Welcome Guest. Sign in or Signup

6 Answers

Knowledge tests.

Asked by: 4513 views , , , ,
FAA Regulations

If I have taken the private knowledge test and want to add the glider rating, do I need to take the glider knowledge test? What if it was the other way around?  I have taken the glider knowledge test, do I have to take the private knowledge test to get my private? Thanks.

Ace Any FAA Written Test!
Dauntless Aviation's GroundSchool series of apps are the smart pilot's choice for fast and effective FAA knowledge test prep.
Actual, up-to-date FAA questions Polished user experience
Best explanations in the business Free lifetime updates!
Private Pilot IFR Commercial Pilot CFI ATP Sport Pilot Sport Pilot Instructor Parachute Rigger Aviation Mechanic (A&P)
You can get the app now and be studying right away. Available for PC, Mac, iPhone/iPad, and Android.

6 Answers



  1. Kris Kortokrax on Jun 24, 2013

    See 61.63(b)(4).

    You use the term “private knowledge test” and “glider knowledge test”.
    You need to speak in terms of “private airplane knowledge test” or “private helicopter knowledge test” or whatever category/class you are taking instruction in for your private pilot certificate.

    Going from airplane (or any other powered category) to glider, no test is required.
    Going from glider to any powered category, ther is a requirement for an additional knowledge test.

    +5 Votes Thumb up 6 Votes Thumb down 1 Votes



  2. Andrew on Jun 24, 2013

    Doesn’t the glider test ONLY have questions specific to gliders?
    Doesn’t the private test ONLY have questions specific to small engine, land?

    I found in the FARs were it talks about additional aircraft ratings and your spot on.

    But just talking out loud, I would think, due to the differences in the two aircraft types, that I would have to take both tests. (not that I want to shell out another 150 bucks for the other test)

    Thanks again.

    0 Votes Thumb up 0 Votes Thumb down 0 Votes



  3. Andrew on Jun 24, 2013

    Or maybe I should keep quite before to government makes me do just that. ha.

    0 Votes Thumb up 0 Votes Thumb down 0 Votes



  4. Kris Kortokrax on Jun 25, 2013

    Sometimes extraneous questions show up. While taking the glider instructor test I encountered a question about gyroplanes.

    Regardless of not needing to take the glider knowledge test for an add-on rating, you will be questioned during the oral on the practical test concerning the information which would have been covered on the knowledge test. It’s not a free pass.

    +5 Votes Thumb up 6 Votes Thumb down 1 Votes



  5. Andrew on Jun 25, 2013

    No free lunch. Sounds good. Thanks.

    0 Votes Thumb up 0 Votes Thumb down 0 Votes



  6. LTCTerry on Jun 25, 2013

    Andrew – do you have a private pilot certificate or have you only taken the private pilot airplane knowledge test? If you have a certificate, then you can add-on a glider rating without an additional knowledge test. if you’ve only taken then “airplane” test, then you will have to take the private pilot glider knowledge exam.

    If you have a private pilot glider certificate and want to become a power pilot, then you will have to take the private pilot airplane knowledge exam.

    Power to glider – no written test
    Glider to power – written test required

    0 Votes Thumb up 0 Votes Thumb down 0 Votes


The following terms have been auto-detected the question above and any answers or discussion provided. Click on a term to see its definition from the Dauntless Aviation JargonBuster Glossary.

Answer Question

Our sincere thanks to all who contribute constructively to this forum in answering flight training questions. If you are a flight instructor or represent a flight school / FBO offering flight instruction, you are welcome to include links to your site and related contact information as it pertains to offering local flight instruction in a specific geographic area. Additionally, direct links to FAA and related official government sources of information are welcome. However we thank you for your understanding that links to other sites or text that may be construed as explicit or implicit advertising of other business, sites, or goods/services are not permitted even if such links nominally are relevant to the question asked.