PPL Aircraft General Knowledge study plan
PPL Aircraft General Knowledge · Give each week a clear focus.
8 weeks · About 6 hours per week
Airframe, systems and powerplant
Sketch the airframe primary structure (fuselage, wing, empennage, landing gear) and label load paths and stress members from memory
Explain the four-stroke cycle and list the function of each major engine component (cylinder, piston, crankshaft, camshaft, valves)
Describe the carburettor and fuel metering system, including mixture control and the cause of carburettor icing
Distinguish the electrical, vacuum/pneumatic, hydraulic, and pitot-static system layouts on a light aircraft and state what each drives
Your checkpoint
One hand-drawn aircraft systems map with all major systems labelled and a one-page written summary of the piston engine cycle
Airframe, systems and powerplant
Explain lubrication and cooling systems, including oil flow path, oil pressure/temperature limits, and cowl flap use
Describe the ignition system from magneto to spark plug and explain why dual ignition is fitted
Explain constant-speed propeller operation, pitch control, and the effect of RPM/MP settings on power
List the causes and symptoms of detonation and pre-ignition and the corrective actions
Interpret typical engine and system limitations from a POH-style limitations section
Your checkpoint
A 20-item self-quiz on powerplant and systems with written answers, scored and any item below full marks re-explained in your own words
Mass and balance
Define mass, weight, arm, moment, and centre of gravity and compute a CG from a loading table
Convert between mass and weight using standard gravity and state the units used in load sheets
Calculate the effect of adding, removing, and shifting load on the CG position
Explain maximum take-off mass, maximum zero-fuel mass, and maximum landing mass and why each is limiting
Describe how CG position ahead of or behind the aft limit affects stability, stall recovery, and performance
Your checkpoint
Three fully worked loading problems (nose-loaded, aft-loaded, and within limits) with CG plotted on a moment envelope, all arithmetic shown
Mass and balance & Performance
Compute take-off and landing distances from tabulated data, applying wind, slope, temperature, and pressure-altitude corrections
State the definition and use of the take-off, accelerate-stop, and landing distance concepts in light aircraft performance
Explain how density altitude is derived and its effect on engine power, propeller thrust, and lift
Describe climb performance: rate of climb, climb gradient, service ceiling, and the effect of mass and configuration
Interpret a typical performance chart and identify the assumptions printed on it
Your checkpoint
A performance worksheet solving four scenarios (hot/high, short field, tailwind landing, heavy mass) with corrected distances and a short note on which correction dominated each case
Performance
Compute stall speeds at different masses using the square-root relationship and explain the load-factor effect on stall speed
Explain the forces in a turn, load factor in level and banked turns, and the resulting increase in stall speed
Describe the effect of flaps, gear, and contamination (ice, frost) on take-off, climb, and landing performance
Explain the factors affecting glide performance and the use of a glide ratio in a forced landing
Identify the factors that increase landing distance and state the recommended corrections
Your checkpoint
A one-page performance summary card (stall speed vs mass, load factor vs bank, and correction factors) that you can reproduce from memory in under five minutes
Flight planning and monitoring
Plan a cross-country flight: select route, altitude, and alternates, and compute leg times and fuel from wind triangle data
Compute headwind/tailwind components and drift from wind speed and direction relative to track
Apply fuel reserves and calculate endurance and range from usable fuel and consumption
Interpret NOTAM-style and weather information relevant to a planned flight and state go/no-go criteria
Describe in-flight monitoring: fuel log, position reporting, and revising the plan when actual conditions differ
Your checkpoint
A complete written flight plan for a 250 nm cross-country with wind-corrected legs, fuel log, reserves, and a go/no-go decision with reasons
Aircraft instruments & Electrics and electronics
Explain the pitot-static system and the errors affecting the altimeter, airspeed indicator, and vertical speed indicator
Describe the operation of the magnetic compass, turning and bank indicator, and heading indicator, and state their limitations
Explain gyroscopic principles (rigidity, precession) as applied to attitude and heading instruments
Describe a basic aircraft electrical system: battery, alternator/generator, bus, fuses/circuit breakers, and the meaning of a failed alternator
Interpret instrument readings in a given scenario and identify the most likely instrument or system fault
Your checkpoint
A two-column fault table: 15 abnormal indications mapped to the most probable instrument, electrical, or pitot-static cause, with a one-line justification each
Airframe, systems and powerplant & Mass and balance & Performance & Flight planning and monitoring & Aircraft instruments & Electrics and electronics
Complete a timed mixed-domain mock test and record the score per domain
Re-study every domain where the mock score was below 75 percent, reworking the underlying calculation or system explanation
Reproduce the mass and balance and performance calculations under time pressure without notes
Recite the key definitions (CG, density altitude, load factor, service ceiling) in precise wording
Review flagged weak items and confirm each is now answered correctly with reasoning
Your checkpoint
A timed 60-question mock test scored by domain, plus a written remediation list with every missed item reworked and re-answered correctly
Milestones
Week 2: Score at least 80 percent on the 20-item powerplant and systems self-quiz, with no unanswered item on the engine cycle, lubrication, ignition, or propeller
Week 4: Solve a fresh mass and balance problem and a fresh take-off distance problem, unaided, with the correct CG inside limits and the correct wind/slope/temperature corrections applied
Week 6: Produce a complete cross-country flight plan with wind-corrected leg times, fuel log, and reserves, and defend the go/no-go decision in writing
Week 7: Score at least 80 percent on a 30-question instruments and electrics set, and correctly map at least 12 of 15 abnormal indications to their cause
Week 8: Score at least 85 percent overall on the timed 60-question mock with no single domain below 75 percent, and show reworked answers for every missed item