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News & Media Final exam

Final exam

Test your knowledge

May 1, 2021
Illustration by John Ueland

Checkride-ready

See how you measure up to FAA standards with these questions from the AOPA Pilot Information Center.

  1. What types of fog depend upon wind in order to exist?
    A. Radiation fog and ice fog.
    B. Advection fog and upslope fog.
    C. Steam fog and ground fog.
  2. When flying in the airspace underlying Class B airspace, the maximum speed authorized is
    A. 250 knots.
    B. 230 knots.
    C. 200 knots.
  3. A gray solid circle on a sectional chart around an airport depicts which class of airspace or type of area?
    A. TRSA.
    B. Class D.
    C. Surface-based Class E.
  4. To act as pilot in command of an aircraft carrying passengers, a pilot must show by logbook endorsement the satisfactory completion of a flight review or completion of a pilot proficiency check within the preceding
    A. six calendar months.
    B. 12 calendar months.
    C. 24 calendar months.
  5. Which single action can be performed to alter the airplane’s gross weight?
    A. Moving baggage from the aft compartment to the nose compartment.
    B. Draining five gallons of fuel or adding 10 gallons of fuel.
    C. Transferring 12 gallons of fuel from the main tanks to the auxiliary tanks.
Illustration by John Ueland

Ace

Can you correctly answer these questions from retired TWA captain and 28,000-hour pilot Barry Schiff?

  1. What is the difference between an outside loop and an inverted outside loop?
  2. Why does a typical general aviation airplane pitch nose down during a stall entry?
  3. A pilot is navigating toward a 30-mile-distant vortac using VOR navigation. He notices that the course deviation indicator (CDI) is fluctuating by as much as 6 degrees and the Off flag is hidden from view. He should
    A. change engine rpm.
    B. recycle the selected vortac frequency.
    C. reduce airspeed.
    D. report the phenomenon to ATC.
  4. True or false? The federal aviation regulations permit an instrument-rated pilot flying a properly certificated glider (not a motorglider) to request a clearance from air traffic control and execute an ILS approach during actual instrument conditions.
  5. According to the FAA’s Instrument Flying Handbook, “If the variation between field elevation and indicated altitude is on the order of plus or minus ______ feet, the accuracy of the altimeter is questionable, and the problem should be referred to an instrument repair station.”

Final Exam Answers

  1. The correct answer is B. When a layer of warm, moist air moves over a cold surface, advection fog is likely to occur. Wind is required to form advection fog. Winds of up to 15 knots allow the fog to form and intensify; above a speed of 15 knots, the fog usually lifts and forms low stratus clouds. Advection fog is common in coastal areas where sea breezes can blow the air over cooler landmasses. Upslope fog occurs when moist, stable air is forced up sloping land features like a mountain range. This type of fog also requires wind for formation and continued existence. (Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge, Chapter 12)
  2. The correct answer is C. Operations within Class B are limited to an indicated airspeed of 250 knots, while the speed authorized under Class B is 200 knots indicated. (FAR 91.117)
  3. The correct answer is A. A TRSA (terminal radar service area) is not airspace, but is an area in which pilots may elect to receive ATC services such as traffic advisories and sequencing and separation for arrival and departure from the primary airport, which is usually a towered airport. (Aeronautical Information Manual 3-5-6)
  4. The correct answer is C. Actually, whether carrying passengers or not, a flight review or pilot proficiency check successfully completed within the last 24 calendar months is required to act as PIC of an aircraft. (FAR 61.56)
  5. The correct answer is B. Moving baggage and transferring fuel can and usually will change the center of gravity, but not the weight. Only draining or adding fuel will change the gross weight.
  6. Not much. The outside loop is begun by pushing the stick forward at the top of the loop and while right side up; the aircraft becomes inverted at the bottom of the loop. The inverted outside loop is begun by pushing the stick forward at the bottom of the loop while inverted; the aircraft becomes right side up at the top of the loop.
  7. A downward aerodynamic force on the tail normally keeps the tail down and the nose up. During a stall, air no longer flows smoothly from the inboard sections of the wings to the tail. This causes a conventional tail to lose effectiveness, which allows the nose to pitch down.
  8. 8. The correct answer is A. Certain propeller speeds (rpm settings) can cause CDI fluctuations. According to the AIM, slight rpm changes will normally smooth out these fluctuations and should be attempted before reporting unsatisfactory VOR operation.
  9. True. According to FAA’s Flight Standards Division, he may execute the approach if he is assured of not having to hold or maintain an assigned altitude, is certain that he will not have to execute a missed approach—that would be interesting—and is sufficiently glib to avoid being charged with a careless or reckless operation.
  10. 75. The federal aviation regulations, however, do not specify a maximum-allowable error other than during a required static-system check.

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