Download the complete Ground School syllabus as PDF: Professonal Flight Centre Ground School Syllabus 

1. Airframes and Engines
  • Parts of an airplane
  • Fuselage construction
  • Wing construction
  • Construction materials
  • Load and Load Factors
  • Rigging & Controls
  • Propulsion System
  • Fuel System
  • Hydraulic System
  • Undercarriage System
  • Heat & Vent Systems
  • Aircraft Records
  • FTGU pp 8-18
2. Engines I – Systems
  • Types of Powerplants
  • Classification of Piston Engines
  • Basic Engine Components & Operation
  • Sequence of Engine Strokes
  • Timing
  • Jet Engines
  • Turbo-Prop Engines
  • FTGU pp 51-56
3. Engines II – Fuel Systems
  • Fuel and Fuel Systems
  • Carburetor Construction and Operation
  • Leaning Mixture at Cruise
  • Carburetor Ice
  • Carburetor Heat
  • Turbocharging
  • Fuel Injection
  • FTGU pp 54-63
4. Engines III – Other Systems
  • Lubrication Systems
  • Ignition Systems
  • Electrical Systems
  • Vacuum Systems
  • FTGU pp 57-59, 69-72
5. Flight Instruments
  • Pitot Static:
    • Airspeed Indicator
    • Altimeter
    • Vertical Speed Indicator
  • Gyroscopic:
    • Attitude Indicator
    • Heading Indicator
    • Turn Coordinator
  • Magnetic Compass
  • FTGU pp 39-50; AIM AGA, RAC, AIR
6. Aerodynamics and Theory of Flight
  • Forces acting on an aircraft in flight
    • Theory of Lift
    • Theory of Drag
    • Generation of Thrust
    • Basic Propeller Theory
  • Design of the Wing
  • Axes of the Aircraft
  • Stability
    • Longitudinal
    • Lateral
    • Directional
  • Flight Performance
    • Asymmetric Thrust
    • Precession
    • Slipstream
    • Climbing
    • Gliding
    • Turns
    • Stalls
    • Spins
    • Spiral Dives
  • FTGU pp 21-39
7. Flight Operations I – Airport Operations
  • Safety Hints
  • Standard Circuit
  • Uncontrolled Airport Procedures
  • Controlled Airport Procedures
  • VFR Terminal Procedure Charts
  • VFR Terminal Area Charts
  • VTA Special Procedures
  • Other Special Procedures:
  • Wake Turbulence
  • Jet Blast
  • Taxiing
  • AIM RAC 4, CFS Facility Charts, VTA, FTM pp 101-103
8. Flight Ops II – Flight Plans & Flight Itineraries
  • Requirements
  • Flight Plans
  • Flight Itineraries
  • Filing, Opening & Closing a Flight Plan
  • Search & Rescue (SAR) Alerting
  • CASARA
  • Using the ICAO Flight Plan Form
  • Special Considerations
  • AIM RAC 3.15-3.16, SAR 1.0-2.0
9. Flight Ops III – AeroMedicine & Human Factors
  • Hypoxia / Hyperventilation
  • Nutrition
  • Alcohol / Drugs / Medications
  • Environmental Factors
  • Sensory Sources & Sensory Illusions
  • Decompression Effects
  • Trapped Gases
  • G-Loc
  • Fatigue
  • FTGU pp 303-314, AIM AIR 3.1-3.18, TP12863
10. Canadian Air Regulations I – Licensing Requirements
  • Licenses & Permits
  • Ratings
  • Licensing Standards
  • Medical Standards
  • Currency Requirements
  • AIM LRA 1.0

11. Canadian Air Regulations II – Canadian Airspace
  • Domestic Airspace
  • Structure of Airspace
  • Classification of Airspace
  • FTGU pp 99-106, AIM RAC 2
12. Canadian Air Regulations III – Rules & Regulations
  • Crosswind Limitations
  • Aeronautical Information Manual (AIM)
  • NOTAMs
  • Canadian Flight Supplement (CFS)
  • