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Devon & Somerset Flight Training

EASA PART-FCL PRIVATE PILOTS LICENCE GUIDANCE NOTES

This manual does not supersede any EASA or European legislations, rules, regulations, procedures or operational documents issued by any governing

Aviation authority. All aircraft, engine and system procedures outlined by the aircrafts operators or manufactures must be adhered to at all times.

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Table of Contents Table of Contents ............................................................................................................................... 2

Introduction ......................................................................................................................................... 4

Overview ......................................................................................................................................... 4

The EASA Private Pilot Licence .................................................................................................... 4

Becoming a Pilot ............................................................................................................................. 4

Age Requirements ........................................................................................................................... 5

Medical Requirements .................................................................................................................... 5

Time Scale ...................................................................................................................................... 5

Licence Hours Requirements .......................................................................................................... 6

Flight Exercises ............................................................................................................................... 6

Required Equipment ....................................................................................................................... 6

The Flight School ................................................................................................................................ 8

Enrolment ........................................................................................................................................ 8

Our Fleet ......................................................................................................................................... 8

Booking a Flight ............................................................................................................................. 9

Checking the Weather on the Day ................................................................................................ 10

Flying Instructors .......................................................................................................................... 10

Commencing Your Training ......................................................................................................... 10

Flight Training Syllabus ................................................................................................................... 12

Entry to training ............................................................................................................................ 12

Training Syllabus .......................................................................................................................... 12

Schedule of Exercises ................................................................................................................... 12

Guidance Notes ............................................................................................................................. 13

Hours Breakdown ......................................................................................................................... 14

Examinations..................................................................................................................................... 16

Passing the Exams......................................................................................................................... 16

EASA Examination Guidelines .................................................................................................... 16

Studying for the Exams ................................................................................................................. 16

The Qualifying Cross Country .......................................................................................................... 18

The Skills Test .................................................................................................................................. 19

Remaining Current ............................................................................................................................ 20

Club Currency ............................................................................................................................... 20

Carriage of Passengers .................................................................................................................. 20

EASA PPL (A) Currency .............................................................................................................. 20

EASA LAPL (A) Currency ........................................................................................................... 21

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Medical Currency.......................................................................................................................... 21

Ratings .......................................................................................................................................... 22

Differences Training ..................................................................................................................... 22

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Introduction Overview This guidance document provides you with an overview of the PPL (A) training syllabus and acts as a written guide for the course. These notes explain the school’s curriculum and also the methods and procedures involved in learning to fly. In common with most other flight training organisations, the EASA (European Aviation Safety Agency) PPL (Private Pilot Licence) course is based on the original A.O.P.A (Aircraft Owners & Pilots Association) syllabus; a copy of which can be referenced to in the schools technical library.

The EASA Private Pilot Licence The EASA Private Pilot Licence is a European recognised licence that allows the holder to fly single engine, fixed pitched, fixed gear aircraft in VMC (Visual Meteorological Conditions). The licence ultimately provides a foundation on which you can further build your skills, and progress, if you desire, on to Commercial levels of flight training. The course consists of a minimum of 45 hours training, covering everything from aircraft handling, solo flying and air navigation. In addition to the flying aspect, there are nine multiple choice ground exams to be completed (75% to pass) before taking the final flight test (the Skills

Test). Don’t worry or be put off by these exams, as we offer comprehensive ground school tuition across all the subject material. Our instructors and operations staff are always happy to assist you with any issues or problems.

Becoming a Pilot Every pilot has started out as a student pilot, whether the aim is to fly as a hobby or as a career. Learning to fly doesn’t take long- with most students having learnt the basic skills within the first 20 hours of their training. It is therefore essential that good flying habits are developed early on, since the training period is so short. Skills developed within your first few hours will remain with you throughout the rest of your flying life, so to gain the maximum benefit from your training and develop good flying habits, you must be well prepared for each flight. These guidance notes will help you achieve this. Guidance from your instructor and our operations staff is invaluable throughout your training. However using these notes and the course training manuals is essential in maximising your efforts and getting the most out of your training. It can often be very costly by cutting corners and disregarding information which is vital to your success. Remember, the success of your training depends fundamentally on your willingness to learn and good preparation.

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Gaining your licence is achievable regardless of your background, whether you have an advanced formal education or not. However the use of English language and some form of basic mathematics is essential. Beyond that, no special academic skills are required.

Achieving your PPL will be one of your greatest successes within your lifetime, opening up all sorts of opportunities for you within the UK and abroad. The key to success is to maximise every opportunity you have and most of all to enjoy your training.

Age Requirements To begin formal flight training you must be at least 14 years old, at which time you can start logging

hours towards your licence. At 16 you are able to fly solo, and for those committed students gain your licence at the age of 17. Although there is no upper age limit defined by the CAA (Civil Aviation Authority), we generally consider 80 years old to be the maximum for the commencement of training- Although, that’s not to say you cannot still fly with an instructor.

Medical Requirements Before undertaking your first solo flight it is a legal requirement that you hold a valid LAPL (for the Light Aircraft Pilot Licence), Class 2 or Class 1 medical certificate; which must be carried out by an approved CAA medical examiner. We generally advise however that this medical examination be completed before commencing any training; to avoid any complications later on. A list of CAA medical examiners can be found on the CAA website or can be provided by our operations staff.

Time Scale The time scale in which you complete your training is of course the most uncontrollable factor. How long your training takes depends on your own availability to fly, your willingness to learn, and most importantly the weather. Unreliable weather means you cannot expect any plan to proceed exactly to schedule. However, ‘Bad Weather’ days shouldn’t just be overlooked. You should utilise your time on the ground to read and learn the course material, the technical data for your training aircraft and spend time learning from the experience of other pilots, engineers and fellow students. Safety in aviation is paramount and the acquisition of knowledge during your training is invaluable in becoming a safe and aware pilot. Study may seem tedious at times, especially when you are ‘grounded’ due to bad weather, but without the theory your practical training will be difficult and costly.

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Licence Hours Requirements

Course Dual Hours Solo Hours Total Hours Required

EASA PPL 25 10 45

EASA LAPL 20 10 30

NOTE: The remaining minimum 10 hours for the PPL can be made up with either dual or solo flying or can be credited from other licences.

Your training should include:

a) 5 hours of solo cross country time, including your Qualifying Cross Country flight, which is a solo navigational flight of at least 150nm including two full stop landings at non-homebase airfields.

b) 2 hours of stall/spin awareness c) Sufficient instruction in instrument flying to enable to pilot to maintain control of the aircraft,

by performing a 180° turn, should they inadvertently enter cloud in IMC (Instrument Meteorological Conditions).

Flight Exercises The rate and sequence at which your flight training progresses depends on a number of factors, all of which you need to be aware of during your training:

The students’ progress and ability The continuity of lessons The weather conditions The flight time and instructors time available The instructional technique

Required Equipment Training as a Pilot requires you to purchase some essential equipment. From day one it is recommended that you have the following:

Pilots Logbook Aircraft Checklist Pilot Kneeboard Sunglasses Timepiece

Essential for the theory of your flight training and ground examinations are the Pooley’s flight training and Q&A manuals, which follow the training syllabus outlined by EASA:

Air Pilots Manual, Volume 1- Flying Training

Air Pilots Manual, Volume 2- Air Law and Meteorology o Exam Preparation Q&A Books 1 and 4

Air Pilots Manual, EASA Supplement- Operational Procedures

o Exam Preparation Q&A Book 2

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Air Pilots Manual, Volume 3- Air Navigation

o Exam Preparation Q&A Book 5

Air Pilots Manual, Volume 4- The Aircraft Technical o Exam Preparation Q&A Books 3, 8 and 9

Air Pilots Manual, Volume 5- Radio Navigation and Instrument Flying (Not required for the

PPL course. For IMC/Night ratings)

Air Pilots Manual, Volume 6- Human Factors and Performance o Exam Preparation Q&A Book 7

Air Pilots Manual, Volume 7- Communications

o Exam Preparation Q&A Book 6 As you progress through your training you will need to purchase:

