Blog Multi Author : Flight Training Central

January test question update from Sporty’s

January 18, 2024/in News, Tips and technique/by Flight Training Central Staff

Sporty’s recently released its January written test question update in its 2024 Learn to Fly Course test preparation module. While the FAA does not publish actual test questions, representative test questions are available, and new questions released by Sporty’s represent emphasis areas which you will likely enounter on the test.

The FAA continues to add new questions based on guidance from the Private Pilot Airman Certification Standards. Read the complete January 2024 update here.

The December test question update is available here.

And test your knowledge now by taking this quiz, sampling the new questions just released.




	
	
	
			
		
	




	



	
	
	
	

	
		
			What should you do if your GPS database is out of date?
			
					
							

					
					
					
					
					
													Avoid flying into IMC conditions.											
				
							

					
					
					
					
					
													You cannot legally fly with a GPS if its navigation database is out of date.											
				
							

					
					
					
					
					
													The flight plan waypoints should be verified against a current official source, like a VFR Sectional Chart or Chart Supplement U.S.											
				
			
			

			
				Correct!
				Wrong!
			

		
	
		
			Can you fly VFR with an expired GPS database?
			
					
							

					
					
					
					
					
													Yes, but disregard the moving map display when making critical navigation decisions.											
				
							

					
					
					
					
					
													No, a current GPS database is required when using it for any type of navigation guidance.											
				
							

					
					
					
					
					
													No, since a GPS will not function without a current GPS database.											
				
			
			

			
				Correct!
				Wrong!
			

		
	
		
			Which is true regarding the benefits of using GPS for navigation?
			
					
							

					
					
					
					
					
													GPS eliminates the need for the pilot to verify their location through other navigation sources or charts.											
				
							

					
					
					
					
					
													While GPS has many benefits to the VFR pilot, care must be exercised to ensure that system capabilities are not exceeded.											
				
							

					
					
					
					
					
													Pilots can depend on GPS signals being available 100% of the time for navigation.											
				
			
			

			
				Correct!
				Wrong!
			

		
	
		
			What is a limitation of using a GPS without RAIM capability?
			
					
							

					
					
					
					
					
													The GPS should not be used for long-distance navigation.											
				
							

					
					
					
					
					
													The pilot would not be alerted that the navigation solution had deteriorated and an undetected navigation error could occur.											
				
							

					
					
					
					
					
													Navigation accuracy would be continuously degraded.											
				
			
			

			
				Correct!
				Wrong!
			

		
	
		
			What does a steady green light signal from an ATC control tower mean when in flight?
			
					
							

					
					
					
					
					
													Cleared to land											
				
							

					
					
					
					
					
													Cleared to enter the controlled airspace											
				
							

					
					
					
					
					
													Return for landing											
				
			
			

			
				Correct!
				Wrong!
			

		
	
	
	

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				Sporty's written test question update (bis)
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Interactive video tip: Flying with a constant-speed propeller

January 17, 2024/in Video Tips/by Bret Koebbe

Airplanes with a high-performance engine typically contain a constant-speed propeller for greater efficiency. Learn all about their operation with our latest tip, including how to properly use the throttle, prop control, manifold pressure gauge and tachometer in each phase of flight.

Now, test out controlling a constant-speed propeller system with this interactive exercise from Sporty’s Learn to Fly Course:

Learn more about how to become a pilot and pass all your tests using Sporty’s Learn to Fly Course

How to fly the perfect short field takeoff and climb

January 15, 2024/in Tips and technique/by Eric Radtke

As part of your preflight preparation, you should always consult the POH/AFM performance charts to determine the airplane performance is acceptable for a safe takeoff and climb for the conditions and location. Often the performance that is stated in these publications is based on a short-field, maxium performance technique to achieve the best performance numbers. But remember high density altitude reduces performance and therefore increases takeoff rolls, and degrades climb performance.

All pre-takeoff checklist items should be completed before taxiing onto the runway for departure. All engine instruments should be checked for proper and usual indications, and all controls should be checked for free movement as you enter the departure runway. Just as in a normal takeoff scenario, consider what options exist if an engine failure or power loss occurs immediately after takeoff. These options should include the preferred direction for any emergency turns back to the departure airport.

