Pilot Qualifications

Question 1

Define common carriage

Answer 1

Common carriage refer to the carriage of passengers or cargo as a result of advertising the availability of the carriage to the public. A carrier becomes a common carrier when it hold itself out to the public or a segment of the public as willing to furnish transportation within the limits of its facilities to any person who wants it.

There are four elements into finding a common carrier:

a) a holding out or willingness to
b) transport persons or property
c) from place to place
d) for compensation.

Question 2

What does the term “commercial operator” refer to?

Answer 2

Commercial operator means a person who, for compensation or hire, engages in the carriage by aircraft in air commerce of persons or property, other than as an air carrier or for an air carrier or under the authority of 14 CFR part 375. Where it is doubtful that an operation is for “compensation or hire,” and the test applied as whether the carriage by air is merely incidental to the person’s other business or is, in itself, a major enterprise for profit.

Question 3

Define “holding out.”

AC 120–12

Answer 3

Holding out and implies offering to the public the carriage of persons and property for hire either intrastate or interstate. This holding out that makes a person a common carrier can be done in many ways, and it does not matter how it is done.

a) Signs and advertising are the most direct means of holding out but are not the only ones.
b) Holding out may be accomplished through the actions of agents, agencies, or salesman who may obtain passenger traffic from the general public and collect them into groups to be carried by the operator.
c) Physically holding out without advertising, yet gaining a reputation to “serve all,“ is sufficient to constitute an offer to carry all customers. For example, the expression of willingness to all customers with whom contact is made that the operator can and will perform the requested service is sufficient. It makes no difference of the holding out generates a little success; the issue is the nature and character of the operation.
d) A carrier holding itself out is generally willing to carry only certain kinds of traffic is nevertheless a common carrier.

Question 4

Define the term “private carriage.”

AC 120–12

Answer 4

Carriage for hire that does not involve holding out is “private carriage.“ Private carriage for hire is carriage for one or several selected customers, generally on a long-term basis. The number of contracts must not be too great, otherwise it implies a willingness to make a contact with anybody. A carrier operating with 18 to 24 contracts has been labeled a common carrier because it has held itself out to serve the general public to the extent of its facilities. Private carriage has been found in cases where three contracts have been the sole basis of the operator’s business. But the number of contracts is not the determining factor when assessing whether a particular operation is common carriage or private carriage; any proposal for revenue-generating flights that would most likely require certification as an air carrier should be examined closely if you intend to practice private carriage.

Question 5

Briefly described 14 CFR Part 117

Answer 5

Part 117 – flight and duty limitations and rest requirements: flight crew members

Question 6

Briefly describe 14 CFR part 119

Answer 6

Part 119 - certification: air carriers and commercial operators

Question 7

Briefly describe 14 CFR part 121

Answer 7

Part 121 - operating requirements: domestic, flag, and supplemental operations

Question 8

Briefly describe 14 CFR part 125

Answer 8

Part 125 – certification and operations: airplanes having a seating capacity of 20 or more passengers or a maximum payload capacity of 6,000 pounds or more

Question 9

Briefly describe 14 CFR part 135

Answer 9

Part 135 - operating requirements: commuter and on-demand operations

Question 10

Briefly describe 14 CFR part 136

Answer 10

Part 136 – commercial air tours and National Parks air tour management

Question 11

Briefly describe 14 CFR part 137

Answer 11

Part 137 – agricultural aircraft operations

Question 12

As a commercial pilot, certain commercial operations are allowed without being in possession of an “operating certificate.” Examples of such operations include:

Answer 12

Student instruction, certain nonstop sightseeing flights, ferry or training flight, aerial work operations including cropdusting, banner towing, aerial photography, powerline or pipeline patrol etc.

These operations are listed in 14 CFR 119.1

Question 13

What limitation is imposed on a newly certificated commercial airplane pilot if that person does not hold an instrument rating? 14 CFR 61.133

Answer 13

The pilot must hold an instrument rating in the same category in class, or the commercial pilot certificate that is issued is endorsed with a limitation prohibiting the following:

a) the carriage of passengers for hire in airplanes on cross country flights in excess of 50 nautical miles;
b) the carriage of passengers for hire in airplanes at night.

