Private Pilot Study Guide

Airworthiness Certificate –
1. Duration – As long as maintenance is kept up on the aircraft. Annual if not for hire, 100hr if used for hire.
2. Requirements – TOMATO FLAMES – Tach, oil pressure gauge, manifold pressure gauge, altimeter, temp gauge, oil temp gauge, fuel gauge, landing gear position indicator, air speed indicator, magnetic direction indicator, ELT, safety belt.

Registration Certificate – Federal and State registrations. Federal is good for as long as you own the plane. State is good for 1 year in ND – varies with other states.

Operating Manual – Pilots operating handbook and all placards must be on plane during flight.

Weight and Balance – official weight and balance is found in the pilots operating handbook or MEL.

Equipment list – lists all the equipment installed on the aircraft.

MEL – a Letter of Authorization, a Procedures Document, a Master Minimum Equipment
List (MMEL), and a Preamble to the MMEL.
1. To get an MEL you must get an MMEL – choose the things you want then send it to the FAA for approval
2. If you do not have an MEL – check FAR 91.213
a. Type certification
b. Kinds of operation
c. 91.205 – TOMATO FLAMES
d. Airworthiness directives.
3. Ferry Permit – allows one to fly plane to airport with maintenance.

Private pilot certificate
1. Duration – life time, 24 month review flight
2. Privileges –
3. Limitations –
4. Requirement for a solo XC – endorsements – logbook + student pilot certificate

Medical Certificate –
1. Duration – First Class – the 6th month after the date shown. Second Class – the 12th month after the date shown. Third Class – the 36th month after the date shown.
Logbook – Must have logbook with proper endorsements on all solo XC flights. Logbook
endorsement, student pilot certificate.

Performance and Limitations
1. Density altitude – pressure altitude corrected for non-standard temp and pressure. High density altitude – airplane performance decreases because air density decreases. Low density altitude – airplane performance increases because air density increases.
2. Pressure altitude – height above ground when 29.92 is set in the altimeter. Effects takeoff and landing distances.
3. Runway conditions – paved, level, dry
4. Associated conditions listed on the performance charts
5. Weight and CG location – AFT CG – airplane become tail heavy and very unstable. Stabilator may be ineffective for stall or spin recovery. Forward CG – longer takeoff distance, higher stall speed, Stabilator may not be able to lift the nose.

Weight and Balance
1. Gross weight – weight of aircraft and everything in it.
2. Ramp/Takeoff/Landing Weights – Ramp weight – maximum weight for ground operations. Takeoff – maximum weight to start takeoff roll. Landing – maximum weight for touchdown.
3. Arm- distance from the datum measured along the longitudinal axis
4. Station- position of a specific point in the fuselage.
5. Moment – weight acting at a distance
6. basic empty weight - standard equipment and optional equipment
7. standard empty weight - empty weight plus fluids and unusable fuel.
8. useable/unusable fuel – fuel that can be used.
9. useful load – total usable fuel, passengers, cargo.
10. payload – passengers and cargo on board.

High Gross Weight – increase stability, takes more energy to control, stall speed increases, required more lift (increased angle of attack), takeoff and landing rolls are greater, climb rate is reduced, cruise speed reduced, greater fuel consumption.

Explain the effects of CG location and aircrafts performance
1. Forward CG
a. Longitudinal stability too stable, hard to flare/rotate
b. Takeoff roll increased
c. Landing flare difficult
d. Cruise speed decreased,
e. Climb rate reduced
f. Range reduced
g. Stall speed increased
2. AFT CG
a. Longitudinal stability less stable, pitch up- tendency
b. Takeoff roll reduced, rotation problems / over-rotation
c. Landing roll reduced, flare problems / over-rotation
d. Cruise speeds – increased
e. Climb rates – increased
f. Fuel consumption – decreased
g. Range increased
h. Stall speeds reduced, recovery problems

FAR’S

91.3 – Responsibility and authority of the pilot in command
1. pilot in command in the final authority to the operation of the aircraft.
2. In an emergency requiring immediate action the PIC can deviate from any rule.
3. A pilot who deviates from a rule must shall send a written report to the Administrator upon request.

