BDCA CPL Knowledge Exam study guide
BDCA CPL Knowledge Exam · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The BDCA Commercial Pilot Licence Knowledge Examination is the theoretical gateway for pilots seeking to hold a commercial pilot licence under the civil aviation authority that the BDCA represents. It is aimed at candidates who already hold, or are completing, a private pilot licence and are moving toward flying for remuneration, so the material assumes a working grasp of basic aviation fundamentals rather than starting from zero. The BDCA CPL Knowledge Exam study guide has 10 sections and about 2,393 words.
01Air Law
Air law questions test your command of the rule set that governs flight: aircraft registration and airworthiness, licensing and ratings, rules of the air, and the responsibilities of pilot-in-command. Know the definitions precisely, because many items hinge on a single word.
289 words, about 1 min02Aircraft General Knowledge
This domain covers structure, flight controls, landing gear, hydraulics, electrical, fuel, and the piston or turbine powerplant with its propeller. Understand how each system is powered, what happens when it fails, and what indications the pilot will see.
260 words, about 1 min03Flight Performance and Planning
Performance questions require you to use published data: take-off and landing distances, climb gradients, cruise fuel flow, and mass-and-balance envelopes. Understand the factors that change performance: mass, altitude, temperature, wind, runway slope and surface, and configuration.
242 words, about 1 min04Human Performance and Limitations
This domain examines the pilot as part of the aviation system: sensory physiology, information processing, decision-making, workload, fatigue, stress, and the effects of altitude and acceleration. Understand the vestibular system and how it produces illusions, the limits of attention and memory, and the role of automation.
246 words, about 1 min05Meteorology
Meteorology questions cover the atmosphere's structure, pressure and temperature, stability, moisture, cloud formation, precipitation, visibility, wind, and the systems that produce them: fronts, lows, highs, thunderstorms and icing. You must read and interpret reports and forecasts, including their coded forms, and understand what each element tells you about the flight ahead.
239 words, about 1 min06Navigation
Navigation questions test your ability to determine position, plan and follow a route, and manage time and fuel. Understand the relationship between true, magnetic and compass headings; between track, heading and drift; and between indicated, true and ground speed.
240 words, about 1 min07Operational Procedures
Operational procedures cover pre-flight and in-flight actions, checklists, communication and coordination, emergency and abnormal handling, and the management of risk. Understand the purpose of standard operating procedures, the role of briefing and callouts, and the principles of threat and error management.
205 words, about 1 min08Principles of Flight
Principles of flight questions cover the four forces, aerodynamic force production, the lift equation, drag types, angle of attack, the stall, and stability and control about all three axes. Understand why lift depends on angle of attack and airspeed, the difference between induced and parasite drag, and the behaviour of the wing near the critical angle.
237 words, about 1 min09Communications
Communications questions test standard phraseology, readback requirements, the structure of a radio call, and the correct use of distress and urgency signals. Understand the difference between MAYDAY and PAN PAN, when each is used, and what information each call must contain.
214 words, about 1 min10Radio Navigation
Radio navigation questions cover VOR, DME, NDB and ADF, ILS, GNSS and the interpretation of the indications they provide. Understand what each aid measures, what the cockpit display shows, and the errors and limitations associated with each.
221 words, about 1 min