Tailwind · Vol I, N° 01
Tailwind.

An aviation study journal

Oral Prep · 215 questions in the bank

The practice oral.

— Sit for examiner-style questions, answer in your own words, and get a debrief that tells you exactly which chapters to go study.

New Session

Sit with the examiner

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Scope

AI grading off

Without an API key you’ll self-rate against the model answers. Add ANTHROPIC_API_KEY to .env and restart the dev server for graded debriefs.

The question bank

215 questions · 2 areas

Every question the examiner can draw from, by area. Read them cold, or click a code to study the chapter that answers it.

PreflightArea I191 · show
  1. 01What does it take to get a private pilot certificate?PA.I.A.K1
  2. 02How do you stay current to carry passengers? At night?PA.I.A.K1
  3. 03How long is your knowledge test report valid for the checkride?PA.I.A.K1
  4. 04Walk me through the 61.109 experience requirements you need to show.PA.I.A.K1
  5. 05What's the difference between currency and a flight review?PA.I.A.K1
  6. 06What endorsements would you need to fly a Bonanza F33A? A Cessna 195?PA.I.A.K1
  7. 07What can you legally be paid for as a private pilot?PA.I.A.K2
  8. 08Can you split fuel costs with passengers? How exactly?PA.I.A.K2
  9. 09If your boss reimburses you for flying to a meeting, is that legal?PA.I.A.K2
  10. 10Walk me through 61.113.PA.I.A.K2
  11. 11What does 'compensation' include?PA.I.A.K2
  12. 12How long is your 3rd-class medical valid?PA.I.A.K3
  13. 13What's the difference between 1st, 2nd, and 3rd class medical privileges?PA.I.A.K3
  14. 14What happens to a 1st-class medical 13 months after issuance?PA.I.A.K3
  15. 15When can you use BasicMed instead of an FAA medical?PA.I.A.K3
  16. 16If you're diagnosed with a new medical condition, can you keep flying?PA.I.A.K3
  17. 17What documents do you personally need on you to act as PIC today?PA.I.A.K4
  18. 18What's the difference between 'in your possession' and 'readily accessible'?PA.I.A.K4
  19. 19If you're flying under BasicMed, what paperwork must be with you?PA.I.A.K4
  20. 20Does your logbook have to be in the airplane?PA.I.A.K4
  21. 21Show me your pilot certificate, medical, and photo ID.PA.I.A.K4
  22. 22What is BasicMed and when can you use it?PA.I.A.K5
  23. 23What are the BasicMed operational limits?PA.I.A.K5
  24. 24How often do you renew BasicMed?PA.I.A.K5
  25. 25Can you fly IFR under BasicMed?PA.I.A.K5
  26. 26Who's NOT eligible for BasicMed?PA.I.A.K5
  27. 27What about specific medical conditions — cardiac, neurological, mental health?PA.I.A.K5
  28. 28What's the difference between currency and proficiency?PA.I.A.R1
  29. 29Can you be current but not proficient?PA.I.A.R1
  30. 30Name a few signs you might be current but not proficient.PA.I.A.R1
  31. 31What's the PIC's responsibility here?PA.I.A.R1
  32. 32Who is responsible for the airworthiness of the aircraft?PA.I.B.K1
  33. 33What documents are required to be on board the aircraft?PA.I.B.K1
  34. 34Walk me through how you'd determine this airplane is airworthy today, end to end.PA.I.B.K1
  35. 35Suppose you discover the attitude indicator is inoperative during your preflight. Walk me through the decision.PA.I.B.K1
  36. 36What inspections does an airplane operating under Part 91 need?PA.I.B.K1
  37. 37What is an Airworthiness Directive and how do you find out if one applies?PA.I.B.K1
  38. 38What is a special flight permit and when would you need one?PA.I.B.K1
  39. 39If you discover an unairworthy condition during preflight, what are your options?PA.I.B.K1
  40. 40What is preventive maintenance, and who can perform it?PA.I.B.K2
  41. 41Give some examples of preventive maintenance items a private pilot can do.PA.I.B.K2
  42. 42Walk me through the logbook entry required after preventive maintenance.PA.I.B.K2
