Airman Written Test

As part of the requirements for obtaining a balloon pilot certificate, Federal Aviation Regulations require applicants to pass a written test. The FAA publishes the questions for these written tests, but not the answers. The written test books are scheduled for revision every two years and are administered by written test examiners or the FAA.

Qualification to take the test is a statement by a qualified instructor that the applicant has completed a course of study and suitable identification. A simple calculator and sectional plotter is all the equipment needed for the test.

The applicant for a written test is given a selection of questions to be answered. Upon completion of the test the applicant will be given the results, which will list the test score and the subject matter knowledge codes referencing the subjects in whom the applicant is deficient. The original test score sheet must be presented at the time of the flight test or for retesting in the event of written test failure.

The applicant must review the subject areas in which he/she was deficient. A written endorsement from the instructor is needed at the time of the flight test stating that the applicant has satisfactory knowledge of the deficient subject areas. In addition, the applicant may be retested in those subject areas by the designated examiner.

The test may be retaken with an endorsement from an instructor who had given the applicant remedial instruction. Subsequent retesting requires a 30-day waiting period. To be eligible to take a flight test, the written test must have been passed within the prior 24 months.

Airman Practical Test

 

The culmination of a student pilot's training is taking the FAA check flight. This flight test is more precisely known as the Airman's Practical Test. A FAA designated fight examiner generally administers this test. It incorporates a concept of testing designed to insure that balloon pilots are competent in basic airmanship. The specific procedures and maneuvers used in each pilot operation are selected from the FAA practical test standards by the examiner. The examiner selects enough of these procedures and maneuvers to insure that the applicant is qualified in all pilot operations. The examiner does not inform the applicant in advance which procedures and maneuvers will be required, nor should the examiner allow the test to fall into a pattern recognized by instructors and students, as this will defeat the objective of the testing procedure. An applicant will be evaluated and scored solely on whether or not his performance meets the objectives and standards of the required flight test item.

The examiner will accompany the applicant in the balloon during the flight test; otherwise a letter from the FAA District Office is required to conduct the flight test by ground observation.

Once the flight test starts, the examiner may do one of three things. He may issue a temporary airman's certificate, a notice of disapproval of application, or a letter stating the test was discontinued and may be completed within sixty days. I encountered this between the oral part the flying part of my test.

The FAA developed the practical test standards as the test to be used by examiners. The FARs specifies the areas in which the applicant before the isuance of a pilot certificate must demonstrate knowledge and skill. The examiner must stick to the provisions in the regulations and the practical test.

The flight instructor is responsible for training the student to the acceptable standards as outlined in each task. The flight instructor must certify that the applicant is able to perform safely as a private or commercial pilot and is competent to pass the required practical test for that certificate.

The examiner who conducts the test is responsible for determining that the applicant meets the standards outlined in each task.

The examiner meets this responsibility by asking the applicant the standards outlined in each task. For each task that involves knowledge only elements, the examiner will orally quiz the applicant on those elements. For each task that involves both knowledge and skill elements, the examiner will orally quiz the applicant regarding the knowledge element and ask the applicant to perform the skill element. The examiner will determine if the applicant's knowledge and skill meets the objective in all required tasks. Oral questioning may be used at any time during the practical test. The practical test standards are broken down into areas of operation. These are phases of flight arranged in a logical sequence. The examiner, however, may conduct a practical test in any sequence that results in a complete and efficient test. Under each task there is a reference to a publication as authority for its correct execution. Applicants should be familiar with all the reference material, which is listed at the end of this chapter.

The FAA requires that each practical test be conducted in strict compliance with the practical to test standards. The examiner must evaluate the applicant's knowledge and skill in sufficient depth to determine that the standards of performance listed for all tasks are met. The examiner may, for any valid reason, elect to evaluate certain tasks orally. Such tasks include those that do not conform to the operating limitations of the balloon or those that are impractical due to the current flight conditions.

Examiners place special emphasis on areas of operation, which are most critical to flight safety. Among these areas are correct balloon control and sound judgment in decision-making. Although these areas may not be shown under each task, they are essential to flight safety and will receive careful evaluation throughout the practical test. If these areas are shown in the objective, additional emphasis will be placed on them. The examiner will also emphasize collision avoidance, winds hear, rotors, and the use of a checklist.

Many accidents have occurred when the pilot's attention has been distracted during various phases of flight. Distractions that have been found to cause problems are:

To strengthen this area of pilot training and evaluation, the examiner will provide realistic distractions through the practical test. Some examples of the distractions used by examiners are:

The ability of an applicant to perform the required task is based on:

  1. executing tasks within the balloon's performance capabilities and limitations;

  2. executing emergency procedures and maneuvers;

  3. piloting the balloon with smoothness and accuracy;

  4. exercising good judgment

  5. applying aeronautical knowledge and

  6. showing a mastery of the balloon withen the practical test standards, with a successful outcome of a task never seriously in doubt.

    If in the judgment of the examiner, the applicant does not meet the standards of performance of any task performed, the associated pilot operation has failed and, therefore, the practical test is failed. The examiner or applicant may discontinue the test at any time after the failure of a pilot operation makes the applicant ineligible for the certificate or rating sought. The test will be continued only with the consent of the applicant. If the test is discontinued, the applicant is entitled to credit for only those tasks satisfactorily performed. However, during the retest and at the discretion of the examiner, any task may be reevaluated including those previously passed. The tolerances stated in the objective represent the minimum performance expected in good flying conditions. Consistently exceeding tolerances or failure to take prompt corrective action or intervention by the examiner to maintain safe flight is disqualifying.

    The examiner is not an instructor during the flight test. He is an observer. He is the applicant's first passenger. Examiners are selected because of their instructing abilities, but this is not their role during the flight test. If the applicant understands this distinction, his prospects of earming his wings will be enhanced.