CARC PPL Theory study guide
CARC PPL Theory · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The CARC PPL Theory examination is the written knowledge test that a student pilot in Canada must pass before being recommended for the Private Pilot Licence flight test. It is intended for recreational and private pilots who want to fly without remuneration, not for commercial candidates, and it tests ground-school knowledge rather than stick-and-rudder skill. The CARC PPL Theory study guide has 12 sections and about 3,681 words.
01Air Law and ATC Procedures
This domain checks your working knowledge of the Canadian Aviation Regulations (CARs), airspace classes, required documents, right-of-way rules and ATC clearance discipline - the rules you must apply before and during every VFR flight. VFR weather minima: in controlled airspace, 3 SM flight visibility with 1 SM horizontal and 500 ft vertical cloud clearance.
338 words, about 2 min02Aircraft General Knowledge - Airframe, Systems, Electrics and Powerplant
This domain tests how the airframe, powerplant and systems work together: the four-stroke cycle, fuel and ignition, carburettor ice, electrical supply, vacuum and pitot-static systems, flaps and landing gear. Expect system-failure reasoning rather than memorised diagrams.
336 words, about 2 min03Flight Performance and Planning - Mass and Balance
This domain tests whether you can compute aircraft weight and centre of gravity (CG) and keep both inside the certified envelope. You must know empty weight, basic empty weight, maximum take-off and landing weights, datum, arm, moment and CG limits.
324 words, about 2 min04Performance
Performance examines take-off, landing, climb and cruise capability under real conditions: pressure altitude, temperature, wind, runway slope and surface. The exam expects you to correct chart values and recognise when a legal aircraft is operationally unsafe.
305 words, about 2 min05Flight Planning and Monitoring
This domain covers building a legal VFR flight: route, weather, NOTAMs, fuel, alternates and in-flight monitoring. The exam tests whether your plan is complete before departure and whether you revise it as conditions change.
320 words, about 2 min06Human Performance and Limitations
This domain tests pilot physiology, perception and decision-making: hypoxia, hyperventilation, carbon monoxide, spatial disorientation, fatigue, stress and hazardous attitudes. Questions often ask what you would notice and what you should do first.
288 words, about 1 min07Meteorology
Meteorology tests your ability to read weather products and understand why conditions form: pressure systems, stability, humidity, fronts, icing, thunderstorms, wind shear and altimetry. You must decode METARs and TAFs and apply them to a go/no-go decision.
278 words, about 1 min08Navigation - General Navigation
This domain tests chart work, latitude and longitude, track and heading, wind triangle, drift, ETA and fuel monitoring. The exam expects you to convert between true, magnetic and compass directions correctly and to solve simple wind problems.
305 words, about 2 min09Radio Navigation and Instrumentation
This domain covers VOR, ADF, GPS, ILS, transponders and basic flight instruments: pitot-static, gyroscopic and magnetic compass. Questions test interpretation of indications, not button-pushing.
312 words, about 2 min10Operational Procedures
This domain tests normal and emergency procedures: pre-flight inspection, passenger briefing, engine failure, fire, forced landing, ELT use, winter operations, wake turbulence and runway incursion avoidance. Answers usually hinge on prioritising aircraft control.
282 words, about 1 min11Principles of Flight
This domain covers lift, drag, angle of attack, stalls, spins, stability, load factor and ground effect. The exam tests why an aircraft flies and why it stops flying, not just definitions.
314 words, about 2 min12Communications - VFR and IFR Radiotelephony
This domain tests standard phraseology, readback, position reports, distress and urgency calls, and correct frequency use. Clear, concise radio work reduces runway incursions and airspace conflicts.
279 words, about 1 min