AI for Studying for Practical Test.

brcase

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Brian
Had the thought to day that AI could be useful to quiz a student on Oral Test prep questions.
here is my attempt and trying it today.
Anyone else try/use this?
Thought?

BC
give me a private pilot oral test prep question.
Edit

Here's a private pilot oral test prep question:

"While conducting your preflight inspection, you notice that the aircraft's static ports are partially obstructed by dirt and debris. How would this affect your flight instruments, and what instruments would be affected?"

This question tests your knowledge of aircraft systems, specifically how the pitot-static system works and which instruments rely on it to function properly.



Retry
BC
It would affect the Airspeed indicator causing the airspeed indicator read incorrectly during speed changes. It would affect the Altimeter would respond slowly and the Vertical speed indicator would show a lower than actual value.
Edit

That's a good answer, but let's clarify a few points:

A partially blocked static port would indeed affect three primary instruments:

  1. Airspeed indicator: You're correct that it would cause incorrect readings, but specifically, the airspeed indicator would likely read higher than actual during acceleration and lower than actual during deceleration.
  2. Altimeter: Yes, it would respond slowly to altitude changes, but it would also potentially show an incorrect altitude altogether. If you climb with a blocked static port, the altimeter might indicate a lower altitude than your actual altitude.
  3. Vertical speed indicator (VSI): You're right that it would show lower than actual values during climbs. During descents, it might show less descent rate than you're actually experiencing.
The fundamental issue is that these instruments rely on accurate static pressure readings to function properly, and any obstruction disrupts the system's ability to sense changes in atmospheric pressure accurately.

Would you like me to give you another oral exam question?



Retry
BC
lets do another question
Edit

Here's another private pilot oral test prep question:

"During your preflight weather briefing, you notice that there's an AIRMET Sierra in effect for your planned route. What does this AIRMET indicate, and how might it affect your flight planning decision as a VFR pilot?"

This question tests your knowledge of aviation weather products, specifically AIRMETs and their significance for flight operations.



Retry
BC
It indicates mountain obscuration, meaning there are cloud in the mountains. I would want to make sure I can say clear of the clouds and maintain good VFR separation from the mountains.
Edit

You've got the right idea, but there's a small correction needed.

AIRMET Sierra specifically refers to IFR conditions (Instrument Flight Rules) or mountain obscuration due to clouds, precipitation, mist, fog, haze, or smoke. The "Sierra" doesn't exclusively mean mountain obscuration - it's broader than that.

As a VFR pilot, this AIRMET would indeed affect your planning in the ways you mentioned:

  • You'd want to ensure you can maintain required cloud clearance
  • You'd need to maintain visual reference with the terrain
  • You might need to plan alternate routes or altitudes to stay in VFR conditions
Your decision to maintain good VFR separation from mountains is absolutely correct. In some cases, depending on the severity of conditions, you might even consider delaying the flight or planning an alternate route that avoids the affected area entirely.

Would you like another oral exam question?



Retry
BC
Yes please
Edit

Here's another private pilot oral test prep question:

"You're planning a cross-country flight and notice that your destination airport has a Class D airspace. What are the requirements for entering this airspace, and what services can you expect from the control tower there?"

This question tests your knowledge of airspace classifications and communication requirements for VFR flight operations.



Retry
BC
I need to establish radio contact with the tower. I believe the visiblity requirements are 3 miles, 500 below, 1000 above, 2000 to the side. I would expect the Tower to provide some traffic advisories, but they don't have radar. They would sequence me to appropriate runway and provide a landing clearance.
Edit

Your answer is very good! Let me provide some clarifications:

For Class D airspace:

You're correct that you need to establish two-way radio communication with the tower before entering Class D airspace. This is the key requirement.

Regarding weather minimums, you're on the right track:

  • 3 statute miles visibility is correct
  • Cloud clearance is 1,000 feet above, 500 feet below, and 2,000 feet horizontal
Your understanding of services is excellent. Class D towers:

  • Provide sequencing and separation for aircraft operating within the airspace
  • Issue takeoff and landing clearances
  • May provide limited traffic advisories on a workload-permitting basis
  • Typically don't have radar facilities (though some do have limited radar capabilities)
The main purpose of Class D airspace is to provide an additional layer of safety at airports with moderate traffic levels by ensuring all aircraft in the vicinity are in communication with the tower.

Would you like another oral exam question?



Retry
BC
yes please
Edit

Here's another private pilot oral test prep question:

"You're planning a flight and notice that your departure airport has reported winds of 180° at 15 knots. Your aircraft's POH indicates a demonstrated crosswind component of 12 knots. The airport has two runways: Runway 14/32 and Runway 22/04. Which runway would be most appropriate for your takeoff, and why?"

