Pass the Private Pilot PSTAR Exam with Flying Colours!

PSTAR Exam
Before you can SOLO, a Student Pilot must pass the written Transport Canada PSTAR Exam. This exam tests the student pilot’s knowledge of Air Regulations and Air Traffic Control Procedures. This ensures the student has a sufficient understanding of the necessary CARs (Canadian Aviation Regulations) and AIMs (Aeronautical Information Manual) before flying without their instructor.

PSTAR: Pre Solo Test of Air Regulations

The Pass Mark is 90%
Don’t panic. It may sound scary, but with some practice and hard work, the 90% pass mark should not intimidate you.

PSSST? Want an advance copy of the Exam?
I know what you are thinking… but please don’t get the wrong idea. In fact, Transport Canada publishes a study guide with 200 sample questions. This study and reference guide is designed to assist applicants in preparing for the PSTAR. Click here to browse the PSTAR study and reference guide.

The PSTAR guide is broken into 14 sections, including 200 questions. For your PSTAR examination, you will be given a sampling of 50 of these questions. Your written exam will include 50 questions from the pool of the 200 published questions.

The PSTAR exam is designed to test the student pilot’s knowledge in the following subject areas:

• Canadian Aviation Regulations (CARs)
• Air Traffic Control Clearances and Instructions
• Air Traffic Control procedures as they apply to the control of VFR traffic at controlled airports
• Air Traffic procedures at uncontrolled airports and aerodromes
• Special VFR Regulations
• Aeronautical Information Circulars
• NOTAMs

The PSTAR study and reference guide includes a detailed reference section directing the student to the appropriate regulations to answer each question.

Question References
The references for each sample question will refer the student to the particular areas of the regulations the student should understand to correctly answer each question. Applicants should take the time to research the references provided for each sample question. This will help the student to determine the correct response to each question, and reinforce learning of the regulations. Do not solicit answers to the questions from others, until you have personally researched the applicable references first. If the student can determine the correct answer on their own, he or she will be much better prepared. A student should not be provided with the correct answers for the purpose of memorizing or resorting to rote learning.

14 Categories
The PSTAR study guide is divided into 14 categories including:

1. Collision Avoidance
2. Visual Signals
3. Communications
4. Aerodromes
5. Equipment
6. Pilot Responsibilities
7. Wake Turbulence
8. Aeromedical
9. Flight Plans and Flight Itineraries
10. Clearances and Instructions
11. Aircraft Operations
12. Regulations – General Air Space
13. Controlled Airspace
14. Aviation Occurrences

For best preparation, download the PSTAR study guide, and then look-up each correct answer by reviewing the references provided. Once you have researched the correct answers to the 200 questions, it will then be easy to review these questions over a few days. I found it very helpful to study with a fellow student pilot, and we quizzed each other. The day of the exam, I pre-tested myself by going through all 200 questions. A couple of hours later, when I wrote the exam, I found it easy to score 100%.

Here is a sample question for you now:

When an arriving aircraft is cleared “to the circuit”, the pilot should interpret this to mean join the circuit:

1. on the downwind leg.
2. from the upwind side of the runway in all cases.
3. on base leg if convenient.
4. on final for a straight in approach.

(Study Reference: TC AIM-RAC 4. 4. 2 – Initial Clearance)

Good Luck!

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