Free Commercial Pilot Airplane Practice Questions

Sample Practice Questions

Try these 10 sample questions from the Commercial Pilot Airplane practice bank. Each includes the answer and explanation. Continue with the interactive practice above to review the full question set.

1. 1A commercial airplane pilot will exercise commercial pilot privileges on a paid aerial photography flight. What is the minimum FAA medical qualification required for that operation?

   1. A. A first-class medical certificate
   2. B. A second-class medical certificate
   3. C. A third-class medical certificate
   4. D. Qualification under BasicMed provisions

   Answer: B

   Explanation: Section 61.23(a)(2) requires pilots to "hold at least a second class medical certificate" when exercising commercial privileges in an aircraft other than a balloon or glider. The paid airplane operation therefore requires at least second class; first class exceeds the minimum, and third class or BasicMed does not authorize these commercial privileges.

   Reference: 14 CFR Part 61—Certification: Pilots, Flight Instructors, and Ground Instructors — § 61.23(a)(2)(ii)

2. 2While sumping an airplane's avgas tank, a pilot finds distinct clear beads collected at the bottom of the sample cup. What does this pattern most directly suggest?

   1. A. Water
   2. B. Jet fuel
   3. C. Engine oil
   4. D. Hydraulic fluid

   Answer: A

   Explanation: The handbook states, "If water is present, it is usually in bubble or bead-like droplets, different in color (usually clear, sometimes muddy yellow to brown with specks of dirt), in the bottom of the sample jar." The separated clear bottom beads match that water indication. Jet fuel, engine oil and hydraulic fluid are other genuine aircraft liquids, but are not the fluid identified by this specific handbook description.

   Reference: Airplane Flying Handbook—Chapter 2: Ground Operations — Fuel and Oil, pp. 2-9–2-10

3. 3After a radio failure, a pilot circling near a controlled airport receives a steady red light signal from the tower. What does that signal mean to an aircraft in flight?

   1. A. Airport unsafe; do not land
   2. B. Give way to other aircraft and continue circling
   3. C. Return for landing and await a steady green signal
   4. D. Exercise extreme caution while continuing the approach

   Answer: B

   Explanation: The § 91.125 table assigns a steady red signal in flight the meaning "Give way to other aircraft and continue circling." The other meanings belong to flashing red, flashing green, and alternating red-green signals respectively.

   Reference: 14 CFR Part 91—General Operating and Flight Rules — § 91.125, steady red—in flight

4. 4For the same airplane weight and takeoff configuration, why does a headwind normally shorten the takeoff ground roll?

   1. A. It reduces the groundspeed needed to attain the required flying airspeed
   2. B. It increases the groundspeed needed to attain the required flying airspeed
   3. C. It reduces the required indicated flying airspeed by the full wind speed
   4. D. It increases the required indicated flying airspeed by the full wind speed

   Answer: A

   Explanation: The handbook states, "a headwind decreases the ground speed necessary to achieve flying speed." The airplane reaches its required airspeed at a lower groundspeed. The wind does not simply change the required indicated takeoff airspeed by its own velocity.

   Reference: Airplane Flying Handbook—Chapter 6: Takeoffs and Departure Climbs — Normal Takeoff, p. 6-3

5. 5During a steep turn, an airplane tends to increase its bank despite the pilot intending to hold a constant bank angle. What control input normally counters this overbanking tendency?

   1. A. Aileron pressure opposite the direction of bank
   2. B. Aileron pressure further into the direction of bank
   3. C. Rudder pressure further into the direction of bank
   4. D. Elevator pressure forward with the ailerons neutral

   Answer: A

   Explanation: The handbook explains that the airplane continues rolling into the bank "unless deliberate and opposite aileron pressure is held." Aileron controls roll; additional bank-direction input reinforces the tendency, while yaw or pitch input alone does not provide the prescribed counter-roll.

   Reference: Airplane Flying Handbook—Chapter 10: Performance Maneuvers — Steep Turns—Overbanking Tendency, p. 10-2

6. 6A pilot identifies a charted river bend, a highway intersection, and a lake to determine the airplane's position visually. Which navigation method is being used?

   1. A. Pilotage
   2. B. Dead reckoning
   3. C. Radio navigation
   4. D. Inertial navigation

   Answer: A

   Explanation: The handbook states, "Pilotage is navigation by reference to landmarks or checkpoints." The pilot is matching visible features rather than relying solely on computed motion, radio bearings, or inertial measurements.

   Reference: Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge—Chapter 16: Navigation — Pilotage, p. 16-12

7. 7During straight-and-level slow flight below the minimum-drag speed, a pilot establishes a slightly lower airspeed at the same weight and configuration. What change in power is generally needed to maintain altitude?

   1. A. Less power because parasite drag decreases.
   2. B. More power because induced drag increases.
   3. C. Unchanged power because weight is unchanged.
   4. D. Less power because lift coefficient increases.

   Answer: B

   Explanation: The FAA states, "When flying at speeds below L/DMAX, more power is required to fly even slower." The higher angle of attack increases induced drag in this regime; reduced parasite drag does not make total power required decrease.

   Reference: Airplane Flying Handbook—Chapter 5: Maintaining Aircraft Control — Slow Flight, page 5-10

8. 8A U.S.-registered unpressurized civil airplane cruises at a cabin pressure altitude of 13,500 feet MSL for 45 minutes. Under 14 CFR 91.211(a), for what minimum portion of that period must the required minimum flight crew use supplemental oxygen?

   1. A. The final 15 minutes
   2. B. The final 30 minutes
   3. C. The entire 45 minutes
   4. D. The final 10 minutes

   Answer: A

   Explanation: Section 91.211(a)(1) requires oxygen use at those cabin altitudes "for that part of the flight at those altitudes that is of more than 30 minutes duration". At 13,500 feet, 45 − 30 = 15 minutes require use. Thirty minutes mistakes the grace period for the required portion, 45 applies the immediate-use rule for above 14,000 feet, and 10 confuses the separate emergency-supply provision.

   Reference: 14 CFR Part 91—General Operating and Flight Rules — 14 CFR 91.211(a)(1)

9. 9An airplane's approved emergency-descent procedure permits use of the propeller as an aerodynamic brake. Which propeller-control setting does the FAA handbook describe for this purpose?

   1. A. Low pitch and high rpm
   2. B. High pitch and low rpm
   3. C. Feathered pitch and stopped rotation
   4. D. Cruise pitch and reduced rpm

   Answer: A

   Explanation: Except when prohibited by the manufacturer, the FAA describes placing the control in the "low pitch (or high revolutions per minute (rpm)) position." The added propeller drag helps prevent excessive airspeed during descent. Feathering instead minimizes drag.

   Reference: Airplane Flying Handbook—Chapter 18: Emergency Procedures — Emergency Descents, page 18-8

10. 10After a routine landing, the airplane's manufacturer does not call for any checklist action during rollout. Where should the pilot normally complete the after-landing checklist?

    1. A. While decelerating on the runway before the turnoff.
    2. B. While crossing the runway holding position markings.
    3. C. After stopping completely beyond the runway holding position markings.
    4. D. While turning onto the taxiway before clearing the runway.

    Answer: C

    Explanation: The FAA says the checklist should be performed "only after the airplane is brought to a complete stop beyond the runway holding position markings." This protects attention to aircraft control and avoids manipulating the wrong handle during movement. The stem excludes manufacturer-directed rollout exceptions.

    Reference: Airplane Flying Handbook—Chapter 2: Ground Operations — After-Landing, page 2-22