PPL Online Ground School

Login here to start studying from home the PPL 'online' ground course using our modern distance learning web-based training (WBT) platform.

Our PPL course can be studied 100% online, full or part-time, from home anywhere in the world.

Course Requirements

• You must complete the personal details compliance section before proceeding with the course. This is part of our regulatory approval.
• You must complete 70 hours of self-study on the approved programme before attending 30 hours Ground School element, delivered over ZOOM.

PPL(A) Course Syllabus

There are nine (9) subjects in the PPL(A) theoretical training syllabus, as follows: -

• Air Law
• Operational Procedures
• Human Performance & Limitations
• Meteorology
• Navigation
• Communications
• Aircraft General Knowledge
• Flight Planning & Performance
• Principles of Flight

EASA-UK PPL Ground School - distance learning (online) 

Fly EPT Portugal has organised PPL(A) theoretical ground school training for the nine (9) exams through Cranfield Aviation Training School, an EASA and UK CAA approved ATO that offers students the opportunity to complete the entire course 100% online using self-study CBT. Distance learning allows you to study from home, in your own time, at your own pace, around your own schedule. 

The PPL online ground course comprises 100 hours mandatory training all recorded on your personal course timer. You are required to undertake 70 hours of self-study home modules, followed by 30 hours of ground school 'brush up' study with your classroom attendance now delivered via CATS TV over live video-linked ZOOM, which means you can remain at home for the entire course. 

The 4-day ground school is scheduled just prior to test date and essentially involves going through the European Central Question Bank (ECQB) and recent mock exam papers, wading through questions likely to come up.

You can then visit any Austro Control GmbH test center and take all nine (9) PPL exams. 

By the time you arrive at Fly EPT Portugal, you will be ready to complete the practical flight training with no restrictions.

PPL course options range from an online web-based training system to the printed key facts book series. The materials are designed to prepare you for the PPL brush-up Ground School. 

Subscribing to Fly EPT's online PPL ground course includes access to the COMPLETE set of PPL Digital Study Guides produced in the UK by Cranfield Aviation Training School (CATS). These up-to-the-minute theoretical knowledge study guides offer a cost effective, concise, relevant and modern approach to learning all of the theoretical knowledge in accordance with the UK and EASA Part-FCL PPL Syllabus. The Digital versions of the PPL Study Guides covers all the EASA and UK CAA Learning Objectives and important key facts which are highlighted in colour throughout. Includes: Self-assessment questions and an Indices.

WHAT IS INCLUDED: -

• Full Web-Based-Training 18-months access, including online Study Guides, Overview Slides.
• Exam question banks
• Video clips and lecture notes
• Mandatory progress tests
• Pre-exam 4-day ‘brush-up’ Ground School via CATS TV
• An online CAA Document Library (Including CAP696, CAP697, CAP698 and CAP758)
• Course completion certificate, if all progress tests are passed

WHAT ISN'T INCLUDED:

• The cost to sit the PPL exams
• A CRP-1 or CRP-5 Computer
• Accommodation for PPL exams (available locally at a discounted rate - see below for details)
• Box shown for Illustrative purposes only. No box will be shipped.

PPL Exams - What to expect

The PPL theory examinations comprise of all nine (9) required subject papers. Each PPL exam consists of between 12 and 20 questions. More details here. There are a total of 132 multiple-choice questions in the nine (9) tests. The minimum pass mark in each subject is 75%. Results will be shown after every finished exam. In the case of a fail in one subject, the exam can be repeated on the next working day at the earliest, provided there is free capacity in the examination room. After your first attempt all examinations must be passed within 18 months, calculated from the end of the calendar month in which the applicant first took the exam. You can take each test 4 times from a maximum of 6 attempt sittings in total. If you fail to pass within, you will have to re-do the whole study preparation but this is unheard of. You will pass. After you pass all your theoretical knowledge examinations, you will receive the official results and certificate from Austro Control. it will be valid for 24 months within which time you will have to finish your practical flight training and pass the PPL flight skill test, or you will have to re-sit all 9 exams again.

PPL Exam Cost

The price of the ground course does not include the cost to sit the exams.

Student pilots can sit the EASA PPL exams at any Austro-Control GmbH test centre.

However, Fly EPT Portugal has secured a corporate rate with the test centre in Luton, UK. Students can sit all nine (9) PPL exams on the same day for £126 and are able to sit any retakes, if needed, the following day(s) (which not all test centers' allow). 

PPL exams can also be sat at Aeródromo de Vilar de Luz, Maia near Porto, Portugal

It is preferable that you sit and pass all the exams before reporting in Lisbon-Cascais Airport to start flight training as you can not fly solo or take the skill test until the exams have been passed.

Other countries where you can sit the PPL exams include Austria, Brazil, Belgium, Czech Republic, Greece, Hungary, Jordan, Netherlands, South Africa, Spain, USA, UK and Ukraine.  You can download the full list here: -

List of Austro Control PPL Exam Centers.

How do I book my exams with Austro Control?

