Commercial Pilot License Examination Syllabus

• Introduction to Mass and Balance

  • Centre of gravity (cg): Definition, importance in regard to aircraft stability (Aeroplane)
  • Mass and balance
  • Consult aeroplane flight manual for: cg limits for take-off, landing, cruise configurations; maximum floor load; maximum ramp and taxi mass (Aeroplane)
  • Factors determining maximum permissible mass: structural limitations, performance limitations such as runway available for take-off and landing, weather conditions, rate-of-climb, altitude requirements for obstacle clearance, engine-out performance requirements
  • Factors determining cg limits: aircraft stability, ability of flight controls and surfaces to overcome mass and lift pitching moments under all flight conditions, changes in cg location during flight due to consumption of fuel, raising and lowering of undercarriage, and intentional relocation of passengers or cargo, transfer of fuel, movement of centre of lift because of changes in position of wing flaps
• Loading

  • Terminology: empty mass, dry operating mass (empty mass + crew + operating items + unusable fuel), zero fuel mass, standard mass – crew, passengers and baggage, fuel, oil water (volume/mass conversion factors), carry-on luggage, useful load (traffic load + usable fuel)
  • Effects of overloading: high take-off and safety speeds, longer take-off and landing distances, lower rate-of-climb, influence on range and endurance, decreased engine-out performance, possible structural damage in extreme cases
• Centre of Gravity (cg)

  • Basic of cg calculations (load and balance documentation)
  • Datum – explanation of term, location, use in cg calculation
  • Moment arm – explanation of term, determination of algebraic signs, use
  • Moment – explanation, moment = mass x moment arm
  • Expression in percentage of mean aerodynamic chord (% MAC)
  • Calculation of cg
  • Effect of load-shift, movement of cg. Possible out of limits, possible damage due to inertia of a moving load, effect of acceleration of the aircraft load

• 1) The Atmosphere
  • a. Composition, extent, vertical division
  • b. Temperature
    • - Vertical distribution of temperature
    • - Transfer of heat: solar and terrestrial radiation, conduction, convection, advection and turbulence
    • - Lapse rate, stability and instability
    • - Development of inversions, types of inversions
    • - Temperature near the earth’s surface, surface effects, diurnal variation, effect of clouds, effect of wind
  • c. Atmospheric pressure
    • - Barometric pressure, isobars
    • - Pressure variation with height, contours (isohypses)
    • - Reduction of pressure to mean sea level, QFF
    • - Surface low/upper-air low, surface high/upper-air high, precipitation
  • d. Atmospheric density : interrelationship of pressure, temperature and density
  • e. International Standard Atmosphere (ISA)
  • f. Altimetry
    • - Pressure altitude, true altitude
    • - Height, altitude, flight level
    • - Altimeter settings: QNH, QFE, 1013.25 hPa
    • - Effect of accelerated airflow due to topography
• 2) Wind
  • a. Definition and measurement
  • b. Primary cause of wind
    • - Primary cause of wind, pressure gradient, coriolis force, gradient wind
    • - Relationship between isobars and wind
  • c. General circulation
    • - General circulation around the globe
  • d. Turbulence
    • - Turbulence and gustiness, types of turbulence
    • - Origin and location of turbulence
  • e. Variation of wind with height
    • - Variation of wind in the friction layer
  • f. Local winds: Anabatic and katabatic winds, land and sea breezes, venturi effects
  • g. Standing waves
    • - Origin of standing waves
• 3) Thermodynamics
  • a. Humidity
    • - Water vapor in the atmosphere
    • - Temperature / dew point, mixing ratio, relative humidity
• 4) Clouds and Fog
  • a. Clouds formation and description
    • - Cloud types, cloud classification
    • - Influence of inversions on cloud development
  • b. Fog, mist, haze
    • - Radiation fog
    • - Advection fog
    • - Steaming fog
    • - Frontal fog
    • - Orographic fog
• 5) Precipitation
  • a. Development of precipitation
  • b. Types of precipitation
    • - Type of precipitation, relationship with cloud types
• 6) Airmasses and Fronts
  • a. Types of airmasses
    • - Description, factors affecting the properties of an airmass
    • - Classification of airmasses, modifications of airmasses, areas of origin
  • b. Fronts
    • - Boundaries between airmasses (fronts), general situation, geographic differentiation
    • - Warm front, associated clouds and weather
    • - Cold front, associated clouds and weather
    • - Warm sector, associated clouds and weather
    • - Weather behind the cold front
    • - Occlusions, associated clouds and weather
    • - Stationary front, associated clouds and weather
    • - Movement of fronts and pressure systems, life cycle
• 7) Pressure Systems
  • a. Location of the principal pressure areas
  • b. Anticyclone: Anticyclones, types, general properties, cold and warm anticyclones, ridges and wedges, subsidence
  • c. Non-frontal depressions
    • - Thermal, orographic – and secondary depressions, cold air pools, trough
  • d. Tropical revolving storms
• 8) Climatology
  • a. Typical weather situations in mid-latitudes
    • - Westerly waves
    • - High pressure area
    • - Uniform pressure pattern
  • b. Local seasonal weather and wind
    • - SE & NE Monsoon, Pre-Monsoon, Northwesters, Kalbaisakhi
    • - Western Disturbance
• 9) Flight Hazards
  • a. Icing
    • - Weather conditions for ice accretion, topographical effects
  • b. Turbulence
    • - Effects on flight, avoidance
  • c. Windshear
    • - Definition of windshear
    • - Weather conditions for windshear
    • - Effects on flight
  • d. Thunderstorms
    • - Structure of thunderstorms, squall lines, life history, storm cells, electricity in the atmosphere, static charges
    • - Conditions for and process of development, forecast, location, type specification
    • - Thunderstorm avoidance, ground/airborne radar, storm scope
    • - Development and effect of downbursts
    • - Development of lightning discharge and effect of lightning strike on aircraft and flight execution
  • e. Low and high level inversions: Influence on aircraft performance
  • f. Hazards in mountainous areas
    • - Influence of terrain on clouds and precipitation, frontal passage
    • - Vertical movements, mountain waves, windshear, turbulence, ice accretion
    • - Development and effect of valley inversions
  • g. Visibility reducing phenomena
    • - Reduction of visibility caused by mist, smoke, dust, sand and precipitation
    • - Reduction of visibility caused by low drifting and blowing snow
• 10) Meteorological Information
  • a. Observation
    • - On the ground – surface wind, visibility and runway visual range, transmissometers; Clouds – type, amount, height of base and tops, movement; Weather – including all types of precipitation, air temperature, relative humidity, dew point, atmospheric pressure
    • - Aircraft observations and reporting, data link systems, PIREPS
  • b. Weather Charts
    • - Significant weather charts
    • - Surface charts
    • - Upper air charts
    • - Symbols and signs on analyzed and prognostic charts
  • c. Information for Flight Planning
    • - Aeronautical codes: METAR, TAF, SPECI, SIGMET, SNOWTAM, runway report
    • - Meteorological broadcasts for aviation: VOLMET, ATIS, HFVOLMET, ACARS
    • - Content and use of pre-flight meteorological documents
    • - Meteorological briefing and advice
    • - Measuring and warning systems for low level windshear, inversion
    • - Special meteorological warnings