This question tests your understanding of crosswind components, aircraft limitations, and runway selection decision-making.



Retry
BC
I am going to skip this question, can you ask me a question about reading a sectional chart?
Edit

Of course, here's a sectional chart question for your private pilot oral test prep:

"While examining a sectional chart, you notice an airport symbol with a solid blue circle surrounded by a dashed blue circle. What does this indicate about the airport, and what frequencies might you expect to find associated with it?"

This question tests your knowledge of sectional chart symbology, specifically airport classifications and associated airspace.



Retry
BC
Blue indicates it has a tower, Dashed blue circle indicates Class D Airspace. I would expect to see a Control Tower Frequency, a CTAF frequency, and likely a Unicom frequency as well and an ATIS or other weather frequency.
Edit

Excellent answer! You've correctly identified the key elements:

You're right that a solid blue airport symbol indicates it has an operational control tower, and the dashed blue circle represents Class D airspace surrounding the airport.

Your understanding of the frequencies is spot on. You would typically find:

  • Tower frequency (for ATC communications)
  • CTAF (Common Traffic Advisory Frequency, often the same as tower frequency when the tower is operational)
  • UNICOM frequency (for airport advisory services)
  • ATIS/AWOS/ASOS frequency (for automated weather information)
The sectional chart would display these frequencies near the airport, typically in a data block that might also include runway information, airport elevation, and lighting information.

Would you like another sectional chart question or perhaps a different type of oral exam question?
 
Interesting…
Some good questions there, but they’re largely rote/understanding level. Can you get it to provide a series of questions based on a short scenario that would require more application/correlation level?
 
I’m curious about your prompts. Usually, I will prompt with “You’re an expert on (the ACS and references). What question would you ask someone with basic knowledge of an airplane’s pitot-static system” and work from there.

Prompt writing is an art in and of itself and when you find the right ones, they’re tremendously helpful.
 
Also, does AI have access to specific aircraft data? For instance, could you get it to ask specific questions about emergency procedures for a 172?
 
Also, does AI have access to specific aircraft data? For instance, could you get it to ask specific questions about emergency procedures for a 172?
ChatGPT does for 182

Forced Landing (No Power)​

  1. Airspeed – 70 KIAS (Flaps UP) / 65 KIAS (Flaps DOWN)
  2. Mixture – IDLE CUTOFF
  3. Fuel Selector Valve – OFF
  4. Ignition Switch – OFF
  5. Flaps – AS REQUIRED
  6. Master Switch – OFF
  7. Doors – UNLATCH PRIOR TO TOUCHDOWN
  8. Touchdown – SLIGHTLY TAIL LOW
  9. Brakes – APPLY HEAVILY

​

Electrical Fire (Smoke in Cabin)​

  1. Master Switch – OFF
  2. All Electrical Switches – OFF (except ignition)
  3. Vents, Cabin Air, Heat – CLOSED
  4. Fire Extinguisher – ACTIVATE
  5. If Fire Extinguished:
    • Vents – OPEN to remove smoke
    • Electrical Equipment – Turn ON one at a time (to isolate cause)
Etc I haven’t figured out a better method to cut and paste on phone

Haven’t checked for accuracy. I did some route planning and there were a ton of mistakes like kslq for Salt Lake City
 
There was a guy with a booth at Oshkosh showing his AI system for aviation that was mainly being used to create lessons for CFIs.

He had a deal: If you stump his AI, you get three months for free. I got three months for free on my first question.

The thing with any of these is, they're only as good as their inputs. I figured he'd probably dumped the whole FAR/AIM in there, but not any of the Chief Counsel interpretations, so all I had to do was to ask a question on one of the many regulations that has needed an interpretation/clarification from the Chief Counsel's office, and the AI, not having any actual knowledge, will just make something up on the spot that makes sense.

That's what gets a lot of people with AI. The answers make sense if you don't have in-depth knowledge of a subject, and they're very well written, which with humans tends to correlate with knowledge. So, people will believe the wrong answers every time.
 
There was a guy with a booth at Oshkosh showing his AI system for aviation that was mainly being used to create lessons for CFIs.

He had a deal: If you stump his AI, you get three months for free. I got three months for free on my first question.

The thing with any of these is, they're only as good as their inputs. I figured he'd probably dumped the whole FAR/AIM in there, but not any of the Chief Counsel interpretations, so all I had to do was to ask a question on one of the many regulations that has needed an interpretation/clarification from the Chief Counsel's office, and the AI, not having any actual knowledge, will just make something up on the spot that makes sense.

