Pre-Solo Test of Air Regulations (PSTAR) cheat sheet
Pre-Solo Test of Air Regulations (PSTAR) · Keep the key ideas within reach.
Air Law and Regulations (CARs) for Private and Recreational Pilots
CAR 401.03: no person acts as pilot-in-command or flight crew member without a valid licence, permit, or rating appropriate to the aircraft and operation.
CAR 605.03: a flight authority (Certificate of Airworthiness or Special C of A) must be in force and carried on board for every flight.
CAR 602.01 prohibits operating an aircraft in a careless or reckless manner that endangers life or property; it applies regardless of licence type.
Private pilot licence privileges (CAR 421): fly non-revenue aircraft, carry passengers, but no remuneration other than cost-sharing per CAR 401.28.
Recreational pilot permit: day VFR only, one passenger, aircraft with max 4 seats, no flight above 10,000 ft ASL, no flight in Class A airspace.
CAR 401.28 cost-sharing: private pilots may share fuel and rental costs with passengers, but only direct costs and only if all occupants share a common purpose.
Student pilot permit: solo flight only under instructor endorsement and only in the aircraft type endorsed; no passengers on solo flights.
CAR 602.11: no person may operate an aircraft with a blood alcohol concentration above 0.08% or within 8 hours of consuming alcohol (bottle to throttle).
CAR 602.19: pilot must comply with ATC instructions; if unable, notify ATC immediately and obtain an amended clearance.
Licensing and Medical Fitness
Category 3 medical certificate is the minimum for private pilot licence; Category 4 medical is the minimum for recreational pilot permit.
Student pilot permit requires a Category 3 or 4 medical; Category 4 is valid for 60 months if under 40, 24 months if 40 or older.
Category 3 medical validity: 24 months for pilots under 40, 12 months for pilots 40 and older (as of the flight date).
Medical validity is counted from the date of the last medical examination, not the date the certificate is issued.
A pilot must not act as flight crew while suffering from any illness or using any medication that impairs judgement or motor skills.
Licence currency: private pilots must have a valid medical and have completed a flight review (biennial) within 24 months to carry passengers.
Pilot logbook (CAR 401.08) must record date, aircraft type, registration, departure/arrival points, flight time, and any dual or solo status.
Written exam pass mark for PSTAR is 90% (18 of 20 questions); a fail requires a rewrite after instructor review.
Aircraft Airworthiness, Registration, and Documentation
Required on board: Certificate of Registration, Certificate of Airworthiness (or flight permit), and current journey log or aircraft log.
CAR 605.03 requires the aircraft to be maintained per the approved maintenance schedule and all ADs and SBs applicable to type to be addressed.
Annual inspection (CAR 625 Appendix B) required every 12 months for aircraft not on an approved maintenance program.
Registration mark must be displayed on the aircraft and match the Certificate of Registration; change of owner requires re-registration.
Weight and balance must be computed before each flight; exceedance of MTOW or CG limits renders the aircraft unairworthy for that flight.
Aircraft equipment (CAR 605): VFR day requires altimeter, airspeed indicator, magnetic compass, tachometer, oil pressure gauge, fuel gauge, and ELT (if applicable).
Fuel requirements for VFR: enough to reach destination plus 30 minutes at normal cruise (day) or 45 minutes (night).
A Special Certificate of Airworthiness (amateur-built) restricts operation to day VFR unless otherwise authorized.
Airspace Classification, Control Zones, and Operating Rules
Class A: controlled high-level airspace, IFR only; Class B: controlled, IFR and VFR with clearance; Class C: controlled, VFR requires clearance and transponder.
Class D: controlled, VFR requires two-way radio contact; Class E: controlled for IFR, VFR does not require clearance but radio recommended.
Class F: advisory (FAA) or restricted (CYR) airspace; CYR requires authorization from the controlling agency.
Control zone (CZ): controlled airspace around an airport extending to a specified radius and altitude, typically surface to 3,000 ft AAE.
ATZ (aerodrome traffic zone): 5 NM radius around an uncontrolled aerodrome, surface to 3,000 ft AAE, used for circuit traffic separation.
Transponder required in Class C and within 30 NM of certain Class C airports (Mode C); Mode A only in some Class D.
VFR weather minima in controlled airspace: 3 SM visibility, 1 SM horizontal and 500 ft vertical from cloud (Class C/D/E at or above 1,000 ft AGL).
Special VFR (SVFR) may be authorized by ATC in a control zone when ground visibility is at least 1 SM and ceiling at least 500 ft.
ATC Clearances, Communications, and Radio Procedures
Read back required: runway, hold short, altitude, heading, and frequency instructions; use standard phraseology and include callsign.
Initial call to ATC: aircraft identification, position, altitude, and request (e.g., "Cessna 172, 5 NM south, 3,500 ft, request landing").
If a clearance is not understood, the pilot must request clarification; never assume or abbreviate a clearance.
