UK Air Law (Again...)
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UK Air Law (Again...)
Hi Everyone,
An obvious newbie here and I can see that the above topic has been done to death, but I hope you'll understand my post. Short story is that I'm finally in a position to start my PPL so I've done so! Like most schools, my school won't allow me solo until I do Air Law so I guess this'll be my first exam.
Anyway, my concern is that I keep reading older threads from 2013/2014 that imply new exams are coming and now I'm paranoid about accidentally learning from outdated resources.
So, can anyone clarify if/when the exams changed (to EASA?) And, can anyone recommend what resources are valid?
I've already ordered the AFE PPL 2 book (I already have PPL 1 which I've found to be good), so I'm hoping that'll be somewhat useful.
Apologies if this is a repeat question, but I couldn't see any recent threads.
An obvious newbie here and I can see that the above topic has been done to death, but I hope you'll understand my post. Short story is that I'm finally in a position to start my PPL so I've done so! Like most schools, my school won't allow me solo until I do Air Law so I guess this'll be my first exam.
Anyway, my concern is that I keep reading older threads from 2013/2014 that imply new exams are coming and now I'm paranoid about accidentally learning from outdated resources.
So, can anyone clarify if/when the exams changed (to EASA?) And, can anyone recommend what resources are valid?
I've already ordered the AFE PPL 2 book (I already have PPL 1 which I've found to be good), so I'm hoping that'll be somewhat useful.
Apologies if this is a repeat question, but I couldn't see any recent threads.
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The exam formats changed last October (2014), but the syllabus did not.
Having said that, the Air Law syllabus changes every time one of the applicable documents change, which may end up changing the questions and/or answers... So your latest version of books may not (indeed cannot) always be up to date. (e.g recent changes to the overtaking rules on ground and the line feature rule in the air)
Practically speaking, if you know your stuff you will pass, even if you do get one question wrong due to missing a recent change.
Also, as an aid, airquiz.com seems to always be bang up to date, and they are a good way to test yourself as well... (no connection, just a happy customer)
Good luck!
B.
Having said that, the Air Law syllabus changes every time one of the applicable documents change, which may end up changing the questions and/or answers... So your latest version of books may not (indeed cannot) always be up to date. (e.g recent changes to the overtaking rules on ground and the line feature rule in the air)
Practically speaking, if you know your stuff you will pass, even if you do get one question wrong due to missing a recent change.
Also, as an aid, airquiz.com seems to always be bang up to date, and they are a good way to test yourself as well... (no connection, just a happy customer)
Good luck!
B.
my school won't allow me solo until I do Air Law so I guess this'll be my first exam.
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Thank you both, that's very useful information.
I'll definitely be getting some ground school a little later, and trying to suss out the sittings thing.
I just feel much better knowing that I can start working my way through the book without it seriously hindering me in future.
I wasn't meant to be worrying about this for a few months, but I might just have the opportunity to do some intensive flying next month and I don't want to get hindered by exams.
I'll definitely be getting some ground school a little later, and trying to suss out the sittings thing.
I just feel much better knowing that I can start working my way through the book without it seriously hindering me in future.
I wasn't meant to be worrying about this for a few months, but I might just have the opportunity to do some intensive flying next month and I don't want to get hindered by exams.
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you only have 6 sittings
Check out an earlier thread regarding sittings...
B.
Last edited by Baikonour; 8th Jul 2015 at 14:04.
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Baikonour alluded to "recent changes to the overtaking rules on ground and the line feature rule in the air".
Please can anyone tell me what these new rules are, and on a general point, how can one be sure to be updated when things change?
Please can anyone tell me what these new rules are, and on a general point, how can one be sure to be updated when things change?
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Many thanks Flybymike! Just a relaxing of the rules rather than new procedures.
One of my favourite short trips includes flying North up the East coast when, of course, I fly over the sea, so I am relieved that I have not been doing anything illegal or dangerous under the new rules.
