OpenExamsFREE PRACTICE — ANY EXAM

UK CAA PPL(H) Aircraft General Knowledge — Information & Free Practice

100 free questions · Answer explanations · No signup required

Start free practice →

Exam Review

About UK CAA PPL(H) Aircraft General Knowledge

UK CAA PPL(H) Aircraft General Knowledge · GB

Key exam facts

Provider
UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) sets and administers the GA theoretical knowledge e-Exam; registered training organisations arrange on-demand sittings and CAA-authorised Ground Examiners supervise them.
Format
Written theoretical-knowledge examination on the CAA internet-based GA e-Exams system, supervised in person at the training organisation; remote video-supervised sittings are not permitted. Public pilot-specific procedures reviewed do not separately enumerate response-format categories.
Time limit
The examination-specific time limit is confirmed by the Ground Examiner before the examination (Standards Document 11, 9.1.17). A numerical duration for subject 020 PPL(H) is not stated in the public pilot-specific procedures and subject learning objectives reviewed. Confirm the allotted answering time with the training organisation; reporting and briefing are separate from it.
Passing score
75% pass mark, as specified for GA pilot e-Exams in Standards Document 11, 9.1.17(c).
Exam fee
GBP £14.28 per online PPL examination paper is payable to the CAA by the approved training school under ORS5 No.446, section 6.3, effective 1 April 2026 (version 1.2). This is the CAA charge to the school; the reviewed scheme does not set an all-in retail candidate fee. Confirm the total charged by the training organisation.

Topics covered

  • AIRFRAME AND SYSTEMS, ELECTRICS, POWERPLANT AND EMERGENCY EQUIPMENT

    • System design, loads, stresses, maintenance
    • Loads and combination loadings applied to an aircraft’s structure
    • Airframe
    • Fuselage, doors, floor, wind-screen and windows
    • Design and constructions
    • Structural components and materials
    • Stresses
    • Structural limitations
    • Flight and control surfaces
    • Design and constructions
    • Structural components and materials
    • Stresses and aero elastic vibrations
    • Structural limitations
    • Hydraulics Hydromechanics: basic principles
    • Hydraulic systems
    • Hydraulic fluids: types and characteristics, limitations
    • System components: design, operation, degraded modes of operation, indications and warnings
    • Landing gear, wheels, tyres and brakes
    • Landing gear
    • Types and materials
    • Brakes
    • Types and materials
    • System components: design, operation, indications and warnings
    • Wheels and tyres
    • Types and operational limitations
    • Helicopter equipment
    • Flight controls
    • Mechanical or powered
    • Control systems and mechanical
    • System components: design, operation, indications and warnings, degraded modes of operation and jamming
    • Anti-icing systems
    • Types and operation (pitot and windshield)
    • Fuel system
    • Piston engine
    • System components: design, operation, degraded modes of operation, indications and warnings
    • Turbine engine
    • System components: design, operation, degraded modes of operation, indications and warnings
    • Electrics
    • Electrics: general and definitions
    • Direct current: voltage, current, resistance, conductivity, Ohm’s law, power and work
    • Alternating current: voltage, current, amplitude, phase, frequency and resistance
    • Circuits: series and parallel
    • Magnetic field: effects in an electrical circuit
    • Batteries
    • Types, characteristics and limitations
    • Battery chargers, characteristics and limitations
    • Static electricity: general
    • Basic principles
    • Static dischargers
    • Protection against interference
    • Lightning effects
    • Generation: production, distribution and use
    • DC generation: types, design, operation, degraded modes of operation, indications and warnings
    • AC generation: types, design, operation, degraded modes of operation, indications and warnings
    • Electric components
    • Basic elements: basic principles of switches, circuit- breakers and relays
    • Distribution
    • General: (a) bus bar, common earth and priority; (b) AC and DC comparison.
    • Piston engines
    • General
    • Types of internal combustion engine: basic principles and definitions
    • Engine: design, operation, components and materials
    • Fuel
    • Types, grades, characteristics and limitations
    • Alternate fuel: characteristics and limitations
    • Carburettor or injection system
    • Carburettor: design, operation, degraded modes of operation, indications and warnings
    • Injection: design, operation, degraded modes of operation, indications and warnings
    • Icing
    • Air cooling systems
    • Design, operation, degraded modes of operation, indications and warnings
    • Lubrication systems
    • Lubricants: types, characteristics and limitations
    • Design, operation, degraded modes of operation, indications and warnings
    • Ignition circuits
    • Design, operation, degraded modes of operation
    • Mixture
    • Definition, characteristic mixtures, control instruments, associated control levers and indications
    • Performance and engine handling
    • Performance: influence of engine parameters, influence of atmospheric conditions, limitations and power augmentation systems
    • Engine handling: power and mixture settings during various flight phases and operational limitations
    • Turbine engines
    • Definitions
    • Coupled turbine engine: design, operation, components and materials
    • Free turbine engine: design, operation, components and materials
    • Fuel
    • Types, characteristics and limitations
    • Main engine components
    • Compressor: (a) types, design, operation, components and materials; (b) stresses and limitations; (c) stall, surge and means of prevention.
    • Combustion chamber: (a) types, design, operation, components and materials; (b) stresses and limitations; (c) emission problems.
    • Turbine: (a) types, design, operation, components and materials; (b) stresses, creep and limitations.
    • Exhaust: (a) design, operation and materials; (b) noise reduction.
    • Fuel control units: types, operation and sensors
    • Helicopter air intake: different types, design, operation, materials and optional equipments
    • Additional components and systems
    • Helicopter additional components and systems: lubrication system, ignition circuit, starter, accessory gearbox, free wheel units: design, operation and components
    • Performance aspects
    • Torque, performance aspects, engine handling and limitations: (a) engine ratings; (b) engine performance and limitations; (c) engine handling.
    • Protection and detection systems
    • Fire detection systems
    • Operation and indications
    • Rotor design
    • Rotor heads
    • Main rotor
    • Types
    • Structural components and materials, stresses and structural limitations
    • Design and construction
    • Adjustment
    • Tail rotor
    • Types
    • Structural components and materials, stresses and structural limitations
    • Design and construction
    • Adjustment
    • Transmission
    • Main gear box
    • Different types, design, operation and limitations
    • Rotor brake
    • Different types, design, operation and limitations
    • Auxiliary systems
    • Drive shaft and associated installation
    • Intermediate and tail gear box
    • Different types, design, operation and limitations
    • Blades
    • Main rotor blade
    • Design and construction
    • Structural components and materials
    • Stresses
    • Structural limitations
    • Adjustment
    • Tip shape
    • Tail rotor blade
    • Design and construction
    • Structural components and materials
    • Stresses
    • Structural limitations
    • Adjustment