CRP-1/CRP5 Flight Computer NM-2 Scale Ruler 1:500000/1:250000 PP-1 Protractor ½ or ¼ Mil Chart

You also may wish to consider purchasing:

An aviation Headset Flight Case

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The Flight School Enrolment Learning to fly is a big commitment both financially and personally, so before commencing any training we recommend (if you haven’t already) that you try and air experience flight. The air experience flight is a one of lesson that contributes toward the gain of your licence. It allows us to assess your learning style and gives you the opportunity to decide on flying without incurring any club membership fees. On completion of this flight, presuming that you are comfortable with flying, we can get you enrolled and signed up to the flight school. It is a requirement under Aviation law that all of our students complete a registration form to become a member of the flight school. If a student is under the age of 18 then written parental consent is required before commencing any training. Membership to our flight school can be managed in two ways:

A single annual payment of £125 Or

A monthly payment of £15 Once the registration is complete, the next step is to decide on the aircraft you wish to fly, and then book your first flying lesson.

Our Fleet Choosing the correct aircraft for your training is an important factor to consider before commencing any training. Ideally, we aim to keep you in the same aircraft throughout your course for consistency, so making the right choice at the start is essential. Training for the EASA PPL or LAPL can be carried

out on any of our schools fleet of aircraft. We currently operate: THREE CESSNA 152’S

G-OFRY, G-BPFZ & G-OCPC- the Cessna 152 offers a low cost solution to your training, and is typically the ‘standard’ aircraft used in flight training throughout the world. The C152 is a very forgiving and nimble aircraft, though comes at the slight cost of reduced comfort and cross-wind capability.

TWO CESSNA 172’S

G-DUNK & G-BOIX- the Cessna 172 similarly to the Cessna 152, is an exceptionally versatile aircraft offering slightly more room and comfort during your training for just a small premium. The C172 also

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boasts slightly stronger performance and controllability in high-wind situations, making it the ideal aircraft for flight training. ONE PIPER PA28 WARRIOR III

G-CBKR- the Piper PA28 is our best equipped aircraft in the fleet, offering comfort, stability and state of the art instrumentation for a first class training experience. The PA28 is the ideal aircraft for all weather operations and those looking to progress onto commercial levels of flight training. The aircraft also provides an introduction to the more complex PA28R Arrow IV with a retractable undercarriage and variable pitch propeller. ONE BELLANCA 7ECA CITABRIA

G-BLHS- the 7ECA Citabria offers a slightly different approach to flight training, allowing you to start your future in aviation on a superb tail wheel training aircraft. As cheap to operate as the C152 the Citabria is available to those looking for a more unconventional and adventurous start to your flying. ONE PIPER PA28R ARROW IV

G-BVDH- the PA28R Arrow is our complex training aircraft, offering PPL holders the opportunity to carry out differences training onto more sophisticated aircraft types. Due to the higher workload and complex engine management on the Arrow, this aircraft isn’t recommended for initial PPL training. If you are unsure which aircraft is for you, please feel free to contact our Operations staff or pop in for a visit and we can help advise you on which aircraft would be most suitable for you.

Booking a Flight Each lesson is booked in a one and half hour slot, allowing for a full pre-flight briefing to take place as well as the proposed flight. Bookings can be made either by visit, email or over the phone. When booking a time slot you should state whether you require one or two periods. Normally, only one is required, but there are at times during your training (in the navigational stages) where more than one is required. If in doubt, ask the operations staff or your instructor for advice. In circumstances where the weather is poor, or you require tuition for your exams, we offer comprehensive ground school for all aspects of your training- Allowing you to sit the exams with confidence and a good level of understanding.

NOTE: Payment is only taken for the flight/formal classroom time undertaken, not the 1.5 hour booking slots themselves. No charge is made for pre- or post- flight bookings.

