Getting a Canadian pilot’s licence [Part 3: The tests]

Welcome to my series on becoming a licenced Canadian pilot. The information below and in previous posts refers to the Private Pilot Licence training as this is the one I am most familiar with.
Check out the whole series:

In this post I discuss the tests you are expected to write and pass before getting your licence. Some of them will need to be written and passed before going solo (PSTAR and Radio).

PSTAR

Also called the Pre-Solo Test of Air Regulation by some people, it is a 50 question test, all multiple choice dealing with, as you may have guessed, air regulations. This includes collision avoidance, communication, aeromedical questions and more. A sample question reads:

Two aircraft are on approach to land, the aircraft at the higher altitude shall

1. have the right of way.
2. overtake the lower aircraft on the left.
3. give way.
4. complete a 360° turn to the right.

To prepare for the PSTAR, I recommend Robyn’s Improved PSTAR Study Guide. There you can find all the questions you can expect with answers and explanations. Also check out Transport Canada’s TP 11919 – Student Pilot Permit or Private Pilot Licence for Foreign and Military Applicants, Aviation Regulations (leave it to a government corporation to name it something confusing like that).

Radio

It may have an official name but I am not aware of it and really, it is not that important.
The radio test examines your ability to communicate. It tests your knowledge of standard and emergency procedures as well as (recently) your English proficiency (though this is a separate, oral test). The licence is a Restricted Operator Certificate With Aeronautical Qualification and is issued by Industry Canada. They also have a study guide available for this certificate, RIC 21. Here is a sample question from the test:

When making initial contact with a Canadian ATC unit, the pilot of aircraft C-FBSQ should transmit the registration as

1. FBSQ.
2. Fox, Baker, Sugar, Queen. **

• Foxtrot, Bravo, Sierra, Quebec.

• Bravo, Sierra, Quebec.

The problem I noticed many people in my class were having was learning the NATO phonetic alphabet and then, once in the airplane, actually using it along with the proper radio procedures.

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        From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/Danny.Vacar/InTheSkyAndAroundCYHM?feat=embedwebsite">In the sky and around CYHM</a>
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    </center><br /> Once you've passed all these tests, all you have to do is finish your flying hours. Let's get flying!
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