That's what gets a lot of people with AI. The answers make sense if you don't have in-depth knowledge of a subject, and they're very well written, which with humans tends to correlate with knowledge. So, people will believe the wrong answers every time.
That would be my concern about using it as a study tool. It might give an answer that sounds good, but isn't correct.
 
I'm admittedly a "Will Smith in I ,Robot" type person when it comes to AI, but I'm not sure I really see the point to this? And can even see it being harmful. Plenty of published oral study guides (along with just learning and studying FAA materials) that are trustworthy can do this, and frankly I think using AI (and even over-reliance on the internet) can make people dumber/lazier. Not sure we want dumber/lazier pilots.
 
I have only been subjected (involuntarily) to the consumer level version of AI.
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But, so far, Al is doing a lot better than AI.
 
I had a few students who played with AI, as have I

It’s a glorified google search

Personally for my guys (and occasional gal) I recommend King or Gold Seal these days, just follow the program and graduate the written

Oral needs a good CFI full stop
 
I'm admittedly a "Will Smith in I ,Robot" type person when it comes to AI, but I'm not sure I really see the point to this? And can even see it being harmful. Plenty of published oral study guides (along with just learning and studying FAA materials) that are trustworthy can do this, and frankly I think using AI (and even over-reliance on the internet) can make people dumber/lazier. Not sure we want dumber/lazier pilots.
I wouldn’t trust some of the oral study guides, either.
Oral needs a good CFI full stop
This.
 
There was a guy with a booth at Oshkosh showing his AI system for aviation that was mainly being used to create lessons for CFIs . . .
Because they can't find 14 CFR 61.105, 107, and 109 for free?
 
I wouldn’t trust some of the oral study guides, either.

This.
Fair point and I should've been more specific as I was referring mainly to the ASA guides, which while not perfect will not provide misinformation and actually cite the ACS and FAR/AIM. But in reality all one really needs is the FAA books, FAR/AIM and ACS and to put in the work.
 
That would be my concern about using it as a study tool. It might will give an answer that sounds good, but isn't correct.
FTFY.

I had a few students who played with AI, as have I

It’s a glorified google search
It knows less than a Google search, but it's better written.

Because they can't find 14 CFR 61.105, 107, and 109 for free?
There was more to it than that. It was reasonably cool and showed potential.

Think more like "Give me lesson plans to get a rusty pilot who last flew in August of 2008 up to speed with the changes in technology and regulations since then and get him signed off for a flight review."
 
I’m not a fan of written study guides for the oral. I find most orals don’t follow the linear approach presented in the books and there’s nothing like the stress of sitting down across from somebody you don’t know who just took a bunch of your money.
 
So to paraphrase Michael Feldman, "All questions . . . have been painstakingly researched, although the answers have not."
Everything it knows, it learned from the web...

Funny example - comment from my video "Myth: Blowing over a sheet of paper demonstrates Bernoulli’s Principle"

"I was studying for my physics final exam i asked gpt to teach me Bernoulli's theorem. It explained in text and said about the paper experiment, I tried to do it and I failed, and i asked it to show a video that would explain this to me, then I got to see your video and understood the concept so good, thank you."

So, Chat GPT said to blow over a sheet of paper to explain Bernoulli's principle, then sent the person to a video explaining that blowing over a sheet of paper has nothing to do with Bernoulli... I will say that I am somewhat surprised that Chat GPT knows my stuff exists what with it having dozens of views...
 
Non-sequitor, but I note that you're very polite with the AI, OP. I am too, and when some of my colleagues clowned me for my prodigious use of pleases and thank yous in prompts, I reminded them that they'll be first into the fire when Skynet ascends. :D

 
A partially blocked static port won't necessarily affect anything. I certainly wouldn't expect it to affect the ASI at constant altitude, and any error would be affected by altitude, not speed, changes.
 
I had a few students who played with AI, as have I . . .
Q: "size pilot hole for 3d 1-1/4 inch nail"

A: (Google) "AI Overview
A 3/8 inch drill bit is recommended for a 3d 1-1/4 inch nail.

Explanation
The size of the drill bit you need for a nail depends on the nail's diameter, which is related to its gauge and length. Thicker nails require larger holes.

Nail size and gauge
  • A 3d nail has a 14 1/2-gauge shank, 0.076-inch shank diameter, and 1.25-inch shank length"
 
Just to follow up on this a bit…I had an applicant recently who uploaded the training manual for the airplane into an AI system and had it generate a study guide. A brief look at the study guide, and it was largely rote-level stuff, but he did a good job of translating that knowledge into answers for higher-level questions.

I have no idea whether it actually made any difference (he may have just been that sharp), but it’s a data point.
 
If during preflight you notice the static ports clogged with debris it will have no effect on flight instruments because you're not going to take off until the obstruction has been removed
 
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