ACS Private Pilot - PA.I. Preflight Preparation

PA.I.A. Pilot Qualifications

The FAA Advisory Circulars that are for sale can be obtained from the Superintendent of Documents, Government Printing Office. Free ACs can be obtained from the U.S. Department of Transportation. Many are available on the Internet.

Categories:

Category of aircraft: Normal, utility, acrobatic.
Category of airmen certificates: Airplane, rotorcraft, glider, etc.

Class:

Class of aircraft: airplane; rotorcraft; glider; balloon; landplane; and seaplane.
Class of airmen certificate: single engine; multiengine; land; water; gyroplane; helicopter; airship; and free balloon.

The PIC may carry a person who is under the influence of drugs in an emergency, or as long as they are a medical patient under proper care. FAR 91.17

An emergency parachute must have been packed by a certificated and appropriately rated parachute rigger within the preceding 180 days. FAR 61.101

Fly in formation: Each PIC must have conferred with the other pilots as to what they would do in flight.

To fly an aircraft special VFR at night in Class D airspace, the pilot and aircraft must be certified for instrument flight. FAR 91.157

A student pilot certificate issued after April 1, 2016 under part 61.19 is issued without a specific expiration date.

In the advisory circular system, the information covering airmen is issued under the subject number 60.

If the PIC deviates from a rule he shall, upon the request of the Administrator, send a written report of that deviation to the Administrator. FAR 91.3

PA.I.A.K1 Certification requirements, recent flight experience, and recordkeeping.

(FAR 61.57a) To act as PIC with passengers, the pilot needs to have made 3 takeoffs and landings in the preceding 90 days in the category, class, and type of aircraft, if a type rating is required.

Flight review (FAR 61.56): every 24 months; e.g. flight review on Aug 10, it is valid until Aug 31, 2 years later.

Night flight (FAR 61.57): For the purposes of recent experience, night flight begins one hour after sunset. E.g. if recency of experience requirements for night flight are not met and official sunset is 1830, the latest time passengers may be carried is 19:29.

Towing a glider (FAR 61.69)

To act as PIC of an aircraft towing a glider, a pilot must have 100 hours of PIC time in the aircraft category, class, and type, if a type rating is required.
To act as PIC of an aircraft towing a glider, a pilot must have made at least three actual or simulated glider tows while accompanied by a qualified pilot who meets the requirements of this section.

Tailwheel: Landings for recency of experience must be to a full stop, if the pilot is carrying passengers in a tailwheel airplane. FAR 61.57

PA.I.A.K2 Privileges and limitations.

61.113 - Private pilot privileges and limitations

PPL: not for compensation or hire, with exceptions listed in 61.113 (b) through (h)

A private pilot may act as pilot in command of an aircraft used in a passenger-carrying airlift sponsored by a charitable organization, for which the passengers make a donation to the organization.

Address change (FAR 61.60): A pilot must notify the FAA within 30 days of a permanent change of mailing address or he cannot exercise the privilege of his certificate.

PA.I.A.K3 Medical certificates: class, expiration, privileges, temporary disqualifications.

61.23

Class I:
- as an ATP: 6 months if age 40 or older; 12 months if under age 40
- as a commercial pilot: 12 months
- as a private pilot: 2 years if age 40 or older; 5 years if less than 40
Class II: 12 months
Class III: 2 years if age 40 or older; 5 years if less than 40 at exam

PA.I.A.K4 Documents required to exercise private pilot privileges.

Required docs (FAR 61.3):

Government issued photo ID
Pilot Certificate (student pilot certificate if on solo)
Medical Certificate
If on a solo, must have logbook with all solo endorsements

Proof of a flight review does NOT need to be in ones personal possession.

PA.I.A.K5 Part 68 BasicMed privileges and limitations.

Part 68: one can operate under BasicMed (without an FAA medical certificate): possess a U.S. driver's license, have held a medical Get a physical exam with a state-licensed physician, using the Comprehensive Medical Examination Checklist

Limitations: <= 6 occupants, <= 5 passengers, MTOW <= 6000 lb, Operates under VFR or IFR, within the United States, at or below 18,000 feet MSL, not exceeding 250 knots.

Flight not operated for compensation or hire

To fly with BasicMed, you will need an exam with completed FAA 8700-2 form every 4 years. You will need to retake the online BasicMed course and pass the quiz every 2 years.

Q: When operating under BasicMed, where do you need to retain a copy of the Comprehensive Medical Examination Checklist (CMEC)?