91.7 – Civil aircraft airworthiness
1. the PIC is responsible for determining whether the airplane is in condition for safe flight.

91.9 – Civil aircraft flight manual, marking, and placard requirements.
1. no person may operate an aircraft unless the Airplane Flight Manual in is the aircraft.
91.17 – Alcohol and Drugs
1. 8 hours after drinking
2. under the influence
3. BAC of .04

91.103 – Preflight Action
1. For any flight runway lengths and takeoff and landing distances must be known.
91.105 – Flight Crewmembers at stations
1. During takeoff/landing seat belts on.
91.107 – Use of safety Belts
1. No pilot may takeoff unless passengers are briefed on how to use seafety belts. No pilot may move, land, or takeoff unless each person has been notified to fasten their safety belt.
91.111 – Operating near other aircraft
MAY NOT
1. operate aircraft so close to another aircraft to create a collision hazard.
91.113 – Right-of-way Rules
1. Aircraft in distress
2. Less maneuverable aircraft.
3. aircraft at lower altitude
91.119 – Minimum Safe Altitudes
1. an altitude that if the engine fails you can make a safe emergency landing
2. Congested area – 1,000 ft above object, 2,000ft horiztonal.
3. non congested area – 500 feet above the surface/ any person, vessel, vehicle, structure.
91.121 – Altimeter Settings
1. Altimeter setting must be set to station along the route and within 100 miles of the aircraft.
19.125 – ATC Light Signals





91.126 – Operating in Class G airspace.
1. When approaching an airport, all turns must be to the left.
2. Contact ATC prior to 4 nm at and including 2,500ft AGL.
91.127 – Class E Airspace
1. Pilot must comply with traffic patterns established at that airport.
2. contact ATC prior to 4 nm at and including 2,500ft AGL.

91.129 – Class D Airspace
1. Must establish contact with ATC while flying through airspace.
91.130 – Class C Airspace
1. Two-way radio contact, 4096 code- mode C transponder
91.131 – Class B Airspace
1. Two-way radio contact
2. 4096 code -mode C transponder
91.133 – Restricted and Prohibited Airspace
1. No person may operate in airspace unless they have permission by the controlling agency.
91.135 – Class A Airspace
1. Must receive ATC clearance before entering airspace.
2. two-way radio
3. 4096 code -Mode C transponder

91.151 – Fuel Requirements – VFR
1. 30 minutes fuel during the day. 45 minutes fuel during night.
91.153 – VFR Flight Plan
1. When filing a flight plan each person must include – aircraft number, type of aircraft, name and address of pilot, point and time of departure, route and cruising altitude, point of first intended landing, fuel on board, number of person onboard.
91.155 – Basic VFR Weather minimums –
1. Class B – 3sm clear of clouds
2. Class C,D – 3sm – 500below, 1000 above, 2000 horiztonal
3. Class E – below 10,000 – 3sm – 500 below, 1000 above, 2000 horizontal
4. Class E – 10,000 or above – 5sm – 1000 below, 1000 above, 1 mile horizontal
5. Class G – 1,200 above surface Day – 1sm – clear of clouds – night – 3sm – 500,1000, 2000.
6. Class G – more than 1,200 above surface but less than 10,000. Day – 1sm – 500,1000, 2000. Night – 3sm – 500, 1000, 2000.
91.157 – Special VFR weather minimums
1. ATC clearence needed – 1sm visibility.
91.159 – VFR cruising altitudes –
1. 0 –179 – odds + 500ft
2. 180-359 – evens + 500ft
91.207 – Emergency Locator Transmitters
1. Inspection every 12 calendar months
2. Battery must be replaced if ELT has been on for 1 hour or has passed half its battery life.
3. Every plane needs one.
91.209 – Aircraft Lights
1. no person may operate an aircraft during the hours on sunset to sunrise unless:
a. position lights
b. Anti-collision lights
91.215 – ATC Transponder and Altitude Reporting Equipment and Use
1. Must have 4096 code Mode C capable transponder in Class A, B, C.
2. You do not need one if your aircraft has never had an engine driven electrical system.
91.403 – General Maintenance
1. Owner or Operator is responsible for keeping the aircraft airworthy.
91.405 – Maintenance Required
1. Owner/Operator will make sure aircraft is inspected and proper maintenance entires are made.
91.407 – Operations after Maintenance
1. No person may operate an aircraft unless:
a. It has been approved for return to service by authorized person.
b. A pilot with a private pilot cert flies the aircraft and makes an operational check of the maintenance performed.
91.417 – Maintenance Records
1. Owner must keep records of all maintenance, preventative, 100hr, annual, progressive.
2. Records shall be kept until work in repeated, superseded by other work for 1 year after the work in performed.


