FAA Private Pilot - Gyroplane (PRG) exam-day guide
FAA Private Pilot - Gyroplane (PRG) · 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 evaluator must verify your identity before the practical test begins. If your name or address differs from your pilot records, resolve it with the FAA before test day; confirm any specific document requirements with the evaluator or provider when you schedule.
FAA pilot certificates and records
Bring your student pilot certificate (or higher), your logbook, and any endorsements required for the practical test, including your pre-solo and solo endorsements and the endorsement certifying you are ready for the practical test. Also bring your knowledge test report showing a passing score. Confirm with your CFI which endorsements apply to your gyroplane category and class rating.
Medical certificate or BasicMed documentation
Bring your current FAA medical certificate, or your BasicMed course completion and physician examination records if you qualify and are operating under BasicMed. Verify eligibility for BasicMed in a gyroplane with your instructor and the provider before relying on it.
Completed IACRA application
Your instructor or you should submit the practical test application through IACRA in advance so the evaluator can review it. Bring the application ID or printed confirmation. Confirm with the provider how they want the application handled and whether they require it submitted a set number of days ahead.
Gyroplane airworthiness and registration documents
Ensure the aircraft you will use has its airworthiness certificate, registration, operating limitations, and weight and balance data on board, and that required inspections and maintenance are current. If you are providing the aircraft, confirm with the evaluator in advance that it is acceptable and that insurance covers the flight.
Current charts and flight planning materials
Bring current sectional charts, the Chart Supplement, a plotter, an E6B or electronic flight computer, and a navigation log. The evaluator will assign a cross-country planning task, and you should be able to plan without relying on pre-built digital routing you cannot explain.
Gyroplane-specific knowledge references
Review the gyroplane portions of the Airman Certification Standards, the Rotorcraft Flying Handbook, and applicable regulations. Bring the current ACS so you know the tasks and standards you will be evaluated against. Confirm the edition the evaluator uses.
Headset, logbook, and personal equipment
Bring a working aviation headset, spare batteries for any electronic devices, water, and sun protection. Gyroplanes are open or semi-open in many cases, so plan for wind, noise, and sun. Confirm with the provider whether the aircraft supplies headsets.
Weather and NOTAM briefing
Obtain a standard briefing for the area and route before you depart for the test and again before the flight portion. Be ready to discuss weather trends, ceilings, visibility, winds, and how they affect gyroplane performance. Keep a record of the briefing.
Aircraft preflight and fuel planning
Arrive early enough to preflight the gyroplane and confirm fuel quantity, oil, rotor condition, and control continuity. Know the aircraft's operating limitations, V speeds, and emergency procedures. If you are not the aircraft owner, confirm with the provider who is responsible for preflight and fuel.
Airport and airspace familiarity
Review the departure airport's runway layout, traffic pattern, taxi routes, and surrounding airspace, including any control tower or special use airspace. Know the local frequencies and the procedures for entering and departing the pattern.
Fee and scheduling confirmation
Confirm the practical test fee, cancellation policy, and start time with the evaluator or provider. Ask what happens if weather or aircraft maintenance forces a postponement. Mark this as needs_review: fee and cancellation terms vary by provider and are not set by the FAA.
Plan the day
Confirm the appointment, aircraft availability, and insurance with the evaluator. Submit or verify the IACRA application. Do a full mock oral and flight review with your instructor, focusing on weak areas such as weight and balance, performance, emergency procedures, and airspace. Verify the aircraft's maintenance status and that all required documents are aboard. Review the ACS task list and note any tasks you cannot explain without notes.
Get a weather briefing for the test area and the route you may be asked to plan. Prepare a navigation log for a likely cross-country scenario. Pack your documents, charts, plotter, computer, headset, and spare batteries. Confirm the meeting time and location with the evaluator. Avoid cramming new material; instead rehearse checklists, emergency procedures, and the flow of the oral exam. Get a full night's sleep and avoid alcohol.
Eat and hydrate. Get a fresh weather briefing and note any changes. Arrive early enough to preflight the gyroplane unhurried. Confirm fuel, oil, rotor condition, and control movement. Have your documents organized and ready. Introduce yourself to the evaluator, confirm the plan for the day, and ask how the oral and flight portions will be sequenced.
Answer questions directly and explain your reasoning. Use the aircraft's documents, charts, and regulations when appropriate, but know the key facts from memory. If you do not know something, say so and describe how you would find the answer. Expect scenario-based questions about weather, performance, weight and balance, airspace, and emergencies.
Use checklists, verbalize your actions, and maintain situational awareness. Perform the tasks to the ACS standards, including preflight preparation, taxi, takeoff, climbs, turns, stalls or slow flight as applicable, emergency procedures, and landings. Keep a sterile cockpit during critical phases and announce your intentions clearly. If a task goes poorly, continue safely and address it afterward.
The evaluator will debrief you and issue a temporary airman certificate if you pass, or a notice of disapproval if you do not. Review any discrepancies and ask what specific tasks need improvement. If you did not pass, confirm the retest requirements and the endorsements you will need from your instructor before scheduling again.
Rules to check
Bring an unexpired government-issued photo ID; the evaluator must verify your identity before the test. Confirm any additional identity requirements with the provider when you schedule.
The practical test is conducted under the Airman Certification Standards for the gyroplane rating. Know the tasks and standards, and expect the evaluator to test both knowledge and flight proficiency.
You may use reference materials such as charts, regulations, and the aircraft's documents during the oral portion, but you should know core facts and procedures without them. Ask the evaluator before the test what references are allowed.
Breaks are generally allowed when needed, but confirm the evaluator's expectations at the start of the day, especially if the oral and flight portions are split by weather or aircraft availability.
If weather or aircraft maintenance makes the flight unsafe or impractical, the evaluator may discontinue the test. A discontinuation is not a failure, but confirm the provider's policy on rescheduling and any additional fees.
Do not discuss or share specific test questions with other candidates in a way that compromises the integrity of the evaluation. Treat the evaluator's scenarios as confidential.
If you do not pass, the evaluator will issue a notice of disapproval listing the tasks you did not complete satisfactorily. You will need additional training and a new endorsement before retesting; confirm the retest timeline and requirements with your instructor and the provider.
Confirm all fees, cancellation terms, and scheduling policies with the evaluator or provider in advance. These vary by provider and are not standardized by the FAA.