What is ATPL Principles of Flight? An Introduction
This is the next blog in our series of ATPL theory subject introductions: the academic phase of becoming a commercial pilot, otherwise known as ‘ATPL ground school’.
(To find out more about becoming a pilot, check out this blog post)
So, what is ATPL Principles of Flight all about?
Have you ever wondered how 500,000kg of metal, fuel, people and baggage get off the ground and fly halfway across the planet?
While it may sound like magic, there’s actually a whole lot of science to explain how an aircraft flies.
That’s what ATPL PoF is all about: it’s the bedrock of your theoretical knowledge.
What do ATPL students learn in Principles of Flight?
In Principles of Flight, trainee airline pilots learn the fundamental science behind an aircraft’s ability to fly.
PoF covers the four forces acting on an aircraft in flight: lift, weight, thrust, and drag.
You’ll also gain a deep understanding of:
- Aerodynamics: How the particular design of an aircraft, its wings, and control surfaces affect its flight characteristics.
- Stability and control: The concepts of stability and control and why some controls have a secondary effect on aircraft handling.
- Flight regimes: High-speed flight, asymmetric flight due to engine failure, climbing, descending, turning, and stalling.
- Propellers and high-lift devices: How propellers work and how high-lift devices like flaps and slats assist with take-off and landing.
Why is Principles of Flight important?
This subject is vital because it’s the foundation of your theoretical knowledge.
During ATPL PoF, you’ll get to understand the physics of flight and how it applies to real-world scenarios.
This knowledge is essential for making informed decisions and handling the aircraft safely and efficiently in a wide variety of conditions.
EASA/CAA ATPL PoF Exam
- Number of Questions: 46
- Exam Duration: 1 hour 30 mins
- Pass Mark: 75%
The Padpilot ATPL Principles of Flight book
The Padpilot ATPL Principles of Flight book contains everything needed for exam success, including revision tools and quiz questions.
Subscribe now as an individual edition on any device, or get the PoF book as part of an ATPL theory complete set.
(Please check with your ATO before subscribing, as some Padpilot partner schools already include our materials in your course package).
Back to basics: what is ATPL Theory?
Studying ATPL theory is the academic part of gaining your commercial pilot licence. (You’ll do more ground school later, as part of airline type training).
Before progressing on to commercial flying training, every pilot needs to pass the 13 ATPL theory exams.
Gaining a strong understanding of ATPL theoretical knowledge is the foundation on which your commercial flying is built. It’s worth doing properly!
If you choose an integrated commercial pilot training course you’re usually in ground school for the first 6-9 months as you build your theoretical knowledge and prepare for the ATPL theory exams.
Or, as modular student, you’ll study ATPL theory once you have a Private Pilot Licence. You can study full time or part time. Some pilot training organisations offer a stand-alone full time ground school course for modular student pilots and some offer distance learning, which is largely self study.
Different training pathways suit different budgets and timeframes.
If you’re interested in becoming an airline pilot, visit several training organisations in person and ask lots of questions. Search for a Padpilot partner school here.
EASA/CAA ATPL theory exam subjects
Whether you study ATPL theory full time, part time, distance learning or in person, the exams you’ll take are the same.
And once you’ve successfully completed all of them, you’ll move onto your commercial flying training.
Find out more about all the ATPL theory subjects here:
