Free Ground Instructor (Basic) Practice Questions

Sample Practice Questions

Try these 10 sample questions from the Ground Instructor (Basic) practice bank. Each includes the answer and explanation. Continue with the interactive practice above to review the full question set.

1. 1A recreational pilot and one passenger share a flight with $240 in fuel, oil, airport expenses, and aircraft rental fees. What is the minimum amount the pilot may pay?

   1. A. $60
   2. B. $80
   3. C. $120
   4. D. $240

   Answer: C

   Explanation: Section 61.101(a)(2) states, "Not pay less than the pro rata share of the operating expenses of a flight with a passenger, provided the expenses involve only fuel, oil, airport expenses, or aircraft rental fees." With two people aboard, the pilot must pay at least $240 ÷ 2 = $120.

   Reference: 14 CFR Part 61—Certification: Pilots, Flight Instructors, and Ground Instructors — § 61.101(a)(2)

2. 2A private pilot employed as an accountant flies alone to a business meeting and receives reimbursement for the flight. Flying is incidental to the accounting work, and the airplane carries no passengers or property for compensation or hire. Which provision permits this compensated flight?

   1. A. The incidental-business exception
   2. B. The charitable-event flight exception
   3. C. The aircraft-sales demonstration exception
   4. D. The search-and-location reimbursement exception

   Answer: A

   Explanation: Section 61.113(b) permits this when "The flight is only incidental to that business or employment" and "The aircraft does not carry passengers or property for compensation or hire." These are the stated facts; the other exceptions concern different qualifying activities.

   Reference: 14 CFR Part 61—Certification: Pilots, Flight Instructors, and Ground Instructors — § 61.113(b)(1)–(2)

3. 3A sport pilot seeks night privileges in a specific aircraft category and class under § 61.329. What is the minimum amount of night flight training required from an authorized instructor?

   1. A. 2 hours
   2. B. 3 hours
   3. C. 5 hours
   4. D. 10 hours

   Answer: B

   Explanation: Section 61.329(a) requires, "Receive 3 hours of night flight training in the specific category and class from an authorized instructor". This is the minimum training duration; the cross-country, takeoff and landing, medical, and endorsement conditions also apply.

   Reference: 14 CFR Part 61—Certification: Pilots, Flight Instructors, and Ground Instructors — § 61.329(a)

4. 4A recreational pilot has the local-flight endorsement but wants to fly 70 nautical miles from the departure airport for the first time. Which additional qualification specifically authorizes this longer flight?

   1. A. An instructor endorsement certifying proficiency in the applicable private-pilot cross-country requirements
   2. B. An instructor endorsement certifying completion of the applicable flight-review ground and flight requirements
   3. C. An instructor endorsement certifying proficiency in the applicable controlled-airspace operating requirements
   4. D. An instructor endorsement certifying preparation for the applicable private-pilot aeronautical knowledge test

   Answer: A

   Explanation: Section 61.101(c)(3) requires a logbook endorsement that "certifies the person has received and been found proficient in the cross-country training requirements of subpart E of this part that apply to the aircraft rating held." Subpart E covers private pilots. The pilot must receive the specified training and carry this endorsement; the other endorsements do not authorize flight beyond the recreational-pilot distance limit.

   Reference: 14 CFR Part 61—Certification: Pilots, Flight Instructors, and Ground Instructors — § 61.101(c)(1)–(3)

5. 5A private pilot has no qualifying substitute for a flight review and is checking the normal review interval before acting as pilot in command. Under § 61.56(c), the review and instructor endorsement must have occurred since the beginning of which preceding calendar month?

   1. A. The 6th calendar month
   2. B. The 12th calendar month
   3. C. The 24th calendar month
   4. D. The 36th calendar month

   Answer: C

   Explanation: Section 61.56(c) specifies "since the beginning of the 24th calendar month before the month in which that pilot acts as pilot in command". The stem excludes qualifying alternatives, so the normal 24-calendar-month review period applies.

