ANAC Private Pilot Helicopter (PPH) (ANAC) study plan
ANAC Private Pilot Helicopter (PPH) · Give each week a clear focus.
8 weeks · About 7 hours per week
Principles of Flight – Helicopter & Aircraft General Knowledge – Helicopter
Define each term used in helicopter aerodynamics (thrust, drag, torque, dissymmetry of lift, translational lift, ground effect) in your own written words
Explain in writing how retreating-blade stall and blade flapping are linked, and how each is managed
Draw and label the main rotor, tail rotor, swashplate, and flight-control linkage paths from memory
Calculate and compare induced drag versus parasite drag across three airspeed values and identify the power-required curve minimum
Your checkpoint
A one-page hand-drawn rotor-head and control-path diagram plus a 300-word written explanation of dissymmetry of lift and retreating-blade stall, self-scored against the source text
Principles of Flight – Helicopter & Aircraft General Knowledge – Helicopter
Describe autorotation entry, steady-state descent, and flare recovery as a sequence of energy changes
List the helicopter systems (engine, transmission, fuel, electrical, hydraulic, rotor brake) and state the failure symptom of each
Match five given emergency indications to the correct immediate action from the flight manual
Explain how density altitude, weight, and wind alter required power for hover and forward flight
Your checkpoint
A written 15-item systems-and-aerodynamics quiz you author yourself, with answer key and source page references, scoring at least 13/15 on a closed-book retake
Flight Performance and Planning & Meteorology
Read the helicopter performance charts and extract hover ceiling, takeoff distance, and rate of climb for three sample conditions
Compute weight and balance for two loading scenarios and state whether each is within limits
Interpret a METAR and TAF for a given aerodrome and state whether VFR departure is legal
Explain how temperature, pressure, humidity, and wind affect helicopter performance in a short written summary
Your checkpoint
A completed flight-planning worksheet for two full scenarios (loading, performance numbers, fuel, weather go/no-go decision) with every figure traceable to a chart or report
Flight Performance and Planning & Meteorology
Calculate fuel required including reserve for a 90-minute planned flight at a stated burn rate
Decode a synoptic chart and identify the location of fronts, troughs, and associated weather
Describe the hazards of mountain weather, low-level wind shear, and icing for helicopters
Produce a go/no-go decision from a full weather briefing for a planned cross-country
Your checkpoint
A mock cross-country planning package (route, fuel, performance, weather briefing notes, go/no-go justification) reviewed against a checklist and scoring at least 80 percent on your own grading rubric
Air Law and Regulations & Operational Procedures
State the privileges, limitations, and currency requirements of the licence and ratings you are training for
List the documents and inspections required for the aircraft and the pilot before flight
Explain the rules for minimum fuel, right of way, low flying, and controlled airspace in your jurisdiction
Write out the normal and emergency checklists for three standard manoeuvres without reference
Your checkpoint
A written 20-question air-law and operational-procedures test with cited references, scoring at least 17/20 on a closed-book attempt
Navigation & Human Performance and Limitations
Plot a three-leg route on a chart, measure tracks and distances, and correct for magnetic variation and deviation
Calculate heading, groundspeed, and ETA for each leg given forecast winds
Explain the physiological effects of hypoxia, spatial disorientation, and fatigue on pilot decision-making
Apply a decision-making model to two accident case studies and identify the point where the chain could have been broken
Your checkpoint
A completed navigation log for a three-leg route with all headings, times, and fuel figures computed, plus a 400-word human-factors analysis of two case studies
Air Law and Regulations & Aircraft General Knowledge – Helicopter & Flight Performance and Planning & Human Performance and Limitations & Meteorology & Navigation & Operational Procedures & Principles of Flight – Helicopter
Complete a full-length timed mock exam under exam conditions without notes
Categorize every missed question by domain and error type (knowledge gap, misreading, calculation)
Re-study only the weakest two domains using targeted source material
Re-attempt every missed question and confirm the corrected reasoning in writing
Your checkpoint
A scored mock exam with an error log listing every missed item, its domain, root cause, and corrected explanation
Air Law and Regulations & Aircraft General Knowledge – Helicopter & Flight Performance and Planning & Human Performance and Limitations & Meteorology & Navigation & Operational Procedures & Principles of Flight – Helicopter
Retake two full mock exams and compare scores against the week-7 baseline
Drill weak-area flashcards daily until each card is answered correctly twice in a row
Rehearse chart reading, weight and balance, and fuel calculations under a 10-minute time limit each
Consolidate a one-page summary sheet of formulas, limits, and emergency actions for final review
Your checkpoint
Two mock exam scores at or above your target pass margin plus a completed one-page final-review summary sheet
Milestones
Week 2: Can explain dissymmetry of lift, retreating-blade stall, translational lift, and autorotation energy flow from memory without notes
Week 4: Can produce a complete go/no-go cross-country plan with traceable performance, fuel, and weather figures in under 90 minutes
Week 6: Can compute a three-leg navigation log with correct headings and ETAs, and explain two human-factors accident chains
Week 8: Two timed full mock exams scored at or above the target pass margin, with no domain below 70 percent