  43. 43Can you do preventive maintenance on a rental aircraft from a flight school?PA.I.B.K2
  44. 44What equipment is required for day VFR flight in a standard-category airplane?PA.I.B.K3
  45. 45What additional equipment is required for night VFR?PA.I.B.K3
  46. 46When does an ELT need to be installed, and how often is it inspected?PA.I.B.K3
  47. 47What are the position and anticollision light requirements at night?PA.I.B.K3
  48. 48What kinds of airworthiness certificates exist, and which one is on the airplane we're flying today?PA.I.B.K4
  49. 49How long is a standard airworthiness certificate valid?PA.I.B.K4
  50. 50What invalidates an airworthiness certificate even though it's still physically on the airplane?PA.I.B.K4
  51. 51Tell me about experimental airworthiness certificates and where you'd see them.PA.I.B.K4
  52. 52You see a piece of equipment is inop on preflight. What's your decision process?PA.I.B.R1
  53. 53Walk me through RAKETS gate by gate.PA.I.B.R1
  54. 54Where do you find the KOEL and how is it different from the CEL?PA.I.B.R1
  55. 55Even if RAKETS clears the first five gates, when would you choose not to fly?PA.I.B.R1
  56. 56What if an inop item IS required — what are the options?PA.I.B.R1
  57. 57Where do you get weather information for a flight?PA.I.C.K1
  58. 58What's the role of Flight Service Stations today?PA.I.C.K1
  59. 59What's HIWAS — and is it still around?PA.I.C.K1
  60. 60What's the difference between aviationweather.gov and 1800wxbrief.com?PA.I.C.K1
  61. 61Walk me through the standard weather products you'd use for a VFR flight.PA.I.C.K2
  62. 62Read me a METAR and tell me what it means: 'KPHX 031453Z 27015G22KT 10SM FEW250 32/M02 A2992 RMK AO2 SLP128'PA.I.C.K2
  63. 63How does a TAF differ from a METAR, and when does it apply?PA.I.C.K2
  64. 64Tell me about AIRMETs and SIGMETs — what they cover and how they differ.PA.I.C.K2
  65. 65Walk me through how you'd brief for the cross-country we're going to do this afternoon.PA.I.C.K2
  66. 66What are the three FSS briefing types and when would you use each?PA.I.C.K2
  67. 67Where would you go FIRST when starting a weather briefing?PA.I.C.K2
  68. 68How do you handle a destination airport that doesn't have a TAF?PA.I.C.K2
  69. 69There's a Convective SIGMET along your planned route. Walk me through what that means for your flight.PA.I.C.K2
  70. 70AIRMET Zulu shows moderate icing from the freezing level up to 18,000 along your route. You're in a non-deiced 172 planning a VFR flight at 9,500. Analyze.PA.I.C.K2
  71. 71Surface winds at the destination are forecast 27015G25KT. The single runway is 09/27. Analyze.PA.I.C.K2
  72. 72PIREP says 'turbulence moderate to severe between FL080 and FL100, freezing rain encountered FL090, large droplets, accumulating fast' along your route. Analyze.PA.I.C.K2
  73. 73What are the limitations of a TAF?PA.I.C.K2
  74. 74What about PIREPs — what limitations should you keep in mind?PA.I.C.K2
  75. 75What's the difference between a stable and an unstable atmosphere, and why does it matter to a pilot?PA.I.C.K3
  76. 76Walk me through how fronts form and what each type does.PA.I.C.K3
  77. 77What conditions are needed to form a thunderstorm? What stages does it go through?PA.I.C.K3
  78. 78Describe structural icing — what causes each type and how it affects the airplane.PA.I.C.K3
  79. 79What kinds of fog are there, and how does each form?PA.I.C.K3
  80. 80What's the difference between FIS-B and SiriusXM Aviation?PA.I.C.K4
  81. 81Why is NEXRAD latency such a big deal? How old can the picture be?PA.I.C.K4
  82. 82What are the limits of cockpit traffic displays via ADS-B In?PA.I.C.K4
  83. 83When should you NOT use the inflight datalink as your primary information source?PA.I.C.K4
  84. 84Walk me through your go/no-go decision for weather.PA.I.C.R1
  85. 85What are personal minimums and how do you set them?PA.I.C.R1
  86. 86How do you decide whether to divert?PA.I.C.R1
