Free Commercial Pilot Airship Practice Questions

Sample Practice Questions

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

1. 1A pilot will exercise commercial pilot privileges as PIC of an airship for compensation. Under the ordinary medical-certificate rule, what is the lowest class of FAA medical certificate the pilot must hold?

   1. A. A first-class medical certificate
   2. B. A second-class medical certificate
   3. C. A third-class medical certificate
   4. D. A U.S. driver's license as medical qualification

   Answer: B

   Explanation: Section 61.23(a)(2) requires "at least a second class medical certificate" when exercising "Privileges of a commercial pilot certificate in an aircraft other than a balloon or glider". An airship is covered by that requirement; the balloon and glider exceptions do not extend to airships.

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

2. 2A pilot is distinguishing gross buoyant force from the weight of the lifting gas when evaluating an airship. What determines the upward buoyant force exerted by the surrounding atmosphere?

   1. A. The weight of the air displaced
   2. B. The weight of the lifting gas carried
   3. C. The weight of the useful load carried
   4. D. The weight of the empty airship

   Answer: A

   Explanation: The manual defines buoyancy and states, "It is equal to weight of air displaced." Lifting-gas weight is subtracted when finding net static lift; useful load and empty weight are loads to be supported, not the atmospheric buoyant force.

   Reference: Airship Aerodynamics — Technical Manual TM 1-320 — §I, paragraph 4, Buoyancy, printed p.5

3. 3On final approach, an airship encounters a rapid change from a headwind to a tailwind. Before the pilot or propulsion system can compensate, what immediate effect should be expected on airspeed and aerodynamic performance?

   1. A. An airspeed increase and increased aerodynamic performance
   2. B. An airspeed decrease and decreased aerodynamic performance
   3. C. An airspeed increase and decreased aerodynamic performance
   4. D. An airspeed decrease and increased aerodynamic performance

   Answer: B

   Explanation: The handbook states, "a headwind changing to a tailwind causes a decrease in airspeed and performance." The change reduces relative airflow before the aircraft can adjust its inertial motion, degrading dynamic control and lift.

   Reference: Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge — Chapter 12: Weather Theory — Chapter 12, Low-Level Wind Shear

4. 4An airship loading record places a 200-pound item 30 inches forward of the reference datum. Aft arms are positive. What signed moment should the pilot enter for this item?

   1. A. Negative 6,000 pound-inches
   2. B. Positive 6,000 pound-inches
   3. C. Negative 500 pound-inches
   4. D. Negative 230 pound-inches

   Answer: A

   Explanation: The handbook states, "Moment—the product of the weight of an item multiplied by its arm." It also notes that "a positive times a negative equals a negative". Therefore 200 × (−30) = −6,000 pound-inches. The alternatives lose the sign, improperly convert inches to feet, or add rather than multiply.

   Reference: Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge — Chapter 10: Weight and Balance — Chapter 10, Terms and Definitions (Moment); Computations With a Negative Arm

5. 5While reviewing an airship's speed limitations, a pilot identifies the speed that must never be exceeded because flight above it may cause structural damage or failure. Which designation identifies that limit?

   1. A. VNE
   2. B. VNO
   3. C. VA
   4. D. VS1

   Answer: A

   Explanation: The handbook states, "VNE—the speed that should never be exceeded" and warns that "structural damage or structural failure may result." VNO is maximum structural cruising speed, VA is maneuvering speed, and VS1 is a stalling-speed designation; none substitutes for VNE.

   Reference: Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge — Chapter 11: Aircraft Performance — Chapter 11, Limitations, VNE definition

6. 6An airship's planned true heading after wind correction is 090°. The chart shows 10° east variation. What magnetic heading should the pilot use before applying compass deviation?

   1. A. 080°
   2. B. 090°
   3. C. 100°
   4. D. 260°

   Answer: A

   Explanation: The handbook states, "if variation is west, add; if east, subtract." Subtract 10° from 090° to obtain 080°. Keeping 090° omits variation, 100° uses the wrong sign, and 260° applies a reciprocal-course error.

   Reference: Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge — Chapter 16: Navigation — Chapter 16, Variation

7. 7When a minor problem occurs during an airship flight, a pilot immediately selects the first action that comes to mind without considering alternatives. Which hazardous attitude does this behavior illustrate?

   1. A. Invulnerability
   2. B. Resignation
   3. C. Impulsivity
   4. D. Anti-authority

   Answer: C

   Explanation: The handbook describes impulsive pilots: "They do not stop to think about what they are about to do, they do not select the best alternative". The defining issue here is acting immediately, rather than believing oneself immune, giving up, or rejecting authority.

   Reference: Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge — Chapter 2: Aeronautical Decision-Making — Chapter 2, Hazardous Attitudes and Antidotes, Figure 2-4 (Impulsivity)

8. 8A conventional airship pilot applies an up-elevator input close to the ground. Which initial bow-and-tail tendency associated with that input explains the need to watch tail clearance?

   1. A. The bow moves up and the tail moves down
   2. B. The bow moves down and the tail moves up
   3. C. Both the bow and the tail move upward
   4. D. Both the bow and the tail move downward

   Answer: A

   Explanation: The manual cautions that "when the elevator is raised the tail of the airship actually descends." The initial nose-up pitch rotation raises the bow and lowers the tail, reducing tail clearance. Moving both ends together describes vertical translation, not the specified pitch rotation.

   Reference: Airship Aerodynamics — Technical Manual TM 1-320 — §V, paragraph 35(c)(2), printed p.50

9. 9Before a night airship flight, a pilot leaves a brightly illuminated room and allows time for rod vision to adapt to darkness. Approximately how long can full dark adaptation of the rods take?

   1. A. 5 minutes
   2. B. 10 minutes
   3. C. 20 minutes
   4. D. 30 minutes

   Answer: D

   Explanation: The handbook states, "The rods can take approximately 30 minutes to fully adapt to darkness." Bright light can disrupt this adaptation and require the process to begin again. This is an approximate physiological time, not a regulatory departure delay.

   Reference: Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge — Chapter 17: Aeromedical Factors — Chapter 17, Dark Adaptation

10. 10A pilot wants to give flight and ground training for an airship certificate or rating using the lighter-than-air instructional privileges in §61.133(a)(2). Which certificate and rating combination supplies those airship privileges?

    1. A. Commercial pilot; lighter-than-air category and airship class
    2. B. Private pilot; lighter-than-air category and airship class
    3. C. Commercial pilot; lighter-than-air category and balloon class
    4. D. Commercial pilot; airplane category and single-engine land class

    Answer: A

    Explanation: Section 61.133(a)(2) authorizes commercial lighter-than-air pilots, for an airship, to "Give flight and ground training in an airship for the issuance of a certificate or rating". The privilege is tied to the commercial certificate and appropriate airship qualifications, rather than private or other-class privileges.

    Reference: 14 CFR Part 61 — Certification: Pilots, Flight Instructors, and Ground Instructors — §61.133(a)(2)(i)(A)