Flight Planning and Monitoring – Aeroplanes

• Flight Plans for Cross Country Flights

  • Navigation Plan: Selection of routes, speeds, altitudes, alternate airfields, terrain and obstacle clearance, cruising levels, navigation checkpoints, wind velocity forecast, computations of headings, ground speeds, and time en-route
  • Fuel Plan: Computation of planned fuel usage for each leg, flight manual figures for fuel flow, fuel for holding and diversion, reserves, total fuel requirements, flight monitoring, in-flight re-planning, revision of fuel reserve estimates
  • Radio communication and navigation aids: Communication frequencies, call signs, radio navigation and approach aids
• ICAO ATC Flight Plan

  • Types of flight plan, ICAO flight plan format, completing the flight plan, procedures for filing, agency responsible for processing, adherence to flight plan
• Practical Flight Planning

  • Chart preparation, plot tracks, measure directions and distances, completion of navigation plans, preparation of fuel logs, radio planning practice, communications frequencies and call signs
• Practical Completion of a ‘Flight Plan’

  • Extraction of navigational, meteorological, and performance data, completion of navigation flight plan, fuel plan, time and fuel calculations, completion of air traffic flight plan

Radio Navigation

• Radio Aids

  • Ground D/F: Principles, presentation, interpretation, coverage, range, errors, accuracy, factors affecting range and accuracy
  • ADF: Principles, presentation, interpretation, coverage, range, errors, accuracy, factors affecting range and accuracy, associated beacons
  • VOR and Doppler: Principles, presentation, interpretation, coverage, range, errors, accuracy, factors affecting range and accuracy, use of radio magnetic indicator
  • DME (Distance Measuring Equipment): Principles, presentation, interpretation, coverage, range, errors, accuracy, factors affecting range and accuracy
  • ILS (Instrument Landing System): Principles, presentation, interpretation, coverage, range, errors, accuracy, factors affecting range and accuracy
• Basic Radar Principles

  • SSR (Secondary Surveillance Radar) and Transponder: Principles, presentation, interpretation, modes and codes (including mode S)
• Self-contained and External-Referenced Navigation Systems

  • Satellite-assisted navigation (GPS/GLONASS): Principle of operation, advantages, disadvantages

