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100+ Free FAA Commercial Pilot Practice Questions

Pass your FAA Commercial Pilot Aeronautical Knowledge Test exam on the first try — instant access, no signup required.

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Which reporting requirement is mandated by NTSB Part 830 for the pilot in command?

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2026 Statistics

Key Facts: FAA Commercial Pilot Exam

100

Exam Questions

Multiple choice (CAX)

70%

Passing Score

70 of 100 correct

$175

Exam Fee

PSI testing centers

99.17%

Pass Rate

2025 FAA statistics

2.5 hrs

Time Allotted

FAA Testing Matrix

24 months

Results Validity

Toward practical test

The FAA Commercial Pilot (CAX) exam has 100 multiple-choice questions covering 11 ACS areas of operation. Major content areas include Preflight Preparation (25%), Takeoffs/Landings/Go-Arounds (10%), Navigation (10%), and Emergency Operations (10%). You need 70% (70 correct) to pass. The $175 exam is administered at PSI testing centers. Knowledge test results are valid for 24 calendar months toward your practical test. The current ACS standard is FAA-S-ACS-7B, effective May 2024.

Sample FAA Commercial Pilot Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to test your FAA Commercial Pilot exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1Under 14 CFR Part 61, what is the minimum age requirement to obtain a Commercial Pilot Certificate?
A.16 years old
B.17 years old
C.18 years old
D.21 years old
Explanation: Per 14 CFR 61.123(a), an applicant for a Commercial Pilot Certificate must be at least 18 years of age. Note that you can take the knowledge test at age 16, but the certificate itself requires age 18. This is different from the Private Pilot Certificate, which requires a minimum age of 17.
2To act as pilot in command of an aircraft carrying passengers, a commercial pilot must have made at least three takeoffs and landings within the preceding how many days?
A.30 days
B.60 days
C.90 days
D.180 days
Explanation: Per 14 CFR 61.57(a), no person may act as PIC of an aircraft carrying passengers unless they have made at least three takeoffs and three landings within the preceding 90 days in an aircraft of the same category, class, and type. This currency requirement applies to all pilots exercising PIC privileges with passengers aboard.
3A commercial pilot wants to carry passengers for hire at night. In addition to the basic currency requirements, what additional landing requirement must be met?
A.Three takeoffs and landings to a full stop within the preceding 90 days during the period from 1 hour after sunset to 1 hour before sunrise
B.One takeoff and landing within the preceding 30 days at night
C.Five takeoffs and landings to a full stop within the preceding 90 days during nighttime
D.Three takeoffs and landings within the preceding 60 days at night
Explanation: Per 14 CFR 61.57(b), to carry passengers at night, a pilot must have made three takeoffs and three landings to a full stop during the period beginning 1 hour after sunset and ending 1 hour before sunrise within the preceding 90 days. These landings must be to a full stop, unlike daytime currency which counts touch-and-go landings.
4Which class of medical certificate is the minimum required to exercise commercial pilot privileges?
A.First-class medical certificate
B.Second-class medical certificate
C.Third-class medical certificate
D.BasicMed is sufficient for all commercial operations
Explanation: Per 14 CFR 61.23(a)(2), a second-class medical certificate is required to exercise the privileges of a Commercial Pilot Certificate. A first-class medical is required for airline transport pilot operations. BasicMed is not valid for operations requiring a commercial pilot certificate when carrying passengers or property for compensation or hire.
