EASA ATPL 081 Principles of Flight study plan
EASA ATPL 081 Principles of Flight · Give each week a clear focus.
8 weeks · About 7 hours per week
Airflow and aerofoils: lift, drag, pressure distribution, boundary layer, separation, stalls & Fundamentals of aerodynamics: atmosphere, airflow, Bernoulli and continuity, two-dimensional flow
Draw the pressure distribution over a cambered aerofoil at three angles of attack and label stagnation point, suction peak and centre of pressure
Explain in writing how the boundary layer transitions from laminar to turbulent and state two consequences for separation behaviour
Derive the lift formula L = ½ρV²SCL and calculate lift for three worked cases with different density and speed
Define the stall angle and describe the sequence of events from increasing angle of attack to full separation
List the factors that shift the CL curve (Reynolds number, camber, surface roughness) and rank them by magnitude of effect
Your checkpoint
A one-page annotated aerofoil diagram with CL-alpha and pressure distribution sketches plus 10 self-written calculation and definition questions answered correctly
Airflow and aerofoils: lift, drag, pressure distribution, boundary layer, separation, stalls & Stability and control: static and dynamic stability, longitudinal, lateral and directional stability and control
Interpret a full CL-CD polar and identify the minimum drag point, maximum L/D point and stall region
Explain how flap deflection changes CLmax, CL-alpha slope and pitching moment, and link this to longitudinal static stability
Describe the conditions for static and dynamic stability in pitch and give an example of each of the three dynamic modes
Calculate the stick-fixed neutral point concept qualitatively by explaining how CG movement ahead of or behind it changes stability
Summarise how tailplane volume, downwash and CG position combine to set longitudinal stability
Your checkpoint
A written comparison of 5 CG positions showing expected pitch stability behaviour and a labelled drag polar with at least 6 annotated points
Wings: planform, aspect ratio, wingtip devices, high-lift devices, sweep, dihedral and anhedral effects & Stability and control: static and dynamic stability, longitudinal, lateral and directional stability and control
Compare rectangular, tapered, elliptical and swept planforms for spanwise lift distribution and tip stall tendency
Explain the effect of aspect ratio on induced drag and calculate induced drag change between two aspect ratios at fixed CL
Describe how dihedral, anhedral and sweep produce lateral static stability and the Dutch roll mode
Explain fin and rudder contribution to directional stability including the effect of a dorsal fin
Describe how wingtip devices reduce induced drag and state one limitation of each common type
Your checkpoint
A comparative table of 4 planforms with spanwise lift sketches and a 300-word explanation of lateral-directional stability coupling
Forces in flight: four forces, load factor, manoeuvring and gust loads, turning, climb and descent performance & Limitations and flight envelope: V-speeds, structural and aerodynamic limits, wake turbulence, windshear effects
Resolve the four forces in a steady climb, descent and level turn and write the governing equations for each
Calculate load factor in level turns at 30, 45 and 60 degrees and state the resulting stall speed multiplier
Explain the effect of manoeuvring and gust loads on the V-n diagram and identify the corner speed
Define the key V-speeds (VA, VB, VNE, VMO, VFE, VLE, VS1, VMC) and state what limits each one
Describe wake turbulence behaviour and the windshear effects on approach path and airspeed
Your checkpoint
A worked problem set of 8 numerical load-factor and turn calculations with a hand-drawn V-n diagram annotated with VA, VB and VNE
Controls: primary and secondary flight controls, flaps, slats, spoilers, trim, fly-by-wire concepts & Stalling and spinning: stall recognition, recovery, spin aerodynamics and prevention
Classify primary, secondary and auxiliary controls and state the aerodynamic principle behind each
Explain how flaps, slats and spoilers change lift, drag and pitching moment at a given speed and configuration
Describe trim systems (trim tab, servo tab, anti-balance tab) and explain why trim speed changes with configuration
Outline fly-by-wire concepts: normal law protections, load factor limiting and angle-of-attack protection
Describe the aerodynamic sequence of a spin, the conditions for autorotation and the standard recovery technique
Identify stall warning cues and explain why a wing drop occurs at the stall
Your checkpoint
A flow diagram of the spin entry, autorotation and recovery sequence plus a 10-item control-surface function quiz answered without notes
High-speed flight: compressibility, Mach number, shock waves, critical Mach, buffet, Mach trim & Limitations and flight envelope: V-speeds, structural and aerodynamic limits, wake turbulence, windshear effects
Explain how compressibility affects pressure distribution and where the critical Mach number occurs on the wing
Describe shock wave formation, shock stall and the resulting buffet and control changes
Explain Mach trim purpose and the meaning of tuck-under and Mach tuck
Distinguish the various buffet boundaries and state how they constrain the flight envelope
Summarise the high-speed limitations: VMO, MMO, coffin corner and the effect of altitude on the manoeuvre margin
Your checkpoint
A one-page high-speed flight summary with a labelled critical Mach and buffet boundary sketch and 12 correct answers to self-set questions
Propellers: thrust and efficiency, slip, blade angle, constant-speed operation, asymmetric blade effect & Forces in flight: four forces, load factor, manoeuvring and gust loads, turning, climb and descent performance
Explain propeller thrust production, blade angle, pitch and slip and calculate efficiency from thrust, speed and power
Describe constant-speed propeller operation and the role of the governor in changing blade angle
Explain asymmetric blade effect (P-factor) and the effect of slipstream and torque on take-off handling
Calculate rate of climb and glide performance from given power and drag data
Describe propeller efficiency versus advance ratio and identify the region of best efficiency
Your checkpoint
A propeller performance worksheet with 6 solved numerical exercises and a written explanation of P-factor in a tailwheel and tricycle-gear aircraft
Airflow and aerofoils: lift, drag, pressure distribution, boundary layer, separation, stalls & Stability and control: static and dynamic stability, longitudinal, lateral and directional stability and control & Stalling and spinning: stall recognition, recovery, spin aerodynamics and prevention
Re-solve one representative problem from every domain without notes and log errors by topic
Reproduce the stall, spin, stability and high-speed relationships from memory in a single summary sheet
Complete a timed 60-question mock covering all domains and review every wrong answer to root cause
Revisit the weakest three topics identified in the mock and write a corrective one-page note for each
Your checkpoint
A timed full mock with a score of at least 75 percent and a written error log with corrective notes for every missed question
Milestones
Week 2: Can explain boundary layer behaviour, stall development and CL/CD polar interpretation to another person without notes and score at least 80 percent on a 20-question self-test on domains 1 and 2
Week 4: Can derive turn load factor and stall speed multiplier from memory, draw a correct V-n diagram and score at least 75 percent on a 30-question self-test covering domains 3, 4 and 10
Week 6: Can describe the spin sequence, recovery and fly-by-wire protections unaided and explain critical Mach, shock stall and Mach trim in under 5 minutes of spoken explanation
Week 8: Achieves at least 75 percent on a timed 60-question mixed mock with every error logged and a corrective note written for the three weakest topics