CPL Aerodynamics study guide
CPL Aerodynamics · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The CPL Aerodynamics examination is one of the knowledge examinations a candidate must pass on the path to an Australian Commercial Pilot Licence. It is aimed at pilots who already hold, or are completing, a private licence and are moving into commercial operations, where a far deeper understanding of why an aeroplane behaves as it does is expected. The syllabus is organised into four equally weighted domains: principles of flight, aircraft performance, stability and control, and stall, spin and high-speed aerodynamics. Together these cover lift generation and drag, thrust and power requirements, weight and balance effects, take-off and landing performance, static and dynamic stability, control effectiveness and hinge moments, and the aerodynamics of the stall, the spin and flight near and beyond the speed of sound. The CPL Aerodynamics study guide has 4 sections and about 1,115 words.
01Principles of Flight
A candidate must be fluent with lift, weight, thrust and drag as vectors in equilibrium and in accelerated flight. Lift comes from the equation L = ½ρV²SC L, so lift varies with the square of speed and linearly with density and wing area.
323 words, about 2 min02Aircraft Performance
Candidates must understand the take-off run and the factors affecting it: density altitude, weight, wind, runway slope and flap setting. Higher density altitude reduces thrust and lift, lengthening the ground roll.
267 words, about 1 min03Stability and Control
Understand the three axes: longitudinal (pitch), lateral (roll) and directional (yaw). Static stability describes the initial tendency to return to equilibrium; dynamic stability describes the subsequent motion over time.
257 words, about 1 min04Stall, Spin and High-Speed Aerodynamics
A stall occurs when the critical angle of attack is exceeded, regardless of speed, attitude or weight. Know the factors affecting the stall speed: weight, load factor, density altitude and configuration.
268 words, about 1 min