A: In your logbook.

PA.I.B Airworthiness Requirements

If an alteration or repair substantially affects an aircraft's operation in flight, that aircraft must be test flown by an appropriately-rated pilot and approved for return to service prior to being operated with passengers aboard.

After purchasing an airplane from a dealer, is it legal to fly away using the dealer’s aircraft registration? No, the airplane must be first registered to the new owner.

PA.I.B.K1 General airworthiness requirements and compliance for airplanes

FAR 91.403: The owner or operator of an aircraft is primarily responsible for maintaining that aircraft in an airworthy condition.

91.7.

PA.I.B.K1a. Certificate location and expiration dates

91.9, 45.11, 47.4, 91.203

For Experimental or Special light-sport aircraft, the operating limitations are attached to the Special Airworthiness Certificate (Form 8130-7) for the aircraft.

PA.I.B.K1b. Required inspections and airplane logbook documentation

91.409

PA.I.B.K1c. Airworthiness Directives and Special Airworthiness Information Bulletins

Part 39

Airworthiness Directives ( AD s) are legally enforceable regulations issued by the FAA in accordance with 14 CFR part 39 to correct an unsafe condition in a product.

SAIBs Special Airworthiness Information Bulletins contain non-regulatory information and guidance that does not meet the criteria for an Airworthiness Directive (AD).

PA.I.B.K1d. Purpose and procedure for obtaining a special flight permit

91.313, 21.197

airworhiness certificate: does not expire aircraft registration: valid for seven years

A Special Flight Permit (SFP), commonly referred to as a Ferry Permit, may be issued to any U.S. registered aircraft that may not currently meet applicable Airworthiness Requirements but is capable of safe flight.

PA.I.B.K2 Pilot-performed preventive maintenance.

In addition to FAA-certificated repair stations, mechanics, and persons working under their supervision, owners and pilots are allowed to perform preventive maintenance according to 14 CFR 43.3(g).

When the work is completed satisfactorily, a logbook entry that includes the following information is required, per 14 CFR 43.9:

PA.I.B.K3 Equipment requirements for day and night VFR flight, to include:

a. Flying with inoperative equipment (91.213)
b. Using an approved Minimum Equipment List (MEL)
c. Kinds of Operation Equipment List (KOEL)
d. Required discrepancy records or placards

91.205 lists required equipments; if there's inop equipments, check 91.213 on what to do.

“simple or minor preservation operations and the replacement of small standard parts not involving complex assembly operations.” The tasks meeting this definition are limited to a list of specific operations described in 14 CFR Part 43, Appendix A, Paragraph (c). Some of which include replacing fuel or oil strainers, cleaning and greasing landing gear wheel bearings, and replenishing hydraulic fluid. The list also includes operations you may not be aware of – replacing spark plugs, replacing fuel lines, or repairing landing gear tires.

FAA Advisory Circular 91–67 states a KOEL specifies the required equipment for aircraft airworthiness for the four flight conditions: VFR day, VFR night, IFR day and IFR night.

The PIC is obliged to follow the manufacturer’s operational guidelines in addition to FAR Part 91.205.

Many newer airplanes have a KOEL within the limitations section of the POH. Some examples are the Cessna 172S NAVIII, Cessna 182T NAV III, Cirrus SR20 and Cirrus SR22. Other older airplanes do not have a KOEL at all.

For airplanes without a KOEL, the PIC must abide by equipment requirements as stated in the following FARs: 91.205 (instruments required for VFR and IFR day and night flight); 91.207 (ELT operational requirements); 91.215 (airspace transponder requirements), 91.225 (ADS – B operations), any AD’s, and the manufacturer’s equipment list.

e.g. if the navigation lights are inoperative, The aircraft is still airworthy but not for night flight per the KOEL.

Specifically, for aircraft without an MEL (all CAP aircraft), 91.213(d) requires that the equipment must not be required by 91.205, an equipment list, an AD, or a KOEL. It must be either: removed, placarded, and the maintenance log updated; or it must be deactivated and placarded.

Reg:

91.213 - Inoperative instruments and equipment.

PA.I.C. Weather Information

PA.I.C.K1 Sources of weather data (e.g., National Weather Service, Flight Service) for flight planning purposes.

PA.I.C.K2 Acceptable weather products and resources required for preflight planning, current and forecast weather for departure, en route, and arrival phases of flight.

