ATPL THEORY
Airline Transport Pilot Licence Theory

Principles of Flight

Principles of Flight encompasses Aerodynamics of both low-speed and high-speed (subsonic, transonic and supersonic regions) as well as Flight Mechanics including basic manoeuvres, asymetric flight, stall, spin, stability and equilibrium. Aeroelasticity explains maximum speed limitations of aeroplanes. It is considered to be one of the most fundamental subject explaning the most important rules when flying.

Performance

Performance is basically applied Principles of Flight. Here, you will be required to calculate take-off, landing distances, climb gradients as well as range and endurance. It contains not only calculations, but theory as well, especially optimum speeds for different flight regimes.

Mass and Balance

Mass and Balance is another applied branch of Principles of Flight, discussing load distribution, centre of gravity and weight limitations. You are required to calculate "load sheets" and apply your knowledge of Stability and Equilibrium (especially longitudinal stability and equilibrium) from Principles of Flight.

Meteorology

Meteorology is an extensive subject focusing on the theory behind general weather phenomena, such as wind, cloud formation, fog on the one hand. On the other you are required to learn and understand hazardous weather (e.g. thunderstorm cells, clear air turbulence, wind shear) and interpretation of meteorological information, such as the METAR, TAF, SIGMET, Significant Weather Charts and Wind Charts.

Air Law

Principles of Flight deals with rules of flying in terms of Physics, Air Law details the legislative rules imposed on the aviation industry including general rules, prodecure design, standardised signals.

Operational Procedures

Whereas Aviation Law ecompasses general, worldwide regulations, Operational Procedures copes with the implementation of the general rules specific to EASA. Here you will be acquainted with regulations, acceptable means of compliance of commercial air transport including fuel policy, minima, ETOPS and much more.

Flight Planning

As its name suggests, Flight Planning and Monitoring subject entails dispatch planning and in-flight replanning and monitoring. This is an interdisciplinary subject requiring a connection between your knowledge of General Navigation, Meteorology, Performance, and Operational Procedures.

General Navigation

General Navigation is about the very basics of spherical geomtery, i.e. to be able to measure angles and distances on Earth, different chart projections characteristics (such as Lambert's Conformal Conic or Stereographic) for flight planning purposes on the one hand, and practical navigation concepts (e.g. rules of thumb, navigating in Visual Flight Rules, use of the Flight Computer) on the other.

Radio Navigation

Whereas General Navigation is about the fundamental concepts of navigation, Radio Navigation details the unique characteristics of radio waves, working principles and features of antennas, as well as you will be required to cope with the characteristics of ground radio aids and on-board radionavigational instruments (such as VOR, ADF, ILS). Moreover, GNSS and its limitaitions are incorporated, too.

Communication

Ground-Air communication plays a vital and everyday role in safe aviation, thus air traffic controller - pilot interaction is mainly through a standardised radio communication, but the appearance of the datalink communication is also covered in this subject.

Aircraft General Knowledge

AGK mainly requires you to be acquainted with CS-25 (transport category) and CS-23 aeroplane aiframe structural details and limitations (such as wing spar, or a monocoque structure), powerplant characteristics of jet and piston engines and working principles of DC and AC systems, pneumatic and hydraulic systems.

Human Performance and Limitations

Human Performance, similarly to Aircraft Performance, entails the principles and constraings of the human body (e.g. vision, circulatory system, hypoxia) and human pshychology (illusions, human interactions, decision making models).

Instrumentation

If you wonder how engine control instruments (such as oil pressure indicator, fuel level indicator), pneumatic instruments (e.g. air speed indicator, Mach meter, altimeter), navigation monitoring instruments (gyroscopic instruments, such as the artificial horizon or HSI; Inertial Navigation System), autoflight system (autopilot, flight director, authothrottle/autothrust, flight management systems and indicators) work, this is the subject where the haze will (hopefully) disappear.

Boost your aviation English

Mathematics/Physics