One of my favourite short trips includes flying North up the East coast when, of course, I fly over the sea, so I am relieved that I have not been doing anything illegal or dangerous under the new rules.
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VFR at night
Aircraft have been able to fly under VFR at night since June 2012. SERA introduced a small number of additional requirements for aircraft flying at night. These are:
If the aircraft leaves the vicinity of an aerodrome a flight plan must be filed. This can either be a ‘paper’ plan, an AFPEX plan or an abbreviated plan (‘booking out’).
The cloud ceiling must be at least 1500 ft AMSL;
The flight visibility must be at least 5 km, or 3 km for helicopters;
When flying at 3000 ft AMSL or below, the surface must be in sight at all times; and
The night VFR minimum height requirements are more stringent than the day requirements. Aircraft are to be flown at least 1000 ft above the highest fixed obstacle within 8 km of the aircraft, or 2000 ft when flying over high or mountainous terrain.
Aircraft have been able to fly under VFR at night since June 2012. SERA introduced a small number of additional requirements for aircraft flying at night. These are:
If the aircraft leaves the vicinity of an aerodrome a flight plan must be filed. This can either be a ‘paper’ plan, an AFPEX plan or an abbreviated plan (‘booking out’).
The cloud ceiling must be at least 1500 ft AMSL;
The flight visibility must be at least 5 km, or 3 km for helicopters;
When flying at 3000 ft AMSL or below, the surface must be in sight at all times; and
The night VFR minimum height requirements are more stringent than the day requirements. Aircraft are to be flown at least 1000 ft above the highest fixed obstacle within 8 km of the aircraft, or 2000 ft when flying over high or mountainous terrain.
Intrigued by this: Do I read this that we have to file a FP when leaving for a night cross country or have I missed an exemption somewhere?
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Thanks FBM - you pipped me to it...
That's less obvious. Forums like these and others are useful. As are flying clubs, noticeboards, flying schools, magazines, GASCO etc.
I believe you can also subscribe to a service from the CAA to receive updates, but you may find yourself swamped with stuff which is irrelevant and consequently miss out on the stuff which does matter to you.
Which then triggers the discussion on how your currency (or lack of) on the rules may affect your license status (and actual airmanship...) when all you have to do is 1 hour every 24 months, without any instruction/update/testing...
A 'proper' FP is not required:
B.
how can one be sure to be updated when things change?
I believe you can also subscribe to a service from the CAA to receive updates, but you may find yourself swamped with stuff which is irrelevant and consequently miss out on the stuff which does matter to you.
Which then triggers the discussion on how your currency (or lack of) on the rules may affect your license status (and actual airmanship...) when all you have to do is 1 hour every 24 months, without any instruction/update/testing...
Intrigued by this: Do I read this that we have to file a FP when leaving for a night cross country or have I missed an exemption somewhere?
This can either be a ‘paper’ plan, an AFPEX plan or an abbreviated plan (‘booking out’).
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Just to amplify what Baikonour rightly pointed out:
From Article 2 of Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 923/2012:
Note that the Regulation doesn't specify the medium to be used.
Also:
You can indeed subscribe for free and you can also select in which subject areas you wish to be informed and what to ignore.
A 'proper' FP is not required
‘flight plan’ means specified information provided to air traffic services units, relative to an intended flight or portion of a flight of an aircraft;
Also:
I believe you can also subscribe to a service from the CAA to receive updates, but you may find yourself swamped with stuff which is irrelevant and consequently miss out on the stuff which does matter to you
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Good luck vwdan! My license has just arrived in the post and it feels very much worth it now.
I agree with Baikonour's answers. The exams seemed to stay away from anything which had changed very recently, but it's always good to keep an eye on CAA website. New stuff can always be in there but as Baikonour says, that will probably just mean missing one question, and hopefully you'll find the answer soon after.
