Private Pilot Oral Exam Guide: The comprehensive guide to prepare you for the FAA checkride

by Michael D. Hayes

The Private Oral Exam Guide is designed to help prepare student pilots for the oral exam portion of their checkride with FAA examiners. Using a question-and-answer format, this indispensable tool lists the questions most likely to be asked by examiners and provides succinct, ready responses. Instructors rate the oral exam guide series as excellent resources for students in both planning for what to expect during the airplane checkride, and mastering the subject matter. This guide is also great preparation for flight reviews, aircraft transitions, and as general refresher material.

This eleventh edition has been updated to comply with the Airman Certification Standards (ACS) and recent FAA publications, rules and procedures. All the subjects a Private Pilot candidate will be tested on during checkrides and review flights are covered. Chapters are dedicated to certificates and documents, weather, determining performance and limitations, airplane systems, cross-country flight planning, night operations, aeromedical factors, and SBT (Scenario-Based Training.) Scenario-based questions have become an integral part of the Practical Test and an important tool in an examiner’s toolbox. Student responses to these “open-ended” questions demonstrate an understanding of the big picture and convey the practical application of what’s important and why. Noted SBT expert, Arlynn McMahon (2009 National Flight Instructor of the Year, and recipient of the 2010 NATA Award for Excellence in Pilot Training Award), provides insight into these scenario-based questions and will be invaluable to students preparing for their checkride.

Questions, answers, and explanations in this guide were researched using FAA documents (identified so readers know where to go for further study) as well as through interviews with FAA examiners. References for further study are provided throughout the book, and additional study questions conclude each chapter.

Genres: Aviation, Reference

256 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1978

Reviews

[riley :) · Rating 5 out of 5]

was definitely a book i read! helped me and will continue to help me immensely

[Jerimiah Baldwin]

This was a great book to study in preparation for PPL/ASEL practical exam. I highly recommend it.

If you can answer most of these questions from memory then you'll do very well on the oral portion of your exam.

Thanks for the great help, Michael!

[Juan M · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is one of the best investments I did in my Private pilot career. It touches most, if not all, the topics you need to be aware of for your PPL final Check ride. Amazing book 100% recommended and I bought another one for my friend which is about to do his Private Pilot career.

[Leah Hanley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent study guide. Highly recommended for a thorough review before any check ride, but of course it’s especially helpful for private prep.

[Larry Ausley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ok resource but I found the material and format in Virgil Royer’s Study guide more valuable and to the point.

[Jason · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good review, but not enough detail. I really wish the scenario section was more thorough.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tougher questions than the real real exam. Good practice; didn't read it cover to cover

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great resource that I would recommend to anyone preparing for the FAA private pilot checkride oral exam.

[EJ Kellerhals · Rating 1 out of 5]

good for scenarios but general information is either severely outdated or just wrong

got the point across but if you’re using it for genuine prep, use the FAR/AIM as a reference.

[Rick Galavan · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book helped immensely with my checkride! Highly recommended to anyone seeking their private pilot license!

[Kiri · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book to be a great source in preparing for my private pilot checkride. The questions are more open-ended than the multiple-choice questions used in the knowledge exam, so it's a better practice for what you'll actually get during the oral part of the checkride. I also liked that each chapter includes "Additional Study Questions" which don't have the answers included - an inspiration to dig deeper. The content of this book also inspired some interesting in-depth discussions with my instructor during prep for the checkride. Finally, the book concludes with some "Scenario-Based Training" questions which aim to emulate real situations and allow you to practice (and demonstrate) judgment. They are not easy, but they are important exercises to get you thinking about how you'd handle real events with competing goals.

[torque · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good refresher I guess. However, I would rely too much on only this book. Make sure you go over relevant FAA materials to get the info from the horse's mouth and up to date.

[Vic · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is so terrifying. There is so much to know. And so much more to learn.