Emergency Equipment and Survival Gear

H. Make sure all safety practices and procedures are followed while conducting the above Tasks.

6. Pre-solo stage check Completion Standards:

This lesson is complete upon sufficient demonstration of the student’s aeronautical knowledge and skill to safely conduct a solo flight.

7. Debrief

A. All aspects of the Stage Check should be debriefed and discussed.
B. Make suggestions or recommendations to help the student improve.
C. Answer any questions the student may have.
D. Fill out all necessary paperwork.

• Student Logbook

Has your flight instructor covered all of these elements?

 

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