Aviation Meteorology

• 1) The Atmosphere
  • a. Composition, extent, vertical division
  • b. Temperature
    • - Vertical distribution of temperature
    • - Transfer of heat: solar and terrestrial radiation, conduction, convection, advection and turbulence
    • - Lapse rate, stability and instability
    • - Development of inversions, types of inversions
    • - Temperature near the earth’s surface, surface effects, diurnal variation, effect of clouds, effect of wind
  • c. Atmospheric pressure
    • - Barometric pressure, isobars
    • - Pressure variation with height, contours (isohypses)
    • - Reduction of pressure to mean sea level, QFF
    • - Surface low/upper-air low, surface high/upper-air high, precipitation
  • d. Atmospheric density : interrelationship of pressure, temperature and density
  • e. International Standard Atmosphere (ISA)
  • f. Altimetry
    • - Pressure altitude, true altitude
    • - Height, altitude, flight level
    • - Altimeter settings: QNH, QFE, 1013.25 hPa
    • - Effect of accelerated airflow due to topography
• 2) Wind
  • a. Definition and measurement
  • b. Primary cause of wind
    • - Primary cause of wind, pressure gradient, coriolis force, gradient wind
    • - Relationship between isobars and wind
  • c. General circulation
    • - General circulation around the globe
  • d. Turbulence
    • - Turbulence and gustiness, types of turbulence
    • - Origin and location of turbulence
  • e. Variation of wind with height
    • - Variation of wind in the friction layer
  • f. Local winds: Anabatic and katabatic winds, land and sea breezes, venturi effects
  • g. Standing waves
    • - Origin of standing waves
• 3) Thermodynamics
  • a. Humidity
    • - Water vapor in the atmosphere
    • - Temperature / dew point, mixing ratio, relative humidity
• 4) Clouds and Fog
  • a. Clouds formation and description
    • - Cloud types, cloud classification
    • - Influence of inversions on cloud development
  • b. Fog, mist, haze
    • - Radiation fog
    • - Advection fog
    • - Steaming fog
    • - Frontal fog
    • - Orographic fog
• 5) Precipitation
  • a. Development of precipitation
  • b. Types of precipitation
    • - Type of precipitation, relationship with cloud types
• 6) Airmasses and Fronts
  • a. Types of airmasses
    • - Description, factors affecting the properties of an airmass
    • - Classification of airmasses, modifications of airmasses, areas of origin
  • b. Fronts
    • - Boundaries between airmasses (fronts), general situation, geographic differentiation
    • - Warm front, associated clouds and weather
    • - Cold front, associated clouds and weather
    • - Warm sector, associated clouds and weather
    • - Weather behind the cold front
    • - Occlusions, associated clouds and weather
    • - Stationary front, associated clouds and weather
    • - Movement of fronts and pressure systems, life cycle
• 7) Pressure Systems
  • a. Location of the principal pressure areas
  • b. Anticyclone: Anticyclones, types, general properties, cold and warm anticyclones, ridges and wedges, subsidence
  • c. Non-frontal depressions
    • - Thermal, orographic – and secondary depressions, cold air pools, trough
  • d. Tropical revolving storms
• 8) Climatology
  • a. Typical weather situations in mid-latitudes
    • - Westerly waves
    • - High pressure area
    • - Uniform pressure pattern
  • b. Local seasonal weather and wind
    • - SE & NE Monsoon, Pre-Monsoon, Northwesters, Kalbaisakhi
    • - Western Disturbance
• 9) Flight Hazards
  • a. Icing
    • - Weather conditions for ice accretion, topographical effects
  • b. Turbulence
    • - Effects on flight, avoidance
  • c. Windshear
    • - Definition of windshear
    • - Weather conditions for windshear
    • - Effects on flight
  • d. Thunderstorms
    • - Structure of thunderstorms, squall lines, life history, storm cells, electricity in the atmosphere, static charges
    • - Conditions for and process of development, forecast, location, type specification
    • - Thunderstorm avoidance, ground/airborne radar, storm scope
    • - Development and effect of downbursts
    • - Development of lightning discharge and effect of lightning strike on aircraft and flight execution
  • e. Low and high level inversions: Influence on aircraft performance
  • f. Hazards in mountainous areas
    • - Influence of terrain on clouds and precipitation, frontal passage
    • - Vertical movements, mountain waves, windshear, turbulence, ice accretion
    • - Development and effect of valley inversions
  • g. Visibility reducing phenomena
    • - Reduction of visibility caused by mist, smoke, dust, sand and precipitation
    • - Reduction of visibility caused by low drifting and blowing snow
• 10) Meteorological Information
  • a. Observation
    • - On the ground – surface wind, visibility and runway visual range, transmissometers; Clouds – type, amount, height of base and tops, movement; Weather – including all types of precipitation, air temperature, relative humidity, dew point, atmospheric pressure
    • - Aircraft observations and reporting, data link systems, PIREPS
  • b. Weather Charts
    • - Significant weather charts
    • - Surface charts
    • - Upper air charts
    • - Symbols and signs on analyzed and prognostic charts
  • c. Information for Flight Planning
    • - Aeronautical codes: METAR, TAF, SPECI, SIGMET, SNOWTAM, runway report
    • - Meteorological broadcasts for aviation: VOLMET, ATIS, HFVOLMET, ACARS
    • - Content and use of pre-flight meteorological documents
    • - Meteorological briefing and advice
    • - Measuring and warning systems for low level windshear, inversion
    • - Special meteorological warnings