  87. 87What's the most dangerous weather decision a VFR pilot makes?PA.I.C.R1
  88. 88Walk me through how you correlate weather information to a go/no-go decision.PA.I.C.R1
  89. 89How does VFR-into-IMC factor into your weather correlation?PA.I.C.R1
  90. 90When do you choose to MODIFY rather than NO-GO?PA.I.C.R1
  91. 91Two products give different stories — TAF says VFR, METAR shows visibility dropping. How do you correlate?PA.I.C.R1
  92. 92How do you choose a route for a VFR cross-country?PA.I.D.K1
  93. 93Walk me through what you can read off a sectional chart.PA.I.D.K1
  94. 94Walk me through the nav systems you'd use on a typical VFR cross-country.PA.I.D.K1
  95. 95What's the difference between Class B clearance and Class C/D communication requirements?PA.I.D.K1
  96. 96What does 14 CFR 91.159 say about VFR cruising altitudes?PA.I.D.K2
  97. 97How do you pick altitude for terrain and obstacle clearance?PA.I.D.K2
  98. 98How do winds aloft and glide distance factor into altitude selection?PA.I.D.K2
  99. 99When does supplemental oxygen become required?PA.I.D.K2
  100. 100Walk me through the steps from true course to compass heading.PA.I.D.K3
  101. 101Walk me through a TAS calculation and ground speed from a wind problem.PA.I.D.K3
  102. 102How do you plan climb time, distance, and fuel — and the descent?PA.I.D.K3
  103. 103Walk me through a complete fuel calculation including 91.151.PA.I.D.K3
  104. 104What format do we use for VFR flight plans today?PA.I.D.K4
  105. 105Walk me through the major fields of an ICAO flight plan.PA.I.D.K4
  106. 106What's the difference between filing a VFR flight plan and getting flight following?PA.I.D.K4
  107. 107What happens if you don't close your VFR flight plan?PA.I.D.K4
  108. 108Walk me through filing, activating, and closing a VFR flight plan.PA.I.D.K5
  109. 109How do you activate a flight plan?PA.I.D.K5
  110. 110How do you close a flight plan, and what happens if you don't?PA.I.D.K5
  111. 111Are VFR flight plans required?PA.I.D.K5
  112. 112What does it mean if you're being intercepted, and how would you recognize it?PA.I.D.K6
  113. 113Walk me through the standard interception signals.PA.I.D.K6
  114. 114What's your sequence of actions when you realize you're being intercepted?PA.I.D.K6
  115. 115What are the emergency squawk codes — 7500, 7600, 7700?PA.I.D.K6
  116. 116Walk me through your pre-flight go/no-go for a cross-country, using PAVE.PA.I.D.R1
  117. 117What's the difference between currency and proficiency for a cross-country?PA.I.D.R1
  118. 118What's get-there-itis and how does it relate to cross-country planning?PA.I.D.R1
  119. 119What's your EFB-off contingency plan?PA.I.D.R1
  120. 120Walk me through the six classes of airspace.PA.I.E.K1
  121. 121What's the difference between Class B clearance and Class C/D communication requirements?PA.I.E.K1
  122. 122What are the VFR weather minimums in Class B vs. Class C, D, and E below 10,000 MSL?PA.I.E.K1
  123. 123What's the Mode C veil and where does it apply?PA.I.E.K1
  124. 124Walk me through the master color and line-style code for airspace on a sectional.PA.I.E.K2
  125. 125How do you read the altitude boxes on Class B, C, and D?PA.I.E.K2
  126. 126What's the MEF, and how do you use it to pick a cruise altitude?PA.I.E.K2
  127. 127What does a magenta versus blue airport symbol tell you, and how is the Mode C veil different from a Class C boundary?PA.I.E.K2
  128. 128Walk me through the difference between a Prohibited Area, a Restricted Area, and an MOA — entry rule for each.PA.I.E.K3
  129. 129How do you find out about a TFR, and how should you handle one along your route?PA.I.E.K3
  130. 130What's a Military Training Route, and how should a VFR pilot handle one?PA.I.E.K3
  131. 131What are the DC SFRA and DC ADIZ, and what does flying through one require?PA.I.E.K3
  132. 132When is Special VFR available, and what are the day minimums?PA.I.E.K4
