Getting Started — PPL(A)

How the UK CAA PPL(A) training path works, what the 9 written exams cover, and how to approach study alongside flying training.

The PPL(A) Pathway

The UK CAA PPL(A) is a Part-FCL licence issued under UK retained law. You need a minimum of 45 hours total flight time, including at least 25 hours dual and 10 hours supervised solo. The skills test is conducted by a CAA-authorised examiner, and you must have passed all 9 written exams before the skills test can be taken.

Training takes place at a Registered Training Organisation (RTO) or with a registered instructor. Your instructor will sign you off for solo flight, cross-country, and eventually the qualifying cross-country — a solo flight of at least 150 nm with two full-stop landings at different aerodromes.

The 9 Written Exam Subjects

  • Air Law — ANO, rules of the air, airspace, SERA, licencing.
  • Meteorology — weather theory, fronts, pressure, cloud, icing, METARs, TAFs.
  • Navigation — DR, chart work, VOR/NDB, GNSS, time/speed/distance calculations.
  • Aircraft General Knowledge (AGK) — airframe, piston engines, instruments, systems.
  • Flight Performance and Planning (FP&P) — performance tables, mass and balance, fuel.
  • Human Performance and Limitations (HPL) — hypoxia, fatigue, TEM, threat recognition.
  • Operational Procedures — VFR operations, ICAO procedures, emergency equipment.
  • Principles of Flight — aerodynamics, stability, stall, spin, control surfaces.
  • Communications — CAP 413, ICAO phraseology, distress and urgency, radio failure.

Instructor Tip

Sit Air Law and Communications early — they underpin practical flying from lesson one. Navigation and Met work well together because weather decisions are inseparable from route planning.

Recommended Study Order

Step 1

Air Law + Operational Procedures — know the rules before you fly.

Step 2

Communications — RT confidence from the start.

Step 3

Meteorology + Navigation together — weather and routing reinforce each other.

Step 4

AGK + Principles of Flight — mechanical knowledge alongside aircraft handling.

Step 5

FP&P + HPL — planning and self-awareness round out the practical subjects.

How the Exams Work

Each paper is multi-choice and invigilated at your ATO/RTO. Minimum pass mark is typically 75%. Papers must be passed within a rolling 18-month period and remain valid for 24 months from the date of the first pass. Check CAA SRG guidance for current validity rules.

  • Bring valid photo ID to every sitting.
  • You may re-sit any failed paper; there is no limit on attempts but your ATO may require additional training.
  • Exam results are issued to your ATO — keep a copy of each pass slip.
  • All passes must be valid when you apply for the licence after the skills test.

Study Method That Works

The best approach combines knowledge revision with immediate practical application. After each topic, ask yourself: what decision would I make on my next flight using this? That question forces you to connect facts to real flying rather than memorising for the paper alone.

  • Study in blocks of 25–30 minutes, then write a five-line practical summary.
  • Run a question bank on that exact block before moving on.
  • Identify your weak areas early — they are always the same topics for most students.
  • Practise with timed mock exams at least two weeks before sitting.

Common Mistake

Leaving all question bank practice to the final week. Spaced retrieval over weeks produces far better recall under exam pressure and — more importantly — in the cockpit.

Exam Focus

Most Relevant To

  • All 9 subjects
  • Exam booking and validity

Know This Cold

  • Minimum flight time requirements: 45 hours total, 25 dual, 10 solo.
  • Qualifying cross-country: 150 nm minimum, two full-stop landings at different aerodromes.
  • Exam validity: passes valid 24 months from first pass; all must be valid at licence issue.
  • Skills test cannot be taken until all 9 papers are passed.