The following section contains a summarized guide to the syllabus for the Private Pilot Licence.
According to the Civil Aviation Regulations (CARs) a minimum of 45 hours flying training is required to obtain the Private Pilot Licence (PPL). Of the 45 hours, 15 hours must be solo. Although this is the legal minimum, due to high traffic density experienced at most airports these days, most students qualify for the licence within 55 to 60 hours.
Composition of lessons
You should always book at least 2 hours for each lesson, which will consist of the following:
- Pre-flight briefing
- Flying the exercise
- Post flight de-briefing
In order to gain maximum benefit from each lesson, you are advised to read the material on the exercise to be flown prior to each flight. At the post flight briefing you will be advised of specific reading and learning required for the next lesson.
Click here for the sequence of instructions that will be followed while you are doing your PPL.
Prescribed textbooks
- Trevor Thom: The Air Pilot's Manual, Volume 1
- Jim Davis: Pass your PPL
- Aircraft's Pilots Operating Handbook
You will also require a logbook in order to record time of each flight undertaken.
Basic PPL syllabus
The basic syllabus is as follows.
1. Basic upper air flying skills
This phase consists of dual flights to the general flying area during which you will be taught the following exercises:
- Introduction and orientation
- Pre-flight inspection
- Taxiing
- Checklists in preparation for flight
- Effects of controls
- Straight and level flight
- Climbing and descending flight
- Turns - level, climbing and descending
- Stalls
- Spins (incipient and full)
- Forced landing procedure
- Precautionary landing procedure
2. Circuits and landings
This phase consists of dual flights in the airport circuit (circuits and landings), preparing you for your first solo. During this time you will be taught to fly the aircraft correctly around the airport circuit pattern, correctly use the radio, approach and land the aircraft and handle emergencies in the circuit such as engine failure, radio failure, electrical failure and fire. The following outlines the sequence of lessons during this phase:
- Circuits and landings
- Glide approach landings
- Powered approach landings
- Landing with different flap settings
- Take off and landing in different wind conditions (crosswind techniques)
- Simulated engine failure on and after take off
- Emergencies in the circuit (engine, electrical, radio, fire)
3. First solo
By the end of this phase you should have attended a radio licence course, written and passed the exam and be in possession of a Restricted Radio Operators Certificate. During the circuits and landings phase, having passed your Student Pilot Licence examination and medical, and having applied for and obtained the SPL from the Civil Aviation Authority, and having attained the required level of flying, you will be authorised for your first solo flight which will consist of one circuit and one landing.
4. Solo consolidation
This phase consists of more circuits and landings, both dual and solo until you have completed a total of 3 hours solo time. Each lesson will commence with a number of dual circuits, and, depending on your proficiency in these circuits you will end the lesson with a number of solo circuits and landings. A progress check with the Chief Flying Instructor will occur at the end of this phase.
5. Advanced general flying
This phase consists of dual and solo flights to the general flying area and circuits and landings, in order to improve your upper air flying skills in the various exercises and emergency procedures. At the end of this phase your flying proficiency will be of a sufficient standard to pass the general flying test for the Private Pilot Licence. You will have accumulated at least further 5 hours of solo time (a total of 8 hours of solo at this time).
The following exercises are included in this phase:
- Circuits and landings
- Short field take offs and landings
- Spins (incipient and full)
- Forced landings
- Precautionary landings
- All emergencies
You should have attended the ground courses for the following theoretical subjects:
- Air Law
- Principles of flight
- Aircraft General Knowledge
- Meteorology
- Human Performance and Limitations
- Flight Planning
- Navigation
A progress check with the Chief Flying Instructor will occur at the end of this phase.
6. Navigation
This phase consists of at least 2 dual and 2 solo cross-country navigation exercises, during which you will be taught the following:
- Preparation of a navigation log
- Preparation of fuel required and weight and balance calculations
- Prepare and file air traffic control flight plans
- Map reading and dead reckoning navigation techniques
- Use of navigation aids
- Communication with various Air Traffic Control Units during the flight
- Joining and landing at unfamiliar airports
- How to deal with possible emergencies (engine failure, bad weather, getting lost, electrical failure, radio failure and diversions to alternate landing fields)
At the end of this phase you should be proficient in the preparation and flying of a navigation exercise and should have at least 13 solo hours to your credit.
7. Final preparation and licence test
This phase consists of dual and solo flights improving your proficiency to the standard required for the final test flight.
The final test flight consists of having written and passed the theoretical exams outlined in part 5 above, passing a navigation exercise and a general flying test. All the exams must have been passed within an 18-monthe period. Both the flying tests are required to be completed within a 36-month period from passing the last written exam. Both flying tests are conducted by an instructor, other than the instructor who trained you. The navigation exercise is prepared for and flown over a route not previously flown by yourself and during which you will demonstrate your proficiency in all aspects of navigation. During the general flying test you will demonstrate your proficiency in all of the air exercises and emergency procedures you have been taught. Your theoretical knowledge will also be verbally assessed during the flight.
After having passed the above tests and completed at least 45 hours of flying time of which at least 15 hours are solo, you will be required to summarise and sign your logbook in the prescribed manner, complete an application for the Private Pilot Licence and submit this together with your logbook, Student Pilot Licence, radio licence, test forms and pay the applicable fee to the Civil Aviation Authority, who will issue the Private Pilot Licence to you.
