PPL flight performance and planning 030: practice questions and syllabus
Three blocks make up PPL flight performance and planning: mass and balance (moments, arms, limits), aeroplane performance (take-off, climb, approach speed) and VFR flight planning (fuel, flight plan, briefing). This subject is about calculation: of its 359 questions, many ask you to work out a moment or a fuel mass, from the CG position to endurance and approach speed.
- explained questions in the bank
- 359
- pass mark per paper (EASA)
- 75 %
What the syllabus covers
The topics of the EASA syllabus for this subject, with what each one lists.
1Mass and balance
mass and CG limits, terminology, maximum masses, standard masses, CG calculation, mass and balance documentation, arithmetic and graphic methods, load sheet.
2Aeroplane performance
performance classes, stages of flight, effect of mass, wind, altitude, slope and runway condition, take-off and landing using the flight manual, climb, cruise, range and endurance.
3VFR flight planning
navigation plan, routes, heights and altitudes from VFR charts, fuel planning, AIP and NOTAM briefing, meteorological briefing.
4Flight plan and flight monitoring
ICAO flight plan (completing and filing it), track and time monitoring, in-flight fuel management, in-flight replanning.
Source: EASA, Easy Access Rules for Aircrew (AMC to Part-FCL)
The illustrated course
To understand before you answer: 12 chapters and 81 key points, 81 of them with a diagram or an illustration. The first chapter, « Masses, Fuel and Documents », is free to read.
- Masses, Fuel and Documents
- Arms, moments and centre of gravity calculation
- CG limits, stability and manoeuvrability
- Air density, altitude and temperature
- Take-off
- The climb
- Lift-to-drag ratio, gliding, endurance and range
- Fuel and reserves
- Pitch attitude, turns and descent
- Approach and landing
- Gusts, wind gradient and illusions
- Flight preparation and pre-flight inspection
PPL flight performance and planning course: contents and chapter 1
3 questions to practise
Taken from the site's English bank and checked one by one. Read the question, choose your answer, then open the explanation. Like every explanation on the site, they may contain errors.
Question 1 · 1 Mass and balance
The distance from the center of gravity to the reference datum is obtained by:
- Amultiplying the sum of the moments by the total weight.
- Bmultiplying the sum of the weights by the sum of the moments.
- Cdividing the total weight by the sum of the moments.
- Ddividing the sum of the moments by the total weight.
Show the answer+
Answer: D. dividing the sum of the moments by the total weight.
Since a moment is a weight multiplied by a distance, to find the distance, you simply divide by the weight.
Question 2 · 2 Aeroplane performance
When the temperature increases:
- Athe takeoff distance decreases and climb performance improves.
- Bthe takeoff distance increases and climb performance degrades.
- Cthe takeoff distance decreases and climb performance degrades.
- Dthe takeoff distance increases and climb performance improves.
Show the answer+
Answer: B. the takeoff distance increases and climb performance degrades.
An increase in temperature implies a decrease in air density, which degrades performance.
Question 3 · 2 Aeroplane performance
Your aircraft stalls at 80 km/h in the landing configuration. There is no wind and no turbulence. On final approach you select a speed of:
- A90 km/h.
- B105 km/h.
- C160 km/h.
- D80 km/h.
Show the answer+
Answer: B. 105 km/h.
The final approach speed must maintain a 30% margin above the stall speed. Vfinal = Vs0 x 1.3 = 80 x 1.3 = 104 km/h.
How to approach this subject
Practise the calculations by hand: moment = mass × arm, CG position = sum of moments ÷ total mass, fuel mass = volume × density (0.72 for Avgas 100LL in our questions), endurance = fuel ÷ consumption, range = endurance × true airspeed in still air (the radius of action is half of it). For performance, reason in cause and effect: higher temperature or altitude, lower density, longer take-off distance.
How ForAllPilots trains you
Series of 20 or 30 questions
New questions, mistakes to review or a mix of both, with the answer and its explanation straight away.
Flashcards
Question on the front, explained answer on the back, filtered by subject, to learn without a timer.
Timed mock exam
60 questions in 90 minutes, drawn from the whole PPL bank: a training format, not a copy of an official paper.
AI instructor, optional
From €4.99 a month on top of the Private pilot or PRO offer: it quizzes you in writing and explains your mistakes. A beta tool, it does not replace an approved instructor.
PPL access comes with the Private pilot offer (BIA, PPL, microlight and helicopter): €10 a month, cancel anytime, or €69 once with the Exam Pass (18 months of access, nothing renews). Prices include all taxes.