Decision making and flight planningQuestion 763 of 934

What is the difference between “legal” and “smart” in the handbook?

  1. Smart meets the regulations. Legal fits the pilot's experience
  2. Legal depends on the pilot's skill. Smart depends on ATC
  3. Legal meets the regulations. Smart fits the pilot's experience
  4. Legal and smart both mean to meet the regulations
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Correct answer: Legal meets the regulations. Smart fits the pilot's experience

A flight can meet the regulations and still be unsafe for a particular pilot.

Source: Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge (FAA-H-8083-25C), Chapter 2: Aeronautical Decision-Making — Mitigating Risk, page 47

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Questions last reviewed: 18 October 2026