What is this test?
The FAA Oral and Practical test is a comprehensive examination of all your aeronautical knowledge, and of your aeronautical skills, but more importantly, it is a measurement of how well you incorporate them together. It is a test of the practical combination of all your skills and knowledge. You need to correlate the different types of knowledge you have. It has two main parts. The oral test is taken on the ground prior to the practical (flight) portion of the test. During this portion, the DPE is required to test you on portions of the Knowledge tests where you answered incorrectly.
Light Sport Aircraft-Sets of Aircraft
If you are a registered UL pilot with an UL organization, registered before Sep 1, 2004 there is an advantage if you would like to be rated in more than one category or class of aircraft. All the UL ratings that you have as a registered UL pilot, when you pass your SP practical test, will be endorsed into your logbook. If you intend to add categories or classes or makes and models (sets) of aircraft to your SP rating it will be easier and less expensive to do so as an UL pilot. The disadvantage is that you begin with 0 hours in your SP logbook. Here is a link to the Light-Sport Aircraft sets:
Light Sport Aircraft Sets
Timing
For those transitioning to Sport Pilot from the Ultralight community, timing is important. We are constrained by deadlines by which we must transition ourselves and our aircraft. We are also prevented from going forward initially, by the lack of needed resources such as available DPE's (Designated Pilot Examiners). As this is being written, in late Jan 2005, the Knowledge Test study materials are available and testing is available at the testing centers. The test is good for 24 months, so if you work back from the deadline of 31 Jan, 2007, you see that there is no reason to hesitate, study for and take the test as soon as you are ready.
Bookwork preparation for the Test
The Oral and Practical (Flight) Test that you will take with an FAA DPE (Designated Pilot Examiner will test your flying skills. The Oral and Practical Test will also call on much of the knowledge you gained while studying for the knowledge test (See my Sport Pilot Knowledge Test Guide). In fact, many of the publications listed below will be the same ones. In addition, you will need some additional publications related just to the practical test. They are mostly in PDF format. A free Adobe Acrobat Reader is available on the Adobe website. (Click on the blue text to download).
Also note that the oral portion of the test will incorporate some of the Knowledge Test material and the DPE will be required to test you on areas of the knowledge test that you answered incorrectly.
Here is a list of links to publications that will aid you in preparing for the practical (flight) test for Sport Pilot:
The Practical Test Standards
The first and most important document you will need is a copy of the PTS or Practical Test Standards for the category of Sport aircraft that you want to take your practical test in. Here is a link to the locations for all the PTS's.
FAA Practical Test Standards
Here are links for the individual PTS's:
FAA-S-8081-29, Sport Pilot Practical Test Standards for Airplane, Gyroplane, Glider, and Flight Instructor with Change 1
FAA-S-8081-30, Sport Pilot Practical Test Standards for Airship, Balloon, and Flight Instructor with Change 1
FAA-S-8081-31, Sport Pilot Practical Test Standards for Weight Shift Control, Powered Parachute, and Flight Instructor with Change 1
Private Pilot Weight-shift or Powered Parachute PTS
If you are interested in certification as a Private Pilot Weight-shift or Powered Parachute here is the link to the PTS for those:
FAA-S-8081-32, Private Pilot Practical Test Standards for Powered Parachute and Weight Shift Control
I will go through the list for the Airplane, Gyroplane, Glider and Flight Instructor categories as they are grouped together, in one PTS. The same process can be used for other categories of aircraft, but you will need to look at their PTS's for the recommended list of publications and study aids. Note that the list includes study materials for all three aircraft types and for the Flight Instructor for these types. I haven't made separate lists. You must determine what does and doesn't apply to you.
What to Study
In the PTS is a list of publications to use to study for the Practical Test. These are also useful for preparing for the knowledge test. Almost all of these documents and handbooks and manuals are free for download from the FAA website or the information is online on their site or others. Here is the list with embedded links. Either click on the link to go there or right click to download (where applicable):
Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations
The first three items are the codes of federal regulations that govern us. Look at Parts 43, 61 and 91. They can be found at this link:
Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (The main link)
14 CFR part 43 Maintenance, Preventive Maintenance, Rebuilding, and Alteration -
14 CFR part 61 Certification: Pilots, Flight Instructors, and Ground Instructors -
14 CFR part 91 General Operating and Flight Rules -
All the following AC (Advisory Circulars), and more, are available at the following FAA site:
FAA AC (Advisory Circular) List (The main link)
Click on the individual AC to download. Some are multiple files.
AC 00-6A Aviation Weather -
AC 00-45E Aviation Weather Services -
AC 61-65D Certification: Pilot and Flight Instructors and Ground Instructors -
AC 61-67C Stall and Spin Awareness Training -
AC 61-84B Role of Preflight Preparation -
AC 61-134 General Aviation Controlled Flight Into Terrain Awareness -
AC 90-23F Aircraft Wake Turbulence -
AC 90-48C Pilots� Role in Collision Avoidance -
AC 90-66A Recommended Standard Traffic Patterns and Practices for Aeronautical Operations At Airports Without Operating Control Towers -
AC 91-13C Cold Weather Operation of Aircraft -
AC 91-69A Seaplane Safety for FAR Part 91 Operations -
AC 120-51E Crew Resource Management Training -
Click on the links for these handbooks. Some are multiple files.
