ANAC Agricultural Pilot Helicopter (PAGH) exam-day guide
ANAC Agricultural Pilot Helicopter (PAGH) · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Valid photo identification
Bring the same government-issued photo ID used on your application. Confirm with the provider which ID types it accepts and whether a second form is required.
Exam admission or authorization document
Carry the confirmation, authorization, or eligibility letter the provider issues after your application and knowledge-test results are processed. Confirm with the provider exactly what document it requires at the door.
Medical certificate
Bring your current aviation medical certificate. If you are unsure whether a particular class or limitation is acceptable for the practical test, confirm with the provider and your examiner before test day.
Pilot logbook
Your logbook must show the training and experience the practical test standards require. Verify endorsements and totals in advance; ask your instructor to review it before the exam.
Knowledge test report
Bring the official knowledge test result. If your result has expired or you needed a retest, confirm with the provider how that is handled before arriving.
Completed practical test application and endorsements
Have your instructor's endorsements and the application form filled in ahead of time. Confirm with the provider which forms and signatures are mandatory.
Aircraft and maintenance records
The helicopter must be airworthy with required documents on board. Confirm with the provider and examiner who supplies the aircraft and what records must be presented.
Current charts and flight planning materials
Bring the charts, plotter, and planning tools appropriate to the test area. Confirm with the provider which chart editions and planning products are expected.
Headset, knee board, and personal flight gear
Bring your own headset and any gear you normally fly with. Confirm with the provider whether the aircraft supplies headsets or whether you must bring them.
Rest, food, and water
Plan a normal night's sleep and bring water and a light snack. Test days are long, and fatigue affects both oral and flight performance.
Weather and scheduling check
Reconfirm report time and location the day before. Confirm with the provider its weather-cancellation and rescheduling policy so you know who to call and when.
Fee and payment method
Bring the means to pay any examiner or facility fee. Confirm with the provider the amount, due date, and accepted payment methods.
Plan the day
Review the practical test standards for every required task and maneuver, with emphasis on the areas where your instructor noted weakness. Re-read your aircraft's operating limitations, weight and balance data, and emergency procedures. Fly at least one consolidation lesson if your instructor recommends it, and ask them to quiz you on oral topics.
Assemble your documents in one folder: ID, authorization, medical, logbook, knowledge test report, application, and endorsements. Check the aircraft's maintenance status and confirm the aircraft reservation for test day. If anything is missing or ambiguous, contact the provider or your instructor now rather than the morning of the test.
Study local airspace, frequencies, and the airports likely to be used. Practice weight and balance and performance calculations for the expected conditions so the planning portion is routine. Confirm with the provider the geographic area and any local procedures the examiner may expect.
Do a light review only: emergency procedures, limitations, and the maneuver list. Avoid cramming new material. Check the weather forecast for the test area and prepare a go/no-go view, including personal fatigue and illness.
Lay out clothing, headset, charts, plotter, logbook, and documents. Charge devices and confirm transportation and report time. Reconfirm with the provider or examiner that the appointment is still on and ask how weather decisions will be communicated.
Get a full night's sleep. Eat normally and avoid alcohol. If you feel unwell, contact the examiner early; confirm with the provider how illness-related cancellations are treated.
Eat a proper meal and hydrate. Arrive early enough to park, complete any facility formalities, and settle in without rushing. Recheck the weather and NOTAMs for the route and test area.
Present your documents in an organized folder. Complete the aircraft preflight and confirm fuel, oil, and equipment status. If the aircraft has a discrepancy, raise it immediately rather than after the oral begins.
The oral portion typically covers regulations, airworthiness, performance and weight and balance, weather, operations, and emergency procedures. Answer in plain terms, state your reasoning when asked, and use the aircraft documents and reference material when appropriate. If you do not know something, say so and explain how you would find the answer.
For the flight portion, fly stabilized and within tolerances, use checklists, and verbalize your clearing turns, radio calls, and abnormal-procedure decisions. Maintain situational awareness and announce hazards. If a maneuver goes wrong, correct it calmly rather than abandoning the task.
Treat the examiner as a crew member: brief the maneuver, state your intentions, and debrief when asked. Ask for clarification if an instruction is ambiguous. At the end, complete the paperwork and ask for a clear explanation of the result and any limitations or retest requirements.
Rules to check
Bring and present the identification and authorization documents the provider requires. Confirm with the provider which forms are accepted and whether copies are needed.
Arrive at the agreed report time. If you will be late, call the examiner or provider immediately. Confirm with the provider how lateness affects the appointment.
Follow the examiner's directions during the test and remain within the aircraft's operating limitations and applicable regulations at all times. Safety of flight takes precedence over completing a task.
Breaks are at the examiner's discretion. Ask before the oral begins how the day is structured, and confirm with the provider whether any portion may be continued on another day.
Use reference materials and aircraft documents during the oral when appropriate. Confirm with the provider what materials are permitted in the testing room.
Do not discuss specific test content with other candidates in a way that compromises the integrity of the test. Follow any confidentiality or conduct rules the provider gives you.
Scoring follows the published practical test standards: tasks are evaluated as satisfactory or unsatisfactory, and a discontinued or failed task may require a retest. Confirm with the provider the retest and appeal procedures before you leave.
If you must cancel or reschedule, notify the provider as early as possible. Confirm with the provider any notice period or fee that applies to late cancellations.