Air Regulation

• 1. Air Regulation
  • 1.1 International Agreements and Organizations
    • a) The Convention of Chicago
      • - Air Navigation
        • General principles and application: sovereignty, territory
        • Flight over territory of Contracting states: right of non-scheduled flight, scheduled air services, cabotage, landing at customs airports, applicability of air regulations, rules of the air, search of aircraft
        • Documents to be carried in aircraft
        • International standards and recommended practices: adoption of international standards and procedures, endorsement of certificates and licenses, validity of endorsed certificates and licenses: departure from international standards and procedures (notification of differences)
      • b) The International Civil Aviation Organization
        • objective and composition
        • duties in relation to – annexes to the convention, standards and recommended practices, procedures for air navigation services, regional supplementary procedures, regional air navigation, manuals and circulars
      • c) Other International Agreements
        • - The International Air Transport Agreement - the five freedoms
        • - The Convention of Tokyo, La Haye, Montreal – Jurisdiction, authority of pilot-in-command of the aircraft
        • - DGCA India: Organization and Structure – Indian organizations name, composition, objectives and relevant documents (Aircraft Act 1934, Indian Aircraft Rules 1937)
        • - Civil Aviation Requirements
        • - Warsaw Convention
      • d) PIC authority and responsibility regarding safety and security
      • e) Operators and pilots liabilities towards persons and goods on the ground, in case of damage and injury caused by the operations of the aircraft
      • f) Commercial practices and associated rules
    • 1.2 Annex 8 – Airworthiness of Aircraft - applicability
    • 1.3 Annex 7 – Aircraft Nationality and Registration Marks - applicability
    • 1.4 Annex 1 – Personnel Licensing applicability
      • relation between Annex 1 and CARs
    • 1.5 Rules of the Air (Based on Annex 2)
      • - Annex 2: essential definitions, applicability of the rules of the air, general rules (except water operations), visual flight flights, instrument flight rules, signals, interception of civil aircraft, table of cruising levels
    • 1.6 Procedures for Air Navigation – Aircraft Operations Doc. 8168, Volume 1
      • a) Foreword – introduction
      • b) Definitions and abbreviations (see general statements)
      • c) Departure procedures - general criteria, standard instrument departures, omni-directional departures, published information, simultaneous operations on parallel or near-parallel instrument runways, area navigation (RNAV) departure procedures based on VOR/DME, use of FMS/RNAV equipment to follow conventional departure procedures
      • d) Approach procedures
        • general criteria (except tables)
        • approach procedures design : instrument approach areas, accuracy of fixes (only intersection fix tolerance factors, other fix tolerance factors, accuracy of facility providing track, approach area splays, descent gradient)
        • arrival and approach segments : general, standard instrument arrival, initial approach segment (only general), intermediate approach segment, final approach segment (except tables), missed approach segment (only general)
        • visual manoeuvring (circling) in the vicinity of the aerodrome: general, the visual manoeuvring (circling) area (except table), visual manoeuvring (circling) area not considered for obstacle clearance (except table), minimum descent altitude/height, visual flight manoeuvre, missed approach whilst circling.
        • Simultaneous ILS operations on parallel or near-parallel runways
        • Area navigation (RNAV) approach procedures based on VOR/DME
        • Use of FMS/RNAV equipment to follow conventional non- precision approach procedures
      • e) Holding procedures
        • in-flight procedures (except table), entry, holding
        • obstacle clearance (except table)
      • f) Altimeter setting procedures (including ICAO Doc. 7030- Regional Supplementary Procedures) – basic requirements (except tables), procedures
      • g) Secondary surveillance radar transponder operating procedures (including ICAO Doc. 7030 – Regional Supplementary Procedures)
        • operation of transponders
        • operation of ACAS equipment
        • phraseology
    • 1.7 Air Traffic Services (based on Annex 11 and Doc. 4444)
      • a) Air Traffic Services – Annex 11 : Definitions (see general statements)
      • b) General
        • objectives of ATS, divisions of ATS, designation of the portions of the airspace and controlled aerodromes where ATS will be provided, classification of airspaces (appendix 4 of Annex 11), required navigation performance (RNP), establishment and designation of the units providing ATS, specifications for flight information regions, control areas and control zones, minimum flight altitudes, priority in the event of an aircraft in emergency, in-flight contingencies, time in ATS
      • c) Air Traffic Control
        • application
        • provision of air traffic control service, operations of air traffic control service, separation minima, contents of clearances, co-ordination of clearances
      • d) Flight Information Service
        • application
        • scope of flight information service
      • e) Alerting Service: application, notification of rescue co-ordination centres (only INCERFA, ALERFA, DETRESFA), information to aircraft operating in the vicinity of an aircraft in a state of emergency
      • f) Principles governing the identification of RNP types and the identification of ATS routes other than standard departure and arrival routes (Appendix 1)
      • g) Rules of the Air and Air Traffic Services (ICAO Doc. 4444 – RAC/501/11 and ICAO Doc. 7030 – Regional Supplementary Procedures)
        • definitions (See general statements)
      • h) General provisions
        • general air traffic services operating practices: submission of a flight plan, clearances and information, control of air traffic flow, altimeter setting procedures, indication of heavy wake turbulence category, position reporting, air traffic incident report, procedures in regard to aircraft equipped with airborne collision avoidance systems (ACAS)
        • Appendix 1
      • i) Area Control Service
        • general provisions for the separation of control traffic
        • vertical separation : vertical separation application, vertical separation minimum, minimum cruising level, assignment of cruising level, vertical separation during ascent or descent
        • horizontal separation: lateral separation application, lateral separation application, longitudinal separation application
      • j) Approach Control Service
        • departing aircraft: general procedures for departing aircraft, clearances for departing aircraft to climb maintaining own separation while in visual meteorological conditions, information for departing aircraft
        • arriving aircraft: general procedures for arriving aircraft, clearance to descend subject to maintaining own separation in visual meteorological conditions, visual approach, instrument approach, holding, approach sequence, expected approach time, information for arriving aircraft
      • k) Aerodrome Control Service
        • functions of aerodrome control towers: general, alerting service provided by aerodrome control towers, suspension of VFR operations by aerodrome control towers
        • traffic and taxi circuits: selection of runway-in-use
      • m) Use of radar in Air Traffic Services
        • general provisions: limitations in the use of radar, identification procedures (only establishment of radar identity), position information, radar vectoring
        • use of radar in the air traffic control service
  • 1.8 Aeronautical Information Service (based on Annex 15 and AIP, India)
    • essential definitions
    • applicability
  • 1.9 Aerodromes (Based on Annex 14, Vol. 1 & 2)
    • a) Annex 14
      • definitions
      • aerodrome data
      • conditions of the movement area and related facilities
    • b) Visual aids for navigation
      • indicators and signaling devices
      • markings
      • lights
      • signs
      • markers
    • c) Visual aids for denoting obstacles
      • marking of objects
      • lighting of objects
    • d) Visual aids for denoting restricted use of areas
    • e) Emergency and other services
      • Rescue and fire fighting
      • Apron management services
      • Ground servicing of aircraft
    • f) Attachment A to Annex 14
      • calculation of declared distances
      • radio altimeter operating areas
      • approach lighting systems
  • 1.10 Facilitation (based on Annex 9)
    • definitions
    • entry and departure of aircraft – description, purpose and use of aircraft documents general declaration
    • entry and departure of persons and their baggage – entry requirement and procedures for crew and other operator’s personnel
  • 1.11 Search and Rescue (based on Annex 12)
    • a) Annex 12 – definitions
    • b) Organization
    • c) Operating procedures
      • procedures for pilots-in-command at the scene of an accident
      • procedures for pilot-in-command intercepting a distress transmission
      • search and rescue signals
    • d) Search and Rescue Signals
      • signals with surface craft
      • ground/air visual signal code
      • air/ground signals
  • 1.12 Security (based on Annex 17)
    • a) Annex 17 – General – aims and objectives
  • 1.13 Aircraft Accident Investigation (based on Annex 13)
    • a) Annex 13 – definitions, applicability
  • 1.14 CARs : Sections 2, 7 and 8
  • 1.15 National Law – National Law and differences to relevant ICAO Annexes and CARs.
    • Indian aircraft act 1934-section 1,2,8,10,11A,11B, 17&18(3/9)
    • Aircraft Rule 1937- Rule No. 1-19,21-29A.30,33,37A,38- 48,50,52,53,55,65,67,67A,67B,68-70,76,79-89,133A,134,140, 140(AB&C)15&161
    • Schedule I, II, VI, & XI
    • INDAIN AIRCRAFT RULES 1920-RULE NO 53-64
    • AIRCRAFT RULES 1954 (Public Health Rules) AIRCRAFT RULES 2003 (Carriage of Dangerous Goods)

