Private Pilot Syllabus
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Ground Lesson 1 - Introduction
o Private Pilot Requirements
o Private Pilot Privileges and Limitations
o Medical Certificates
o Part 61 vs. Part 141
o Aircraft Category and Class
o Airmen Category and Class
o Single-Pilot Resource Management
Situational Awareness
Risk Management
Task Management
Aeronautical Decision Making
Controlled Flight into Terrain
Hazardous Attitudes
IMSAFE checklist
o Motion Sickness
o Fatigue
o Atmospheric pressure effect on the body
o Alcohol and Drugs
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Ground Lesson 2 – The Airplane
o The Body
The Fuselage
The Empennage
The Wing
Landing gear
Trim
o Powerplant
Reciprocating engine
Supercharging and Turbocharging
Ignition system
Induction system – Carburetor vs. Fuel injection
Abnormal combustion
o Fuel system
Fuel types
Refueling
o Electrical system
o Oil system
o Cooling system
o Exhaust system
o Pilot’s Operating Handbook (POH)
Reference your airplanes specific systems in the POH (Fuel, Electrical, Oil…etc)
o Pilot’s Information Manual (PIM)
o Propellers
Fixed pitch vs. Constant-speed.
o Flight Instruments
Pitot-Static Instruments
Gyroscopic Instruments
Magnetic Compass
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Ground Lesson 3 - Fundamentals
o Forces of flight
Lift
Weight
Thrust
Drag
Airfoils
Ground Effect
o Stability
Lateral Stability
Longitudinal Stability
Directional Stability
Stall
Spin
o Aerodynamics
Climbs, Turns, Descents
Adverse yaw
Centrifugal force
Horizontal / Vertical components of lift
Left Turning Tendencies
Center of Gravity
Center of Pressure
Load Factor
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Ground Lesson 4 Airport / Airspace
o Scanning for Traffic
o Airport Operations
Uncontrolled vs. Controlled
Runway Orientation
Runway and Taxiway Markings
Traffic Pattern
Runway Incursion
Airport Lighting
Visual Glideslope Indicators
Approach Lights
Pilot Controlled Lighting
Airport Security
o Right-of-Way Rules
o Wind Corrections for Taxi
o Minimum Safe Altitudes
o Positive Exchange of Flight Controls
o Terminal, Sectional, World Charts
Latitude and Longitude projections
Chart Symbology
o Airspace
Uncontrolled vs. Controlled
Class A
Class B
Class C
Class D
Class E
Class G
Special Use Airspace
Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ)
Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFR)
o Intercept Procedures
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Ground Lesson 5 – Air Traffic Control
o Radar
o Transponder
o The role of a Flight Service Station
Weather Briefings
Flight Plans
o Automatic Terminal Information Service (ATIS)
o Types of Controllers
Tower
TRACON
Center
o Flight Following
o Traffic Advisories
o ADS-B
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Ground Lesson 6 – Communication
o Talking on the Radio
5 W’s of Communication
Phonetic Alphabet
Numbers on the Radio
o VHF / UHF Radios
o Reading Back Clearances
o Common Traffic Advisory Frequency (CTAF)
o Lost Communication
o Emergency Squawk Codes
o Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT)
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Ground Lesson 7 – Weather
o Atmosphere
Composition
Pressure
Circulation
Stability
o Wind Patterns
Local
Global
o Coriolis Force
o Temperature Inversion
o Relative Humidity
o Moisture
Effect on Performance
o Dewpoint
o Clouds and Fog
o Fronts
o Thunderstorms
o Windshear
o Icing
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Ground Lesson 8 – Weather Charts
o METAR
o Terminal Aerodrome Forecast (TAF)
o Pilot Weather Report (PIREP)
o Winds and Temperature Aloft
o AIRMET/SIGMET/CONVECTIVE SIGMET
o Surface Analysis Chart
o Weather Depiction Chart
o Radar Summary Chart
o Significant Weather Prognostic Chart
o Satellite Weather Photos
o Airborne Weather Radar
NEXRAD
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Ground Lesson 9 – Supplemental
o Charts
Terminal, Sectional and World Aeronautical Charts
Chart Symbology
Expiration
o Chart Supplemental
o Notices to Airmen (NOTAM)
D
Local
FDC
Military
Pointer
o Federal Aviation Regulations (FARs) / Aeronautical Information Manual (AIM)
o National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB)
o Advisory Circulars (ACs)
o Airworthiness Directives (ADs)
o Electronic Flight Bag (EFB)
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Ground Lesson 10 – Physiology
o Hypoxia
o Hyperventilation
o Vision
Rods / Cones
Day vs. Night
Visual Illusions
o Spatial Disorientation
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Ground Lesson 11 – Navigation
o Pilotage
o Dead Reckoning
o Lost Procedures
5C’s
o VOR Navigation
Types of VORs
Range Information
Intercepting and Tracking
Cone of Confusion
Line of Sight Limitations
VOR Receiver Checks
Logging Errors (D.E.P.S)
o GPS Navigation
Basic Functionality
RAIM vs. WAAS
Waypoints
Flyby vs. Flyover
Standard / Precise Positioning Service
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Ground Lesson 12 – Performance
o Factors that affect Performance
o Performance Calculations
Takeoff Roll and Distance over a 50ft obstacle
Climb
Cruise
Descent
Landing Roll and Distance over a 50ft obstacle
o Weight and Balance
Importance
Terms
Weight-Shift Formula
Aircraft Performance
Forward CG vs. Aft CG
o Flight Computer
Manual vs. Electronic
Calculations
Time
Fuel
Distance
Groundspeed
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Ground Lesson 13 – Flight Planning
o Weather Briefing
o Route Planning
o Altitude Selection
o Emergency / Diversion Considerations
o Weight and Balance
o Performance Calculations
o Complete Navlog
o File Flight Plan
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Ground Lesson 14 – End of Course
o Summary of Ground lessons 1-13
o Review ACS Standards