5Under 14 CFR 61.133, which of the following operations may a commercial pilot conduct without an operating certificate under Part 119?
A.Scheduled passenger service between two airports
B.On-demand air taxi operations carrying passengers
C.Crop dusting and banner towing operations
D.Charter flights carrying more than 9 passengers
Explanation: Per 14 CFR 61.133(a)(2) and 14 CFR 119.1(e), certain operations are exempt from Part 119 operating certificate requirements, including aerial work such as crop dusting, banner towing, aerial photography, pipeline patrol, and ferry or training flights. Scheduled and on-demand passenger operations generally require a Part 119 certificate.
6What minimum total flight time is required for a Commercial Pilot Certificate under 14 CFR Part 61 for single-engine airplane?
A.150 hours
B.190 hours
C.200 hours
D.250 hours
Explanation: Per 14 CFR 61.129(a), an applicant for a Commercial Pilot Certificate with an airplane category and single-engine class rating must log at least 250 hours of flight time under Part 61. The Part 141 training route requires a minimum of 190 hours total time. The 250 hours must include specific types of time such as PIC, cross-country, night, and instrument.
7An aircraft's annual inspection was completed on March 15, 2026. When is the next annual inspection due?
A.March 15, 2027
B.March 31, 2027
C.March 1, 2027
D.March 14, 2027
Explanation: Per 14 CFR 91.409(a), no person may operate an aircraft unless it has had an annual inspection within the preceding 12 calendar months. Calendar months means the inspection is valid through the last day of the 12th month. An inspection completed on March 15, 2026 is valid through March 31, 2027.
8Which documents must be on board an aircraft during flight operations? (Remember the acronym ARROW.)
A.Airworthiness certificate, Registration, Radio station license (if international), Operating limitations, Weight and balance
B.Airworthiness certificate, Registration, Radio station license (if required), Operating handbook, Weather briefing
C.Airworthiness certificate, Rental agreement, Radio station license, Operating limitations, Weight and balance
D.Annual inspection record, Registration, Radio station license, Operating limitations, Weight and balance
Explanation: The ARROW acronym covers the required aircraft documents: Airworthiness certificate (14 CFR 91.203), Registration certificate (14 CFR 91.203), Radio station license (FCC requirement for international flights), Operating limitations (14 CFR 91.9), and Weight and balance data. All must be accessible in the aircraft during operations.
9Which inspection is required for an aircraft operated for hire that carries passengers?
A.Annual inspection only
B.100-hour inspection in addition to the annual inspection
C.Progressive inspection only
D.Biennial inspection
Explanation: Per 14 CFR 91.409(b), an aircraft used to carry passengers for hire or used for flight instruction for hire must have received an inspection within the preceding 100 hours of time in service, in addition to the annual inspection. Alternatively, the aircraft may be maintained under a progressive inspection program approved under 14 CFR 91.409(d).
10What does a Special Flight Permit allow?
A.Flight of an aircraft that does not meet airworthiness requirements but is capable of safe flight for a specific purpose
B.Flight in restricted airspace without prior authorization
C.Flight above the aircraft's published service ceiling
D.Flight with passengers in an experimental category aircraft
Explanation: Per 14 CFR 21.197, a Special Flight Permit (commonly called a ferry permit) allows an aircraft that does not currently meet applicable airworthiness requirements to be flown to a location for repairs, storage, or delivery, provided it is capable of safe flight. The permit specifies the route, purpose, and any operating limitations.

