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FAA Commercial Pilot Airship Knowledge Test Practice Test

The FAA Commercial Pilot Airship Knowledge Test (CLA) practice page focuses on aeronautical decisions involved in commercial airship operations. Its question bank samples airship handling and control response, flight planning, emergency actions, altimeter use, transponder codes, airport clearances, visibility limits, and weight-and-payload considerations.

Exam overview

Exam providerFederal Aviation Administration
Exam codeCLA
CategoryAviation

About the FAA Commercial Pilot Airship Knowledge Test Exam

Airship operation requires anticipating slow responses and managing control inputs carefully, particularly during low-speed maneuvering. Pilots must interpret instrument indications alongside the aircraft’s actual behavior, recognize when an apparent control-position discrepancy calls for a cautious response, and prioritize appropriate actions after an engine problem. Flight planning involves checking current charts, identifying suitable landing areas along the route, and accounting for weight limits that constrain useful payload. Operational decisions also include setting the altimeter to the local setting, understanding the general purpose of the 7700 emergency transponder code, and obtaining and following applicable air traffic control clearances at an airport. Questions about deteriorating visibility call for attention to the governing rules and operating procedures rather than pressing on when conditions no longer support safe continuation.

Sample Practice Questions

Review a selection from this exam's published US Practice Tests practice bank.

Question 1

When using a transponder, what does selecting the emergency code 7700 generally communicate?

  1. AThe aircraft is experiencing an emergency
  2. BThe aircraft is requesting a routine frequency change
  3. CThe aircraft is operating under visual flight rules only
  4. DThe aircraft is identifying a designated landing site
Show answerCorrect answer: A

Code 7700 is the general transponder emergency code. It alerts air traffic control to an emergency; pilots should also communicate the situation by radio when able and follow applicable procedures.

Question 2

When planning a flight, what is the main purpose of identifying suitable landing areas along the route?

  1. ATo provide options if the flight cannot safely continue as planned
  2. BTo ensure the airship can fly at its maximum speed
  3. CTo avoid needing to check weather en route
  4. DTo determine the aircraft's required radio frequency
Show answerCorrect answer: A

Considering suitable landing areas supports sound contingency planning. An airship pilot should be prepared to land if weather, system conditions, or other circumstances make continuing inadvisable.

Question 3

During flight, a pilot notices that a control-position indicator does not agree with the observed response of the airship. What is the best general approach?

  1. ATreat the discrepancy as a potential instrument or control-system problem, maintain safe control, and follow applicable abnormal procedures
  2. BAssume the indicator is always correct and make increasingly large control inputs
  3. CIgnore the discrepancy because indicators cannot fail in flight
  4. DShut down every engine immediately, regardless of the circumstances
Show answerCorrect answer: A

A disagreement between an indication and aircraft response may reflect an instrument fault, control issue, or other abnormal condition. The pilot should prioritize aircraft control, assess the situation, and use the aircraft’s approved procedures rather than make assumptions or abrupt inputs.

Question 4

If an airship develops an engine problem while airborne, what should the pilot do first?

  1. AImmediately attempt an unplanned restart without checking aircraft control
  2. BMaintain control, use the aircraft's emergency procedures, and assess a suitable landing option
  3. CContinue the planned route to avoid distracting passengers
  4. DRelease ballast without regard to the aircraft's procedures
Show answerCorrect answer: B

Maintaining aircraft control is the immediate priority. The pilot should then apply the airship's approved emergency checklist, assess the situation, and choose an appropriate landing or diversion plan while considering remaining propulsion and control capability.

Question 5

Why should an airship pilot avoid abrupt control inputs during low-speed maneuvering?

  1. AControl surfaces may be less effective at low airspeed, and abrupt inputs can produce unwanted motion or loads
  2. BThe lifting gas becomes heavier whenever the controls move quickly
  3. CAbrupt inputs automatically disable the propulsion system
  4. DLow-speed maneuvering eliminates the need to monitor clearance
Show answerCorrect answer: A

Aerodynamic control effectiveness depends on airflow. Near the ground and at low speed, abrupt inputs may have limited or delayed effect while still creating undesirable motion or structural loads.

Question 6

What is the most appropriate general response if visibility deteriorates below what is needed to continue safely under the applicable rules and operating procedures?

  1. AUse a safe course of action, such as landing at a suitable location or diverting, rather than pressing on
  2. BContinue at the same speed because visibility does not affect airship operations
  3. CDescend until obstacles are easier to see
  4. DTurn off exterior lights to reduce glare
Show answerCorrect answer: A

A pilot should not continue into conditions that prevent safe operation. Diverting or landing at a suitable location, as conditions and procedures permit, is a prudent response to deteriorating visibility.

Question 7

What is the primary function of an airship's altimeter when set to the local altimeter setting?

  1. ATo indicate altitude relative to the pressure datum represented by that setting
  2. BTo measure the airship's height above every nearby obstacle directly
  3. CTo display vertical speed
  4. DTo determine the amount of lift produced by the gas cells
Show answerCorrect answer: A

A barometric altimeter converts sensed static pressure into an altitude indication based on its setting. It does not directly measure clearance above terrain or obstacles, so pilots also use charts and other available references.

How to use this practice test

Access is free. The published bank contains 50 practice questions; a session presents up to 20 questions selected at random and displays results afterward. Use the results to identify which operational decisions need further work, such as chart checks, emergency priorities, or weight-and-payload effects.

Preparation tips

  • Practice explaining how abrupt control inputs can affect an airship during low-speed maneuvering, and relate the answer to the craft’s observed response.
  • Work through engine-problem scenarios by identifying the immediate priority before considering later troubleshooting or landing decisions.
  • Review how local altimeter settings, transponder code 7700, and ATC clearances serve different operational purposes.
  • For route-planning exercises, compare the route with current charts and identify suitable landing areas before departure.
  • Check how weight changes affect useful payload when an airship is near its maximum allowable weight.
Official sourceOfficial exam page ↗