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Checking the Weather on the Day If you suspect that the weather is unsuitable for your flying lesson, do call the operations staff at the flying school to confirm whether your flight is likely to go ahead. As you progress through your flight training, and start your ground studies, you will become much more familiar and aware with meteorology; whereby you can start to make your own decisions with our guidance. We will introduce you to the Aviation Briefing Service and highlight the importance of an accurate weather forecast. It won’t take long for you to become accustomed to forecasting and making decisions of your own. Should you have to cancel a flight for any reason, please phone the flight school ahead of your lesson giving as much notice as possible of cancellation. This will enable the school to use the booking slot for another student or pilot.

Flying Instructors The school employs a number of flying instructors, all of whom are professionally qualified to rigorous CAA standards. Training is carried out on a one-to-one basis at a pace that suits you. We aim to keep you with the same instructor throughout your training for confidence and stability- although at times we realise this may not be achievable depending on when you are able to fly. As you will soon appreciate, this is invariably good for your training and will cause no hardship. On the other hand, if you think that your flying will improve or be more enjoyable with a particular instructor do not be afraid to say so when booking your next lesson.

Commencing Your Training When you make a booking for a lesson, the flying instructor will invariably tell you what is to be covered during the flight in your previous lesson. He will refer you to your copy of the flying schools guidance notes and the relevant Air Pilots Manuals relevant to your flight exercises- which should be read before flyi ng. On the day of your lesson, you will be fully briefed on the lesson content before you fly. Following the briefing, you will get airborne and practice what you have learnt on the ground.

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On return, you will be debriefed on the lesson, and indeed given the opportunity to review and address any concerns or queries that you may have. On completion of your flight, you should fill out the aircrafts technical log with the help of your instructor and enter the flight into your logbook. So, as you can see ground and flying training go hand in hand. Learn on the ground and practice in the air. If you stick to that principle,

doing small amounts of homework, you will learn faster and most likely save money yourself. Your instructor will maintain a set of training records on your behalf so that each flight in recorded. Ground school training is also recorded and a complete dossier is built up so that all the paperwork is complete by the time you finish your training and apply for your Private Pilot Licence. In parallel, you must keep your Pilots logbook up to date after each flight. This logbook will normally last for much of your flying life unless you fly professionally with thousands of hours. It is, of course a legal requirement and will be submitted, on course completion to the CAA for assessment. So it is in your interest to look after it, keep all entries clean and tidy, and to use a pen (not pencil) for all entries. In a few years’ time, it will tell quite the story. Flying can be quite daunting at first, with a lot to remember and a lot of tasks to complete when you’re flying. However, after a few hours it will soon become second nature. The key to success is to enjoy your flying. There is little point in flying if you do not enjoy it. It must be said however that the rate of learning will vary. So do not be surprised if one lesson will go well, the next, not so well- never be disheartened, as even a poorly performed lesson provides a good experience to learn from.

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Flight Training Syllabus Entry to training Before being accepted for training an applicant should be aware that a valid medical certificate must be obtained before flying your first solo. The medical examination ideally should be passed as early on as possible to avoid any complications later on in your training.

Training Syllabus Throughout the PPL (A) course you will cover the following areas under the syllabus of training:

i. Pre-flight operations, which include: Mass and balance, aircraft performance and pre-flight inspection

ii. Aerodrome procedures, circuit patterns, and traffic avoidance iii. Aircraft flight controls with reference to the visual horizon iv. Flight at low and critical airspeeds, including the recognition and recovery from the incipient

and full stalls v. Flight at high airspeeds, including the recognition and recovery from spiral dives. Some

degree of spin recovery may be included vi. Circuits, incorporating take-off and landing procedures in different weather conditions vii. Circuit consolidation, with different configurations of aircraft power and flap viii. Solo flying

ix. Basic instrument flying x. Cross country flying, including visual referencing, dead reckoning and radio navigation xi. Emergency operations, including system, avionics and engine failures xii. Operations to and from aerodromes, including entry, transit and procedures within

controlled airspace xiii. Qualifying Cross Country flight xiv. Final Skills Test

Schedule of Exercises The PPL (A) course follows the sequence of exercises 1-18, (with exercises 19-20 covering instrument and night flying). The sequence in which these exercises take place may at times not necessarily be in order, depending on the situation on any given day of flying. As a basic guide however, your training should proceed as follows:

Basic training Stall awareness and general handling Circuits First Solo Solo consolidation Navigation training

o VFR navigation o Advanced turns o Forced landings o Precautionary landings o VFR radio navigation o Basic instrument flying

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o Cross country flying Solo navigation Qualifying Cross country Skills test revision and preparation Skills test Licence application

Guidance Notes This section of this manual consists of a full breakdown of the PPL (A) course, consisting of a summary of the school’s curriculum and the breakdown of exercises and expected completion times.

