Aircraft general knowledge
Updated: Sources checked on 3 November 2026
In short
Aircraft general knowledge is one of the nine subjects of the PPL theory exam. In Germany, the North German authorities set 12 questions in 24 minutes (as of 05/2021); in Switzerland it is 16 questions in 20 minutes.
What the subject covers
The subject covers the airframe and systems such as wings, fuselage, landing gear, brakes, flight controls, anti-icing and the fuel system, the electrics and the piston engine with carburettor or injection, mixture, cooling, lubrication and ignition. It adds propellers and instruments such as the airspeed indicator, altimeter and vertical speed indicator. The full structure is set out in the EASA syllabus AMC1 FCL.210; FCL.215.
Scope in the exam
| Country | Questions | Minutes |
|---|---|---|
| Germany (North German aviation authorities, as of 05/2021) | 12 | 24 |
| Switzerland (FOCA/BAZL, valid from 1 January 2026) | 16 | 20 |
Austro Control does not give figures per subject on its page. How the exam works in each country is explained on the country pages.
Topics
- The Six-Pack: the Six Basic Instruments The six basic flight instruments at a glance: what each one shows, where it gets its data and how to spot errors.
- Leaning the Mixture: Why and When Why the mixture gets richer with altitude, what a mixture that is too rich or too lean does, and where to look up the procedure for your aircraft.
- Carburettor Icing: Possible Even on Warm Days When a carburettor ices up, how you notice it and what carburettor heat does, with figures from the FAA handbook and a UK CAA leaflet.
Sources
- 1. Easy Access Rules for Aircrew (Regulation (EU) No 1178/2011), Revision October 2026 (EASA, AMC1 FCL.210; FCL.215, accessed 3 November 2026)
- 2. Informationsblatt Theoretische Prüfung, as of 05/2021 (Luftfahrtbehörden Norddeutschland, accessed 3 November 2026)
- 3. BAZL GM/INFO Theorieprüfungen für Privatpiloten, valid from 1 January 2026 (Federal Office of Civil Aviation (FOCA/BAZL), chapter 5, accessed 3 November 2026)
Related topics
- PPL theory: the nine exam subjects The nine subjects of the EASA PPL theory at a glance, with their content, exam scope by country and sourced topic pages to learn from.
- 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.
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