APPLICANTS PRACTICAL TEST CHECKLIST
Aircraft Documents
--Airworthiness
--Registration
--Limitations

Maintenance records
--Airworthiness inspections
--AD compliance

Pilot’s Operating Handbook –Airplane Flight Manual
–Reliability of charts and graphs
–Margins of safety in planning flight
--Range, time in air, reliability of maintenance
–Weight vs balance computation

Provided by Pilot
--Hood
--Computer/plotter
--Flight Plan Form
--Flight log sheets—diversion possibles info
--AIM, AF/D, charts—must be current

Personal Records
--Identification picture
--Pilot certificate
--Medical certificate
--Form 8710-1
--Computer test report
--Logbook with endorsements
--Examiner’s fee

PREFLIGHT PREPARATION
Certificates and documents
--privileges, limitations, recency requirements.
--Medical class and duration--duration
--Logbook and records—optional vs required

--Locate and explain
--Certificates
--limitations, instruments, placards, POH/AFM
--Weight and balance, equipment

Airworthiness
Explain
--Day VFR instruments and equipment (mnemonic)
--Determining airworthiness—owner, operator, A&P, AI, pilot
--Obtaining special flight permit—A&B endorsement, FAA authorization
Locate and explain
--ADs (Airworthiness Directives—one-time and recurrent
--Compliance records—signature, work done, date, certificate
--Maintenance/inspection records and with complete endorsements
--Record keeping—half the value of an aircraft is in its records.

Weather
Knowledge of weather reports, charts, forecasts based on
--METAR, TAF and FA--reading and interpretation
--Surface analysis--best routing for flight
--Radar summary
--Winds and temperatures aloft
--Significant weather prognostics
--Convective outlook
--AWOS, ASOS and ATIS--use for local real time weather
--Make weather go/no-go decision

Cross-country planning
Applicant to present and explain planned VFR cross-country
--Current charts
--Identifies airspace, legend markers and terrain—airports en route
--Selection of checkpoints—even spaces starting with destination
--Selection of altitudes for weather and equipment—mark crossing airways
--Computes headings, times and fuel required.—consider making initial figures on Z’s at checkpoints
--Uses navigation system, facilities and radio as appropriate—avoid GPS as student—use pilotage—learn to read the ground
--Applies weather NOTAM and AF/D information as available
--Makes flight log records and can file/close flight plans as required.
–Makes radio frequency log for entire route—plane contacting flight watch—give position reports.
--Take dual cross-countries in marginal conditions when possible

Airspace
Able to know and explain airspace on charts such as:
--Basic VFR minimums
--Classes (A through G) rules, pilot certification and aircraft equipment
--Special use and other airspace.
--Get into a Class C airport and into Class B airspace—easy once you know how

Aircraft Performance and limits
Able to use POH data, charts tables and graphs to determine:
--Potential adverse effects beyond limitations—Over gross—rearward C.G.
--Performance capabilities—What is service ceiling?—G-load for flaps?
--Computes weight and balance considerations.
--Demonstrates use of charts for takeoff, landings, and cross-country—See how close you can come to POH numbers
--Density altitude effects on performance .—Do it or simulate it.

Systems of Aircraft
Able to explain all of aircraft systems by diagram and function
--Controls and trim
--Flaps purpose and limitations
--Engine operation and propeller—fuel pump--octane-leaning--
--Landing gear—Judging tire wear
--Fuel, oil, and hydraulics
--Electrical—Flying with master off?
--Avionics—failure symptoms—what to do--when
--Pitot-static, vacuum/pressure and associated instruments
--Environmental—always fresh air—meaning of an headache
--Deicing and anti-icing—how to defrost or de-ice.

Aeromedical considerations
Able to explain symptoms, causes, effects and prevention of:
--Hypoxia
--Hyperventilation
--Middle ear, sinus and tooth pain
--Spatial disorientation
--Motion sickness
--Carbon Monoxide poisoning—ever smell a headache coming?
--Stress and fatigue
--Dehydration--carry water on every flight
--Alcohol, drugs and medications
--Scuba diving cautions

PREFLIGHT PROCEDURES
Inspection
--How and what to inspect for defects—bald is not beautiful
--Use of checklist
--Verifies airworthiness

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