Question of the Day

Every question so far.

Capt. Mike asks two questions for the Transport Canada pilot written exams every day: a morning warm-up and an evening Captain's Challenge. Open any one to answer it and read why, cited.

Word for word: the PSTAR questions are from TP 11919E, Study and Reference Guide: Student Pilot Permit or Private Pilot Licence for Foreign and Military Applicants, Aviation Regulations (7th ed., December 2022), Department of Transport, Canada; reproduced with the Department's permission.

  1. Saturday, November 7, 2026Captain's ChallengeLatestCompared with an RNP APCH, an RNP AR APCH (authorization required) is distinguished because it:IATRA · Navigation — PBN NavSpecs
  2. Saturday, November 7, 2026Morning warm-upUnder the Clean Aircraft Concept, the CARs prohibit a take-off in an aeroplane that has frost, ice or snow adhering toPPL · PPAER · Aeronautics
  3. Friday, November 6, 2026Captain's ChallengeWhat combination of conditions is required for structural icing to form, and what does CARs 605.30 then require?IFR · IFR Meteorology · Known Icing Conditions
  4. Friday, November 6, 2026Morning warm-upA responsibility of a Flight Information Center (FIC) specialist is to providePSTAR · TP 11919E · 3.25 · Communications
  5. Thursday, November 5, 2026Captain's ChallengeUnder CARs 602.14(2)(a), except when taking off, approaching or landing, an aeroplane flown over a built-up area must be at least:CPL · CPAER · Air Law
  6. Thursday, November 5, 2026Morning warm-upA pilot is 60 NM into a flight when weather forces a diversion to an alternate 45 NM away. Current groundspeed is 120 knots and fuel flow is 35 L/hr. How much fuel is required to reach the alternate (excluding reserve)?PPL · Navigation · Diversion Calculations
  7. Wednesday, November 4, 2026Captain's ChallengePersistent, dense fog frequently affects operations at a coastal airport in Newfoundland, particularly in spring and early summer. Which fog type is most likely responsible, and what is the formation mechanism?IATRA · Meteorology — Sea Fog (Advection Fog)
  8. Wednesday, November 4, 2026Morning warm-upCARs state that after the consumption of any alcoholic beverage, no person shall act as a crew member of an aircraft withinPSTAR · TP 11919E · 12.07 · Canadian Airspace
  9. Tuesday, November 3, 2026Captain's ChallengeIn Canada, a weather message issued under a WACN header (for example WACN02 CWAO) is:IFR · INRAT · Meteorology
  10. Tuesday, November 3, 2026Morning warm-upThe pilot of an aircraft subjected to unlawful interference should set the transponder to:PPL · PPAER · Air Law
  11. Monday, November 2, 2026Captain's ChallengeUnder TC AIM RAC 3.4.1, a passenger on a summer flight on which carry-on baggage is permitted volunteers a weight of 80 kg. The weight to use for weight and balance is:CPL · CPAER · Weight & Balance
  12. Monday, November 2, 2026Morning warm-upFormation flying is permitted only if such flightsPSTAR · TP 11919E · 12.10 · Canadian Airspace
  13. Sunday, November 1, 2026Captain's ChallengeThe meteorological watch office at Montréal (CWUL) issues a SIGMET at 1400Z. The phenomenon is severe icing in freezing rain associated with an approaching warm front. What is the maximum valid period for this SIGMET, and what type code applies?IATRA · Advanced Meteorology · SIGMET Validity and Type Codes
  14. Sunday, November 1, 2026Morning warm-upA pilot is planning a winter cross-country flight and wants to know where to expect freezing rain. According to the TC AIM, freezing rain and freezing drizzle aloft are typically found nearPPL · PPAER · Meteorology
  15. Saturday, October 31, 2026Captain's ChallengeAt what aerodrome temperature must published minimum IFR altitudes on a Canadian instrument approach be corrected for cold temperature?IFR · IFR Meteorology · Cold Temperature Correction
  16. Saturday, October 31, 2026Morning warm-upThe holder of a student pilot permit may for the sole purpose of the holder’s own flight training act as PIC of an aircraftPSTAR · TP 11919E · 6.20 · Pilot Responsibilities
  17. Friday, October 30, 2026Captain's ChallengeTime of useful consciousness (TUC) at 25,000 feet without supplemental oxygen is approximately:CPL · CPAER · Human Factors
  18. Friday, October 30, 2026Morning warm-upA pilot has donated a unit of blood. According to the TC AIM, the pilot should wait at least how long before flying?PPL · PPAER · Human Factors
  19. Thursday, October 29, 2026Captain's ChallengeWhich of the following statements CORRECTLY distinguishes the polar jet stream from the subtropical jet stream in the context of Canadian IATRA operations?IATRA · Advanced Meteorology · Subtropical Jet vs. Polar Jet
  20. Thursday, October 29, 2026Morning warm-upWhat is the height AGL above which an aircraft in VFR flight shall be operated to conform with the Cruising Altitudes Order?PSTAR · TP 11919E · 12.16 · Canadian Airspace
