Air Law & VFR Procedures (6 Questions)

1. Q: What are VFR visibility and cloud clearance requirements?
   A: Vary by airspace/altitude. Example (ICAO): Class E below 10,000 ft → 5 km vis, 1000 ft above / 500 ft below / 2000 ft horizontal from cloud.
2. Q: Minimum safe altitude?
   A: Typically 1000 ft above highest obstacle within 600 m over populated areas; 500 ft elsewhere. Check local variations.
3. Q: Documents required on board?
   A: Airworthiness Certificate, Registration, Pilot License, Medical, POH/AFM, W&B data, Insurance, Radio License.
4. Q: Altimeter settings (QNH, QFE, STD)?
   A: QNH = elevation above sea level, QFE = field elevation, STD = 1013.25 hPa (for flight levels above transition altitude).
5. Q: Circuit procedures?
   A: Standard traffic pattern 1000 ft AGL, left-hand unless published otherwise. Join via overhead, downwind, or base.
6. Q: Classes of airspace?
   A: Class A (IFR only), Class B/C/D (controlled, both IFR/VFR with clearance), Class E (controlled IFR, VFR allowed), Class G (uncontrolled).

Operational Procedures (6 Questions)

1. Q: Radio failure in controlled airspace?
   A: Squawk 7600, follow last clearance, watch for light signals, land at nearest suitable aerodrome.
2. Q: Wake turbulence separation?
   A: ICAO recommends 2–3 min behind heavy/medium jets; extra spacing when in doubt.
3. Q: Overflying congested areas?
   A: At least 1000 ft above highest obstacle within 600 m horizontally.
4. Q: Required lights at night?
   A: Navigation lights, anti-collision beacon/strobe, landing light recommended/required depending on ops.
5. Q: Interception procedure?
   A: Follow intercept aircraft, rock wings to acknowledge, comply with ATC, squawk 7700/7600 if appropriate.
6. Q: Lost procedures?
   A: Climb, communicate, confess, comply (the “4 Cs”).

Principles of Flight (6 Questions)

1. Q: Four forces of flight?
   A: Lift, weight, thrust, drag.
2. Q: What causes a stall?
   A: Exceeding the critical angle of attack, regardless of speed.
3. Q: Induced vs parasite drag?
   A: Induced drag (from lift, high at low speeds), Parasite drag (from form/skin, high at high speeds).
4. Q: Vx vs Vy?
   A: Vx = best angle of climb, Vy = best rate of climb.
5. Q: Effect of turns on stall speed?
   A: Load factor increases stall speed (e.g., 45° bank ≈ +19%).
6. Q: Adverse yaw?
   A: Tendency of nose to yaw opposite roll due to differential drag. Corrected with rudder.

Aircraft General Knowledge (6 Questions)

1. Q: What is carburettor icing?
   A: Ice forming in venturi due to fuel vaporization & pressure drop. Use carb heat.
2. Q: Detonation vs pre-ignition?
   A: Detonation = explosive combustion after spark; Pre-ignition = early ignition from hot spots.
3. Q: Six-pack instruments?
   A: ASI, AI, ALT, VSI, DG, Turn Coordinator.
4. Q: Magnetos?
   A: Self-powered ignition systems, engine runs without alternator/battery.
5. Q: Alternator failure?
   A: Aircraft runs on battery until depleted. Shed load, land ASAP.
6. Q: Pitot-static failures?
   A: Blocked pitot = ASI fails; blocked static = ALT/VSI freeze, ASI inaccurate.

Meteorology (6 Questions)

1. Q: Stable vs unstable air?
   A: Stable = smooth, haze, stratus. Unstable = turbulence, good vis, cumulus.
2. Q: Dangerous clouds?
   A: Towering cumulus, cumulonimbus.
3. Q: METAR example?
   A: EGLL 141450Z 24010KT 9999 FEW020 SCT035 18/12 Q1016 → Heathrow, wind 240°/10kt, vis >10km, few at 2000, scattered at 3500, temp 18°C, dew 12°C, QNH 1016.
4. Q: TAF basics?
   A: Aerodrome forecast for 9–30 hrs. Covers wind, visibility, clouds, significant weather.
5. Q: Thunderstorm requirements?
   A: Moisture, lifting force, unstable air.
6. Q: Wind shear?
   A: Sudden wind change, hazardous near ground (microbursts, frontal zones).

