PLT444: Pilot-in-Command Authority
What code PLT444 covers, why the FAA tests it, and how to study Pilot-in-Command Authority before your checkride.
Recall regulations - pilot-in-command authority / responsibility
What this means for your checkride
Under 91.3 the pilot in command is directly responsible for, and is the final authority as to, the operation of the aircraft. In an in-flight emergency the PIC may deviate from any rule to the extent required to meet the emergency, and may be asked to submit a written report on that deviation.
The PIC's authority and responsibility are foundational, so the FAA tests 91.3, including the emergency-deviation power.
Pilots think an ATC instruction always overrides their judgment. The PIC is the final authority; in an emergency you may deviate from a clearance or rule as needed and report it afterward.
Where to study it
A code on your test report is an area of deficiency. An authorized instructor must review it with you and endorse that review before you take the practical test, and the examiner may revisit it during the oral. Study it until you can explain it out loud, not just recognize the answer.