  133. 133What additional requirements apply for night SVFR?PA.I.E.K4
  134. 134When would you use Special VFR — and when shouldn't you?PA.I.E.K4
  135. 135Walk me through requesting a Special VFR clearance — what's the phraseology and what's the controller's response?PA.I.E.K4
  136. 136Walk me through PAVE applied to a cross-country that crosses Class B, an MOA, and an active TFR.PA.I.E.R1
  137. 137What's the right action sequence if you realize en-route that you've busted Class B without a clearance?PA.I.E.R1
  138. 138How do you set personal minimums for an unfamiliar airspace area, and when do you adjust them?PA.I.E.R1
  139. 139What's the most common airspace mistake by new pilots, and how do you prevent it?PA.I.E.R1
  140. 140What kinds of performance data do you find in the POH?PA.I.F.K1
  141. 141What does 14 CFR 91.9 require regarding the POH?PA.I.F.K1
  142. 142Walk me through reading a takeoff distance chart.PA.I.F.K1
  143. 143What's interpolation and when do you use it?PA.I.F.K1
  144. 144What's the single biggest factor affecting aircraft performance?PA.I.F.K2A
  145. 145Walk through density altitude calculation.PA.I.F.K2A
  146. 146Why is humidity also a factor?PA.I.F.K2A
  147. 147Walk me through how you'd estimate performance for a hot summer takeoff at a high-elevation field.PA.I.F.K2A
  148. 148How do you check weight and balance, and how does loading affect the airplane?PA.I.F.K2B
  149. 149How does aircraft configuration affect performance?PA.I.F.K2B
  150. 150How does pilot technique affect performance?PA.I.F.K2B
  151. 151How do wind, runway surface, and slope change your takeoff and landing distances?PA.I.F.K2B
  152. 152Walk me through the four forces and what makes the airplane climb, descend, accelerate, or decelerate.PA.I.F.K3
  153. 153Describe what happens to the airflow over a wing as the angle of attack crosses the critical angle. What is your stall recovery?PA.I.F.K3
  154. 154Walk me through the drag curve. What does it show about L/D max and the back side of the power curve?PA.I.F.K3
  155. 155What is ground effect and why does it matter for a hot, high-density-altitude takeoff?PA.I.F.K3
  156. 156What kinds of airplane limitations are listed in the POH?PA.I.F.K4
  157. 157What's the difference between VNO and VA?PA.I.F.K4
  158. 158What if you exceed maximum gross weight?PA.I.F.K4
  159. 159What's the maximum demonstrated crosswind component — is it a limitation?PA.I.F.K4
  160. 160When would you scrub a flight based on performance?PA.I.F.R1
  161. 161Why don't real airplanes match book numbers?PA.I.F.R1
  162. 162What's the role of personal minimums in performance planning?PA.I.F.R1
  163. 163What if you discover mid-flight your performance numbers were optimistic?PA.I.F.R1
  164. 164Walk me through what happens when the alternator fails in flight.PA.I.G.K1
  165. 165What does the attitude indicator depend on, and what fails with it if that system fails?PA.I.G.K1
  166. 166Under 14 CFR 91.7, what is your responsibility for the airworthiness of the systems before — and during — flight?PA.I.G.K1
  167. 167Oil pressure starts dropping during cruise. Walk through what you know about the system, what you check, and what you decide.PA.I.G.K1
  168. 168Walk me through your response when oil pressure drops below the green during cruise.PA.I.G.K2
  169. 169The engine starts running rough in cruise — list the causes you would check, in order, and why.PA.I.G.K2
  170. 170What's the difference between a do-list and a checklist, and when do you use each?PA.I.G.K2
  171. 171Under 14 CFR 91.9, where does your school's printed checklist stand relative to the POH?PA.I.G.K2
  172. 172How do you actively detect malfunctions in flight — describe your scan.PA.I.G.R1
  173. 173Walk me through the severity decision: minor, moderate, serious — give me an example of each.PA.I.G.R1