FAA-H-8083-1 Aircraft Weight and Balance Handbook �
FAA-H-8083-9 Aviation Instructors Handbook
FAA-H-8083-13 Glider Flying Handbook �
FAA-H-8083-13 Glider Flying Handbook addendum
FAA-H-8083-21 Rotorcraft Flying Handbook
FAA-H-8083-23 Seaplane, Skiplane, and Float/Ski Equipped Helicopter Flying Handbook �
FAA-H-8083-25 Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge
Forms
FAA Form 8710-11 Airman Certificate and/or Rating Application
FAA Form 8710-11
Some of the above handbooks may be obtained from the Government Printing Office. (GPO) Get a print copy here:
Government Printing Office
AIM Aeronautical Information Manual � (Online)
AFD Airport Facility Directory - (Buy it here)
NOTAM's Notices to Airmen � Latest months NOTAM's (Online)
How to use NOTAMS (Online guide to NOTAMS)
Note: The latest NOTAM's (for a pending flight) can be obtained at 1-800-WXBRIEF
Other:
Pilot Operating Handbook/FAA-Approved Flight Manual - Aircraft Mfg.
Aeronautical Navigation Charts - Local FBO or NACO (National Aeronautical Charting Office) (Buy them here)
Seaplane Supplement � Aircraft Mfg.
Other Aids
You will, of course, need your E6B computer and Protractor/Plotter which you obtained for the Knowledge Test. These can be picked up at a local FBO or bought online.
A valuable aid, not listed in the PTS, but valuable for practicing the flight maneuvers is called "Visualizing Flight Maneuvers". It is available in "Red" edition for low wing and "Blue" is for high wing aircraft. Buy online or at local FBO.
I also include the following for your entertainment:
FAA-H-8083-27a, Student Pilot Guide
FAA-H-8083-19 (Plane Sense) w/ Editorial Changes
Flight Preparation for the Test
Part of the preparation for the practical test is making sure you are prepared for the flight portion of the test. Thge practical test standards tell you what tasks you must be prepared to perform, but even if you are an experienced pilot, it may be a good idea to get some dual instruction to fine tune your skills. It can even be a good idea to take a practice practical with an instructor or examiner, before you go for the real thing.
EAA
Instructor List
The EAA maintains a list of instructors who are members of EAA or NAFI and also consent to be listed. The list is here:
http://www.sportpilot.org/instructors/
Who will give me the test?A DPE (Designated Pilot Examiner) will give you the Oral and Practical Test. DPE's are private persons who are designated by the FAA to administer the tests. They may charge a reasonable fee for their services. The DPE must me qualified to give you the particular test you require. The DPE must be qualified to give you Sport Pilot testing. At present there is a process going on whereby the FAA is training the necessary examiners. It is a top down process that begins with the FAA personnel training and certifying SFIE's (Sport Flight Instructor Examiners) and SPE's (Sport Pilot Examiners). SFIE's can administer the test for Sport Flight Instructors in addition to the Sport Pilot test that the SPE's can administer.
Note: To become a Private Pilot you will need to hold at least third class medical certificate.
I recommend that you develop and use checklists for all phases of flight including preflight and postflight. DPE's will be looking for this. Use the aircraft manufacturer's recommendations as a basis but personalize it for the way you like to do things.
In addition, the PTS lists all the areas you must be proficient in during the practical test. Read and study it and use it for a training syllabus for the areas of operation and tasks you will be required to perform.
Forms and Documents
You will need a filled out copy of FAA form 8710-11, Airman Certificate and/or Rating Application, to apply for the test.
FAA Form 8710-11
Registered UL pilot with an UL organization
If you are a registered UL pilot with an UL organization, registered before Sep 1, 2004 you will need a letter from your UL organization showing your qualifications. This will be your authorization for taking the test. I believe most of the UL organizations will provide a signed certifying letter with your UL records for free. Be sure that they list all of your category and classes of aircraft as these will be endorsed in your SP logbook. That reminds me, you DO have an UL logbook in which all your flight activity is logged, don't you? Here is a link to a sample letter from the FAA:
Certification Letter for Exemption Holders
If you are a registered UL pilot with an UL organization, registered AFTER Sep 1, 2004 you will need the letter showing your qualifications (registration) and also your logbook showing the hours you have flown to qualify for the test. It is a good idea to study all the things in the PTS relating to the prerequisites. Look at the applicant's checklist.
It is a good idea to add any additional ratings that you may desire, while you are a registered UL pilot. These ratings will be automatically added to your SP certificate by logbook endorsement when you get your SP certificate if registered before the deadline. Even if you missed the deadline, it's is a lot easier and less expensive to add ratings at the UL level.
Sport Pilot Examiners Handbook
I also have read the Sport Pilot Examiners Handbook. It tells you everything the DPE (Designated Pilot Examiner) will do while examining you. It will give you valuable insights into the process. A link to it is here:
Sport Pilot Examiners Handbook FAA Order 8710.7
NOTE: AC 00-2, Advisory Circular Checklist, transmits the status of all FAA advisory circulars (AC's), as well as FAA internal publications and miscellaneous flight information such as Aeronautical Information Manual (AIM), Airport/Facility Directory, knowledge test study guides, and other material directly related to a certificate or rating. The checklist is available on the Internet at:
AC 00-2, Advisory Circular Checklist