NOTE:

The times laid out in this schedule purely represent the minimum flight times based on

the above average student. They should not be seen as an expectation, as we realise that every student is an individual, with their own learning style, pace and commitments. Operational restraints due to weather, aircraft maintenance schedules and technical issues can also affect these timings.

The numbering system of exercises has been historically adopted for the convenience of logbook and training records, and can be identified by 5 distinct stages of flight training. The breakdown of hours within this schedule are purely as an example of how exercises may be flown throughout the course. It is recommended however that each student complete the previous stage of training before continuing onto the next.

STAGE 1- Initial training and aircraft familiarisation

Exercise 1- Aircraft familiarisation Exercise 2- Preparation before and after flight Exercise 3- Air experience Exercise 4a/4b- Effect of the controls Exercise 5- Taxying Exercise 6a/6b- Straight and level flight Exercise 7a/7b- Climbing Exercise 8a/8b/8c- Descending Exercise 9- Medium turns Exercise 10a/10b- Slow flight and stalling Exercise 11- Spin avoidance and awareness Exercise 12- Take-off and climb Exercise 13- Approach and landing

STAGE 2- Pre-solo/solo stage

Exercise 10a/10b- Slow flight and stalling Exercise 12/13- Circuits Exercise 14- First solo

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STAGE 3- Circuit consolidation and local navigation

Exercise 12/13- Consolidation of take-off/landing -Crosswind take-off/landing -Short field take-off/landing -Soft field operations -Glide/powered approaches -Flapless landing -Emergency procedures

STAGE 4- Advanced exercises, navigation and Qualifying Cross Country

Exercise 15- Advanced turns Exercise 16- Practice forced landings Exercise 17- Precautionary landings Exercise 18a- VFR navigation Exercise 18b- Low level navigation Exercise 18c- Radio navigation Exercise 19- Instrument flying

STAGE 5- Skills Test Revision, Skills Test

Hours Breakdown

Flight No. Lesson Material

Flight Time Total Hours

Exercise(s) Dual Solo

Stage 1 Initial Training and Familiarisation

1 Air Experience & Initial Briefing 1.0 1.0 Ex. 1,2,3

2 Effect of the Aircraft Controls 1.0 2.0 Ex. 4a,4b

3 Straight and Level Flight 1.0 3.0 Ex. 5,6a

4 Straight and Level Flight With Flap/Power 1.0 4.0 Ex. 5,6b

5 Climbs and Descents 1.0 5.0 Ex. 5,7a,8a

6 Climbs and Descents With Flap/Power 1.0 6.0 Ex. 7b,8b,8c

7 Medium, Climbing and Descending Turns 1.0 7.0 Ex. 9

8 Slow Flight 1.0 8.0 Ex. 10a

9 Stalling 1.0 9.0 Ex. 10b

10 Stalling With Flap/Power 1.0 10.0 Ex. 10b,11

11 Circuits 2.0 12.0 Ex. 12,13

Stage 2 Pre-Solo/Solo

12 Circuits Consolidation 2.0 14.0 Ex. 12,13

13 Circuits Consolidation 1.0 15.0 Ex. 12,13

14 First Solo 0.3 15.3 Ex. 14

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Stage 3 Circuit Consolidation and Local Navigation