About the FAA Commercial Pilot Exam

The FAA Commercial Pilot Aeronautical Knowledge Test (test code CAX) is required for anyone seeking a Commercial Pilot Certificate with an airplane category rating under 14 CFR Part 61. The 100-question computer-based exam covers 11 areas of operation defined in the Airman Certification Standards (FAA-S-ACS-7B), including preflight preparation, navigation, emergency operations, and multiengine procedures. Passing the knowledge test is a prerequisite for the practical test (checkride).

Questions

100 scored questions

Time Limit

2.5 hours (150 minutes)

Passing Score

70% (70 of 100 questions)

Exam Fee

$175 (FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) / PSI Testing Centers)

FAA Commercial Pilot Exam Content Outline

25%

Preflight Preparation

Pilot qualifications and privileges under 14 CFR Part 61, airworthiness requirements, weather information and services, cross-country flight planning, performance and limitations, aircraft systems, aeromedical factors

5%

Preflight Procedures

Preflight assessment, flight deck management, engine starting, taxiing, runway incursion avoidance, before-takeoff checks

8%

Airport and Seaplane Base Operations

Radio communications, ATC light signals, runway lighting, traffic patterns, airport marking and signage, NTSB reporting

10%

Takeoffs, Landings, and Go-Arounds

Normal, crosswind, short-field, and soft-field operations, power-off 180-degree accuracy approaches, go-around and rejected landing procedures

8%

Performance and Ground Reference Maneuvers

Steep turns, steep spirals, chandelles, lazy eights, eights on pylons, and ground reference maneuver principles

10%

Navigation

Pilotage and dead reckoning, VOR/GPS navigation, radar services, diversion procedures, lost procedures

8%

Slow Flight and Stalls

Maneuvering during slow flight, power-on and power-off stalls, accelerated stalls, spin awareness, stall recovery

5%

High-Altitude Operations

Supplemental oxygen requirements per 14 CFR 91.211, pressurization systems, high-altitude aerodynamics, decompression

10%

Emergency Operations

Emergency descent, approach, and landing procedures, systems and equipment malfunctions, engine failure, emergency equipment

6%

Multiengine Operations

Engine inoperative procedures, VMC factors, propeller feathering, single-engine performance, VYSE and VMC speeds

5%

Postflight Procedures

After-landing procedures, parking, securing, and postflight inspection and documentation

How to Pass the FAA Commercial Pilot Exam

What You Need to Know

  • Passing score: 70% (70 of 100 questions)
  • Exam length: 100 questions
  • Time limit: 2.5 hours (150 minutes)
  • Exam fee: $175

Keys to Passing

  • Complete 500+ practice questions
  • Score 80%+ consistently before scheduling
  • Focus on highest-weighted sections
  • Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

FAA Commercial Pilot Study Tips from Top Performers

1Start with 14 CFR Part 61 and Part 91 regulations — know commercial pilot privileges, limitations, currency requirements, and VFR/IFR operating rules thoroughly
2Master weather theory and chart interpretation — study METAR/TAF decoding, aviation weather charts, frontal systems, and density altitude effects on performance
3Practice performance calculations using the Pilot's Operating Handbook — compute takeoff distance, climb performance, fuel burn, weight and balance, and crosswind components
4Study the Airman Certification Standards (FAA-S-ACS-7B) to understand exactly what knowledge elements are tested for each area of operation
5Use the official FAA testing supplement (FAA-CT-8080-1E) for chart and figure interpretation practice, as these same figures appear on the actual exam

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the FAA Commercial Pilot knowledge test (CAX)?

The CAX is a 100-question, computer-based multiple-choice exam administered at FAA-authorized PSI testing centers. It covers 11 areas of operation defined in the Airman Certification Standards (FAA-S-ACS-7B) for the Commercial Pilot Certificate with an airplane category rating. You have 2.5 hours to complete the test and need a score of 70% or higher to pass. The test fee is $175.

What are the eligibility requirements for a Commercial Pilot Certificate?

Per 14 CFR 61.123, you must be at least 18 years old (16 to take the knowledge test), able to read, speak, write, and understand English, hold at least a Private Pilot Certificate, and hold at least a third-class medical certificate or BasicMed. You must also meet the aeronautical experience requirements of 14 CFR 61.129 (250 total flight hours under Part 61, or 190 under Part 141).

How long are Commercial Pilot knowledge test results valid?

Your knowledge test results are valid for 24 calendar months. You must pass the practical test (checkride) within this period, or you will need to retake the knowledge test. The Commercial Pilot Certificate itself does not expire, but you must maintain currency requirements and a valid medical certificate to exercise commercial pilot privileges.

What can I do with a Commercial Pilot Certificate?

A Commercial Pilot Certificate allows you to be compensated for flying. Per 14 CFR 61.133, commercial pilots may carry persons or property for compensation or hire, and may be hired for certain operations such as aerial photography, banner towing, crop dusting, pipeline patrol, and ferry flights. However, carrying passengers for hire in most situations also requires an operating certificate under Part 119/135.

What happens if I fail the CAX knowledge test?

If you fail, you must receive additional instruction from an authorized instructor on the areas you missed. The instructor must endorse your logbook certifying you are ready to retest. You then present the failed Airman Knowledge Test Report (AKTR) along with the new endorsement when scheduling your retake. The $175 fee applies again for each attempt. There is no limit on retake attempts.