Free Transport Canada Student Pilot Permit or Private Pilot Licence for Foreign and Military Applicants, Aviation Regulation Examination (PSTAR) Practice Questions

Sample Practice Questions

Try these 10 sample questions from the Transport Canada Student Pilot Permit or Private Pilot Licence for Foreign and Military Applicants, Aviation Regulation Examination (PSTAR) practice bank. Each includes the answer and explanation. Continue with the interactive practice above to review the full question set.

1. 1Two aircraft have identified a collision risk. One pilot says that holding the right of way means no avoiding action is required. How does CAR 602.19 treat that claim?

   1. A.The pilot must still take action necessary to avoid collision.Correct answer: A
   2. B.The pilot must retain course until the other aircraft turns.
   3. C.The pilot must wait until the other aircraft requests assistance.
   4. D.The pilot must transfer collision avoidance to air traffic control.

   Explanation: CAR 602.19(1)(a) states: "(a) the pilot-in-command of an aircraft that has the right of way shall, if there is any risk of collision, take such action as is necessary to avoid collision; and". Right of way does not remove the pilot's overriding collision-avoidance duty. Maintaining course without regard to the risk, waiting for a request, and transferring that duty to ATC do not satisfy it.

   Reference: Canadian Aviation Regulations (SOR/96-433) — 602.19(1)(a)

2. 2A radio-unserviceable aircraft on the ground receives green flashes and later a steady green light. What distinguishes the permissions conveyed by those signals?

   1. A.The flashes permit takeoff; the steady light permits taxi.
   2. B.The flashes permit taxi; the steady light permits takeoff.Correct answer: B
   3. C.Both signals permit taxi, but neither permits takeoff.
   4. D.Both signals permit takeoff, but neither permits taxi.

   Explanation: The TC AIM states: "AIRCRAFT ON THE GROUND SERIES OF GREEN FLASHES VEHICLE OR PERSONNEL Cleared to taxi Cleared to cross; proceed; go STEADY GREEN LIGHT Cleared for takeoff Not used to communicate with vehicles or personnel ". For an aircraft on the ground, flashing green authorizes taxi and steady green authorizes takeoff. The reversed pair and the two identical-permission interpretations misapply the separate signals.

   Reference: Transport Canada Aeronautical Information Manual — Rules of the Air and Air Traffic Services — RAC 4.2.11, Table 4.2

3. 3What distinguishes an airport from an aerodrome under the Canadian Aviation Regulations?

   1. A.An airport has a paved runway.
   2. B.An airport has scheduled passenger service.
   3. C.An airport has an airport certificate in force.Correct answer: C
   4. D.An airport has an operating control tower.

   Explanation: The source states: "airport means an aerodrome in respect of which an airport certificate issued under Subpart 2 of Part III is in force; (aéroport)". Certification is the defining distinction. Pavement, airline service and a control tower may be present but do not themselves establish airport status.

   Reference: Canadian Aviation Regulations (SOR/96-433) — 101.01, definition of airport

4. 4For which day-VFR instrument does CAR 605.14(d) expressly require independence from the aircraft's electrical generating system?

   1. A.An altimeter
   2. B.An airspeed indicator
   3. C.An engine tachometer
   4. D.A magnetic direction indicatorCorrect answer: D

   Explanation: CAR 605.14(d) states: "(d) a magnetic compass or a magnetic direction indicator that operates independently of the aircraft electrical generating system;". Paragraph (d) expressly attaches the independence requirement to the magnetic direction indicator alternative. The other instruments are addressed separately in the day-VFR equipment provisions; this does not assert that they necessarily depend on the generator.

   Reference: Canadian Aviation Regulations (SOR/96-433) — 605.14(d)

5. 5What physical process produces the counter-rotating wake vortices of a fixed-wing aircraft?

   1. A.Wing lift and the pressure difference between the lower and upper surfacesCorrect answer: A
   2. B.Exhaust thrust and its temperature difference from the surrounding air
   3. C.Propeller rotation and the resulting slipstream along the fuselage
   4. D.Atmospheric wind shear and the change in airflow speed or direction

   Explanation: The TC AIM states: "Wake turbulence is caused by wing-tip vortices and is a by-product of lift. The higher air pressure under the wings tries to move to the lower air pressure on top of the wings by flowing towards the wing tips, where it rotates and flows into the lower pressure on top of the wings. This results in a twisting rotary motion that is very pronounced at the wing tips and continues to spill over the top in a downward spiral. Therefore, the wake consists of two counter-rotating cylindrical vortices. ". The wing pressure difference associated with lift creates the tip vortices. Exhaust turbulence, propeller slipstream and atmospheric wind shear have different generating mechanisms.