91.203 – Civil Aircraft: Certifications Required
1. Each aircraft must have an Airworthiness Certificate and Federal Registration

91.213 – Inoperative Instruments and Equipment
1. No person may operate an aircraft with inoperative instruments or equipment unless they have an approved MEL.

91.409 – Inspections
1.Annual inspection
2. 100 hour inspection
3. progressive – 4 phases 60 hrs between.

Special Use Airspace and other Airspace
1. Rescricted areas – unusual, often invisible hazards to aircraft such as military firing, aerial gunnery, or guided missiles.
2. Warning Areas – activity that may be hazardous to nonparticipating aircraft such as: aerial gunnery, guided missiles. They extend 3nm outward from the coast of the US.
3. MOA Areas – Pilots should contact FSS within 100nm to determine MOA hours of operation, exercise extreme caution when MOA is active.
4. Military Training Routes – below 10,000 AGL speed 250knot +
a. IR means routes are IFR, VR mean VFR
b. 3 digit number means one or more segments are above 1,500 AGL.
c. 4 digit number means no segments are above 1,500 AGL.
5. Wildlife Areas – pilots are REQUESTED to stay above 2,000 ft AGL.
5. Prohibited Areas – airspace where no person may fly without the permission of the controlling agency.
6. Alert Areas – airspace that contains a large volume of pilot training.
7. Terminal Radar Service Area
a. ATC provides vectoring, sequencing, and separation to all IRF and participating VFR traffic.
8. Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ)
a. airspace over land or water extending upward from the surface, in which the identification, location, and control of the aircraft are required.

Weather

Airmet – effect smaller aircraft – moderate icing, moderate turbulence, winds 30 knots +.

Convective Sigmet – tornadoes, lines of thunderstorms, embedded thunderstorms, ¾ inch
hail or great.

Sigmet – Weather advisory for ALL aircraft – severe and extreme turbulence, severe icing, wide spread dust and sand storms.

Metars – come out every hour, valid for that hour
Radar Reports – come out every hour at 35 minutes past the hour
TAFS – come out every 6 hours, 0000z, 0600z, 1200z, 1800z, usually valid for 24 hours.
Area Forecasts – time the synopsis says.
Winds Aloft – 0000z and 1200z
Surface Analysis – Every 3 hours
Weather Depiction Charts – Begins at 0100z at 3 hour intervals
Radar Summary Charts – Hourly at 35 past the hour
Low Level Prognostic Chart – issued four times a day, 0000z, 0600z, 1200z, 1800z. The
12 hour chart is valid for 12 hours and the 24 hour chart is valid for 24 hours.


Local Notams – are distributed locally – contain taxiway closures, personnel and
equipment near runways.
Distant Notams – distributed Nationally – affects navigational facilities.
FDC Notam – temporary flight restrictions or amendments to instrument approach
procedures and aeronautical charts.