Free Private Pilot Balloon - Gas Practice Questions

Sample Practice Questions

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

1. 1A private gas-balloon pilot and three friends share a flight for a common purpose. The only shared operating expense is a $240 balloon rental. Under the pro rata expense rule, what is the minimum amount the pilot must pay?

   1. A. $180
   2. B. $60
   3. C. $80
   4. D. $240

   Answer: B

   Explanation: The regulation states, "A private pilot may not pay less than the pro rata share of the operating expenses of a flight with passengers, provided the expenses involve only fuel, oil, airport expenditures, or rental fees." Four occupants share $240, so the pilot must pay at least $60. The $180 answer reports the three passengers' combined shares, $80 divides by passengers alone, and $240 omits expense sharing.

   Reference: 14 CFR 61.113 — Private pilot privileges and limitations — §61.113(c)

2. 2After a gas-balloon landing, a passenger has a fracture and no other injury. Which fracture alone meets the NTSB serious-injury definition?

   1. A. A simple fracture of a toe
   2. B. A simple fracture of the nose
   3. C. A fracture of the femur
   4. D. A simple fracture of a finger

   Answer: C

   Explanation: Part 830 states, "results in a fracture of any bone (except simple fractures of fingers, toes, or nose)" The femur is not one of the three stated simple-fracture exceptions. A simple fracture of a finger, toe, or nose alone does not satisfy this fracture criterion.

   Reference: 49 CFR Part 830 — Notification and Reporting of Aircraft Accidents or Incidents — §830.2, Serious injury

3. 3At an airport reference point, a balloon pilot sets the current reported altimeter setting and compares the indicated altitude with the known field elevation. What is the smallest error magnitude at which AIM guidance calls the altimeter's accuracy questionable?

   1. A. 25 feet
   2. B. 50 feet
   3. C. 75 feet
   4. D. 100 feet

   Answer: C

   Explanation: The FAA states, "If the difference from the known field elevation and the altitude read from the altimeter is plus or minus 75 feet or greater, the accuracy of the altimeter is questionable" The threshold is an error magnitude of 75 feet. A 100-foot error also exceeds the threshold, but is not the smallest value asked for; 25 and 50 feet are below it.

   Reference: Aeronautical Information Manual — Barometric Altimeter Errors and Setting Procedures — 7-2-3, ground altimeter check

4. 4A balloon pilot has established ATC communications using full identification, and no similar call signs are present. Which event permits the pilot to start using an abbreviated call sign in subsequent contacts?

   1. A. The controller initiates an abbreviated call sign
   2. B. The controller acknowledges the full call sign
   3. C. The controller provides a current altimeter setting
   4. D. The controller assigns the next radio frequency

   Answer: A

   Explanation: The AIM states, "ATC specialists may initiate abbreviated call signs of other aircraft by using the prefix and the last three digits/letters of the aircraft identification after communications are established. The pilot may use the abbreviated call sign in subsequent contacts with the ATC specialist." ATC initiation permits subsequent abbreviated use. Acknowledging full identification, reporting an altimeter setting, or assigning another frequency are real controller actions, but do not themselves initiate the abbreviated identification.

   Reference: Aeronautical Information Manual — Radio Communications Phraseology and Techniques — 4-2-4, Precautions in the Use of Call Signs

5. 5At a level inland launch field after a clear night with light wind, moist air cools to its dew point through contact with the cooling ground, forming fog by early morning. Which fog type matches this cooling process?

   1. A. Advection fog
   2. B. Frontal fog
   3. C. Steam fog
   4. D. Radiation fog

   Answer: D

   Explanation: The FAA states, "Radiation fog forms after the Earth has radiated back to the atmosphere the heat gained during daylight hours." Nocturnal ground cooling is the radiation-fog mechanism. Advection fog involves transport over a colder surface; frontal fog involves precipitation adding moisture; steam fog involves evaporation from warmer water.

   Reference: Balloon Flying Handbook — Weather Theory & Reports — Weather Theory & Reports — Some Fog Types & Characteristics — Radiation Fog

6. 6A balloon pilot adopts the AIM visual scan using regularly spaced eye movements with a pause in each area. What is the maximum recommended angular size of each movement?

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

   Answer: B

   Explanation: The source states, "Each movement should not exceed 10 degrees, and each area should be observed for at least 1 second to enable detection." Ten degrees is the stated maximum. A five-degree movement is within that maximum but is not the maximum asked for; twenty and thirty exceed it.

   Reference: Aeronautical Information Manual — Fitness for Flight — 8-1-6, Scanning for Other Aircraft

7. 7A balloon pilot has determined pressure altitude and is correcting it for the day's nonstandard temperature to assess launch performance. Which altitude is being calculated?

   1. A. True altitude
   2. B. Absolute altitude
   3. C. Density altitude
   4. D. Indicated altitude

   Answer: C

   Explanation: The handbook states, "pressure altitude corrected for nonstandard temperature." Density altitude is pressure altitude corrected for nonstandard temperature. True, absolute, and indicated altitude are different altitude references and do not name this performance correction.

   Reference: Balloon Flying Handbook — Preflight Planning — Preflight Planning — Performance Planning, density altitude definition

8. 8A pilot compares the four lifting gases discussed in the handbook for a gas-balloon system. Which is identified as an inert gas?

   1. A. Hydrogen
   2. B. Methane
   3. C. Anhydrous ammonia
   4. D. Helium

   Answer: D

   Explanation: The handbook states, "Helium is a monotomic, inert gas" The handbook identifies helium as inert. Hydrogen and methane are flammable gases, and anhydrous ammonia is not the inert lifting gas identified.

   Reference: Balloon Flying Handbook — The Gas Balloon — The Gas Balloon — Lifting Gases, helium

9. 9A balloon pilot feels pressure to launch because passengers have traveled a long distance and expect the flight to occur. Which PAVE category captures this pressure?

   1. A. Aircraft
   2. B. External pressures
   3. C. Environment
   4. D. Pilot proficiency

   Answer: B

   Explanation: The FAA states, "Pilotin-command (PIC), Aircraft, enVironment, and External pressures (PAVE)" Passenger expectations are an external pressure. They are distinct from the balloon's equipment, environmental conditions, and the pilot's proficiency.

   Reference: Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge — Aeronautical Decision-Making — Aeronautical Decision-Making — The PAVE Checklist

10. 10A gas-balloon pilot reviews an airport's sectional-chart runway-length figure while planning use of the airport. What runway extent does that published figure represent?

    1. A. The shortest active runway, including displaced thresholds and overruns
    2. B. The longest active runway, including displaced thresholds and overruns
    3. C. The longest active runway, excluding displaced thresholds and overruns
    4. D. The longest active runway, including displaced thresholds but excluding overruns

    Answer: D

    Explanation: The guide states, "Runway length is the length of the longest active runway, including displaced thresholds and excluding overruns." The correct extent retains all three conditions: longest active runway, displaced thresholds included, overruns excluded. A selects the shortest and includes overruns; B includes overruns; C excludes displaced thresholds. The displayed figure is rounded and is not automatically the landing distance available.

    Reference: FAA Aeronautical Chart Users' Guide — VFR Terms and Symbols — Airports, runway length