UK CAA PPL(A) Flight Performance and Planning — Information & Free Practice

About UK CAA PPL(A) Flight Performance and Planning

UK CAA PPL(A) Flight Performance and Planning · GB

Key exam facts

Provider

UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) sets the national theory examination; registered training organisations arrange delivery with a CAA-authorised Ground Examiner.

Format

Invigilated online theoretical knowledge examination with multiple-choice questions through the CAA GA e-Exams system; remote video-supervised examinations are not permitted.

Time limit

The subject-specific answering time limit is confirmed by the Ground Examiner before the examination, with an advance on-screen warning. The reviewed public CAA syllabus, SD11 and candidate guides do not state a numeric duration for subject 030; confirm it with the training organisation. Arrival and briefing time are separate.

Passing score

At least 75% of the marks allocated to this paper; no penalty marking applies (FCL.025(b)(1)).

Exam fee

GBP 14.28 per online PPL examination paper is the CAA charge payable by the approved training school under the scheme effective 1 April 2026. This is not a quoted all-inclusive candidate price; confirm the candidate charge with the training organisation.

Topics covered

• MASS AND BALANCE: AEROPLANES OR HELICOPTERS

  • Purpose of mass and balance considerations
  • Mass limitations
  • Importance in regard to structural limitations
  • Importance in regard to performance limitations
  • CG limitations
  • Importance in regard to stability and controllability
  • Importance in regard to performance
  • Loading
  • Terminology
  • Mass terms
  • Load terms (including fuel terms)
  • Mass limits
  • Structural limitations
  • Performance limitations
  • Baggage compartment limitations
  • Mass calculations
  • Maximum masses for take-off and landing
  • Use of standard masses for passengers, baggage and crew
  • Fundamentals of CG calculations
  • Definition of centre of gravity
  • Conditions of equilibrium (balance of forces and balance of moments)
  • Basic calculations of CG
  • Mass and balance details of aircraft
  • Contents of mass and balance documentation
  • Datum and moment arm
  • CG position as distance from datum
  • Extraction of basic mass and balance data from aircraft documentation
  • Basic Empty Mass (BEM)
  • CG position or moment at BEM
  • Deviations from standard configuration
  • Determination of CG position
  • Methods
  • Arithmetic method
  • Graphic method
  • Load and trim sheet
  • General considerations
  • Load sheet and CG envelope for light aeroplanes and for helicopters

• PERFORMANCE: AEROPLANES

  • Introduction
  • Performance classes
  • Stages of flight
  • Effect of aeroplane mass, wind, altitude, runway slope and runway conditions
  • Gradients
  • SE aeroplanes
  • Definitions of terms and speeds
  • Take-off and landing performance
  • Use of aeroplane flight manual data
  • Climb and cruise performance
  • Use of aeroplane flight data
  • Effect of density altitude and aeroplane mass
  • Endurance and the effects of the different recommended power or thrust settings
  • Still air range with various power or thrust settings

• FLIGHT PLANNING AND FLIGHT MONITORING

  • Flight planning for VFR flights
  • VFR navigation plan
  • Routes, airfields, heights and altitudes from VFR charts
  • Courses and distances from VFR charts
  • Aerodrome charts and aerodrome directory
  • Communications and radio navigation planning data
  • Completion of navigation plan
  • Use of moving map device to plan and monitor flight
  • Fuel planning
  • General knowledge
  • Pre-flight calculation of fuel required
  • Calculation of extra fuel
  • Completion of the fuel section of the navigation plan (fuel log) and calculation of total fuel
  • Pre-flight preparation
  • AIP and NOTAM briefing
  • Ground facilities and services
  • Departure, destination and alternate aerodromes
  • Airway routings and airspace structure
  • Meteorological briefing
  • Extraction and analysis of relevant data from meteorological documents
  • ICAO flight plan (ATS flight plan)
  • Individual flight plan
  • Format of flight plan
  • Completion of the flight plan
  • Submission of the flight plan
  • Flight monitoring and in-flight replanning
  • Flight monitoring
  • Monitoring of track and time
  • In-flight fuel management
  • In-flight re-planning in case of deviation from planned data
  • Use of moving map device to plan and monitor flight

How to prepare

Work through the topics, read the explanation after each answer, and revisit the areas where you miss questions. Use the official outline and reference materials below to guide your study.

These independent practice questions are not actual exam items and do not guarantee a passing result.

Frequently asked questions

Official sources and references

• CAA PPL theoretical knowledge syllabus

  AMC1 FCL.210; FCL.215, subject 7, sections 7.1–7.3

• CAA Aircrew consolidated regulations, AMC and GM

  AMC1 FCL.215; FCL.235(a)(1), page 210

• CAA Aircrew consolidated regulations, AMC and GM

  FCL.025(b)(1), page 79

• CAA Standards Document 11

  9.1.17(b)–(c), page 16

• CAA Personnel Licensing Scheme of Charges 2026

  6.3, page 20

• CAA Standards Document 11

  9.1.4, page 16

Confirm current exam arrangements with the exam provider.