Commercial Pilot oral
Performance & charts — commercial pilot oral exam questions
At the commercial level the examiner expects real chart work — interpolating the POH performance tables for the exact conditions, not estimating.
You will compute takeoff and landing distances, climb performance, cruise numbers, and range/endurance for a given loading and weather, and explain what each assumes (technique, runway surface, wind component).
The follow-up changes a variable — temperature up 20 degrees, a tailwind, a wet runway, near gross — and asks you to re-run it and make a decision.
Questions you’ll get
- 1Given this loading and these conditions, compute our takeoff distance over a 50-ft obstacle from the POH.
- 2What assumptions does that chart make that might not match reality on the day?
- 3Re-run it 20 °F hotter with a 5-knot tailwind. What is your decision?
- 4Compute our maximum-range and maximum-endurance airspeeds and explain the difference.
- 5How does a wet or contaminated runway change your landing distance, and by roughly how much?
- 6What is the effect of a 10% weight increase on takeoff distance, climb gradient, and stall speed?
- 7Determine our service ceiling for today’s weight and temperature.
- 8We need to clear terrain 8 NM out at 6,000 ft. Can we, at this weight and OAT? Show the math.
Walk in ready
Practice interpolating your airplane’s POH charts for odd values until it is quick, and always state the assumptions. Have a takeoff, landing, and climb workup done for your checkride airport before you sit down.
More CPL oral topics
PilotPrep is a study aid. It is not the FAA, it doesn’t replace your CFI or an endorsement, and practicing here doesn’t guarantee passing the practical. These are representative questions, not a script the examiner follows — always defer to your instructor and the current ACS and FARs.