FAA Recreational Pilot - Airplane (RPA) flashcards

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

Recreational pilot passenger limit

A recreational pilot may carry only one passenger and may not fly for compensation or hire, which limits both the utility and the operating rules that apply to the certificate.

Recreational pilot distance limit

Flights must stay within 50 nautical miles of the departure airport, and landings at other airports require additional cross-country training and an instructor endorsement.

Class B, C, D endorsement

A recreational pilot needs an authorized instructor endorsement to operate in Class B, C, or D airspace or in a Class E surface area; without it, the pilot must remain clear.

Flight review currency

A flight review with an authorized instructor is required every 24 calendar months, and a recreational pilot may not act as pilot in command without a current review.

Pilot in command authority

Under 14 CFR 91.3, the pilot in command is directly responsible for the operation of the aircraft and may deviate from rules in an emergency to the extent necessary.

Annual inspection requirement

An aircraft must receive an annual inspection every 12 calendar months, and it is not airworthy for flight if that inspection is overdue or not properly recorded.

Density altitude effects

High altitude, high temperature, and high humidity raise density altitude, which reduces engine power, propeller thrust, and lift while increasing takeoff and landing distances.

Weight and balance limits

The loaded center of gravity must fall within the forward and aft limits; an aft CG reduces longitudinal stability and can make stall recovery difficult.

Best angle of climb

Best angle of climb, Vx, gives the greatest altitude gain per unit of horizontal distance and is used to clear obstacles after takeoff.

Blocked static port

If the static port is blocked, the airspeed indicator behaves like an altimeter, showing climb as an increase and descent as a decrease in indicated airspeed.

Magnetic variation rule

Magnetic course equals true course adjusted for variation: east is least and west is best, meaning subtract easterly variation and add westerly variation.

Fuel reserve for VFR

Day VFR flight requires enough fuel to reach the destination plus at least 30 minutes of reserve at normal cruise power, and night VFR requires 45 minutes.

Pilotage versus dead reckoning

Pilotage is navigation by reference to visible landmarks, while dead reckoning is navigation by calculated time, distance, heading, and wind rather than by outside reference.

VOR radial tracking

A VOR radial is a magnetic bearing from the station; to fly inbound, set the OBS to that radial and keep the CDI centered with a TO indication.

Standard lapse rate

The standard temperature lapse rate is about 2 degrees Celsius per 1,000 feet, with a sea-level standard temperature of 15 degrees Celsius and pressure of 29.92 inches of mercury.

Dew point spread

When temperature and dew point approach each other, the air is near saturation and fog or low clouds are likely, which can reduce visibility below VFR minimums.

Stable versus unstable air

Stable air produces smooth air, poor visibility, and stratus clouds, while unstable air produces turbulence, good visibility, and cumuliform clouds with showery precipitation.

Thunderstorm avoidance

Thunderstorms require moisture, an unstable lapse rate, and a lifting action; pilots should avoid them by at least 20 miles and never fly beneath one.

Structural icing conditions

Structural icing forms when visible moisture exists at temperatures at or below freezing; it adds weight and drag and reduces lift, so the pilot should change altitude or route.

Hypoxia symptoms

Hypoxia causes euphoria, impaired judgment, headache, and cyanosis; supplemental oxygen is recommended above 10,000 feet and required above 12,500 feet for more than 30 minutes.

Carbon monoxide poisoning

Carbon monoxide from the heater causes headache, dizziness, and confusion; the response is to shut off the heater, open vents, and descend to a lower altitude.

IMSAFE checklist

IMSAFE stands for Illness, Medication, Stress, Alcohol, Fatigue, and Emotion, and it is used before flight to self-assess fitness to act as pilot in command.

Alcohol and flight

At least 8 hours must pass between drinking alcohol and flying, and the blood alcohol level must remain below 0.04 percent, with no impairment from any substance.

DECIDE decision model

The DECIDE model is Detect, Estimate, Choose, Identify, Do, and Evaluate, a structured process for making in-flight decisions under time pressure.

Runway number meaning

A runway number is the magnetic heading rounded to the nearest 10 degrees and divided by 10, so runway 27 has a magnetic heading of about 270 degrees.

Standard traffic pattern

The standard traffic pattern is left-hand and consists of upwind, crosswind, downwind, base, and final legs, unless charts or airport information indicate otherwise.

Displaced threshold

A displaced threshold moves the landing touchdown point down the runway; the pavement before it may be used for taxi, takeoff, and rollout but not for landing touchdown.

Runway and taxiway lights

Runway edge lights are white, taxiway edge lights are blue, and runway end lights are red, which helps pilots identify surfaces during night operations.

Right-of-way on final

An aircraft on final approach or landing has the right of way over other aircraft in flight, and a converging aircraft at the same altitude yields to the one on the right.

Critical angle of attack

A stall occurs when the critical angle of attack is exceeded, regardless of airspeed or attitude, so recovery requires reducing the angle of attack by lowering the nose.

Load factor in turns

A level turn at 60 degrees of bank produces a load factor of 2 Gs, and stall speed increases by the square root of the load factor.

Carburetor ice conditions

Carburetor ice can form at outside temperatures between about -7 and 21 degrees Celsius with high humidity; carburetor heat enriches the mixture and may cause temporary roughness.