FAA Ground School Practice Test

For a VFR flight away from the departure airport, what specific preflight action is required?

1. Checking weather at departure only

2. Determining runway lengths at intended airports

3. Getting a flight plan approved

4. Reviewing maintenance logs

The correct answer is: Determining runway lengths at intended airports

When preparing for a VFR (Visual Flight Rules) flight away from the departure airport, one of the key preflight actions required is determining the runway lengths at the intended airports. This action is essential for several reasons. Firstly, understanding runway lengths helps the pilot ensure that the aircraft can safely take off and land at the destination airport, considering the aircraft's performance capabilities, weight, and prevailing weather conditions. Each runway has specific dimensions, and if a pilot intends to land at an airport with inadequate runway length for their aircraft, it could lead to dangerous situations, including a runway overrun. Furthermore, familiarizing oneself with runway lengths is also part of a broader requirement for pilots to be aware of the conditions and operational capabilities of the intended airports, including alternate airports if necessary. It fosters better planning and contributes to situational awareness during the flight. While checking weather and reviewing maintenance logs are important components of flight planning, and filing a flight plan is good practice for VFR operations under certain circumstances, these do not specifically address the fundamental need to ascertain that the aircraft can physically operate from the runways of the airports that will be visited during the flight.