Private Pilot Stage Check Oral Guide

References

• FAR/AIM
• PHAK
• AC 00-45G
• AC 00-6A
• POH

Recommended Readings

Certificates and Documents

• Required Documents: Pilot certificate, medical certificate, government-issued photo ID
  • Student pilot: Additional logbook required for PIC (solo flight)
• Student Pilot Limitations (61.89):
  1. No passengers
  2. Cannot carry property for compensation or hire
  3. Cannot fly for business purposes
  4. Must have visual references to the surface; visibility limits: 3 SM (day), 5 SM (night)
• Private Pilot Privileges and Limitations (61.113, 91.146):
  • Privileges: Act as PIC, carry passengers, conduct search/rescue, fly for charitable events, sell aircraft with 200+ hours.
  • Limitations: Cannot fly for hire; must pay pro-rata share.
• Logbook Requirement (61.51): Required for solo cross-country as a student.
• Pilot Certificate Expiry (61.19):
  • Student under 40: Expires in 60 months
  • Student over 40: Expires in 24 months
  • PPL, CPL, etc.: No expiration, but regular updates required.
• Currency Requirements (61.56, 61.57):
  • Student: Valid medical certificate
  • PPL: Flight review every 24 months
  • Carrying passengers: 3 take-offs/landings in preceding 90 days (full stop at night)
• Night Definition (1.1, 61.57): Time between evening/morning civil twilight
  • Night landings: 1 hour after sunset to 1 hour before sunrise
• Medical Certificate Validity (61.23)
  • Under 40: [Details needed]
  • 40 and Older: [Details needed]

Aircraft Documents and Requirements

• ARROW (91.9, 91.203):
  • Airworthiness Certificate
  • Registration
  • Radio License (for international flights)
  • Operating limitations (POH)
  • Weight and balance equipment list
• Aircraft Registration Expiry (PHAK 8-6): 3 years
• Weight and Balance: Use updated list in AFM
• Category, Class, Type (61.5):
  • Category: Airplane, Rotorcraft, etc.
  • Class: Single Engine Land/Sea, etc.
  • Type: Specific to aircraft, required for >= 12,500 lbs, turbojets
• Address Change Notification (61.60): 30 days to notify FAA

Airworthiness Considerations

• Airworthiness Certificate: Never expires with proper maintenance/adherence to design
• POH as AFM (PHAK 8-2): Yes, for aircraft built post-1975
• Following POH (91.9): Mandatory under FAR 91.9
• Maintenance Responsibility (91.403): Owner/operator
• Required Inspections (AVIATES):
  • Annual: 12 months
  • VOR: 30 days (IFR)
  • 100-hour: If for hire
  • Altimeter/Pitot-Static: 24 months (IFR)
  • Transponder: 24 months
  • ELT: 12 months, 1-hour use, or half battery life
• Airworthiness Directives (ADs): Mandatory FAA orders
  • Types: Emergency, One Time, Recurring
• Inspection Overfly (91.409):
  • Annual: Special permit needed
  • 100-hour: 10-hour overfly allowed enroute
• ELT Requirement (91.207): Training within 50nm exempt
• Equipment and Instruments (91.205b): ATOMATOFLAMES
• Night Flight Equipment (91.205c): FLAPS
• Inoperative Equipment (91.213): Can fly if listed as inoperative and placarded

Performance and Limitations

• Forces of Flight: Lift, Weight, Thrust, Drag
• Flight Controls (PHAK 5-3, 5-8): Includes primary and secondary controls
• Lift Creation (PHAK 3-4): Newton’s 3rd law, Bernoulli’s Principle
• Types of Drag: Parasite, Induced
• Induced vs Parasite Drag Speed: Vg, L/D Max
• Airfoil Components (PHAK 3-8)
• Camber and Angle of Incidence: Curvature and wing-fuselage angle
• Center of Gravity (CG) Impacts (PHAK 4-38)
• Stall Cause and Impact of Conditions (PHAK 4-22)
• Takeoff Distance Factors (PHAK 10-2, 9-2)
• Airspeeds and Altitudes (PHAK 7-6, 10-17)
• Crosswind Component and Max Wind (AIM 4-3-3)
• V-speeds (PHAK 10-17, POH section 2)
• Climb Decisions (Vx vs Vy)

Systems Operation

• Pitot-Static Instruments
  • Airspeed, Altimeter, VSI
  • Blockage responses
• Gyroscopic Instruments
  • Attitude Indicator, Heading Indicator, Turn Coordinator
  • Operating principles: Rigidity, Precession
• Magnetic Compass Errors: Variation, Deviation, Dip Errors, Acceleration, Oscillation
• Engine Description: Lycoming O-360-A4M
• Cooling and Lubrication Systems
• Four-Stroke Operation (PHAK 6-3)
• Oil Capacity and Type
• Propeller Type
• Mixture Control (PHAK 6-8)
• Fuel System Description
• Fuel Types and Concerns (PHAK 6-27)
• Stall Strips Function
• Brakes Type
• Vacuum System Operation (PHAK 7-17)
• Electrical System Description

National Airspace System (PHAK Chapter 14)

• Controlled vs Uncontrolled Airspace
• Airspace Classes and Requirements
• Special Use Airspace Types (WCRAMP)
• Mode C Transponder Requirement (91.215)

Weather Information

• Standard Conditions: 15°C, 29.92" Hg
• Isobars and Pressure Systems
• Cloud and Weather Types
• Thunderstorm Formation and Stages
• Icing Types and Effects
• Weather Briefings (AIM 7-1-4)
• EFAS, METAR, TAF Details
• Area Forecasts and AIRMETs
• SIGMETs and Convective SIGMETs
• Radar and Weather Charts

VFR Cross Country Considerations

• Preflight Action (NWKRAFT)
• NOTAMs and Runway Lengths
• Right-of-Way Rules (91.113)
• Minimum Safe Altitudes (91.119)
• Lost Procedures (5 Cs)

Aeromedical Factors (AIM Chapter 8)

• Orientation and Movement Systems (PHAK 16-5)
• Middle Ear and Sinus Considerations (PHAK 16-4)
• Hypoxia Types and Symptoms (AIM 8-1-2)
• Hyperventilation and Treatment (AIM 8-1-3)
• In-Flight Illusions (ICEFLAGS)
• Aeronautical Decision Making (ADM)
• Risk Management Strategies (IMSAFE, PAVE, 5Ps)
• Special Emphasis Areas

This guide serves as a comprehensive resource for private pilot oral exams, covering key regulations, aircraft systems, weather, aeromedical factors, and airspace operations.