Question 14

To act as a required pilot flight crew member of a civil aircraft, what must a pilot have in his/her physical possession or readily accessible in the aircraft? 14 CFR 61.3

Answer 14

A pilot certificate, a photo identification, a medical certificate

Question 15

To act as pilot in command of a high-performance aircraft, what flight experience requirements must be met? 14 CFR 61.31

Answer 15

A high-performance airplane is an airplane with an engine of more than 200 hp. To act as pilot in command of a high-performance airplane, a person must have:

a) received and log ground and flight training from an authorized instructor in a high-performance airplane, or in a flight simulator or flight training device that is representative of a high-performance airplane; and
b) been found proficient in the operation and systems of the airplane; and
c) receive a one-time endorsement in the pilot’s logbook from an authorized instructor who certifies the person is proficient operate a high-performance airplane.

Question 16

What is the definition of a complex airplane? 14 CFR 61.1

Answer 16

A complex airplane is defined as an airplane that has a retractable landing gear, flaps, and a controllable pitch propeller, including airplanes equipped with an engine control system consisting of a digital computer and associated accessories for controlling the airplane and propeller, such as a full authority digital engine control (FADEC)

Question 17

What are the requirements to act as pilot in command of a complex airplane? 14 CFR 61.31

Answer 17

To act as pilot in command of a complex airplane, you must have:

a) received and logged ground and flight training from an authorized instructor in a complex airplane, or in a flight simulator or flight training device that is representative of a complex airplane, and been found proficient in the operation and systems of the airplane; and
b) received a one time endorsement in your logbook from an authorized instructor who certifies that you are proficient to operate a complex airplane.

Question 18

When would a commercial pilot be required to hold a type rating? 14 CFR 61. 31

Answer 18

According to 14 CFR 61.31, a person who acts as a pilot in command of any of the following aircraft must hold a type rating for that aircraft:

a) large aircraft (gross weight over 12,500 pounds, except lighter than air)
b) turbojet powered airplanes
c) other aircraft specified by the administrator through aircraft type certificate procedures.

Question 19

You are currently en route to your destination and the sun has set. When can you begin logging flight time as a “night” flight time? 14 CFR part 1

Answer 19

“Night” is defined as the time between the end of evening civil twilight and the beginning of morning civil twilight, as published in the air almanac and converted to local time. All flight time that occurs during this period of time is considered night flight time.

Question 20

What documents are you required to show an FAA inspector doing a ramp check?

Answer 20

Each person who holds an airman certificate, medical certificate, authorization, or license required by 14 CFR part 61 must present it and their photo identification for inspection upon request from the administrator; an authorized NTSB representative; any federal, state, or local law enforcement officer; or an authorized representative of the TSA.

Question 21

What are the requirements to remain current as a commercial pilot? 14 CFR 61.56, 61.57

Answer 21

a) Within the preceding 24 months, the pilot must have accomplished a flight review given in an aircraft for which that pilot is rated by an authorized instructor and received a logbook endorsement certifying that the person has satisfactorly completed the review.
b) To carry passengers, a pilot must have made, within the proceeding 90 days; three takeoffoffs and landings as the sole manipulator of flight controls of an aircraft of the same category and class and, if a type rating is required, of the same type.
i) If the aircraft is a tailwheel airplane, the landings must have been made to a full stop.
ii) If operations are to be conducted during the period beginning one hour after sunset and ending one hour before sunrise, with passengers on board, the pilot in command must have made at least three takeoffs and three landings to a full stop during that period in an aircraft of the same category, class, and type of aircraft to be used.

Question 22

What class of medical certificate is required for commercial pilots? 14 CFR 61. 23

Answer 22

A second class medical certificate is required in order to exercise commercial pilot privileges.

Question 23

Where can you find a list of the medical conditions that would disqualify you from obtaining and holding a medical certificate?

Answer 23

The standards for medical certification are contained in 14 CFR part 67. There are 15 conditions that are considered disqualifying by history of clinical diagnosis.

Question 24

Are flight crew members allowed the use of any medication’s while performing their required duties? 14 CFR 61.53

Answer 24

The regulations prohibit pilots from performing crewmember duties while taking medication or receiving other treatment for a medical condition that results in the person being unable to meet the requirements for the medical certificate necessary for the pilot operation. The safest rule is not to fly as a crewmember while taking any medication, unless approved to do so by the FAA. Consultant an AME for advice.

Question 25

What is the definition of “night “as it applies to meeting night recency of experience requirements, logged flight time at night, and lighted position lights?

Answer 25

Night recency of experience - one hour after sunset to one hour before sunrise – previous 90 days three takeoffs and landings to a full stop.

Logging – end of evening civil twilight to beginning of morning civil twilight

Position lights – sunset to sunrise