15 Flapless, Glide, Short/Soft Field Circuits 2.0 17.3 Ex. 12,13

16 Crosswind Circuits 0.5 17.8 Ex. 12,13

17 Circuit Consolidation 0.5 18.3 Ex. 12,13

18 Circuit Consolidation 0.3 18.6 Ex. 12,13

19 Circuit Consolidation 0.7 19.3 Ex. 12,13

20 Circuit Consolidation 1.0 20.3 Ex. 12,13

21 Circuit Consolidation 1.0 21.3 Ex. 12,13

Stage 4 Advanced Exercises, Navigation and Qualifying Cross Country

22 Steep Turns, Spiral Dives 1.0 22.3 Ex. 15

23 Practice Forced Landings (PFL’s) 1.0 23.3 Ex. 16

24 Precautionary Landing 1.0 24.3 Ex. 17

25 General Handling 1.6 25.9 Ex. 10b,15,16

26 General Handling 1.0 26.9 Ex. 10b,15,16

27 Instrument Flying 1.0 27.9 Ex. 19

28 Navigation 1- Dual Blackdowns 0.7 28.6 Ex. 18a

29 Navigation 2- Dual Exeter 1.0 29.6 Ex. 18a

30 Navigation 1- Solo Blackdowns 0.7 30.3 Ex. 18a

31 Navigation 3- Dual Compton 1.4 31.7 Ex. 18a

32 Navigation 2- Solo Exeter 1.0 32.7 Ex. 18a

33 Navigation 4- Dual Kemble, Diversion 2.5 35.2 Ex. 18a

34 Navigation 3- Solo Compton 1.4 36.6 Ex. 18a

35 Qualifying Cross Country 3.4 40.0 Ex. 18a

36 Low Level Navigation 1.0 41.0 Ex. 18b

37 Radio Navigation 1.0 42.0 Ex. 18c

Stage 5 Skills Test Revision and Skills Test

38 Skills Test Revision 1.5 43.5 Ex. 1-18

39 Solo Skills Test Revision 1.5 45.0 Ex. 1-18

40 Skills Test Examination 1.5 46.5

NOTE: The final skills test is not included within the 45 hours minimum course requirement. The flight test is approximately 1.5 hours, including sections on general handling, circuits and navigation.

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Examinations Passing the Exams A pass in an individual subject will be awarded to a candidate who achieves at least 75% of the allocated marks. Marks will only be awarded for correct answers. No marks are deducted for incorrect answers. All the ground examinations must be completed within 18 months of taking the first exam. If the 18 month limit is exceeded all the exams are considered void and must be re-taken. Once all the ground examinations have been completed, you have a further 24 month period in which to complete your flight training and the final flight test.

EASA Examination Guidelines The examination system has been broken down

into a series of 6 sittings Where a sitting is defined as a 10 day period after taking an individual examination The exam system can therefore be seen as a modular system, where at least 2 (although

ideally 3) exams must be taken within an individual sitting, to provide flexibility in the event of any exam failure

You are permitted to complete as many ground exams as you feel comfortable within any sitting

In the event of any exam failure, the candidate is still permitted to sit further examinations However, the failed exam cannot be re-taken within the same sitting. If the exam is re-taken,

then the candidate is deemed to enter a new sitting Each candidate is allowed 3 attempts on an individual exam paper, with a further attempt

permitted at the Gatwick On failing an individual exam on the 4th attempt, any subjects already passed are considered

void, and each of the 9 ground exams must be completed again

Studying for the Exams Studying for your technical examinations is typically achieved with suitable and progressive self-study at home (little and often), with formal classroom tuition on a one-to-one basis (or group session) with one of our flight instructors. The Pooley’s Air Pilots Manuals and their respective Q&A books are highly recommended for the PPL course, as they cover all the material under the new EASA PART-FCL syllabus. The exams can at first seem daunting, but as you progress through your training with the help and guidance of your instructor, the learning process will soon become second nature. Study for the technical exams is best undertaken during periods of bad weather. Be sure to make the most of ground schooling, in addition to guidance from fellow students and pilots.