My flight school didn't offer ground school lessons so I had to learn on my own from books and quizzes. Thought I'd put my experience here in case it's helpful. My experience of Air Law (which I took about a year ago):
Personally I had no problems with being out of date, despite the book revision predating exams by 3 years. I had the 10th reprint with revisions of AFE PPL2 book, and I think that is still the current version (see Private Pilot's Licence Course, PPL 2 Air Law, Operational Proce ).
I passed but there were a couple of things that surprised me and meant I didn't get 100%.
Questions that tripped me up having read the AFE PPL2 Book
A question required me to know what mode charlie on a transponder means. That is in the book, but it's in the comms section, not air law, and so I hadn't revised it.
Quadrantal rule question needed me to know the meaning of the terms right drift and magnetic variation. Those are covered in the PPL3 book (navigation) so I hadn't covered them yet. I guessed but guessed wrong! Now somewhat irrelevant under SERA, though I guess they could formulate semicircular rule questions in the same way.
There was a question on pilot vs controller responsiblities under SVFR.The book partially covered this. I might be wrong but it didn't seem to mention controller responsibilities in enough detail for me to answer the question (I looked for this afterwards).
Conclusion: the book is alright, you can pass if you revise just the air law section, but you'd do better to revise comms and operational procedures (ops) too. And don't stress if there's a question or two that you don't know - they probably weren't in that book but will be covered later.
I agree that the online quizzes are helpful after learning from the book. I didn't use the easaPPLex app but people who do say that it pretty much has the whole question bank in there...lots of people achieve 100% using that.
Regarding comments from others about sittings: I did the Air Law exam on its own and still only used up 4 of the 6 available sittings in total. If you can be bothered to revise comms and ops and take all three at the same time you might find you get better marks overall; but if you're in a hurry to get air law and solo then just do that. You do seem to need the operational flight safety bit in AFE PPL4 for ops, so again the books don't quite correspond to the exams.
Hope that helps!
I agree with Baikonour's answers. The exams seemed to stay away from anything which had changed very recently, but it's always good to keep an eye on CAA website. New stuff can always be in there but as Baikonour says, that will probably just mean missing one question, and hopefully you'll find the answer soon after.
My flight school didn't offer ground school lessons so I had to learn on my own from books and quizzes. Thought I'd put my experience here in case it's helpful. My experience of Air Law (which I took about a year ago):
Personally I had no problems with being out of date, despite the book revision predating exams by 3 years. I had the 10th reprint with revisions of AFE PPL2 book, and I think that is still the current version (see Private Pilot's Licence Course, PPL 2 Air Law, Operational Proce ).
I passed but there were a couple of things that surprised me and meant I didn't get 100%.
Questions that tripped me up having read the AFE PPL2 Book
A question required me to know what mode charlie on a transponder means. That is in the book, but it's in the comms section, not air law, and so I hadn't revised it.
Quadrantal rule question needed me to know the meaning of the terms right drift and magnetic variation. Those are covered in the PPL3 book (navigation) so I hadn't covered them yet. I guessed but guessed wrong! Now somewhat irrelevant under SERA, though I guess they could formulate semicircular rule questions in the same way.
There was a question on pilot vs controller responsiblities under SVFR.The book partially covered this. I might be wrong but it didn't seem to mention controller responsibilities in enough detail for me to answer the question (I looked for this afterwards).
Conclusion: the book is alright, you can pass if you revise just the air law section, but you'd do better to revise comms and operational procedures (ops) too. And don't stress if there's a question or two that you don't know - they probably weren't in that book but will be covered later.
I agree that the online quizzes are helpful after learning from the book. I didn't use the easaPPLex app but people who do say that it pretty much has the whole question bank in there...lots of people achieve 100% using that.