2. Human Performance & Limitations

• 2.1 Human Factors : Basic Concepts
  • a) Human Factors in aviation
    • competence and limitations
    • becoming a competent pilot – the traditional approach towards ‘proficiency’, the human factors approach towards ‘professionalism’
  • b) Flight Safety concepts
• 2.2 Basic Aviation Physiology and Health Maintenance
  • a) Basics of flight physiology
    • the atmosphere : composition, gas laws, oxygen requirements of tissues
    • Respiratory and circulatory systems: pressurization, decompression, rapid decompression, entrapped gases, barotraumas, counter measures, hypoxia, symptoms, time of useful consciousness, hyperventilation, accelerations
    • High altitude environment: ozone, radiation, humidity
  • b) Man and Environment the sensory system
    • integration of sensory inputs : spatial disorientation, illusions, approach and landing problems
  • c) Health and Hygiene
    • personal hygiene
    • common minor ailments: cold, influenza, gastro-intestinal upset
    • problem areas for pilots : hearing loss, flight related hazards to hearing, defective vision, hypotension, hypertension, coronary disease, obesity, nutrition hygiene, tropical climates – epidemic diseases
    • intoxication: tobacco, alcohol, drugs and self-medication, various toxic materials
    • incapacitation: symptoms and causes, recognition, operating coping procedures
• 2.3 Basic Aviation Psychology
  • a) Human information processing
    • attention and vigilance: selectivity of attention, divided attention
    • perception: perceptual illusions, subjectivity of perception
    • Response selection: learning principles and techniques, drives, motivation and performance
  • b) Human error and reliability
    • Reliability of human behaviour
    • Theory and model of human error
    • Error generation
    • Economics
    • Social environment (group, organization)
  • c) Decision making
    • decision-making concepts: structure (phases), limits, risk assessment, practical application
  • d) Avoiding and managing errors: Cockpit Management
    • safety awareness: risk area awareness, identification of error proneness (oneself), identification of error sources (others), situational awareness stress
    • Co-ordination (multi-crew concepts)
    • Co-operation: small group dynamics, leadership, management styles, duty and role
    • Communication: communication model(s), verbal and non- verbal communication, communication barriers, conflict management
  • e) Personality
    • Personality and attitudes : development, environmental influences
    • individual differences in personality: self-concepts (e.g. , action vs. state-orientation)
    • identification of hazardous attitudes (error proneness)
  • f) Human overload and under load
    • arousal
    • stress: definitions, anxiety and stress, effects of stress
    • fatigue: types, causes, symptoms, effects of fatigue
    • body rhythm and sleep: rhythm disturbances, symptoms, effects, management, circadian rhythm
    • fatigue and stress management: coping strategies, management techniques, health and fitness programmes, relaxation techniques
  • g) Advanced cockpit automation
    • advantages and disadvantages (criticalities)
    • automation complacency

