Private Pilot License Checkride Oral Exam Guide: The Most Common Questions

Over 260 Commonly Asked PPL Oral Exam Questions with Detailed Answers & Tips

By: Noel Benford

Narrated by: Lara Terco

We've all been there before with the dreaded oral exam, many get scared and nervous over the face-to-face styled test and although this is completely normal, it is usually the downfall for some students. The key to passing the oral exam is through preparation—and that's precisely where mock tests come into play.

Authored by Noel Benford, a seasoned Certified Flight Instructor from New York, this guide gives you the most common questions students have been asked during recent exams. Benford shares his extensive experience and insights giving you a significant advantage, ensuring your thoroughly prepared for the exam.

What to expect from this guide

- Over 260 commonly asked questions by examiners

- Important related points on the topics being asked

- Good tips/mnemonics on how to remember some of the answers

- Common misconceptions and pitfalls

- Useful insight into the exam from a CFI

Please note: Given the audio format of this guide, it does not contain questions that rely on visual aids such as charts and diagrams.

©2023 Charles L. Porter (P)2024 Charles L. Porter

Very informational

Great audiobook. Very informational and presents very good questions to study for. Easy to listen to on faster speeds too. Highly recommend.

Let's Go PIC

This audio reading to prepare for your private pilot oral exam is thorough and fun to listen too. Although I'm not prepared yet for this milestone, this book made it sound surmountable. I know pilots studying for their check ride will benefit and feel less stressed when you can answer the questions posed.

Nice audiobook version

No kidding, the day I got the paperback, I wondered if there was an audiobook version. Sure enough, it just came out THAT day. Great timing. The narrator reads at a pace consistent with kindergarten story time, so you may want to speed the playback up a little. But her reading is vibrant, and helps keep you engaged. Much better than many of the boring, monotone narrations I’ve heard. Overall, I enjoyed this.

Very detailed lots of great information!!

I’ve been reading a lot of books on aviation studying for flight school and this book is the best oral exam prep I’ve read yet, it’s very well done with a ton of detailed explanations. The narrator may take a little bit to get used to but once you do it’s amazing! I will listen to this probably 5 times before my checkride!

Lots of information presented in a pleasant way

This audiobook covered a lot of information that was neatly broken down into appropriate sections. The organization as well as the narrator’s pleasant tone made it easy to follow along. The narrator spoke in a way that sometimes made me forget that I was listening to a review guide, which can be good or bad depending on how you look at it!

Covers everything for your checkride

Great content, I recommend to listen several times before your check ride. It’s the most comprehensive audiobook. I would also recommend starting once you start you PPL

It’s perfect and right to the point

It’s a very nice and easy book to listen to, highlight of the main areas that are important with very nice sense of humor. Highly recommended and thank you

It was done in the way that was very easy to understand

It went over more information than I expected. This was truly an excellent training device. I will look forward to more of these in the future. 

It may be difficult to getting used to the audio at first- but when you do it’s a great product!

I truly loved how detailed it is. Helped me understand each topic better. I feel very comfortable with the check ride

Easy to listen to.

I went through this book 3 times before my checkride. The reader and contents of the book flows well. This helped to keep me engaged in the contents. Other books I've tried, seemed to be more dry, and harder for me to focus on the information being presented.