PPL Theory

[BravoOne]

I was just wondering...I have now started down the long road of becoming a pilot by initiating my studies for the PPL Exams and making contact with a local CAA Instructor / Examiner.

I was looking for an approximate estimated start time from start to completion of all the exams i.e. one per week, one Bi-Weekly, one per Month? I am currently studying Aviation Law and awaiting the AOPA PPL Syllabus.

It's just hard to estimate your own progress if your the only one in the class. I don't know anyone local who is going through the same training or at the same level as me.

Any comments on what the overall toll is would be grateful. <img src="smile.gif" border="0"> <img src="smile.gif" border="0">

[NeilGascoigne]

BravoOne,

Take one subject at a time. PPL will take you a good couple of months to learn properly. Get a set of manuals like Pratt or Thom and read, read, read, revise and re-revise. Around, ooh, 2-3 hours per night, for 2 weeks per subject, should see you in a state where you're almost ready to take each exam. If you've got the "bug", then this should help stimulate your interest. Get a copy of the "PPL Confuser" too. This gives most of the questions on the exam paper and in-detail explanations on the answer.

Remember, reading the question is half of the answer. With PPL exams, this particularly pertinent. An element of the exam is understanding the poor wording of the questions.

Yours etc.

. .--The Baron

[HelenD]

I have completed all my PPL exams bar the RT practical, they took me about 4 months in all. The PPL confuser is a very good aid though it does have some incorrect answers in it.

[jack.macneice]

I completed all my exams on an RAF flying scholarship. It is possible to learn, revise, sit and pass with 90%+ every each exam at about 1 1/2 to 2 days each of solid work. Its what I did.. .Get a book called the 'PPL confuser' and use it as a starting point. All the questions in the exams are multi choice and a large majority are simply memory. The PPL confuser contains questions on all the subjects you will be questioned on in the same format as in the exams. Look at the question, learn the rule/information/calculation to find the answer then answer the question. When you test your self don’t bother answering questions you don’t know. Just look up the answer and memorise that. Don’t of course memorise the answers to calculations! Nearly all of Air Law can be done this way as it simple rules. That said however some questions do require a detailed understanding (e.g. the engine and carburettor in the Technical exam and the majority of navigation). Use a good textbook for these.. .Put simply memories simple answers, calculations and read the books for more detailed explanations if required. Do not however read the books back to back. It’s a waste of time. When you get 100% 3 times in a row on the confuser sit the exam.

GOOD LUCK!

[mad_jock]

Just a point, you can do them alot quicker than quoted. The us ppl folk do them in under 3 weeks for the whole lot.

2 hours a night per subject for 2 weeks is more than required for the ATPL modular courses.

The main thing is to go back to the books occasionaly and keep abreast of any changes.. .Personally performance, airlaw, principles of flight and nav proc are worth rereading whenever learning something new or out of the saddle for a while. Sometimes the penny drops on certain things after its been demonstrated to you and a higher understanding is achieved.

MJ

MJ

[kebabman]

Definitely get yourself a confuser, <a href="http://www.transair.co.uk" target="_blank">www.transair.co.uk</a> sell them, I believe for around 20 quid. I did my PPL from scratch in 3 weeks in the US, but I don't advise it, I really needed the time for school work, so I couldn't spend months doing it. Different exams take different lengths of revision time, law and rt you could probably pass after a few hours of reading and testing yourself (from the confuser), but exams like met and nav will take alot longer. The confuser really is a good book, however, don't rely on it solely, as it only teaches you the questions in the exams, not the information. Have a look round transair.co.uk for other books aswell, as you'll need other guides. And you get nuff respect off me for being able to motivate yourself, I only just managed being in a group of ten. Good luck, kebabman.

[BEagle]

Only use the 'PPL Confuser' to help with exam revision - not for learning the subject matter. Don't be told otherwise by lazy gits who think that the book is the be all and end all! If you think that you will pass by 'mugging up the answers' - you will probably fail the 'Oral questions' part of the Skill Test as that requires a good general level of knowledge, not the ability to reproduce memorized answers.

[BravoOne]

Thanks Guys,

Really appreciate the responses!

See you in the air!

Regards,. .B1.

[Spacer]

B1: where are you flying from? I did the final part of my PPL at EGAD, although I'm now at uni flying with the UAS.. .I did my exams at a flying scholarship in two weeks and then again at Ards (cause of JAA rules) in about 8 weeks, but as has been said before, there's alot to learn and you need to make sure that you know the stuff, as if you fail, its only money wasted.. .Good luck

[Whipping Boy's SATCO]

I'm with BEagle on this one. It's a dangerous game just learning answers to a set of questions. You will be far better off if you understand why things happen; this takes some time and serious study. The confuser is V.good for revision.

Another excellent comment from the private flying thread:

. . [quote] Now remember, what you have is a licence to learn. <hr></blockquote>

This, to me, sums-up aviation. Start as you mean to continue.

[ 07 February 2002: Message edited by: Whipping Boy's SATCO ]</p>

[BravoOne]

I have already purchased the TransAir PPL Starter Pack along with a number of other PPL related study books i.e. AOPA PPL Syllabus.

I have obtained a copy of each of the GASS Leaflets from the CAA and am viewing the GASIL Leaflets on-line. I have been on the Internet and Downloaded AIC's AIP's etc that correlate with the Trevor Thom books references.

When I found out about the “PPL Confuser” I looked into it and found that there was many errors, as ‘SothernHighFlyer’ stated, in the answers so I wanted to avoid this publication.

I have been to visit my local airport EGAE (Eglinton, Derry) tower, and the controllers there told me that it was possible for me to visit whenever I want which is great. It helps to get a view from the ATC side.

The response has been great guys. I’ll keep you posted on my progress.

Regards,. .B1.