3. Operational Procedures

• 3.1 Operational Procedures – Special and Emergency Procedures General:
  • a) ICAO Annex 6, Parts I, II and III (as applicable)
    • definitions
    • applicability
    • general framework and contents
  • b) CAR-OPS – Requirements
    • General requirements about
    • quality system
    • additional crew members
    • methods of carriage of persons
    • admission to flight deck
    • unauthorized carriage
    • portable electronic devices
    • endangering safety
    • additional information and forms to be carried
    • information retained on ground
    • power to inspect
    • production of documentation and records
    • preservation of documentation
    • leasing
    • Operator certification and supervision requirements
    • general rules for Air Operator Certification
    • issue
    • variation and continued validity of an AOC
    • administrative requirements
    • Operational Procedures requirements
    • operational control and supervision
    • use of Air Traffic Services
    • instrument departure and approach procedures
    • carriage of person with reduced mobility
    • carriage of inadmissible passengers, deportees, or persons in custody
    • stowage of baggage and cargo
    • passengers seating
    • security of passenger cabin and galley(s)
    • smoking on board
    • take-off conditions
    • application of take-off minima’s
    • ETOPS
    • RVSM
    • All-weather Operations requirements: Low Visibility
    • Aerodrome Operating Minima’s – General
    • Low Visibility Operations – General operating rules
    • Low Visibility Operations – Aerodrome considerations
    • Low Visibility Operations – Training and qualifications
    • Low Visibility Operations – Operating procedures
    • Low Visibility Operations – Minimum equipment
    • VFR Operating Minima
    • Instrument and safety equipment requirements
    • communication and navigation equipment requirements
    • Flight crew
  • c) Special Operational Procedures and Hazards (General Aspects)
    • Minimum equipment list
    • AFM
    • Ground de-icing
    • icing conditions
    • Bird strike risk and avoidance
    • Noise abatement
    • Fire/smoke
    • Decompression of pressurized cabin
    • Windshear, microburst
    • Wake turbulence
    • Security
    • Emergency and precautionary landings operations in various terrain – water (i.e. slopes, mountains, jungle, offshore)
    • Fuel jettisoning
    • Transport of dangerous goods
    • Contaminated runways
• 3.2 Communications
  • 3.2.1 VFR Communications
    • a) Definitions
      • Meaning and significance of associated terms
      • Air Traffic Services abbreviations
      • Q-code groups commonly used in RTF air-ground communications
      • Categories of messages
    • b) General Operating Procedures
      • Transmission of letters
      • Transmission of numbers (including level information)
      • Transmission of time
      • Transmission technique
      • Standard work and phrases (relevant RTF phraseology included)
      • Radiotelephony call signs for aeronautical stations including use of abbreviated call signs
      • Radiotelephone call signs for aircraft including use of abbreviated call signs
      • Transfer of communication
      • Test procedures including readability scale
      • Read back and acknowledgement requirements
      • Radar procedural phraseology
    • c) Relevant Weather information terms (VFR)
      • Aerodrome weather
      • Weather broadcast
    • d) Action required to be taken in case of communication failure
    • e) Distress and urgency procedures
      • Distress (definition – frequencies – watch of distress frequencies – distress signal – distress message)
      • Urgency (definition – frequencies – urgency signal – urgency message)
    • f) General Principles of VHF Propagation and Allocation of Frequencies
  • 3.3 IFR Communications
    • a) Definitions
      • Meaning and significance of associated ter
      • Air Traffic Control abbreviations
      • Q-code groups commonly used in RTF air-ground communications
    • b) General Operating Procedures
      • Transmission of letters
      • Transmission of numbers (including level information)
      • Transmission of time
      • Transmission of technique
      • Standard words and phrases (relevant RTF phraseology included)
      • Radiotelephony call signs for aeronautical stations including use of abbreviated call signs
      • Radiotelephone call signs for aircraft including use of abbreviated call signs
      • Transfer of communication
      • Test procedures including readability scale; establishment of RTF communications
      • Read back and acknowledgement requirements
      • Radar procedural phraseology
      • Level changes and reports categories of messages
    • c) Action required to be taken in case of communication failure
    • d) Distress and Urgency Procedures
      • PAN medical
      • Distress (definition – frequencies – watch of distress frequencies – distress signal – distress message)
      • Urgency (definition – frequencies – urgency signal – urgency message)
    • e) Relevant Weather Information Terms (IFR)
      • Aerodrome weather
      • Weather broadcast
    • f) General Principles of VHF propagation and allocation of frequencies
    • g) Morse Code