  174. 174When do you declare an emergency, and what does declaring get you?PA.I.G.R1
  175. 175What discipline prevents mode-confusion accidents on the autopilot?PA.I.G.R1
  176. 176Walk me through hypoxia — types, symptoms, and what you do about it.PA.I.H.K1
  177. 177Spatial disorientation — what causes it, and how do you fight it?PA.I.H.K1
  178. 178You wake up the morning of a planned flight with a head cold. Walk me through the decision.PA.I.H.K1
  179. 179How do dehydration and fatigue degrade pilot performance, and what's the self-check?PA.I.H.K1
  180. 180Walk me through 14 CFR 91.17 — what it requires and what the operational reality is.PA.I.H.K2
  181. 181A friend tells you they took a sleep aid at 10pm, woke up at 7am feeling fine, and plans a 9am departure as PIC. What is the issue?PA.I.H.K2
  182. 182OTC antihistamine for a cold — what is the operational concern, and what is your call?PA.I.H.K2
  183. 183What is the difference between 14 CFR 91.17 and 14 CFR 91.19?PA.I.H.K2
  184. 184What is ADM, and why is it framed as a skill?PA.I.H.K3
  185. 185Walk me through PAVE as part of your preflight planning.PA.I.H.K3
  186. 186Walk me through IMSAFE.PA.I.H.K3
  187. 187When do you reach for 3P versus DECIDE in flight?PA.I.H.K3
  188. 188Walk me through the five hazardous attitudes and their antidotes.PA.I.H.R1
  189. 189Confirmation bias vs expectation bias — give me an example of each in flight.PA.I.H.R1
  190. 190How do you set personal minimums, and what is the bending-personal-minimums pattern?PA.I.H.R1
  191. 191You notice you are losing situational awareness on an instrument approach. Walk me through your management.PA.I.H.R1
Airport OperationsArea III24 · show
  1. 01Walk me through how you'd find the frequencies for an airport you've never flown to.PA.III.A.K1
  2. 02What are the four elements of a standard radio call?PA.III.A.K1
  3. 03Which ATC instructions must you read back?PA.III.A.K1
  4. 04Your radio fails on the way into a Class D airport. Walk me through what you do.PA.III.A.K2
  5. 05What does a flashing red light mean in flight? On the ground?PA.III.A.K2
  6. 06Where is a transponder with Mode C required?PA.III.A.K3
  7. 07What does flight following actually get you, and what does it not?PA.III.A.K3
  8. 08Explain VASI and PAPI indications.PA.III.A.K4
  9. 09You're arriving at a non-towered field at night and the runway is dark. What do you do?PA.III.A.K4
  10. 10What is expectation bias on the radio, and how do you defend against it?PA.III.A.R1
  11. 11Tell me about a time the radio nearly caused a problem, and what you changed.PA.III.A.R1
  12. 12How do you set yourself up so the radios don't overload you?PA.III.A.S1
  13. 13The controller gives you an instruction you cannot comply with. What do you say?PA.III.A.S1
  14. 14Describe a standard traffic pattern and how you'd enter it at a non-towered field.PA.III.B.K1
  15. 15How do you know whether an airport uses right traffic?PA.III.B.K1
  16. 16Describe the runway holding position marking and how you know which side to stop on.PA.III.B.K2
  17. 17What are the sign colors and what does each mean?PA.III.B.K2
  18. 18Who has the right of way in the traffic pattern?PA.III.B.R1
  19. 19How do you avoid wake turbulence behind a larger aircraft on landing and takeoff?PA.III.B.R1
  20. 20What makes a non-towered pattern riskier than a towered one, and how do you manage it?PA.III.B.R2
  21. 21Someone is flying an opposite-direction pattern at a non-towered field. What do you do?PA.III.B.R2
  22. 22Walk me through the pattern at a non-towered field, from ten miles out to the numbers, and tell me what the tolerances are.PA.III.B.S1
  23. 23The wind is out of the west at 15 knots and you're flying a left pattern to Runway 27. What does each leg look like?PA.III.B.S1
  24. 24You're on downwind and you lose sight of the airplane ahead of you. What do you do?PA.III.B.S1