  • INSTRUMENTATION

    • Instrument and indication systems
    • Pressure gauge
    • Different types, design, operation, characteristics and accuracy
    • Temperature sensing
    • Different types, design, operation, characteristics and accuracy
    • Fuel gauge
    • Different types, design, operation, characteristics and accuracy
    • Flow meter
    • Different types, design, operation, characteristics and accuracy
    • Position transmitter
    • Different types, design, operation, characteristics and accuracy
    • Torque meter
    • Design, operation, characteristics and accuracy
    • Tachometer
    • Design, operation, characteristics and accuracy
    • Measurement of aerodynamic parameters
    • Pressure measurement
    • Static pressure, dynamic pressure, density and definitions
    • Design, operation, errors and accuracy
    • Temperature measurement: helicopter
    • Design, operation, errors and accuracy
    • Displays
    • Altimeter
    • Standard atmosphere
    • The different barometric references (QNH, QFE and 1013.25)
    • Height, indicated altitude, true altitude, pressure altitude and density altitude
    • Design, operation, errors and accuracy
    • Displays
    • Vertical speed indicator
    • Design, operation, errors and accuracy
    • Displays
    • Air speed indicator
    • The different speeds IAS, CAS, TAS: definition, usage and relationships
    • Design, operation, errors and accuracy
    • Displays
    • Magnetism: direct reading compass — Earth magnetic field
    • Direct reading compass
    • Design, operation, data processing, accuracy and deviation
    • Turning and acceleration errors
    • Gyroscopic instruments
    • Gyroscope: basic principles
    • Definitions and design
    • Fundamental properties
    • Drifts
    • Turn and bank indicator
    • Design, operation and errors
    • Attitude indicator
    • Design, operation, errors and accuracy
    • Directional gyroscope
    • Design, operation, errors and accuracy
    • Communication systems
    • Transmission modes: VHF, HF and SATCOM
    • Principles, bandwidth, operational limitations and use
    • Voice communication
    • Definitions, general and applications
    • Alerting systems and proximity systems
    • Flight warning systems
    • Design, operation, indications and alarms
    • Radio-altimeter
    • Design, operation, errors, accuracy and indications
    • Rotor or engine over speed alert system
    • Design, operation, displays and alarms
    • Integrated instruments: electronic displays
    • Display units
    • Design, different technologies and limitations

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

What is the exam format?

Written theoretical-knowledge examination on the CAA internet-based GA e-Exams system, supervised in person at the training organisation; remote video-supervised sittings are not permitted. Public pilot-specific procedures reviewed do not separately enumerate response-format categories.

How long is the exam?

The examination-specific time limit is confirmed by the Ground Examiner before the examination (Standards Document 11, 9.1.17). A numerical duration for subject 020 PPL(H) is not stated in the public pilot-specific procedures and subject learning objectives reviewed. Confirm the allotted answering time with the training organisation; reporting and briefing are separate from it.

What is the passing score?

75% pass mark, as specified for GA pilot e-Exams in Standards Document 11, 9.1.17(c).

How much does the exam cost?

GBP £14.28 per online PPL examination paper is payable to the CAA by the approved training school under ORS5 No.446, section 6.3, effective 1 April 2026 (version 1.2). This is the CAA charge to the school; the reviewed scheme does not set an all-in retail candidate fee. Confirm the total charged by the training organisation.

Official sources and references

Confirm current exam arrangements with the exam provider.