PPL theory: the nine exam subjects
Updated: Sources checked on 3 November 2026
In short
The PPL theory consists of nine subjects: air law, human performance, meteorology, communications and navigation for all categories, plus principles of flight, operational procedures, flight performance and planning, and aircraft general knowledge for each category. Here you find each subject with its topics.
How the pages work
Every topic page first answers the core question in two or three sentences. Explanations, tables and worked examples with our own numbers follow. Every statement rests on a primary source, such as the EU regulations SERA and Part-FCL, EASA, WMO and ICAO material, or handbooks such as the FAA Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge for physics and technology. The sources are listed at the end of each page, with the date we checked them.
The subjects
Five subjects apply to all aircraft categories: air law, human performance, meteorology, communications and navigation. Four depend on the category: principles of flight, operational procedures, flight performance and planning, and aircraft general knowledge. The content is set by the EASA syllabus (AMC1 FCL.210; FCL.215), which applies to the PPL and LAPL. Pages on human performance and communications will follow.
Topics
- Air law Air law in the PPL theory: content of the EASA syllabus, questions and times in Germany and Switzerland, and the topics at a glance.
- Meteorology Meteorology in the PPL theory: content of the EASA syllabus, questions and times in Germany and Switzerland, and the topics at a glance.
- Principles of flight Principles of flight in the PPL theory: EASA syllabus content, questions and times in Germany and Switzerland, and the topics at a glance.
- Operational procedures Operational procedures in the PPL theory: content of the EASA syllabus, questions and times in Germany and Switzerland, and the topics at a glance.
- Flight performance and planning Flight performance and planning in the PPL theory: EASA syllabus content, questions and times in Germany and Switzerland, and the topics at a glance.
- Aircraft general knowledge Aircraft general knowledge in the PPL theory: content of the EASA syllabus, questions and times in Germany and Switzerland, and the topics at a glance.
- Navigation Navigation in the PPL theory: content of the EASA syllabus, questions and times in Germany and Switzerland, and the topics at a glance.
Sources
- 1. Regulation (EU) No 1178/2011, Annex I (Part-FCL), consolidated version of 30 April 2026 (EUR-Lex, FCL.215, accessed 3 November 2026)
- 2. Easy Access Rules for Aircrew (Regulation (EU) No 1178/2011), Revision October 2026 (EASA, AMC1 FCL.210; FCL.215, accessed 3 November 2026)
Related topics
- The EASA PPL theory exam How the PPL theory exam works: 75 per cent per subject, an 18-month window, four attempts, 24 months validity and how countries differ.
- Calculators for the PPL theory Free calculators for the PPL theory: exam deadlines under FCL.025, crosswind and headwind components, and aviation unit conversions.
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