PT 1 – THEORY

1 Weather

Local weather (Surface analysis, significant WX, area forecast, METARs, TAFS for primary and
alternate airfields, NOTAMS & TFRS for same)
AIM 7-1; PHAK ch11

Low pressure (depression/cyclonic) weather:

- Extensive cloud (if sufficient moisture)
- Intermittent/continuous precipitation
- Good visibility, except in precipitation
- Stronger winds

High pressure (anticyclonic) weather:

- No cloud / few clouds (stratus)
- No precipitation
- Moderate visibility with haze
- Light winds

Passage of a warm front:

- Increasing cloud cover with lowering base
- Falling pressure
- Visibility reducing to poor
- Light continuous precipitation from As becoming heavier from Ns

Passage of a cold front

- Rising cloudbase, Cu/Cb
- Rising pressure
- Good visibility, except in precipitation
- Heavy rain or showers

Occlusion weather is generally bad, because the normal frontal depression weather is
concentrated into a smaller band

An AIRMET is a description of expected en-route weather phenomena that may affect the
safety of operations, but at intensities lower than required for a SIGMET.
They are issued as soon as practical.

2 Aircraft

Aircraft (performance/weight & balance/systems/inspections/ECT…)

AFM/ PHAK chap 2,6,8,9,10 FAR 91.205,91.405
Instrument and equipment requirements for VFR by day (FAR 91.205)
• Anti-collision lights
• Temperature gauge (liquid cooled engine)
• Oil temperature gauge (air cooled engine)
• Magnetic compass
• Airspeed indicator
• Tachometer
• Oil pressure gauge
• Flotation device
• Fuel gauge
• Landing gear position indicator (if retractable landing gear)
• Altimeter
• MAP gauge (altitude engine)
• ELT
• Seatbelts

3 Documents required for flight

Documents required on board the aircraft

• Data plate
• Airworthiness certificate (valid as long as everything else is valid (darrowpc, aviate))
• Registration certificate (valid for 3 years)
• Radio station License (for international flight)
• Operating Manual / POH (operating limitations)
• Weight and Balance
• Placards
• Compass card (not for PA28, deviation included in G1000)

Personal documents required for flight

• ID (government issued)
• Medical certificate
• Logbook (+ endorsements for student pilot solo flights)
• Pilot license

4 Local airspace

FAR 91PART B/AIM 3/PHAK chap 14

Operating on or in vicinity of towered class G/E airport:

2- way radio communication must be established prior to 4nm from the airport up to and
including 2500 ft AGL. (FAR 91.126; 91.127)

Operations in class D airspace: FAR 91.129

Operations in class C airspace: FAR 91.130
Operations in class B airspace: FAR 91.131
Operations in class A airspace: FAR 91.135
Local airspace PHX: See charts !!!
Inside thick magenta line: Class G from sfc – 700ft AGL; then E
Outside thick magenta line: Class G from sfc – 1200ft AGL; then E

Delta: ground to 3399’

Echo: 3400’ to 4000’
Bravo: 4000’ to 9000’
Echo: 9000’ to 18000’
Alpha: 18000’ to FL600
Echo: FL600 to unlimited

5 Local airport (primary and alternates) environment (runways and ops

per runway)

AFD/COMPANY NOTACS/ AIM 4-1,2,3,4/ PHAK chap 13, appendix 1

6 Company limitations on local solo (weather/landings/times of day)

Global OPS manual COAA PH ANNEX 1

7 FAA restrictions on local solo flight

FAR 61 PART E/AIM 8

8 Light gun signals and lost communication procedures

FAR 91.125

FAR 91.185

VFR conditions. If the failure occurs in VFR conditions, or if VFR conditions are encountered after the failure,
each pilot shall continue the flight under VFR and land as soon as practicable.

IFR conditions:
- Follow route of last ATC clearance
- If no clearance / route advised: follow route filed in the flight plan
- If being radar vectored: follow direct route from point of failure to point of vector clearance

9 Emergency procedures (including spin recovery procedure)/abnormal

situations

AFM/QRH/AIM 6/SSG section 1

10 INOP equipment

FAR 91.213

Take-off with inoperative instruments/equipment is not allowed unless

- An approved MEL exists
- Letter of authorization, authorizing operation under the MEL
- …
11 Other

• To make good a glideslope of Z°: (100 x Z) ft/nm

• ROD = 5 x GS x (a/3)

• See PA28-181 Aircraft Briefing

• Review G1000 Setup (AFM p 5-20)

• Review emergency checklists

• Aircraft maintenance regulations

Airworthiness Directives (= legally enforceable by the FAA to correct an unsafe condition in a
product; PA28: the stabilator)
VOR: must be checked every 30 days (IFR)
Inspection: every 12 months + 100 hr inspection (tachometer hours; aircraft for training/hire)
Altimeter/Pitot-static system check every 2 years (IFR)
Transponder check every 2 years
ELT checked every year (VFR & IFR). (battery must be replaced after 1h of cumulative use or
half of the battery useful life.

• Night VFR equipment requirements:

Fuses (spares) / Circuit breakers
Landing lights
Anti-collision lights
Position lights
Source of electricity

• Checklist Fit to fly:

Illness
Medication
Stress
Alcohol / drugs
Fatigue
Eating

• Pre-flight preparation
Runway lengths
Alternates
Weather
Fuel requirements
ATC delays
Take-off / Landing distances

• Special use airspace

Warning
Alert
Restricted
MOA
Prohibited
Controlled firing areas
• Stable approach criteria
o On centreline
o On glidepath
o Configured for landing
o Correct approach speed
o Stable approach power set
o Checklists complete

• Where do we find the certificate of airworthiness?

On the baggage compartment door, (next to the certificate of registration)

• How does the CG move during the flight?

It moves forward, since fuel is consumed from the fuel tanks, the balance arm of which is aft of datum.
(The aircraft becomes more nose heavy).

• PFD: altimeter must indicate field elevation within limits (+30 to -55 ft).

• Cross check PFD and standby flight instruments:

Pitch & roll: within 5°
Altitude: within 50 ft

• Calculation pressure and density altitude

• What would you do if you have a communication failure during the runup?

Check headset, connection, volume

If not solved, squawk 7600, wait for signals of the tower and taxi back
Don’t take off

• What would you do if you have a high oil pressure warning on downwind?

Reduce throttle to the minimum required to put less strain on the engine. Check oil temperature: if
high, check mixture full rich and if practicable increase airspeed to assist cooling. Make a full stop
landing and have the problem investigated.

• PRE SOLO WRITTEN EXAM