A study guide filled with the easiest acronyms and memory aids to help earn your private pilot license. It covers the topics of regulations, weather, and airspace. Perfect for a student pilot or a private pilot going for a Biannual flight review.
1. Private Pilot Study Guide
Acronyms
Required pre-flight action (91.103) Required documents on board (91.203)
Notams Airworthiness certificate
Weather Registration
Known ATC delays Radio License
Runway lengths Operator's handbook
Alternate Weight and balance
Fuel
Take-off and landing distances
Registration Expiration Required Inspections (91.409)
30 days after owner's death Airworthiness directives (primary/reoccurring)
Foreign registration Vor (30 days)
Transfer of ownership Inspections (100hr/annual)
Death of the owner Altimeter (24 calender months)
U.S. Citizenship Revoked Transponder ( 24 calender months)
Cancelled ELT (12 calender months)
Static system ( 24 calender months)
Required equipment for VFR day Required equipment for VFR night
(91.205) (91.205)
Altimeter Fuses/Circuit breakers
Landing light (if for hire)
Tachometer Anti-collision lights
Oil pressure gauge Position lights
Magnetic compass Source of electrical power
Airspeed indicator
Temperature gauge VOR tests
Oil temperature gauge All – Airborn (±6˚)
ELT Very – VOT (±4˚)
Good – Ground (±4˚)
Fuel gauge Airmen – Airway (±4˚)
Landing gear indicator Do – Dual (4˚)
Anti-collision Lights Benchtests - (±4˚)
Manifold pressure gauge
Emergency equipment
Seat belts
This study guide was compiled by Matt Ayer.
2. Private Pilot Study Guide
Acronyms
Types of Airspeeds
Indicated – The speed read from the instrument panel
Calibrated – Indicated corrected for position and installation error of pitot
Equivalent – Calibrated corrected air flow error at greater than 180 kts
True – Equivalent corrected for pressure and temperature.
Ground – True corrected for winds
Types of Altitudes
Indicated – The altitude read from the instrument panel
Pressure – Indicated corrected for non standard pressure
Density – Pressure corrected for non standard temperature
Absolute – Altitude above the ground level
True – Altitude above sea level
Engine System
4 cylinders
Carburetor
Horizontally opposed cylinders
Air cooled
Normally aspirated (no turbo or super charger)
Direct drive
Lycoming
Types of Hypoxia
A - Altitude – Hypoxic – Not enough oxygen
B - Blood – Stagnant – Blood not circulating
C – Cells – Hypemic – Cells aren’t carrying the oxygen molecules
D – Drugs – Histotoxic – Body tissue is poisoned by drugs and alcohol
This study guide was compiled by Matt Ayer.
3. Private Pilot Study Guide
Airspace
Dimensions Required Equipment Required from ATC Depiction on sectional
Surface to 10,000' MSL Mode C transponder, 2 way “Cleared into Bravo” Solid blue circle
B radio
C Inner ring – surface to
4000' AGL(5nm) / Outer
Mode C transponder, 2 way Establish 2 way radio
radio communications
Solid magenta circle
ring 1200' to 4000' (10nm)
D Surface to 2,500' AGL
(4nm)
2 way radio Establish 2 way radio
communications
Dashed blue circle
Types of Echo airspace
Surface – Surface to FL180 – Dashed magenta circle
Extension – Surface to FL180 – Dashed magenta box attached to a Delta airspace
Transition – 700' to FL180 – Faded magenta circle
Airway – 1200' to FL180 – Faded blue line
Domestic en route – 1200' (in Florida) to FL180 – everywhere not depicted as airspace
Offshore – 1200' to FL 180- beginning 12nm off the shore until the ADIZ
God – Above FL 600
Gulf airspace starts at the surface until any overlying airspace. It is not depicted.
Special use airspace
Warning – International waters – No permission needed
Alert – High concentration of flight activity – No permission needed
Restricted – Unusual activity – Must have permission
Military Operating Area – Seperates IFR and military traffic – No permission needed
Prohibited – Area of national security (White house) – Never enter
Controlled firing area – Not depicted – No permission needed
This study guide was compiled by Matt Ayer.
5. Private Pilot Study Guide
Weather Theory
3 factors to create thunderstorms 3 stages in a thunderstorm
• Unstable air • Cumulus (Updrafts, formation of cloud)
• Lifting action • Mature (Rain begins, anvil shape, updraft and
• Moisture downdraft)
• Dissipating (Downdrafts, microbursts)
6 types of fog 4 types of clouds
• Radiation (Calm clear nights, ground cools) • Cirrus (High altitude, made of ice crystals)
• Advection (Warm air moves over cold • Stratus (Low, horizontal formation)
surface, land moving from land to sea)
• Cumulus (Small white puffy clouds)
• Upslope (Air moves upward on a slope
cooling to its dew point) • Cumulonimbus (Towering thunderstorm
clouds)
• Ice fog (Frozen crystals are suspended in air)
• Freezing fog (Supercooled water droplets
suspended in air until freezing on a surface)
• Steam (Cool air mixing with warm, moist air
causing saturation)
Weather Services
Metar Airmets – valid 6 hours
• Issued hourly (+55) • Sierra (mountain obscurations and IFR)
• valid until the next • Tango (Moderate turbulence and
• 2 types surface winds greater that 30 knots)
1. Standard • Zulu (Light icing and freezing levels)
2. Speci (Unscheduled observation due to
weather)
Sigmets – Valid 4 hours Convective Sigmets
• Severe or greater turbulence • Severe thunderstorms
• Severe or greater icing • Surface hail ¾ inches or greater in
• Volcanic ash diameter
• Sand/ Dust Storms • Surface winds greater than or equal to
50 kts
• Tornadoes
• Embedded thunderstorms
• Lines of thunderstorms
• Precipitation affecting 40% or more of
an are of 3000 sq. miles
This study guide was compiled by Matt Ayer.
6. Private Pilot Study Guide
Weather Services
Terminal Area Forecast (TAF) Area Forecast (FA)
• Issued 4 times a day • Issued 3 times a day
• Valid 24 hours • Contains 4 parts
• Covers an area of 5 miles around the 1. Product Header (Valid 18 hours)
2. Synopsis (Valid 18 hours)
reporting airport
3. VFR clouds and weather (Valid 12 hours)
4. Outlook (Valid 6 hours)
• Covers an area of several states
Winds Aloft
• Issued 4 times a day
• Validity ranging from 6 to 24 hours
depending on the observation
Other regulations to know
Supplemental oxygen (91.211)
12,500 up to 14,000 – O2 needed after 30 mins for crew
14,000 to 15,000 – O2 must be used by crew entire flight
15,000 and above - Each occupant must be supplied with O2
Transponder required (91.215)
• Within lateral boundaries of class C airspace
• Within 30 nm of class B airspace
• When crossing the ADIZ
• When flying above 10,000 ft MSL unless below 2,500 ft AGL
ELT not required
50 nm from the training airport
Turbo-jet
Experimental
Agriculture
Research
Scheduled air carrier
1 pilot plane
Design and testing
Air racing
New aircraft delivery
Crew Training
Exhibition
This study guide was compiled by Matt Ayer.