   Reference: Transport Canada Aeronautical Information Manual — Airmanship — AIR 2.9, Wake Turbulence

6. 6During anxiety-related hyperventilation, which change described in the TC AIM explains the associated symptoms?

   1. A.Carbon dioxide accumulates above its normal blood level.
   2. B.Carbon dioxide is blown off and its blood level falls.Correct answer: B
   3. C.Nitrogen bubbles form in the blood and tissues.
   4. D.Carbon monoxide reduces the blood's oxygen-carrying capacity.

   Explanation: The TC AIM states: "In hyperventilation, carbon dioxide is blown off and the level of carbon dioxide in the blood drops below normal. ". Hyperventilation lowers carbon dioxide below normal, rather than causing accumulation. Nitrogen bubbles describe decompression sickness, while impaired oxygen carriage from carbon monoxide describes another aeromedical hazard.

   Reference: Transport Canada Aeronautical Information Manual — Airmanship — AIR 3.2.3, Hyperventilation

7. 7Under ordinary conditions, which compliance distinction does CAR 602.31 make between ATC instructions and clearances?

   1. A.Instructions when received; clearances when received.
   2. B.Instructions when received; clearances when received and accepted.Correct answer: B
   3. C.Instructions when received and accepted; clearances when received.
   4. D.Instructions when received and accepted; clearances when received and accepted.

   Explanation: The source states: "602.31 (1) Subject to subsection (3), the pilot-in command of an aircraft shall (a) comply with and acknowledge, to the appropriate air traffic control unit, all of the air traffic control instructions directed to and received by the pilot-in-command; and (b) comply with all of the air traffic control clearances received and accepted by the pilot-in-command and ". Instructions are directed to and received by the PIC; clearances are received and accepted. The other pairs incorrectly add acceptance for instructions or omit it for clearances. Specific statutory deviation provisions remain applicable.

   Reference: Canadian Aviation Regulations (SOR/96-433) — 602.31(1)(a)–(b)

8. 8After a crash, survivors activate their ELT in an actual emergency. How should it normally be operated while awaiting location and rescue?

   1. A.Cycle it on briefly at the beginning of each UTC hour.
   2. B.Delay continuous operation until the filed ETA has passed.
   3. C.Transmit during daylight and switch it off at night.
   4. D.Leave it on until positively located and directed off by SAR forces.Correct answer: D

   Explanation: The source states: "In case of emergency, do not delay ELT activation until flightplanned times expire, as such delays will only delay rescue. Do not cycle the ELT through “OFF” and “ON” positions to preserve battery life, as irregular operation reduces localization accuracy and will hamper homing efforts. Once your ELT has been switched to “ON”, do not switch it to “OFF” until you have been positively located, and the SAR forces have directed you to turn it off. ". The emergency instruction rejects delayed activation or cycling to conserve the battery. Once on, it remains on until location is confirmed and SAR directs deactivation.

   Reference: Transport Canada Aeronautical Information Manual — Search and Rescue — SAR 3.5, ELT Operating Instructions — Emergency Use

9. 9Which service is part of the CARs definition of controlled airspace?

   1. A.Air traffic control serviceCorrect answer: A
   2. B.Aerodrome advisory service
   3. C.Search and rescue service
   4. D.Flight information service

   Explanation: The source states: "controlled airspace means an airspace of fixed dimensions that is so specified in the Designated Airspace Handbook and within which air traffic control service is provided; (espace aérien contrôlé)". Controlled airspace is specified in the DAH and includes ATC service. Advisory, rescue and weather services do not by themselves make airspace controlled.

   Reference: Canadian Aviation Regulations (SOR/96-433) — 101.01, definition of controlled airspace

10. 10What outcome is the primary purpose of an aviation safety investigation as described by the TC AIM?

    1. A.Determine the amount payable under the aircraft's insurance policy
    2. B.Assign civil liability between the pilot and the operator
    3. C.Prevent recurrence of an accident or incidentCorrect answer: C
    4. D.Establish a regulatory penalty for each participant

    Explanation: The source states: "The purpose of an aviation safety investigation into an aircraft accident or incident is to prevent a recurrence; it is not to determine or assign blame or liability. ". The objective is prevention. Insurance settlement, civil liability and regulatory punishment are separate functions, not the safety-investigation purpose.

    Reference: Transport Canada Aeronautical Information Manual — General — GEN 3.1, Aviation Safety Investigation