Aircraft Left refers to which side of the aircraft when facing forward toward the flight deck?

• A. Right side
• B. The left side of the aircraft if you are facing forward toward the flight deck
• C. Front
• D. Back

Answer: (B)

Left and right on an aircraft are defined from the perspective of someone looking toward the nose and flight deck. So when you’re facing forward toward the flight deck, the side on your left is the aircraft’s left side (the port side). This is the standard convention used in aviation, with the opposite side being the right or starboard side. Front and back describe ends of the fuselage, not sides, which is why they don’t apply here.