PA.I.C.K3 Meteorology applicable to the departure, en route, alternate, and destination under VFR in Visual Meteorological Conditions (VMC) to include expected climate and hazardous conditions such as:

PA.I.C.K3a a. Atmospheric composition and stability
PA.I.C.K3b b. Wind (e.g., crosswind, tailwind, windshear, mountain wave, etc.)
PA.I.C.K3c c. Temperature
PA.I.C.K3d d. Moisture/precipitation
PA.I.C.K3e e. Weather system formation, including air masses and fronts
PA.I.C.K3f f. Clouds
PA.I.C.K3g g. Turbulence
PA.I.C.K3h h. Thunderstorms and microbursts
PA.I.C.K3i i. Icing and freezing level information
PA.I.C.K3j j. Fog/mist
PA.I.C.K3k k. Frost
PA.I.C.K3l l. Obstructions to visibility (e.g., smoke, haze, volcanic ash, etc.)
PA.I.C.K4 Flight deck displays of digital weather and aeronautical information.

PA.I.D. Cross-Country Flight Planning

PA.I.D.K1

Route planning, including consideration of different classes and special use airspace (SUA) and selection of appropriate and available navigation/communication systems and facilities.

PA.I.D.K2 Altitude selection accounting for terrain and obstacles, glide distance of the airplane, VFR

cruising altitudes, and the effect of wind.

PA.I.D.K3 Calculating:

PA.I.D.K3a a. Time, climb and descent rates, course, distance, heading, true airspeed, and groundspeed
PA.I.D.K3b b. Estimated time of arrival to include conversion to universal coordinated time (UTC)
PA.I.D.K3c c. Fuel requirements, to include reserve

PA.I.D.K4 Elements of a VFR flight plan.

PA.I.D.K5 Procedures for activating and closing a VFR flight plan.

PA.I.E. National Airspace System

PA.I.E.K1 Types of airspace/airspace classes and associated requirements and limitations.

PA.I.E.K2 Charting symbology.

Check the latest Aeronautical Chart Users' Guide https://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/flight_info/aeronav/digital_products/aero_guide/

PA.I.E.K3 Special use airspace (SUA), special flight rules areas (SFRA), temporary flight restrictions (TFR), and other airspace areas.

PA.I.F Performance and Limitations

PA.I.F.K1 Elements related to performance and limitations by explaining the use of charts, tables, and data to determine performance.

PA.I.F.K2 Factors affecting performance, to include:

PA.I.F.K2a a. Atmospheric conditions
PA.I.F.K2b b. Pilot technique
PA.I.F.K2c c. Airplane configuration
PA.I.F.K2d d. Airport environment
PA.I.F.K2e e. Loading (e.g., center of gravity)
PA.I.F.K2f f. Weight and balance

PA.I.F.K3 Aerodynamics.

PA.I.G Operation of Systems

PA.I.G.K1 Airplane systems, to include:

Note: If K1 is selected, the evaluator must assess the applicant’s knowledge of at least three of the following sub-elements.

PA.I.G.K1a a. Primary flight controls
PA.I.G.K1b b. Secondary flight controls
PA.I.G.K1c c. Powerplant and propeller
PA.I.G.K1d d. Landing gear
PA.I.G.K1e e. Fuel, oil, and hydraulic
PA.I.G.K1f f. Electrical
PA.I.G.K1g g. Avionics
PA.I.G.K1h h. Pitot-static, vacuum/pressure, and associated flight instruments
PA.I.G.K1i i. Environmental
PA.I.G.K1j j. Deicing and anti-icing
PA.I.G.K1k k. Water rudders (ASES, AMES)
PA.I.G.K1l l. Oxygen system

PA.I.G.K2 Indications of and procedures for managing system abnormalities or failures.

PA.I.H Human Factors

PA.I.H.K1 The symptoms (as applicable), recognition, causes, effects, and corrective actions associated with aeromedical and physiological issues including:

PA.I.H.K1a a. Hypoxia
PA.I.H.K1b b. Hyperventilation
PA.I.H.K1c c. Middle ear and sinus problems
PA.I.H.K1d d. Spatial disorientation
PA.I.H.K1e e. Motion sickness
PA.I.H.K1f f. Carbon monoxide poisoning
PA.I.H.K1g g. Stress
PA.I.H.K1h h. Fatigue
PA.I.H.K1i i. Dehydration and nutrition
PA.I.H.K1j j. Hypothermia
PA.I.H.K1k k. Optical illusions
PA.I.H.K1l l. Dissolved nitrogen in the bloodstream after scuba dives