Lost communication (IFR): squawk 7600, continue on last assigned route and altitude, and follow the published lost-comm procedure.
Emergency frequency 121.5 MHz; ELT activation on 121.5/243.0; test ELT only in first 5 minutes of the hour.
Squawk codes: 7700 emergency, 7600 radio failure, 7500 unlawful interference.
Mandatory radio calls at uncontrolled aerodromes: downwind, base, final, and taxi; announce intentions on the aerodrome frequency (MF or ATF).
Position reports in controlled airspace include altitude, position, and next reporting point; ATC may request "say altitude" or "say heading".
Flight Rules: VFR, Right-of-Way, Minimum Altitudes, Cruising Altitudes
VFR minimum altitude: 1,000 ft above the highest obstacle within 2,000 ft horizontally over built-up areas; 500 ft elsewhere over land, 1,000 ft over water.
Cruising altitudes for tracks 0-179°: odd thousands + 500 ft (e.g., 3,500, 5,500); tracks 180-359°: even thousands + 500 ft (e.g., 4,500, 6,500).
Right-of-way: aircraft in distress > balloon > glider > airship > airplane/rotorcraft; the less maneuverable aircraft has priority.
Head-on: both aircraft alter course to the right; converging: aircraft with the other on its right gives way; overtaking: the overtaking aircraft keeps clear.
Landing: aircraft on final approach or landing has right-of-way over aircraft on the ground or in the traffic pattern.
VFR flight not permitted in Class A airspace; VFR in Class B requires ATC clearance and a transponder with Mode C.
VFR flight plan: recommended for cross-country, required for flight beyond 25 NM from shore or in designated remote areas.
Minimum visibility for VFR in Class G below 1,000 ft AGL: 2 SM day, 3 SM night; in Class C/D/E: 3 SM.
Aerodromes, Circuit Procedures, and Ground Operations
Circuit direction is normally left-hand unless published otherwise; join the circuit on the downwind leg at circuit altitude (typically 1,000 ft AGL).
Standard circuit legs: upwind, crosswind, downwind, base, final; announce each leg at uncontrolled aerodromes.
Taxiing: yield to aircraft on the runway and to aircraft with right-of-way; hold short of runway holding position markings unless cleared.
Runway markings: white threshold bars, yellow centreline, white touchdown zone, yellow hold-short lines (two solid + two dashed).
Wind direction determines runway in use; takeoff and landing should be into the wind; crosswind component must be within aircraft limits.
Apron/ramp safety: no smoking, no running, stay clear of propellers and jet blast; use marshaller signals when available.
Aerodrome traffic frequency (ATF) 123.2 MHz is used at many uncontrolled aerodromes; mandatory frequency (MF) requires radio contact before entering the zone.
Go-around: apply power, pitch for climb, retract flaps as appropriate, and announce intentions; never force a landing from an unstable approach.
Emergencies, Accident Reporting, and Occurrence Reporting
CAR 602.02: pilot-in-command is responsible for the safety of the aircraft and all persons on board; may deviate from rules in an emergency to the extent necessary.
Immediate emergency: squawk 7700, transmit MAYDAY on 121.5 or current frequency, state nature of emergency, position, altitude, and intentions.
Urgency (PAN-PAN) used when safety is not immediately threatened; mayday for imminent danger.
Accident reporting (CAR 605.03 / TSB): report immediately to TSB and nearest ATC; written report within 30 days if required.
Occurrence reporting (CAR 605.03): report incidents affecting safety (e.g., near miss, runway incursion, engine failure) to Transport Canada within 30 days.
Emergency equipment: fire extinguisher, first aid kit, and ELT required per CAR 605; check before flight.
Forced landing: maintain aircraft control, select landing area, configure for best glide, and communicate position if able.
ELT activation: switch to ON, transmit on 121.5; if no contact, continue attempts; deactivate when rescue arrives.
Human Factors, Pilot Responsibilities, and Fitness to Fly
IMSAFE checklist: Illness, Medication, Stress, Alcohol, Fatigue, Emotion - any positive item grounds the pilot until resolved.
Hypoxia: symptoms include euphoria, impaired judgement, and cyanosis; use supplemental oxygen above 10,000 ft (required above 13,000 ft).
Spatial disorientation: trust instruments, not sensations; occur most often in low visibility or during abrupt maneuvers.
Fatigue and stress degrade decision-making; the pilot must self-assess fitness before every flight and cancel if unfit.
Carbon monoxide poisoning: symptoms include headache, dizziness, and nausea; shut off heater, open vents, and land as soon as possible.
Dehydration and heat stress reduce G tolerance and cognitive performance; maintain hydration on long flights.
Pilot-in-command has final authority and responsibility for the flight; passengers must be briefed on emergency procedures.
Sterile cockpit: no non-essential conversation below 10,000 ft or during critical phases of flight.