  21. Wednesday, October 28, 2026Captain's ChallengeAn IFR pilot receives an ATC clearance that the aircraft cannot comply with. What should the pilot do?IFR · INRAT · ATC Clearances
  22. Wednesday, October 28, 2026Morning warm-upWhat is the load factor in a level, coordinated turn at 30° of bank?PPL · PPAER · Aeronautics
  23. Tuesday, October 27, 2026Captain's ChallengeIn Canada, how does an AIRMET differ from a SIGMET?CPL · CPAER · Meteorology
  24. Tuesday, October 27, 2026Morning warm-upA student pilot on a VFR flight has been given a radar vector by ATC. Ahead, at a lower altitude, is a solid overcast cloud condition. The pilot shouldPSTAR · TP 11919E · 6.14 · Pilot Responsibilities
  25. Monday, October 26, 2026Captain's ChallengeA crew is flying the final segment of an RNP AR approach with RNP 0.10. The runway is not in sight. Under AC 700-024, what lateral deviation requires a missed approach?IATRA · IFR Operations
  26. Monday, October 26, 2026Morning warm-upWhat cloud type is associated with continuous, moderate or heavy precipitation and poor visibility?PPL · PPAER · Meteorology
  27. Sunday, October 25, 2026Captain's ChallengeVyse is best described as:IFR · Multi-Engine Aerodynamics · Multi-Engine Aerodynamics
  28. Sunday, October 25, 2026Morning warm-upThe take-off thrust blast danger area includes at least that area extending back from the tail of a medium size jet transport aeroplane forPSTAR · TP 11919E · 11.08 · Aircraft Operations
  29. Saturday, October 24, 2026Captain's ChallengeUnder CARs 602.77, when a VFR flight plan specifies no search and rescue time, the arrival report must be filed no later than:CPL · CPAER · Air Law
  30. Saturday, October 24, 2026Morning warm-upWhat is the function of the heading indicator?PPL · PPAER · Instruments
  31. Friday, October 23, 2026Captain's ChallengeClimbing in icing with the pitot heat inoperative, ice blocks both the pitot tube's ram-air inlet and its drain hole. The static ports stay clear. How will the airspeed indicator behave as the climb continues?IATRA · Instruments and Avionics Systems · Unreliable Airspeed
  32. Friday, October 23, 2026Morning warm-upWhen in VFR flight within a Control Zone, a pilot must remain clear of cloud by at leastPSTAR · TP 11919E · 13.04 · Controlled Airspace
  33. Thursday, October 22, 2026Captain's ChallengeDuring light traffic, ATC issues 'CLEARED TO THE KAMLOOPS AIRPORT FOR AN APPROACH.' Having accepted this clearance, the pilot is:IFR · INRAT · ATC Clearances
  34. Thursday, October 22, 2026Morning warm-upAn airport is at 4,000 ft elevation. The altimeter setting is 29.92 in. Hg and the OAT is 35°C. What is the approximate density altitude, and what effect will this have on aircraft performance?PPL · Meteorology · Density Altitude
  35. Wednesday, October 21, 2026Captain's ChallengeUnder the Transportation Safety Board Regulations, the available information on an accident in which the aeroplane sustains structural damage must first be sent to the TSB:CPL · CPAER · Air Law
  36. Wednesday, October 21, 2026Morning warm-upAn ATC instructionPSTAR · TP 11919E · 10.01 · Clearances and Instructions
  37. Tuesday, October 20, 2026Where a VFR flight plan has been filed, an arrival report must be filed by the pilotPSTAR · TP 11919E · 9.08 · Flight Plans and Flight Itineraries
  38. Monday, October 19, 2026MF procedures such as frequency, distance and altitude to follow are given in thePSTAR · TP 11919E · 3.09 · Communications
  39. Sunday, October 18, 2026Which statement best explains why a cambered wing generates lift according to Bernoulli's principle?PPL · Aeronautics General Knowledge · Bernoulli / Lift Generation
  40. Saturday, October 17, 2026When two aircrafts are converging at approximately the same altitude, which statement applies?PSTAR · TP 11919E · 1.05 · Collision Avoidance
  41. Friday, October 16, 2026Unless oxygen and oxygen masks as specified in CARs are readily available, no person shall fly unpressurized aircraft abovePSTAR · TP 11919E · 5.04 · Equipment
  42. Thursday, October 15, 2026A pilot is cleared to taxi to the runway in use without a hold short clearance. To get there, the aircraft must cross two taxiways and one runway. This authorizes the pilot to taxi toPSTAR · TP 11919E · 3.13 · Communications
  43. Wednesday, October 14, 2026When in VFR flight within a Control Zone, a pilot must remain clear of cloud by at leastPSTAR · TP 11919E · 13.04 · Controlled Airspace
  44. Tuesday, October 13, 2026No person shall drop anything from an aircraft in flightPSTAR · TP 11919E · 12.05 · Canadian Airspace
  45. Monday, October 12, 2026Terminal airspace dimensions and VHF sector frequencies for certain high density traffic airports in Canada are shownPSTAR · TP 11919E · 6.23 · Pilot Responsibilities