PPL Flight Training Syllabus Exercises

The PPL flight training syllabus is divided up into 18 exercises that must be completed and mastered to the industry standard before you are allowed to test for your PPL (Private Pilots License). 

Some of the exercises will be combined together in a single lesson, others will be spread out over several lessons, while the rest will be built on over consecutive lessons. Learning about flying, like cleaning a house, is a process. It never really ends! 

There are a number of flight briefings you will receive during your "ab initio" PPL (private pilot license) flight training. Below is a list of the flight briefings and air exercises you will be doing.

Although you will receive a flight briefing before every flight, it can speed up your training if you read up on the exercise beforehand.

Recommended reading:  

Trevor Thom - Air Pilot’s Manual Volume 1 – Flying Training (Blue book)

PPL Syllabus – EASA Ref: AMC 1 FCL.210.A (c) 2

PPL Exercise No.

PPL Lesson

General Handling
1aAircraft familiarisation
1eGround emergency drills
2Preparation for and action after flight
3Air Experience
4Effects of controls
5Taxiing
5ETaxiing emergencies
6Straight and level
7Climbing
8Descending
9Turning
10ASlow flight
10BStalling
11Spin avoidance
Circuits
12Take-off & circuit
13Approach and landing
12 & 13ECircuit emergencies
14First Solo Flight
Advanced Handling
15Advanced turning
16Forced landing without power
17Precautionary Landing
Navigation
18aNavigation Low Level
18bNavigation High Level
18cNavigation Instruments



How to fill in your Pilot Log Book

The following illustrates an example of how to fill in your pilot log book.

The examples shown are for an EASA (European Union Aviation Safety Agency) compliant logbook, in accordance with FCL.050, FCL.1080 approved format.

Note:  the EASA FCL.050 logbook template is the same as the CAP804 template for the UK CAA. 

PPL students can add in the 'Remarks and Endorsements' column, for example, 'Ex. 4, 5, 5E' or 'Ex. 12, 13'