AQT Cheat Sheet 2026

The 30 highest-yield AQT facts, distilled from real exam questions. Print it, save it as a PDF, or study it here — free, no sign-up.

1. What is the correct procedure if you need to request a frequency change from ATC? → Inform ATC of the frequency change before switching
2. According to Bernoulli's principle, what happens to air pressure as velocity increases? → Pressure decreases
3. What is the IMSAFE checklist used for in aviation? → Pilot self-assessment of fitness to fly
4. What is the purpose of flaps on an aircraft wing? → Increase lift and drag at lower speeds
5. Which wing design feature reduces induced drag by limiting wingtip vortices? → Winglets
6. How should you handle a situation where you receive an unclear or garbled radio transmission from ATC? → Ask ATC to repeat the transmission
7. What is the maximum blood alcohol concentration (BAC) allowed for military aviators before flight? → 0.00% (completely sober)
8. What is the 'graveyard spiral' and what causes it? → A progressively steepening spiral dive caused by spatial disorientation
9. An aircraft weighs 4,000 lbs and enters a 60° bank level turn where the load factor is 2.0. What is the effective structural load on the aircraft? → 8,000 lbs
10. An aircraft requires 2,400 ft of runway at sea level. At density altitude 5,000 ft, the correction factor is 1.4. What is the new required takeoff distance? → 3,360 ft
11. In a flight simulation, how can you best simulate a real-world scenario involving poor visibility? → Adjust the simulator settings to reduce visibility and practice using instruments
12. What should be your primary focus when performing a touch-and-go maneuver in a flight simulation? → Practicing the takeoff and landing procedures
13. What are the primary flight controls of an aircraft? → Ailerons (roll), elevator (pitch), and rudder (yaw)
14. What is the primary action a pilot should take if an engine fails during takeoff? → Abort the takeoff and apply the brakes
15. If the autopilot becomes unresponsive, what should a pilot do? → Switch to manual control and fly the aircraft
16. What is the standard lapse rate of temperature with altitude? → Approximately 2°C (3.5°F) per 1,000 feet
17. An aircraft flies at 150 knots TAS heading 090°. Wind is from 180° at 30 knots (a pure crosswind). What is the approximate groundspeed? → 153 knots
18. What is ground effect in aviation? → Reduced induced drag when near a surface
19. Which spatial disorientation illusion involves a false sensation of wings-level flight when actually banked? → The leans
20. An aircraft weighs 2,500 lbs and has a moment arm of 85 inches aft of the datum. What is the moment? → 212,500 in-lbs
21. An aircraft needs to travel 360 nm at a groundspeed of 150 knots. What is the estimated time en route (ETE)? → 2 hours 24 min
22. Which color of aviation light signals 'cleared to land' from an airport control tower when radio is inoperative? → Steady green
23. At approximately what altitude does time of useful consciousness (TUC) become critically short without supplemental oxygen? → 25,000 feet
24. What is the primary cause of vertigo (spatial disorientation) in IMC flight? → Conflict between vestibular and visual cues
25. What physiological effect does hyperventilation commonly cause in pilots? → Decreased carbon dioxide causing lightheadedness and tingling
26. What are the four forces acting on an aircraft in flight? → Lift, weight, thrust, and drag
27. When using a GPS for navigation, what is a "waypoint"? → A point where the aircraft is currently located
28. An aircraft has 60 gallons of usable fuel burning at 9 gph. What is the maximum endurance (no reserve)? → 6 hours 40 min
29. What is the primary purpose of a VOR (VHF Omnidirectional Range) station in navigation? → To assist in determining aircraft position relative to a specific point
30. The crosswind component equals wind speed × sin(angle off runway). If wind is 20 knots at 30° off the runway heading, what is the crosswind component? → 10 knots