Aircraft & Engine – Technical General

• Electrics
  • Director Current (DC); Direct/Alternating Current (DC/AC)
    • General
      • Electric circuits
      • Voltage, current, resistance
      • Ohm’s law
      • Resistive circuits
      • Resistance as a function of temperature
      • Electrical power, electrical work
      • Fuses (function, type and operation)
      • The electrical field
      • The capacitor (function) system, shock absorbers
    • Batteries
      • Types, characteristics
      • Capacity
      • Uses
      • Hazards
    • Magnetism
      • Permanent magnetism
      • Electromagnetism:
        • Relay, circuit breaker, solenoid valve (principle, function and applications)
        • Electromagnetic power
        • Electromagnetic induction
    • Generators
      • Alternator:
        • Principle, function and applications
      • Monitoring devices
      • Regulation, control and protection
      • Modes of excitation
      • Starter generator
    • Distribution
      • Current distribution (buses)
      • Monitoring of electrical flight instruments/systems:
        • Ammeter, voltmeter
        • Annunciators
        • Electrical consumers
      • DC power distribution:
        • Construction, operation and system monitoring
        • Elementary switching circuits
    • Inverter
      • The aircraft structure as an electrical conductor
    • Alternating Current (AC)
      • General
        • Single and multi-phase AC
        • Frequency
        • Phase shift
        • AC components
      • Generators
        • 3-phase generator
        • Brushless generator
        • Generator drive:
          • Constant speed drive
          • Integrated drive
      • AC power distribution
        • Operation and monitoring
        • Protection circuits, paralleling of AC-generators
      • Transformers
        • Function
        • Types and applications
      • Transformer/rectifier units
    • Basic knowledge of computers
      • Logic circuits
      • Logical symbols
      • Switching circuits and logical symbols

6. Instrumentation

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• Power Plant
  • Piston engine
    • General
      • Design type
      • Principle of the 4-stroke internal combustion engine
      • Mechanical component
    • Lubrication system
      • Function
      • Schematic construction
      • Monitoring instruments and indicators
      • Lubricants
    • Air cooling
      • System monitoring
      • Cylinder head temperature
      • Cowl flaps
    • Ignition
      • Schematic construction and function
      • Types of ignition
      • Magneto check
    • Engine fuel supply
      • Carburetor (construction and mode of operation, carburetor icing)
      • Fuel injection (construction and mode of operation)
      • Alternate air
    • Engine performance
      • Pressure / density altitude
      • Performance as a function of pressure and temperature
    • Power augmentation devices
      • Turbocharger, supercharger (construction and effect on engine performance)
    • Fuel
      • Types, grades
      • Detonation characteristics, octane rating
      • Colour coding
      • Additives
      • Water content, ice formation
      • Fuel density
      • Alternate fuels, differences in specifications, limitations
    • Mixture
      • Rich and lean mixture
      • Maximum power and fuel economy mixture setting
    • Propeller
      • Fixed pitch and constant speed propeller
      • Principles and operation of propellers on single and multi-engine aircraft
      • Propeller check
      • Propeller efficiency as a function of airspeed
      • Aircraft and engine protection (propeller operation: ground/air, coarse/fine pitch limitations)
    • Engine handling and manipulation
      • Power setting, power range
      • Mixture setting
      • Operational limitations
    • Operational criteria
      • Maximum and minimum RPM
      • (Induced) engine vibration and critical RPM
      • Remedial action by abnormal engine start run-up and in-flight
  • Turbine engine
    • Principles of operation
    • Types of construction: turboprop, turbojet, turbofan
  • Engine construction
    • Air inlet
      • Function
    • Compressor
      • Function
      • Construction and mode of operation
      • Effects of damage
      • Compressor stall and surge (cause and avoidance)
    • Diffuser
      • Function
    • Combustion chamber
      • Function, types and working principles
      • Mixing ratios
      • Fuel injectors
      • Thermal load
    • Turbine
      • Function, construction and working principles
      • Thermal and mechanical stress
      • Effects of damage
      • Monitoring of exhaust gas temperature
    • Jet pipe
      • Function
    • Pressure, temperature and airflow in a turbine engine
    • Reverse thrust
      • Function, types and principles of operation
      • Degree of efficiency
      • Use and monitoring
    • Performance and thrust augmentation
      • Water injection, principles of operation
      • Use and system monitoring
    • Bleed air
      • Effect of use of bleed air on thrust, exhaust temperature, RPM and pressure ratio
    • Auxiliary gearbox
      • Function
  • Engine systems
    • Ignition
      • Function, types, components, operation, safety aspects
    • Starter
      • Function, type, construction and mode of operation
      • Control and monitoring
      • Self sustaining and idle speeds
      • Engine start malfunctions, cause and avoidance
    • Fuel system
      • Schematic diagrams, components
      • Operation and monitoring
      • Malfunctions
    • Lubrication
      • Components
      • Operation and monitoring
      • Malfunctions
    • Fuel
      • Effects of temperature, impurities, additives
    • Thrust
      • Thrust formula, flat rated engine
      • Thrust as a function of airspeed, air density, pressure, temperature and RPM
      • Power plant operation and monitoring
  • Auxiliary Power Unit (APU)
    • General
      • Function, types
      • Location
      • Operation and monitoring
    • Ram air turbine
      • Function
• Emergency Equipment
  • Doors and emergency exits
    • Evacuation slides, general usage or as life rafts or flotation devices
  • Smoke detection
    • Location, indicators, function test
  • Fire detection
    • Location, warning mode, function test
  • Fire fighting equipment
    • Location, operation, contents, gauge, function test
  • Aircraft oxygen equipment
    • Drill, use of equipment in case of rapid decompression
    • Oxygen generators
  • Hydraulic systems
    • Components, fluids
    • Operation, indication, warning systems
    • Auxiliary systems
  • Emergency equipment
    • Portable, hand-held fire extinguisher
    • Smoke mask, smoke protection hood
    • Portable oxygen system
    • Emergency locator beacon, transmitter
    • Life jacket, life raft
    • Pocket lamp, emergency lighting
    • Megaphone
    • Cash axe
    • Fireproof gloves
    • Emergency flotation system