All engine instruments should be checked for proper and usual indications, and all controls should be checked for free movement as you enter the departure runway.

The goal while operating from a short field or where obstacles exist in the departure path is to achieve the shortest ground roll and the steepest angle of climb. In order to achieve this, you should know in advance from the aircraft performance charts, what minimum power to expect from the aircraft as well as appropriate flap settings. The aircraft should be positioned for takeoff to take advantage of all usable takeoff area – even if this requires a short back taxi.

Once in position and any crosswind corrections noted, takeoff power should be applied smoothly and continuously while holding the brakes until the maximum obtainable engine power. Once the brakes are released as the airplane accelerates, adjust the airplane’s pitch to attain minimum drag and maximum acceleration. As YOU reach the recommended roation speed, apply back-elevator pressure until reaching the appropriate Vx attitude to ensure a smooth and firm lift-off. Since the airplane accelerates more rapidly after lift-off, additional backelevator pressure may be needed to hold a constant airspeed.

It’s important to note that you should never attempt to pull the airplane off the ground prematurely, or to climb too steeply, which could result in the airplane settling back to the runway or stalling.

Maintain a wings-level climb at Vx until all obstacles have been cleared, or if no obstacles are present, until reaching an altitude of at least 50 feet above the ground. The landing gear and flaps should also remain in takeoff position until the airplane is clear of obstacles. After clearning obstacles, lower the pitch attitude slightly, retract flaps slowly to avoid settling, and raise the landing gear. Continue the climb at Vy for better visibility and efficiency until departing the traffic pattern.

Steps to execute the short field takeoff and climb:

1. Ensure that the Before Takeoff Checklist has been completed.

2. Set flaps as appropriate – ensure that flaps come down equally.

3. Ensure that the items on the Line-up Checklist have been completed and/or reviewed.

4. Taxi the aircraft into position, centered on the runway with the nosewheel straight, as close to the approach end as possible.Hold the brakes, preventing any movement of the aircraft.

5. Smoothly and positively apply full power. Keep a hand on the throttle in the event an abort becomes necessary.Check engine instruments Release the brakes and apply slight forward pressure on the yoke, allowing the aircraft to accelerate as quickly as possible. Check airspeed indicator (“airspeed alive”).

6. Rotate at Vlof, then establish Vx pitch attitude.Once the aircraft lifts off, establish a wind correction angle to maintain the runway centerline with level wings.

8. Maintain Vx or manufacturer’s recommended airspeed until clear of obstacles and at least 50 feet above the surface.

9. After clearing obstacles, establish VY pitch attitude. Maintain a ground track along the runway and extended centerline with coordinated use of rudder and aileron.Retract flaps after clearing all obstacles and establishing the recommended airspeed, climb out at Vy.

10. Establish cruise climb above a minimum safe altitude (500-1000’ AGL).

Student Pilot and FAA Medical Certificates

January 12, 2024/in Get Started, Getting Started/by Flight Training Central Staff

As a student pilot, you will need a Student Pilot Certificate at some point during flight training program. When you will need it and how you can obtain it will vary based upon the type of training that you are doing.

You may also need an FAA Medical Certificate. The type of certificate you should obtain, if you should obtain one at all, depends on your flight training goals.

Your Student Pilot Certificate

You will need a Student Pilot Certificate before your first solo.

You will need a Student Pilot Certificate before your first solo; that momentous occasion when your instructor has enough confidence in your ability to depart the airplane and send you off by yourself. When training under the general rules for flight training, you can obtain the certificate at any time prior to the solo.

To obtain your Student Pilot Certificate, you must complete an application through the Integrated Airman Certification and Rating Application (IACRA) website. As part of the registration process, you’ll obtain a unique FAA tracking number or FTN. A flight instructor, or other authorized individual, will verify your identify before your application can be completed and submitted. Once the application is submitted, he student pilot certificate will be mailed to the address provided by you on the application within a few weeks, but will be available to download from IACRA within a few days.

Your FAA Medical Certificate and Alternatives

The pursuit of most pilot certificates will require you to obtain and hold an FAA Medical Certificate prior to flying solo.

