Pre-Solo Test of Air Regulations (PSTAR) flashcards

32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.

PSTAR pass mark

The PSTAR written exam requires a minimum score of 90 percent, meaning at least 18 of 20 questions must be answered correctly.

Category 3 medical validity

Valid for 24 months for pilots under 40 and 12 months for pilots 40 or older, counted from the date of the last medical examination.

Cost-sharing rule

Private pilots may share direct fuel and rental costs with passengers only when all occupants share a common purpose and no profit is made.

Careless or reckless operation

CAR 602.01 prohibits operating an aircraft in a careless or reckless manner that endangers life or property, regardless of licence type.

Certificate of Airworthiness

A flight authority confirming the aircraft meets its type design and is maintained per the approved schedule; must be on board every flight.

Annual inspection requirement

Aircraft not on an approved maintenance program require an annual inspection every 12 months per CAR 625 Appendix B to remain airworthy.

VFR fuel requirement

Enough fuel to reach the destination plus 30 minutes at normal cruise for day VFR, or 45 minutes for night VFR.

Class C airspace

Controlled airspace where VFR flight requires an ATC clearance and a transponder with Mode C; IFR also requires clearance.

Control zone

Controlled airspace around an airport extending to a specified radius and altitude, typically from the surface to 3,000 ft AAE.

Class F airspace

Advisory (FAA) or restricted (CYR) airspace; CYR requires authorization from the controlling agency before entry.

Special VFR

ATC authorization in a control zone when ground visibility is at least 1 SM and ceiling at least 500 ft, permitting VFR in marginal weather.

Read-back requirement

Pilots must read back runway, hold-short, altitude, heading, and frequency instructions to ATC using standard phraseology and the aircraft callsign.

Squawk 7700

The transponder code for an emergency; pilots should also transmit MAYDAY on 121.5 or the current frequency with position and intentions.

Lost communication code

Squawk 7600 indicates radio failure; IFR pilots continue on the last assigned route and altitude and follow the published lost-comm procedure.

Mandatory frequency

An MF aerodrome requires radio contact with the ground station before entering the zone; ATF aerodromes use 123.2 MHz for advisory calls.

VFR minimum altitude

Over built-up areas, 1,000 ft above the highest obstacle within 2,000 ft horizontally; elsewhere 500 ft over land and 1,000 ft over water.

Cruising altitude rule

Tracks 0 to 179 degrees use odd thousands plus 500 ft; tracks 180 to 359 degrees use even thousands plus 500 ft for VFR cruising.

Right-of-way order

Aircraft in distress, then balloons, gliders, airships, and airplanes or rotorcraft; the less maneuverable aircraft has priority.

Converging aircraft rule

When two aircraft converge at the same altitude, the aircraft with the other on its right gives way and alters course to the right.

Head-on rule

When two aircraft approach head-on, both alter course to the right to pass well clear of each other.

Circuit altitude

The standard traffic pattern altitude, typically 1,000 ft AGL, with left-hand turns unless the aerodrome publishes right-hand circuits.

Hold-short markings

Two solid and two dashed yellow lines at a runway holding position; aircraft must stop and obtain clearance before crossing.

Go-around procedure

Apply full power, pitch for climb, retract flaps as appropriate, and announce intentions; never force a landing from an unstable approach.

ATF frequency

The aerodrome traffic frequency of 123.2 MHz used at many uncontrolled aerodromes for advisory position and intention calls.

MAYDAY vs PAN-PAN

MAYDAY signals imminent danger to life or aircraft; PAN-PAN signals urgency when safety is not immediately threatened.

Accident reporting

Report an accident immediately to the TSB and nearest ATC, followed by a written report within 30 days if required.

Occurrence reporting

Report safety-affecting incidents such as near misses or runway incursions to Transport Canada within 30 days under CAR 605.03.

Pilot-in-command authority

The PIC is responsible for the safety of the aircraft and all persons on board and may deviate from rules in an emergency as necessary.

IMSAFE checklist

Illness, Medication, Stress, Alcohol, Fatigue, and Emotion; any positive item grounds the pilot until the issue is resolved.

Hypoxia symptoms

Euphoria, impaired judgement, headache, and cyanosis; supplemental oxygen is required above 13,000 ft and recommended above 10,000 ft.

Spatial disorientation

A false sense of aircraft attitude caused by misleading sensory cues; pilots must trust instruments, especially in low visibility or abrupt maneuvers.

Sterile cockpit

No non-essential conversation or activity below 10,000 ft or during critical phases of flight such as taxi, takeoff, approach, and landing.