• Basics Laws and Definitions
  • Laws and definitions
  • Units
  • Laws of Newton
  • Ideal gas equation
  • Equation of impulse
  • Equation of continuity
  • Bernoulli’s theorem
  • Static pressure
  • Dynamic pressure
  • Viscosity
  • Density
  • IAS, CAS, EAS, TAS
  • Basics about airflow
  • Aerodynamic forces on surfaces
  • Shape of an aerofoil
  • The wing shape
• The two-dimensional airflow about an aerofoil
  • Streamline pattern
  • Stagnation point
  • Pressure distribution
  • Centre of pressure
  • Lift and downwash
  • Drag and wake (loss of impulse)
  • Influence of angle of attack
  • Flow separation at high angles of attack
  • The lift-graph
• The coefficients
  • The lift coefficient C
  • The drag coefficient CD
• The three-dimensional airflow about an aeroplane
  • Streamline pattern
  • Induced drag
  • Tip vortices and local α
  • Span-wise lift distribution
  • Wake turbulence behind an aircraft
• The total drag
  • The parasite drag
  • The profile drag and speed
  • The induced drag and speed
  • The total drag and speed
• The ground effect
  • Effect on CDi
  • Effect on αcrit
  • Effect on CL
• The stall
  • Flow separation at increasing angles of attack
  • The boundary layer
  • Influence on CL, CD
  • Stall speed
  • The initial stall in span-wise direction
  • Special phenomena of stall
  • Stall warning
  • Recovery from stall
• CLmax augmentation
  • Trailing edge flaps
  • Leading edge devices
  • Vortex generators
• Means to decrease the CL – CD ratio, increasing drag
  • Spoilers
  • Speedbrakes
• The boundary layer
  • Different types
  • Special circumstances

• The Mach number definition
  • Speed of sound
  • Influence of temperature and altitude
  • Compressibility
• Normal shockwaves
• Influence of Mach number, control deflection, angle of attack, aerofoil thickness, angle of sweep, area ruling
• Aerodynamic heating
• Shock stall / Mach buffet
• Buffet margin, aerodynamic ceiling
• Means to avoid the effects of exceeding Mcrit
  • Vortex generators
  • Supercritical profile
• Condition of equilibrium in stable horizontal flight
• Methods of achieving balance
• Longitudinal stability
• Static directional stability
• Static lateral stability
• Dynamic lateral stability
• Pitch Control
  • Elevator
• Yaw Control
  • Pedal/Rudder ratio changer
  • Moments due to engine thrust
  • Engine failure
• Roll Control
  • Ailerons
  • Spoilers
  • Adverse yaw
• Interaction in different planes (yaw/roll)
• Means to reduce control forces
• Mass Balance
• Trimming
• Operating limitations
  • Flutter
  • Aileron reversal
• Manoeuvring envelope
• Gust Envelope
• Propellers
  • Conversion of engine torque to thrust
  • Engine failure or engine stop
  • Design feature of power absorption
  • Moments and couples due to propeller operation
• Flight Mechanics
  • Forces action on an airplane
  • Asymmetric Thrust
  • Emergency Descent
  • Windshear