If you are pursuing a Sport Pilot Certificate and will only be flying solo in a Light Sport Airplane, you may be able to use your valid driver’s license as a testament to your acceptable health. To exercise the option of using your driver’s license in place an FAA Medical Certificate, you must not have failed your most recent attempt at an FAA Medical Certificate or be under a medical suspension. If you have never attempted to obtain an FAA Medical Certificate or you allowed your most recent medical to expire, the valid driver’s license may be an option for you.

If you are learning to fly in a glider, motorglider, or balloon, you will not need a medical. You will simply need to be able to attest to the fact that you do not have any medical conditions that would preclude your safe operation of the aircraft in solo flight.

FAA Medical Certificate’s are issued by an FAA Designated Aviation Medical Examiner (AME). AME’s are physicians with a special interest in aviation safety and have training in aviation medicine.

If you have any condition that may be medically disqualifying or could slow your medical approval, do not visit your AME before meeting with and discussing your options with a knowledgeable instructor. Alternatively, you can contact a resource like the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) to discuss your situation. They have experts available to help find your best route for success in the medical certification process.

Some conditions that can be disqualifying or could slow your medical approval include but are not limited to:

Diabetes
Heart Disease
Nervous Disorders
History of Kidney Stones
Emotional or Mental Disorders

Epilepsy
Uncorrectable Vision
Certain Levels of Hearing Loss
History of Alcohol or Drug Dependence
Any condition that could impair your ability to operate an aircraft safely

If you would like further information on potentially disqualifying conditions, the standards for medical certification are contained in Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 67. If 14 CFR Part 67 indicates that a condition will not allow you to obtain a medical certificate, all hope is not lost. There may be an option to obtain a special issuance medical certificate or obtain a medical with certain operating limitations. Discuss this with one of the previously mentioned sources before pushing forward with your examination.

If you are in good health and ready to obtain your FAA Medical Certificate, find an AME, schedule an appointment, and fill out your application on MedXPress before going to see the doctor. Be truthful on this application, especially in the area of alcohol related driving offenses. The FAA can and will check your answers against the National Driver Register database. Falsification of facts can lead to fines and revocation of certificates.

You can find an AME using the FAA’s database found at https://www.faa.gov/pilots/amelocator/.

At some point in the process, you will be asked about the “Class” of medical you would like to apply for. We will review the classes in a moment but you should plan to obtain the class of medical certificate required, for the certificate level you ultimately want. This will tell you if you are medically qualified for that certificate. Finding this out now is better than waiting until you have already spent thousands of dollars on training for a certificate that you ultimately may not be able to use.

A 1^st Class medical is required when flight operations require an Air Transport Pilot (ATP) certificate. An ATP is required to act as the Pilot in Command (PIC) or Captain of a scheduled airliner.

A 2^nd Class medical is required when flight operations require a Commercial Pilot certificate. A Commercial certificate is required essentially to get paid to be a pilot.

A 3^rd Class medical is required for all other flight operations that require an FAA Medical Certificate. This includes Student Pilots pursuing a Recreational or Private certificate, Recreational and Private pilots, and most Flight Instructors.

For operations as a Student, Recreational, or Private Pilot, all classes of medical certificates are valid for 60 calendar months if you obtained the certificate prior to your 40^th birthday. If you obtained the medical on or after your 40^th birthday, the certificate is valid for only 24 calendar months.

More detailed information about FAA Medical Certificate expirations can be found in the table below from the FAA via 14 CFR Part 61:

If you hold	And on the date of examination for your most recent medical certificate you were	And you are conducting an operation requiring	Then your medical certificate expires, for that operation, at the end of the last day of the
(1) A first-class medical certificate	(i) Under age 40	an airline transport pilot certificate for pilot-in-command privileges, or for second-in-command privileges in a flag or supplemental operation in part 121 requiring three or more pilots	12th month after the month of the date of examination shown on the medical certificate.
	(ii) Age 40 or older	an airline transport pilot certificate for pilot-in-command privileges, for second-in-command privileges in a flag or supplemental operation in part 121 requiring three or more pilots, or for a pilot flightcrew member in part 121 operations who has reached his or her 60th birthday.	6th month after the month of the date of examination shown on the medical certificate.
	(iii) Any age	a commercial pilot certificate (other than a commercial pilot certificate with a balloon rating when conducting flight training), a flight engineer certificate, or an air traffic control tower operator certificate	12th month after the month of the date of examination shown on the medical certificate.
	(iv) Under age 40	a recreational pilot certificate, a private pilot certificate, a flight instructor certificate (when acting as pilot in command or a required pilot flight crewmember in operations other than glider or balloon), a student pilot certificate, or a sport pilot certificate (when not using a U.S. driver’s license as medical qualification)	60th month after the month of the date of examination shown on the medical certificate.
	(v) Age 40 or older	a recreational pilot certificate, a private pilot certificate, a flight instructor certificate (when acting as pilot in command or a required pilot flight crewmember in operations other than glider or balloon), a student pilot certificate, or a sport pilot certificate (when not using a U.S. driver’s license as medical qualification)	24th month after the month of the date of examination shown on the medical certificate.
(2) A second-class medical certificate	(i) Any age	an airline transport pilot certificate for second-in-command privileges (other than the operations specified in paragraph (d)(1) of this section), a commercial pilot certificate (other than a commercial pilot certificate with a balloon rating when conducting flight training), a flight engineer certificate, or an air traffic control tower operator certificate	12th month after the month of the date of examination shown on the medical certificate.
	(ii) Under age 40	a recreational pilot certificate, a private pilot certificate, a flight instructor certificate (when acting as pilot in command or a required pilot flight crewmember in operations other than glider or balloon), a student pilot certificate, or a sport pilot certificate (when not using a U.S. driver’s license as medical qualification)	60th month after the month of the date of examination shown on the medical certificate.
	(iii) Age 40 or older	a recreational pilot certificate, a private pilot certificate, a flight instructor certificate (when acting as pilot in command or a required pilot flight crewmember in operations other than glider or balloon), a student pilot certificate, or a sport pilot certificate (when not using a U.S. driver’s license as medical qualification)	24th month after the month of the date of examination shown on the medical certificate.
(3) A third-class medical certificate	(i) Under age 40	a recreational pilot certificate, a private pilot certificate, a flight instructor certificate (when acting as pilot in command or a required pilot flight crewmember in operations other than glider or balloon), a student pilot certificate, or a sport pilot certificate (when not using a U.S. driver’s license as medical qualification)	60th month after the month of the date of examination shown on the medical certificate.
	(ii) Age 40 or older	a recreational pilot certificate, a private pilot certificate, a flight instructor certificate (when acting as pilot in command or a required pilot flight crewmember in operations other than glider or balloon), a student pilot certificate, or a sport pilot certificate (when not using a U.S. driver’s license as medical qualification)	24th month after the month of the date of examination shown on the medical certificate.

Video Tip: How to use a mechanical E6B flight computer

January 10, 2024/in Video Tips/by Bret Koebbe

Most students today prefer to use an electronic E6B flight computer when planning a flight or preparing for the FAA knowledge test. The electronic E6B is actually the evolution of a mechanical E6B flight computer, often referred to as a whiz wheel. While the mechanical E6B may take a little longer to learn compared to its electronic counterpart, the learning process is a fun challenge.

The E6B got its start in the late 1930s and 40s as a circular slide rule developed for military aviators. The name “E6B” actually comes from its original part number for the US Army Air Corps around that time. It went through many iterations during World War Two and eventually evolved into the version most pilots recognize today. Today’s mechanical E6Bs still use the same core circular slide rule logic as those from World War Two, but also include some additional capabilities. This week’s tip shows you the basic operation of the front side circular slide ruler and how to compute basic aviation conversions.

The video clip is from Sporty’s 2024 Learn to Fly Course

Quiz: Aircraft Engine Operations

January 8, 2024/in Quiz/by Chris Clarke

Aircraft engines can provide thousands of hours of reliable service, provided that they are maintained and operated properly. From the pilot’s perspective, this involves learning the best practices for power control, leaning procedures, cooling, and other operational considerations.