FAA Cross-Country Planning Test 1

Question 1

(Refer to Figure 20.) En route to First Flight Airport (area 5), your flight passes over Hampton Roads Airport (area 2) at 1456 and then over Chesapeake Regional at 1501. At what time should your flight arrive at First Flight?

Accepted Answer

1529.

Answer

First determine your estimated time of arrival at your destination, which in this case is First Flight Airport. In the five minutes between 1456 and 1501, you flew from Hampton Roads Airport to Chesapeake Regional. If you measure that number of miles, by knowing the time and distance you can find your groundspeed. Use the edge of a piece of paper, make marks at the centers of the airports and measure the distance between your marks on the nautical mile scale at the top of the figure. You should get 9 nautical miles. Using the same method, measure the remaining number of miles from Chesapeake Regional to First Flight Airport, and you should get 50 nautical miles. Now use the computer to find how fast you are going. Put 9 miles on the outer scale of your computer next to 5 minutes on the inner scale. (You don't have 5 on the inner scale so use 50 instead.) Look next to the 60-minute arrow on the inner scale and read on the outer scale your groundspeed. You should get 108 nautical miles per hour (or 108 knots). To find out how long it will take you to fly the remaining 50 miles, run your finger around the outer scale until you get to 50 miles and look on the inner scale to see how many minutes the trip will take. You should get 28 minutes. You were at Chesapeake Regional at 1501 and its 28 more minutes to your estimated time of arrival at First Flight Airport, or 1529.
    Answers A and B are incorrect and could be obtained by incorrect measurement of the distances between airports or inaccuracies in the use of the flight computer.

Question 2

(Refer to Figure 20.) Determine the magnetic course from First Flight Airport (area 5) to Hampton Roads Airport (area 2).

Accepted Answer

332°.

Answer

To determine the magnetic course from First Flight Airport (area 5) to Hampton Roads Airport (area 2) on Figure 20, first draw a line between the two points and measure the true course with a plotter, which is approximately 342°. Then, apply the local magnetic variation of 10° West (found on the chart). Since West variation is subtracted from true course, the magnetic course is 342° - 10° = 332°. Options A and B represent incorrect calculations or directions.

Question 3

(Refer to Figure 21.) What is the estimated time en route from Mercer County Regional Airport (area 3) to Minot International (area 1)? The wind is from 330° at 25 knots and the true airspeed is 100 knots. Add 3-1/2 minutes for departure and climb-out.

Accepted Answer

48 minutes.

Answer

To estimate the time en route, first determine the true course (approx. 010°) and distance (approx. 90 NM) from Mercer County Regional (area 3) to Minot International (area 1) using Figure 21. With a true airspeed of 100 knots and wind from 330° at 25 knots, use a flight computer (E6B) to calculate a ground speed of approximately 123 knots. Dividing the distance by the ground speed yields about 44 minutes, and adding the 3-1/2 minutes for departure and climb-out results in approximately 47.5 minutes, which rounds to 48 minutes.

Question 4

(Refer to Figure 21.) Determine the magnetic heading for a flight from Mercer County Regional Airport (area 3) to Minot International (area 1). The wind is from 330° at 25 knots, the true airspeed is 100 knots, and the magnetic variation is 10° east.

Accepted Answer

352°.

Answer

To determine the magnetic heading, first establish the true course from Mercer County Regional (area 3) to Minot International (area 1) as approximately 010° from Figure 21. Using a flight computer (E6B) with a true airspeed of 100 knots and wind from 330° at 25 knots, calculate the true heading to be approximately 001° (accounting for wind correction). Finally, apply the 10° East magnetic variation (subtracting it from true heading) to get a magnetic heading of approximately 351°, which rounds to 352°.

Question 5

(Refer to Figure 22.) What is the estimated time en route from Sandpoint Airport (area 1) to St. Maries Airport (area 4)? The wind is from 215° at 25 knots, and the true airspeed is 125 knots.

Accepted Answer

34 minutes.

Answer

To determine the estimated time en route, a pilot must first calculate the true course and distance from the sectional chart. Next, using a flight computer (like an E6B), the true airspeed, wind direction, and wind speed are used to calculate the ground speed and wind correction angle. The estimated time en route is then found by dividing the distance by the calculated ground speed, providing an accurate flight duration accounting for wind effects.

FAA Practice Test

FAA Practice Test

FAA Cross-Country Planning Test 1