Free Flight Instructor Sport Lighter-Than-Air (Airship) Practice Questions

Sample Practice Questions

Try these 10 sample questions from the Flight Instructor Sport Lighter-Than-Air (Airship) practice bank. Each includes the answer and explanation. Continue with the interactive practice above to review the full question set.

1. 1A sport pilot and one passenger plan an airship flight with $180 in fuel, $20 in oil, and $40 in airport charges. No other expenses are shared. What is the minimum the pilot must pay?

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

   Answer: C

   Explanation: Section 61.315(b) states, "You must pay at least half the operating expenses of the flight." The eligible costs total $240, so the pilot must pay at least $120.

   Reference: 14 CFR Part 61 — Certification: Pilots, Flight Instructors, and Ground Instructors — § 61.315(b)

2. 2An occupied U.S. civil airship experiences damage during flight without injury to anyone. Which damage finding would make the occurrence an aircraft accident under Part 830?

   1. A. Damage reducing structural strength and normally requiring major repair.
   2. B. Damage confined to one engine without damage to other aircraft components.
   3. C. Damage confined to the landing gear, wheels, or tires without other damage.
   4. D. Damage consisting of small punctured holes in the skin or fabric alone.

   Answer: A

   Explanation: Section 830.2 defines substantial damage as damage that "adversely affects the structural strength, performance, or flight characteristics of the aircraft" and normally requires major repair or replacement. An in-flight occurrence causing that damage is an aircraft accident. The definition expressly excludes isolated single-engine damage, landing-gear/wheel/tire damage, and small punctured skin or fabric holes.

   Reference: 49 CFR Part 830 — Aircraft Accident and Incident Notification and Reporting — § 830.2, Aircraft accident and Substantial damage

3. 3An airship pilot calls Flight Service through an RCO at a location served by several transmitters. What information helps the specialist choose the correct transmitter for the reply?

   1. A. The aircraft registration and the time of the last weather observation
   2. B. The aircraft type and the name of the departure control facility
   3. C. The pilot's location and the frequency on which a reply is expected
   4. D. The destination airport and the frequency used for the previous contact

   Answer: C

   Explanation: AIM 4-2-3 says, "advise the location and the frequency on which you expect a reply." An RCO network may use the same frequency at multiple locations.

   Reference: Aeronautical Information Manual — Radio Communications Phraseology and Techniques — ¶ 4-2-3, Initial Contact

4. 4On a sectional chart used to plan an airship route, two checkpoints are 2 inches apart along the course line. Using 6.86 nautical miles per inch, approximately how far apart are they?

   1. A. 3.43 nautical miles
   2. B. 13.72 nautical miles
   3. C. 8.86 nautical miles
   4. D. 6.86 nautical miles

   Answer: B

   Explanation: Chapter 16 gives the sectional scale as "1 inch = 8 SM or 6.86 NM." Multiply 2 inches by 6.86 NM per inch to obtain 13.72 NM; division, addition, or omitting the two-inch factor gives the distractors.

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

5. 5On final approach in an airship, the pilot encounters a rapid change from headwind to tailwind before the aircraft's groundspeed can adjust. What immediate aerodynamic change should the pilot anticipate?

   1. A. An increase in airspeed and improved aerodynamic performance
   2. B. A decrease in groundspeed with unchanged aerodynamic performance
   3. C. An increase in airspeed with reduced aerodynamic performance
   4. D. A decrease in airspeed and reduced aerodynamic performance

   Answer: D

   Explanation: The handbook states, "a headwind changing to a tailwind causes a decrease in airspeed and performance." This is a wind-shear hazard, especially close to the surface.

   Reference: Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge — Chapter 12: Weather Theory — p. 12-11, Low-Level Wind Shear

6. 6An airship pilot uses a performance table indexed by density altitude. What quantity does density altitude represent?

   1. A. Height above the terrain directly beneath the aircraft
   2. B. Height in the standard atmosphere having the existing air density
   3. C. Height above sea level shown with the local altimeter setting
   4. D. Height above the departure airport's surveyed reference point

   Answer: B

   Explanation: The handbook defines density altitude as "the altitude in the standard atmosphere corresponding to a particular value of air density." It is a performance-related density reference rather than terrain clearance or ordinary indicated altitude.

   Reference: Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge — Chapter 11: Aircraft Performance — p. 11-3, Density Altitude

7. 7An airship loading record places a 20-pound item 30 inches forward of the reference datum. With forward arms designated negative, what moment must be entered for this item?

   1. A. Negative 600 pound-inches
   2. B. Positive 600 pound-inches
   3. C. Negative 10 pound-inches
   4. D. Negative 0.67 pound-inches

   Answer: A

   Explanation: The handbook states, "a positive times a negative equals a negative". Moment is weight times arm: 20 × (−30) = −600 lb-in. The other results omit the sign, add instead of multiply, or divide instead of multiply.

   Reference: Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge — Chapter 10: Weight and Balance — p. 10-10, Computations With a Negative Arm

8. 8An airship pilot distinguishes aerodynamic lift from buoyant lift while evaluating a takeoff. Which pair directly determines the airship's dynamic-lift component?

   1. A. Groundspeed and direction of the planned ground track
   2. B. Gross helium volume and the quantity of lifting gas
   3. C. Ambient pressure and the mass of the displaced air alone
   4. D. Forward motion through the air and angle of attack

   Answer: D

   Explanation: The Airship Pilot’s Manual defines dynamic lift as lift that "depends upon the forward motion and the angle of attack of the ship with respect to the air." Static buoyancy has a different physical origin.

   Reference: Airship Pilot’s Manual — p. 12, Part II.A(3), Dynamic Lift

9. 9An airship pilot feels compelled to finish a flight because friends have purchased nonrefundable event tickets at the destination. In the PAVE checklist, where should this hazard be assessed?

   1. A. Aircraft
   2. B. External pressures
   3. C. Environment
   4. D. Pilot-in-command

   Answer: B

   Explanation: The handbook identifies PAVE categories as "Pilotin-command (PIC), Aircraft, enVironment, and External pressures". Pressure to satisfy the purpose or schedule of the trip belongs to external pressures rather than aircraft capability or weather.

   Reference: Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge — Chapter 2: Aeronautical Decision-Making — pp. 2-8–2-10, PAVE Checklist and External pressures

10. 10For an airship trip, a pilot needs detailed public-airport operating information, including runway characteristics, communications, and special procedures. Which FAA publication is designed primarily as this airport operational manual?

    1. A. Sectional Aeronautical Chart
    2. B. VFR Terminal Area Chart
    3. C. Chart Supplement
    4. D. En Route Low Altitude Chart

    Answer: C

    Explanation: AC 90-66C describes the Chart Supplement as "a publication designed primarily as a pilot’s operational manual" containing public airports, communications, facilities, and special notices and procedures. It supplies detailed airport information beyond the chart depiction.

    Reference: AC 90-66C — Non-Towered Airport Flight Operations — ¶ 6.2, Chart Supplements/Terminal Procedures