Navigation (6 Questions)

1. Q: Variation vs deviation?
   A: Variation = difference between true and magnetic north. Deviation = compass error from onboard magnetism.
2. Q: Dead reckoning?
   A: Navigation using heading, time, and speed corrected for wind.
3. Q: Groundspeed calculation?
   A: GS = TAS ± wind component. Use flight computer/E6B.
4. Q: VOR navigation?
   A: Tune, identify Morse ID, set OBS, follow TO/FROM radial.
5. Q: GPS limitations?
   A: Signal jamming/spoofing, satellite geometry, database currency.
6. Q: Track vs heading vs course?
   A: Track = actual path over ground; Heading = nose direction; Course = intended path.

Human Performance & Limitations (6 Questions)

1. Q: Symptoms of hypoxia?
   A: Euphoria, poor judgment, headache, cyanosis, vision loss. Use oxygen.
2. Q: Spatial disorientation?
   A: Sensory illusions. Trust instruments, not “seat of the pants.”
3. Q: Hyperventilation?
   A: Rapid shallow breathing causes dizziness/tingling. Remedy: slow breathing, talk aloud.
4. Q: Fatigue/alcohol effects?
   A: Impaired judgment. Rule: 8–12 hrs “bottle to throttle” (depends on country).
5. Q: Scuba diving before flight?
   A: Wait 12–24 hrs depending on dive type/depth.
6. Q: Carbon monoxide poisoning?
   A: From exhaust leaks. Symptoms: headache, nausea. Use cabin heat cautiously.

Flight Performance & Planning (6 Questions)

1. Q: Why is W&B important?
   A: CG outside limits = dangerous handling/stability issues.
2. Q: Density altitude?
   A: Pressure altitude corrected for temperature/humidity. Higher = reduced performance.
3. Q: Performance charts?
   A: Used to calculate TO/landing distances, climb, fuel consumption.
4. Q: Fuel reserves?
   A: Day VFR: trip fuel + 30 min. Night/IFR: 45 min. National rules vary.
5. Q: Headwind vs tailwind effect?
   A: Headwind shortens TO/landing. Tailwind lengthens both significantly.
6. Q: Balanced field length?
   A: Runway length at which accelerate-stop distance = accelerate-go distance. More relevant for larger aircraft.

Communications (5 Questions)

1. Q: Standard radio call format?
   A: Who you’re calling, who you are, where you are, what you want. Example: “Tower, N123AB, 10 miles north, inbound, request landing.”
2. Q: What is a readback?
   A: Repeating critical ATC items (clearances, altitudes, runway) to confirm.
3. Q: What is a squawk code?
   A: 4-digit transponder code assigned by ATC. Examples: 7000 (VFR Europe), 1200 (VFR USA), 7700 (emergency), 7600 (radio fail), 7500 (hijack).
4. Q: Distress vs urgency calls?
   A: Distress = “MAYDAY” (grave & imminent danger). Urgency = “PAN PAN” (urgent but not immediately life-threatening).
5. Q: Phonetic alphabet sample?
   A: Alpha, Bravo, Charlie… Used for clarity in radio comms worldwide.

Conclusion

Flying is as much about knowledge as it is about hands-on stick and rudder skills. By working through these 50 questions you will strengthen your understanding of the key principles every pilot — real or virtual — should know. Think of it as building a toolkit that will make you safer, more confident, and better prepared for both training flights and simulator sessions.

Keep coming back to this guide as you learn. Repetition builds retention, and the more familiar these questions feel, the more naturally the answers will come to you when it counts.

Clear skies and safe flying!

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