Learning to Fly FAQ
What are the entry-level pilot certificates?
What are the eligibility requirements for a pilot certificate?
What are the medical certification requirements for pilots?
What is ground training like?
What is flight training like?
What tests are required to become a pilot?
How much does it cost to become a pilot?
How can I find a flight school and flight instructor?
How does a pilot stay current and proficient?
What additional certificates and ratings can a pilot earn?
How do I sign up for an introductory flight lesson?
|
|
What Tests are Required to Become a Pilot?
 Whether you're pursuing a sport, recreational, or private pilot certificate, you'll need to pass three tests: the pre-solo written test, FAA knowledge test, and FAA practical test.
1.) Pre-Solo Written Test
- Required before your first solo flight
- May be written by your flight school, instructor, a commercial vendor, or anyone else as long as it meets FAA requirements
- Questions may be any format (multiple-choice, fill-in-the blank, essay, etc.)
- May be any number of questions
- May be open- or closed-book
- Must be corrected to 100%
- Must include at least the following topics:
- Applicable regulations from parts 61 and 91
- Airspace rules and procedures for the airport where the solo flight will be performed
- Flight characteristics and operational limitations for the make and model of aircraft to be flown
2.) FAA Knowledge Test
- Often called "the written"
- Questions are pulled from an FAA database
- Test is taken on a computer with supplementary information available on paper
- Questions are multiple-choice
- Minimum passing score: 70%
- Instructor's endorsement is required to take the test
- Two vendors offer FAA approved testing:
- Cost = $150
- Number of questions and time limit depend on pilot certificate sought:
- Sport: 40 questions, 2 hours
- Recreational: 50 questions, 2 hours
- Private: 60 questions, 2 hours 30 minutes
3.) FAA Practical Test
- Often called a "checkride"
- Administered by an FAA inspector, designated pilot examiner (DPE), or sport pilot examiner
- Content and conduct of the test is strictly governed by the applicable FAA Practical Test Standards
- Test is pass/fail (fail one item, fail the test)
- Instructor's endorsement is required to take the test
- Cost: free if administered by an FAA inspector, otherwise normally a fee applies (set by the examiner)
- Divided into two parts:
- The oral portion tests the applicant's knowledge
- The flight portion continues to test the applicant's knowledge and also evaluates flying skills
|
|