Regarding comments from others about sittings: I did the Air Law exam on its own and still only used up 4 of the 6 available sittings in total. If you can be bothered to revise comms and ops and take all three at the same time you might find you get better marks overall; but if you're in a hurry to get air law and solo then just do that. You do seem to need the operational flight safety bit in AFE PPL4 for ops, so again the books don't quite correspond to the exams.
Hope that helps!
Last edited by TheEnthusiast; 8th Jul 2015 at 19:08.
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see no evil
First time I ever saw the word 'fovea' was on the exam paper....
There are some oddball questions that turn up regularly, like the best material for an identification plate.... chewing gum and nougat are not deemed suitable.
Over the past 40 years I have passed full sets of exams at least 6 times, and finally got to the NPPL last year.
Six papers in an afternoon is possible, but not recommended, it's hard to walk straight afterwards.
Don't rely on one author... read other books on the same subject from different sources.
You can 'cheat' a little by doing the R/T exams separately, and get a Red Cover. This also covers some rather exotic subjects on airspace... it gives you less to worry about, having a permanent pass in place!
Might sound odd, but how about reading ALL the books thoroughly before taking any exams, the questions do indeed cross boundaries.
I reckon if you have to revise a subject, you haven't learnt it....
Good luck to all future students!!!
There are some oddball questions that turn up regularly, like the best material for an identification plate.... chewing gum and nougat are not deemed suitable.
Over the past 40 years I have passed full sets of exams at least 6 times, and finally got to the NPPL last year.
Six papers in an afternoon is possible, but not recommended, it's hard to walk straight afterwards.
Don't rely on one author... read other books on the same subject from different sources.
You can 'cheat' a little by doing the R/T exams separately, and get a Red Cover. This also covers some rather exotic subjects on airspace... it gives you less to worry about, having a permanent pass in place!
Might sound odd, but how about reading ALL the books thoroughly before taking any exams, the questions do indeed cross boundaries.
I reckon if you have to revise a subject, you haven't learnt it....
Good luck to all future students!!!
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Not a bad idea if really time to take it all in - I certainly had a quick skim through everything before immersing myself in any one topic. But I wouldn't want to scare a new UK PPL student into thinking they have to read up on all exams just to pass air law. There is only a slight mismatch between the (AFE) book titles and exam titles - they generally do match up. I really don't get why there isn't a clear and detailed syllabus from CAA, but that's another topic!!
Well everyone learns differently but for me that's true by definition: I revise until it seems to be in long-term memory and at that point I might say I've learnt it. If I need to revise further then my learning is not complete :-)
Well everyone learns differently but for me that's true by definition: I revise until it seems to be in long-term memory and at that point I might say I've learnt it. If I need to revise further then my learning is not complete :-)
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Study re experience ...
A NAV exam makes a lot more sense one you've done some nav exercises.
But MET? - if you're facing an exam in this subject you could be asked all sorts of esoterica to which the real, practical, answer, that keeps you alive, if you've got enough actual real life experience, would be simply "who cares? - there's no way I'd have taken off with that forecast".
A NAV exam makes a lot more sense one you've done some nav exercises.
But MET? - if you're facing an exam in this subject you could be asked all sorts of esoterica to which the real, practical, answer, that keeps you alive, if you've got enough actual real life experience, would be simply "who cares? - there's no way I'd have taken off with that forecast".
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they are more interested in the Chicago Convention.
Last edited by funfly; 9th Jul 2015 at 09:28. Reason: single white light, is it a balloon? does it matter?
But MET? - if you're facing an exam in this subject you could be asked all sorts of esoterica to which the real, practical, answer, that keeps you alive, if you've got enough actual real life experience, would be simply "who cares? - there's no way I'd have taken off with that forecast".
There are occasions when the
I'd have taken off with that forecast
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The exam formats changed last October (2014), but the syllabus did not.
I really don't get why there isn't a clear and detailed syllabus from CAA, but that's another topic!!
http://www.caa.co.uk/docs/33/CAP%201...MOC_PPL(A).pdf