PPL Theory Exams

PPL Theory Exams
PPL (A) Theoretical Knowledge exams to be passed for the PPL License

Air Law– Aviation law is often one of the first written exams to be taken as many schools require you to have it before you fly solo. There are 16 questions and the exam time is 35 minutes.

Human Performance and Limitation– Human Performance is about people: it is about people in their working and living environments, and it is about their relationship with equipment, procedures and the environment. Just as important, it is about their relationship with other people. There are 12 questions and the exam time is 25 minutes.

Meteorology– Understanding weather is of vital importance to a pilot for obvious reasons! Knowing the atmosphere and how weather patterns develop, along with understanding how to interoperate weather charts and briefing notes, allows for good decisions to be made. There are 16 questions and the exam time is 50 minutes.

Communications– Your Radio Telephony RT Licence will allow you to fly through certain categories of airspace and into aerodromes with Air Traffic Services. There are 12 questions and the exam time is 20 minutes.

Aircraft General Knowledge– Covering aircraft systems – engine, fuel, oil and electrical. It gives you a good background knowledge as to the working of and aircraft. There are 16 questions and the exam time is 35 minutes.

Flight Performance and Planning– Flight Performance and Planning concentrates on how well an aircraft performs in differing situations, but with an emphasis on the practical aspects of flying. You will learn, amongst other things, the safest way to load your aircraft and how to get the best range and endurance out of it. There are 12 questions and the exam time is 45 minutes.

Navigation– If you are not well organised and prepared, stress levels are increased to a nerve-racking and possibly dangerous level. However, if you learn how to map-read and use your navigation computer to complete an orderly flight plan, including radio frequencies, alternate aerodromes and a fuel plan, you will find that everything will be safer and smoother. There are 12 questions and the exam time is 45 minutes.

Operational Procedures– This is the operating rules and safety aspects of flying. There are 12 questions and the exam time is 30 minutes.

Principles of Flight– You will learn, amongst other things, the theory of flight and aerodynamics. There are 12 questions and the exam time is 35 minutes.

All exams must be completed within 6 sittings (a sitting is defined by the CAA as a 10 day period).

On Completion of your first written exam, all the remaining exams must be completed within 18 months. The exams then remain valid for a further period of 24 months, so you must complete your flight training within this period.

Students must complete all the written exams before undertaking their flying skills test.

The theoretical knowledge exam syllabus is the same for both the PPLand the LAPL.