1. Download the latest Austro-Control GmbH application form
2. Digitally fill in Parts 1 and 2 only, with your personal details. (Note: Handwritten forms will NOT be accepted by Austro control)
3. Print the form and sign Part 2. 
4. If you have NOT studied with Fly EPT Spain, you will also need your ground school ATO to complete and sign Part 3.
5. Scan and email the completed form to CFI@flyEPTportugal.com along with your valid passport copy
6. We will confirm the correctness of your application and, if necessary, contact you to make any corrections
7. We will arrange for our ATO ground school HT/CTKI to counter sign and stamp the form.
8. Next, choose and book an exam date
9. Once the application form has been received, and you have booked an exam date, the ground school coordinator will then send you a confirmation email, confirming your exam date booking. 
10. You are now all set to sit the PPL exams. On the day of the exams, please remember to take the original stamped and signed form with you, as you must present it to the invigilator. 

Pre-PPL Exam ‘Brush Up’ Course

This pre-exam brush-up course is delivered by live TV over ZOOM so you can stay at home.

The brush-up course must be completed, or scheduled to be finished, before sitting the PPL exams.

Pre-PPL Exam ‘Brush Up’ Course

The brush-up course must be completed, or scheduled to be finished, before sitting the PPL exams.

Booking directly with Austro-Control

PPL ground school students who choose to sit their exams NOT in Luton will need to send their completed counter signed registration form directly to their chosen test centre 21 days before the exam date. 

Austro-Control GmbH can only allocate a confirmed examination appointment date after receiving approval by the responsible flight school (ATO).

PPL Examination Dates in Maia Airport, near Porto, Portugal

The following dates are confirmed for PPL Austro-Control GmbH examinations in: -

Maia Airport, Portugal - Aeródromo de Vilar de Luz, 4425-403 Maia, Portugal         Check Map here

PPL Examination Dates in Luton, UK

The following dates are confirmed for PPL Austro-Control GmbH examinations in: -

Luton, UK - CATS Innovation Centre, 110 Butterfield Great Marlings, Luton LU2 8DL, UK        

Check Map here

Accommodation while sitting PPL Exams in Luton, UK

You can book the Hilton hotel across the road from the Luton  centre here. Select the 'Special Rates' tab. In Corporate Account, insert: N3068061 and you should receive a discounted rate along with free Wi-Fi, breakfast, at times a more flexible checkout as well as the ability to cancel up until the last minute (typically until 11:59 PM local hotel time the day before).

Hilton Hotel, Luton Airport 

Hilton Garden Inn Luton North:  Butterfield Business Park, Hitchin Rd, Luton LU2 8DL, UK    

Check Map here

Luton Exam Centre Address:

CATS, Innovation Centre
110 Butterfield
Great Marlings
Luton
Bedfordshire LU2 8DL
UK  

(t) +44 (0) 1582 434 222  

Directions:

Turn off the A505 at the roundabout beside the Hilton Garden Inn hotel, then turn left into the Basepoint Innovation Centre site. After parking in the large car park, you will be directed to the CATS Training Centre by the staff at the Basepoint front desk. 

Visa for UK

Certain nationals visiting the UK may require a Visitor Visa. 

Check if you need a UK Visa here

UK Visa details here

Exam Day

Please present yourself at the exam center 30 minutes before the start of the first exam.

If you arrive late, you will lose your right to sit the exam place reserved for you.

If you are unable to attend, please cancel an appointment at least 48 hours in advance.

The original Austro-Control signed application form and the confirmation receipt must be presented when entering the examination centre, along with a valid official photo ID (e.g., passport) that can prove the applicant’s identity. Without this, it is not possible to take the test. 

While in the examinations, you must complete all 9 exams during the published times, so plan accordingly. It is entirely up to you in which order you do the exams. You have an iPad and table to yourself for the day so feel free to come and go between exams, you just need to make sure that the exams are finished before the end of the session.

Items ALLOWED in Austro-Control PPL exams: (with recommendations) 

• Mechanical Flight Computer/slider - We recommend:  CRP-1 for PPL only.  Or CRP-5 for CPL / ATPL
• Only a scientific calculator which is non-programmable, non-alphanumeric which does not have specific aviation functions is permitted - We recommend:  Casio fx-85GT X
• Protractors - We recommend:  Nautical square protractor 
• Drafting Compass - We recommend:  Rotring Compact Universal Compass
• Ruler - We recommend:  Pooleys NM-2
• Translation dictionary (non-digital)
• Jeppesen Manual + Charts
• CAA CAP’s

Items NOT allowed in the examination room:  •Mobile phone •Laptop/tablet •Wristwatch digital or analog •Any lecture notes, handwritten or typed •ASA CX-3 Digital Flight Computer or similar

Finally 

If you have any questions left or you experience any problems with the exam booking process, please do not hesitate to contact: 

CFI@flyEPTportugal.com 

I wish you the very best of luck with your PPL exams !

Watch all the tutorial videos how to use a CRP-5 here

Download:  CRP-5-booklet - How to use the Flight Computer-.pdf 

Check out the CRP 5 here