Area I · Task D / Area VI — Cross-Country Planning & Navigation
Cessna 152 Navigation & Cross-Country Planning — PPL Oral Exam Questions Pilotage, dead reckoning, VOR navigation, GPS, lost procedures, and cross-country planning as a DPE will probe them. Below are real DPE-style questions for the Cessna 152 . Every answer cites a primary FAA source — no fabricated regulations, no shortcuts.
18 questions PHAK Chapter 16 14 CFR Part 91 AIM Chapter 5
DPE oral questions · navigation & cross-country planning
18 questions a DPE may ask in this section Question 1 · PA.I.D.K1
What is the difference between true course, magnetic course, and magnetic heading? What a DPE expects to hear
True course: direction relative to true north (from sectional chart) Magnetic course: true course corrected for magnetic variation (east is least, west is best) Magnetic heading: magnetic course corrected for wind correction angle (WCA) and compass deviation Source PHAK FAA-H-8083-25C Chapter 16
Question 2 · PA.I.D.K1
How do you determine fuel requirements for a VFR cross-country flight? What a DPE expects to hear
Fuel to reach destination Fuel to fly to alternate (if no alternate: VFR day = 30-minute reserve; VFR night = 45-minute reserve) 14 CFR 91.151: VFR day — enough fuel to destination plus 30 minutes at cruise 14 CFR 91.151: VFR night — enough fuel to destination plus 45 minutes at cruise Source 14 CFR 91.151
Question 3 · PA.I.D.K2
How does GPS relate to the sectional chart for flight planning? What a DPE expects to hear
GPS gives direct routing — pilot must still understand how to interpret sectional charts Sectional shows airspace, obstructions, restricted areas, TFRs (TFRs may not appear on sectional unless pre-planned) GPS databases may be out of date — check AIRAC cycle VFR pilot should always have a paper or electronic sectional backup to GPS Situational awareness requires knowing where you are relative to airspace boundaries Source FAR/AIM 1-1-17; PHAK Chapter 16
Question 4 · PA.I.D
You used a single VOR for a checkpoint. Why would I want to see two VORs, and is a VOR even required for this flight? What a DPE expects to hear
VOR not required for VFR Two VORs allow cross-radial fix to pinpoint exact location For PPL, pilotage and dead reckoning are primary skills tested Source ACS Task VI.A
Question 5 · PA.I.D
You've filed a VFR flight plan. Walk me through activating it after departure and consequences of forgetting to close it. What a DPE expects to hear
Contact FSS via radio to activate after takeoff If not closed within 30 minutes of ETA, search and rescue procedures are initiated Source AIM 5-1-4; ACS Task I.D
Question 6 · PA.I.D
You now estimate arriving at destination with exactly 25 minutes of fuel remaining. Is this legal? What a DPE expects to hear
No — Day VFR requires 30 minutes reserve after reaching destination at normal cruising speed Must divert to closer airport Source 14 CFR 91.151; ACS Task I.D
Question 7 · PA.I.D
I want you to intercept and track the 180 radial inbound to the station. What course do you set in the OBS and what should TO/FROM show? What a DPE expects to hear
Set 000 (or 360) in OBS Indicator should show TO — flying north toward the station from the south Source PHAK Chapter 16; POH Section 9
Question 8 · PA.I.D
What is RAIM and what do you do if RAIM NOT AVAILABLE appears enroute? What a DPE expects to hear
Receiver Autonomous Integrity Monitoring — ensures GPS accuracy Requires at least 5 satellites to detect a faulty signal (or 4 with baro input) If lost: verify position every 15 minutes using another approved nav system or revert to alternate navigation Source PHAK Chapter 16; POH Section 9
Question 9 · PA.I.D
Landmarks no longer match the chart. You're unsure of your position. What are the 5 Cs? What a DPE expects to hear
Climb, Communicate, Confess, Comply, Conserve (reduce power for maximum endurance) Source PHAK Chapter 16; ACS Task VI.D
Question 10 · PA.I.D
30 miles from destination, line of unforecast thunderstorms across our path. Walk me through your diversion process. What a DPE expects to hear
Identify alternate airport on chart or EFB Note current position and time Calculate new heading, estimate time and fuel to alternate ensuring legal VFR reserves Source PHAK Chapter 16; ACS Task VI.C
Question 11 · PA.I.D
Your passenger begins showing motion sickness and vomits. How does this change your flight plan? What a DPE expects to hear
Environmental and human factor hazard (Passengers in PAVE) Use ADM to prioritize diversion to nearest suitable airport — passenger comfort and preventing pilot distraction Source Risk Management Handbook Chapter 8
Question 12 · PA.I.D
How do you identify TFRs along your route and what are the consequences of unauthorized entry? What a DPE expects to hear
Check NOTAMs via 1800wxbrief.com or FSS Unauthorized entry can result in certificate suspension or military intercept Source AIM 3-2-1; PHAK Chapter 15
Question 13 · PA.I.D
During briefing you see a NOTAM (D) and an FDC NOTAM. What's the difference? What a DPE expects to hear
NOTAM (D) — navigation facilities, airports, services (runway closures etc.) FDC NOTAM — regulatory in nature, TFRs, amendments to instrument approach procedures FDC NOTAM is legacy terminology — now called regulatory NOTAM since November 2021 Source AIM 5-1-3; 14 CFR 91.103
Question 14 · PA.I.D
We are flying on a magnetic course of 190 degrees above 3,000 feet AGL. What altitudes are appropriate? What a DPE expects to hear
180-359° magnetic = even thousands + 500 feet (e.g., 4,500, 6,500, 8,500) Source 14 CFR 91.159; PHAK Chapter 16
Question 15 · PA.I.D
You're using an iPad with ForeFlight. What are the specific risks and how do you mitigate them? What a DPE expects to hear
EFBs can overheat in direct sunlight or fail from dead battery/software crash Mitigation: backup power supply, keep out of direct sun, secondary nav source (paper charts or onboard VOR) Source ACS Task I.D; ACS Task II.B
Question 16 · PA.I.D
Why shouldn't you rely on pilotage alone, and how does dead reckoning act as a safety net? What a DPE expects to hear
Pilotage relies on visual landmarks which can be obscured by haze or weather Dead reckoning uses time/speed/distance calculations to provide expected position even when landmarks are hidden Source PHAK Chapter 16; ACS Task VI.A
Question 17 · PA.I.D
You've just passed a checkpoint and groundspeed is 90 knots. Destination is 30 nautical miles away. How many minutes until we arrive? What a DPE expects to hear
30 NM ÷ 90 knots = 1/3 hour = 20 minutes Source PHAK Chapter 16; ACS Task VI.A
Question 18 · PA.I.D
We're flying in mountainous terrain. Why might your altimeter and magnetic compass be less reliable? What a DPE expects to hear
Cold weather = altimeter reads higher than actual altitude (must correct for terrain clearance) Compass subject to dip errors, acceleration/deceleration errors, turning errors — especially in turbulence Source Aviation Weather Handbook Chapter 8; ACS Task VI.A
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