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Private Pilot Licence · Subject 2, AC61-3

PPL Flight Radio mock exam.

Flight Radio is the shortest paper at 25 questions in 40 minutes, and most of it is standard phraseology: what you say, when you say it, and what you must read back. It is often the first theory exam a student sits, and it is a good one to warm up on. Our bank of 200 questions is written to Subject 2 of AC61-3.

The questions cover both controlled and uncontrolled aerodromes, because the New Zealand syllabus does, and the emergency section turns up in nearly every paper.

Questions25
Time40min
Pass mark70%
Question bank200
Sit a PPL Flight Radio paper · $5.99 Try the free 12-question paper first
What the paper covers

Subject 2 topic by topic.

The syllabus areas below are the ones the CAA lists for Flight Radio, and every question in the bank carries the code of the item it tests.

  • How VHF radio works and what limits its range
  • The phonetic alphabet, numbers and standard words
  • Standard phraseology and the order of a call
  • Mandatory read-backs
  • Calls at controlled aerodromes: taxi, take-off, circuit and landing
  • Calls at uncontrolled aerodromes and in the FISCOM area
  • ATIS, area frequencies and flight information services
  • Transponder codes and operation
  • Distress and urgency: MAYDAY, PAN PAN and 121.5 MHz
  • The speechless code and relaying
  • Radio failure procedures and light signals
  • Radio licensing and the pilot's responsibilities
Where the marks go

What catches people in Flight Radio.

  1. Pronunciation of numbers: TREE, FOWer, FIFE, NINer and how altitudes, headings and frequencies are spoken.
  2. What must be read back. Runway in use and QNH are; a traffic advisory is not.
  3. MAYDAY versus PAN PAN. The exam gives a scenario and asks which call it warrants.
  4. The speechless code: how many presses of the transmit button mean yes, no, say again and I have left the aircraft.
From the bank

Sample Flight Radio questions.

Four questions as they appear in a paper, with the answer and the reasoning you get in the de-brief. Options are shuffled in the real thing.

PPL · Syllabus 2.2.2Sample 1 / 4

The physical transmission range of a VHF radio signal is primarily limited by:

  1. AThe curvature of the earth
  2. BThe wattage power output of the transmitter
  3. CIonospheric refraction layers
  4. DThe time of day and solar activity
Show the answer and why
The curvature of the earth

VHF signals propagate as 'Space Waves' that travel in straight lines and do not bend. Therefore, the visual horizon created by the curvature of the earth acts as a hard physical limit to the reception range.

PPL · Syllabus 2.10Sample 2 / 4

In standard radiotelephony, the word 'BREAK' is used to indicate:

  1. AI am separating two parts of a message
  2. BI am terminating the transmission permanently
  3. CMy radio equipment is malfunctioning
  4. DI need to take a break from monitoring the frequency
Show the answer and why
I am separating two parts of a message

The term 'BREAK' is used to clearly separate complex messages or to distinguish between instructions directed at two different aircraft during a single continuous transmission.

PPL · Syllabus 2.16.8Sample 3 / 4

To effectively utilize the speechless communication technique, the pilot must press:

  1. AThe microphone Push-To-Talk (PTT) switch
  2. BThe Transponder Ident button
  3. CThe Autopilot disconnect switch
  4. DThe Intercom isolate toggle switch
Show the answer and why
The microphone Push-To-Talk (PTT) switch

Pressing the PTT switch transmits an unmodulated VHF carrier wave that the Air Traffic Controller hears as an audible click or static burst, allowing basic binary communication.

PPL · Syllabus 2.14.2Sample 4 / 4

You have a very sick passenger requiring urgent medical attention upon landing. This situation warrants:

  1. AA PAN PAN (Urgency) call
  2. BA MAYDAY (Distress) call
  3. CA routine Security Call to the destination tower
  4. DA standard Flight Information Service request
Show the answer and why
A PAN PAN (Urgency) call

A severe medical issue concerns the safety of a person on board, which meets the criteria for an Urgency (PAN PAN) call. It does not qualify as a Mayday because the aircraft itself is not in imminent danger.

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Flight Radio questions

Asked about this exam.

Straight answers. If yours is not here, email support and a person replies.

Our paper is 25 questions in 40 minutes, matched to the Aspeq sitting. Pass mark 70%.

The Flight Radiotelephone Operator Rating is issued under Part 61 and requires the written exam plus a practical assessment. This paper covers the written part.

Many instructors suggest Flight Radio or Human Factors first because they are short and the material is used from your first solo. There is no required order.

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