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All of the questions are multiple choice, generally consisting of 20-30 questions, with 4 possible answers. On successful completion of the examination the examiner must go through the paper and discuss any topics that provided incorrect answers. We recommend that the exams are taken in the following order:

Module Subject Time Allowed Expected Flight Hours

N/A CAA Medical Exam N/A Before Commencing Training

1 Air Law 40 Min 0-12 (Before First Solo)

1 Human Performance & Limitations 40 Min 0-12

1 Operational Procedures 30 Min 0-12 (Before First Solo)

2 Meteorology 60 Min 12-25

2 Communications 30 Min 12-25 (Before Solo Nav)

2 Navigation 75 Min 12-25 (Before Solo Nav)

3 Flight Planning & Performance 75 Min 25-45

3 Aircraft Technical 45 Min 25-45

3 Principles of Flight 45 Min 25-45

N/A Radiotelephony Oral N/A Preferably before Solo Nav

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The Qualifying Cross Country The qualifying cross country, in addition to all your 9 ground exams, and final skills test forms a major final step in achieving your PPL. The qualifying cross country is a solo navigation flight, taking place over a minimum distance of 150nm, including two full stop landings at two different airfields from the home base- also known as the ‘150 Qualifier’. The qualifying cross country flight is a milestone that amplifies everything that has so far been learnt during your flight training. Before we can send you on your ‘150 qualifier’ we require you to have completed all 9 ground examinations, in addition to your Radiotelephony oral exam. On the day of your flight you will be provided a QCC completion form, which must be signed by each of the ATSU units at the two land away airfields. Failure to complete this form will require you to re-take the flight.

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The Skills Test When all training is complete, including all your written exams and qualifying cross country, it is time to take the final Skills Test. On satisfactory completion of this test, which embraces both general handling and navigation, an application can be made to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) for the Private Pilot’s License. Before doing so, however, ask your instructor for two documents:

Standards Document 19 ‘Notes for the guidance of applicants taking the Skills Test for the

PPL’. Do read this document but don’t be over-awed by it. The test is straight forward if

you’ve learned what you have been taught.

A list of typical questions for the oral section of the Skills Test concerning the Specific Aircraft

Type used for the test; which is the type you have been flying throughout the course.

In addition, make sure you are briefed on the procedures for calculating Mass and Balance and for ascertaining Aircraft Performance data. These aspects are included in the Skills Test. In fact, prior to flight training revision, the instructor will review your training records to ensure that all aspects have been covered. So you should be well and truly prepared for the Test and pass with flying colours.

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Remaining Current On completion of your skills test, and having sent all the relevant paper work of to the CAA, you will be issued with your Private Pilots Licence. Within the licence there are a series of Ratings, which are associated with the different types of aircraft that the holder is allowed to fly (similar to a driving licence). Assuming you have completed your training on a single-engine, non-complex aircraft you will be issued with an SEP rating (Single-Engine Piston). Unlike the licence itself, which is valid for the holders lifetime, individual ratings do expire; which require revalidation before the expiry date. The SEP rating is valid for 2 years from the date of issu e. The requirements for revalidation are listed within the next few sections.

Club Currency In addition to the licence requirements themselves, our flight school requires a minimum 28 day currency on any of the club aircraft for your own safety and to adhere with the insurance requirements. The 28 day requirement is for each individual type of aircraft (I.e. Single Engine, Multi Engine, Complex Aircraft…).

Carriage of Passengers The carry passengers on board the aircraft as Pilot in Command you must have completed at least 3 take offs and landings as sole manipulator of the controls of an aircraft of the same type during the previous 90 days.

EASA PPL (A) Currency The PPL is valid for the holder’s life time, assuming their Class 1 or 2 medical certificate and relevant rating is valid. The Single Engine Piston rating associated with the PPL is valid for 2 years from the date of issue (or revalidation). The rating may be revalidated by the following methods:

By Experience: o Completing 12 hours of flying within the second year of validity, of which 6 of these

hours must be as PIC (Pilot in Command). o Complete 12 take off and landings o A 1 hour check flight (in the same class of aircraft as the rating) with a certified

instructor. By Test:

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o Within 3 months prior to the expiry date of the rating pass a proficiency check with a flightexaminer

