FAA Private Pilot - Glider (PGL) exam-day guide
FAA Private Pilot - Glider (PGL) · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID
Bring an unexpired government-issued photo ID with your signature, such as a driver's license or passport. The name must match your Integrated Airman Certification and Rating Application (IACRA) record and your knowledge-test results. If your ID is expired or the name differs, confirm with the provider before test day.
FAA knowledge test report (airman knowledge test report)
Your practical test requires a passing knowledge-test score. Bring the printed airman knowledge test report showing the score and the date the test was taken. If you have lost it, confirm with the provider how to obtain a replacement before the appointment.
Completed IACRA application (FAA Form 8710-1 equivalent)
Your instructor should initiate the application in IACRA and provide the FAA Tracking Number (FTN). Review the entered data for accuracy (certificate sought, hours, endorsements) before the test. The designated pilot examiner (DPE) or provider will verify the application; confirm with the provider what they need from you in advance.
Logbook with required endorsements and experience
Bring your pilot logbook (or equivalent record) showing your glider training and the endorsements required for the practical test. The evaluator will review it. Verify the specific experience and endorsement requirements in the current Airman Certification Standards (ACS) and confirm with the provider what records they expect.
Current aeronautical charts and planning materials
Bring current charts and planning tools appropriate to the area of operation so you can complete the flight-planning and navigation tasks. Confirm with the provider which charts and publications are acceptable and whether the aircraft will have them aboard.
Glider checklists and aircraft documents knowledge
Know where the glider's operating limitations, weight and balance data, and required documents are kept, and be ready to present them. If you are using a club or school glider, confirm with the provider in advance which aircraft will be used and what documents it carries.
Written flight plan and weight-and-balance computation
Prepare the cross-country planning task the ACS requires, including a weight-and-balance computation for the planned glider and loading. Bring your calculations on paper so you can explain your work. Confirm with the provider which route or task will be assigned, if any.
Weather and NOTAM briefing
Obtain a standard weather briefing and review NOTAMs for the area of operation on the morning of the test. Be prepared to discuss the briefing and how it affects your go/no-go decision. Confirm with the provider whether they expect a specific briefing format or source.
Appropriate clothing and personal equipment
Dress for the cockpit and the field, including sun protection, water, and any personal medication. Glider operations often involve waiting on the ground and helping with launch and retrieval, so plan for several hours outdoors. Confirm with the provider what ground support is available.
Arrival time and meeting point confirmed
Confirm the meeting location, arrival time, and who will be present (evaluator, instructor, tow pilot or launch crew). Arrive early enough to complete paperwork and preflight without rushing. Confirm with the provider if any details are unclear.
Fees and payment method confirmed
Practical test fees and aircraft rental are typically payable directly to the examiner or provider. Confirm the amount, accepted payment methods, and cancellation policy with the provider before the appointment.
Questions about the test format resolved in advance
Ask the provider how the test will be structured (oral portion, flight portion, number of flights or launches) and what happens if weather prevents flying. Do not assume a specific policy; confirm with the provider.
Plan the day
Re-read the current Airman Certification Standards (ACS) for the Private Pilot Glider certificate. List the areas of operation and the tasks you are least confident about, and schedule focused review or a practice flight with your instructor for those areas.
Verify your paperwork: knowledge test report, logbook endorsements, and IACRA application data. Ask your instructor to review the application with you and correct any errors before the test. Confirm with the provider what documents they require.
Confirm logistics with the provider: date, time, meeting point, aircraft, expected duration, fees, and cancellation or weather-reschedule policy. If the forecast is marginal, ask now how rescheduling will be handled.
Practice the oral topics aloud: airworthiness and documents, weight and balance, performance and launch considerations, aeromedical factors, and emergency procedures. Explaining concepts out loud exposes gaps that reading does not.
Complete a full flight-planning exercise for a representative cross-country task, including weather analysis, route selection, altitude and glide considerations, and weight and balance. Bring the completed work to the test.
Review the glider's operating limitations, checklists, and emergency procedures, including rope break, tow-plane release, and off-field landing scenarios. Confirm with the provider which glider will be used so you study the right limitations.
Prepare your bag: ID, knowledge test report, logbook, charts, planning worksheets, pens, and a watch or timer. Lay everything out so nothing is forgotten in the morning.
Get adequate rest and avoid last-minute cramming. Fatigue degrades the judgment and situational awareness the evaluator is assessing, especially in the oral portion.
Obtain a standard weather briefing and review NOTAMs. Write down the key items (winds, ceilings, visibility, launch conditions, airspace) so you can discuss the go/no-go decision with the evaluator.
Eat a normal meal, hydrate, and arrive at the agreed time with time to spare. Complete any remaining paperwork and preflight the glider without rushing.
Confirm with the provider if conditions look marginal. Do not launch into conditions you would not accept on your own; the evaluator will assess your decision-making, and a no-go decision made for good reasons is part of the test.
Expect the oral portion first, covering the ACS areas of operation. Answer directly, use the aircraft documents and references when appropriate, and say so if you do not know something rather than guessing. The evaluator is assessing judgment as well as knowledge.
During the flight portion, verbalize your checks, scan, and decision points. Fly the glider as you were trained, use the checklists, and treat any simulated emergency as a real one for the purpose of the maneuver.
If you make an error, correct it and continue. Ask for clarification only when the instruction is genuinely unclear; confirm with the provider in advance how the evaluator handles questions during the test.
Review the results with the evaluator, sign the required documents, and ask what to do next if a notice of disapproval is issued. Confirm with the provider how retesting is scheduled and what fees apply.
Rules to check
Bring an unexpired government-issued photo ID with your signature. The name must match your IACRA application and knowledge test report. If your documents are inconsistent, confirm with the provider before test day.
The practical test is conducted against the current Airman Certification Standards, which define the areas of operation and the standards for each task. Know the ACS structure and use it to organize your preparation.
You may be asked questions on any task in the ACS areas of operation, not only those you expect. The evaluator selects tasks within the ACS, so prepare across the full set of areas of operation rather than a narrow list.
You are responsible for the go/no-go decision as pilot in command during the flight portion. Do not let test-day pressure push you into conditions or decisions you would reject on your own; explain your reasoning.
Use the aircraft documents, checklists, and references available to you. The test assesses your ability to find and apply information, not only what you have memorized.
If the evaluator issues a notice of disapproval, you will be tested again on the failed areas of operation. Confirm with the provider the retest requirements, timeframe, and fees; do not assume a policy.
Fees, cancellation terms, and weather-reschedule policies are set by the examiner or provider, not by the FAA. Confirm these in writing before the appointment.
If any requirement in this guide conflicts with what your provider tells you, follow the provider and verify against current FAA guidance. Do not rely on this guide as a substitute for the regulations or the ACS.