   Reference: 14 CFR Part 61—Certification: Pilots, Flight Instructors, and Ground Instructors — § 61.56(c)

6. 6A sport pilot checks whether an airplane satisfies § 61.316's stall-speed limit. At maximum certificated takeoff weight and the most critical CG, what is the highest permitted VS1 for an airplane?

   1. A. 45 knots CAS
   2. B. 54 knots CAS
   3. C. 59 knots CAS
   4. D. 87 knots CAS

   Answer: C

   Explanation: Section 61.316(a)(1) requires airplanes to have a "speed of not more than 59 knots CAS at the aircraft’s maximum certificated takeoff weight and most critical center of gravity." This is the airplane-specific VS1 ceiling, not the general 45-knot value or a VH endorsement threshold.

   Reference: 14 CFR Part 61—Certification: Pilots, Flight Instructors, and Ground Instructors — § 61.316(a)(1)

7. 7A recreational pilot with 250 total flight hours is reviewing the special inactivity rule before acting as pilot in command. How far back must the pilot check for logged pilot-in-command time to determine whether § 61.101(g) requires additional flight training and an endorsement?

   1. A. 60 days
   2. B. 90 days
   3. C. 180 days
   4. D. 365 days

   Answer: C

   Explanation: Section 61.101(g) applies to a recreational pilot who "has logged fewer than 400 flight hours, and has not logged pilot-in-command time in an aircraft within the 180 days preceding the flight". The specified lookback is 180 days; this is separate from other currency requirements.

   Reference: 14 CFR Part 61—Certification: Pilots, Flight Instructors, and Ground Instructors — § 61.101(g)

8. 8A private pilot plans to carry a passenger two hours after sunset in a single-engine airplane. No regulatory exception applies. What kind of landings must qualify the pilot for the night passenger-carrying requirement?

   1. A. Three full-stop landings in the qualifying night period
   2. B. Three touch-and-go landings in the qualifying night period
   3. C. Three full-stop landings during the hour before sunset
   4. D. Three stop-and-go landings during the hour after sunrise

   Answer: A

   Explanation: Section 61.57(b)(1) requires "at least three takeoffs and three landings to a full stop" during the period from one hour after sunset to one hour before sunrise, within the preceding 90 days. The pilot must also satisfy the sole-manipulator and category, class, and type requirements. Only the full-stop night landings listed can qualify.

   Reference: 14 CFR Part 61—Certification: Pilots, Flight Instructors, and Ground Instructors — § 61.57(b)(1)

9. 9A sport pilot completes the airport operations training required for a § 61.325 controlled-airspace endorsement. What is the minimum number of takeoffs and full-stop landings required at an airport with an operating control tower?

   1. A. 2 takeoffs and landings
   2. B. 3 takeoffs and landings
   3. C. 5 takeoffs and landings
   4. D. 10 takeoffs and landings

   Answer: B

   Explanation: Section 61.325(b) requires "three takeoffs and landings to a full stop, with each landing involving a flight in the traffic pattern, at an airport with an operating control tower." The minimum count is three; it does not replace the other ground, flight, and endorsement requirements.

   Reference: 14 CFR Part 61—Certification: Pilots, Flight Instructors, and Ground Instructors — § 61.325(b)

10. 10A recreational pilot is also the operator of a U.S. civil airplane that has just had an in-flight fire. Everyone lands safely. Which agency must receive the immediate notification required by 49 CFR § 830.5?

    1. A. National Transportation Safety Board
    2. B. Federal Aviation Administration
    3. C. Transportation Security Administration
    4. D. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

    Answer: A

    Explanation: Section 830.5 requires operators to "notify the nearest National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) office" immediately following a listed serious incident, including an in-flight fire. The NTSB, rather than another federal aviation-related agency, is the required recipient.

    Reference: 49 CFR Part 830—Notification and Reporting of Aircraft Accidents or Incidents — § 830.5 introductory paragraph and (a)(4)