EASA LAPL (A) Currency Unlike the PPL, which has associated ratings, the LAPL only has an embedded SEP rating, which is not endorsed on the licence (I.e. it has no expiry date). No ratings (such as the IMC, Multi-Engine, IR etc.) can be added onto a LAPL licence (unlike the PPL), however differences training (Night, Variable Pitch, Retractable Undercarriage, Tail Wheel etc.) can still be carried out providing they are signed off in your logbook. As such, the currency requirements for the LAPL are different to that of the PPL. The LAPL is limited to aircraft of a maximum of 2000kg’s and 4 people on board. Holders of a LAPL shall only exercise the privileges of their licence when they have completed, within the preceding 24 months:

At least 12 hours of flight time as PIC Complete 12 take off and landings A 1 hour check flight of refresher training with a certified instructor

Holders that have not complied with the required currency shall:

Undertake and pass a proficiency check with a flight examiner Perform the additional flight time or take off/landing requirements, flying dual or solo under

supervision of an instructor, in order to fulfil the requirements for the privileges of the LAPL licence.

Medical Currency The three types of medical certificate, LAPL, Class 2 and Class 1 are valid between 6 months and 5 years subject to the class and age of the holder. The medical certificates must be renewed by a certified Aeromedical Examiner (AME). The requirements for each of the medical certificates are listed below:

NOTE:

AeMC- Aeromedical Centre AME- Aeromedical Examiner

Requirements EASA Medical Certificate

Class 1 (CPL/PPL) Class 2 (PPL/LAPL) LAPL (LAPL)

Initial Issuer AeMC AeMC/AME AME

Operator Single Pilot Operations

Commercial Operations

Pilot in Command Pilot in Command

Validity of Medical Certificate

Under 40 40 Plus

12 Months 6 Months

Under 60 60 Plus

12 Months 6 Months

Under 40 40-49 50 Plus

60 Months 24 Months 6 Months

Under 40 40 Plus

60 Months 24 Months

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ECG At Initial, then: At initial, then: At initial, then: Under 30 30-39 40-49 50 Plus

60 Months 24 Months 12 Months 6 Months

Under 30 30-39 40-49 50 Plus

60 Months 24 Months 12 Months 6 Months

50 Plus 24 Months

Audiogram At initial, then: At initial, then: For the Instrument Rating only, then:

Under 40 40 Plus

60 Months 24 Months

Under 40 40 Plus

60 Months 24 Months

Under 40 40 Plus

60 Months 24 Months

Comprehensive Ophthalmology

At initial, then: At initial

If +3D to +5D or -3D to -6D Exceeding -6D Anisometropia & Astigmatism exceeding 3D

5 Years 2 Years 2Years

Haemoglobin Every examination At initial, then: Clinical Indication Only

Lipids At initial, then: Age 40 years

At initial, then: Clinical Indication Only

Respiratory Function

At initial (FEV1/FVC), then: Clinical Indication Only

At initial, then: Clinical Indication Only

Ratings Once you have your licence, you can further develop and build on your flying skills by carrying out extended training for different classes of aircraft and flying conditions. This training allows the holder to gain a class rating, which is an addition on your licence, which just like an SEP is typically expiring if not revalidated. All class ratings must be approved by sufficient training and test by a certified examiner. For most PPL holders, typical class ratings that may be undertaken will include:

Instrument Rating (IR) Restricted Instrument Rating (IMC) Multi-Engine Piston Rating (MEP)

Class ratings are often split further into type ratings, which is specialised training for particular aircraft under an individual licence and class. Type ratings are often beyond the scope for most PPL holders.

Differences Training In addition to class ratings, differences training can be carried out after qualifying for your licence to account for all the different types of complex aircraft that may be flown under the SEP/MEP ratings.

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Unlike formal class training, differences training does not result in an associated rating with the licence. Instead, differences training is considered complete once sufficient training has been completed and the holders log book signed off by a certified instructor (not an examiner). Differences training includes:

Retractable Undercarriage Variable Pitch Propeller Pressurised Cabin Turbo/Super Chargers Tail Wheel Electronic Flight Instrument System (EFIS); Glass Cockpit

ENJOY YOUR TRAINING WITH DSFT HAPPY FLYING!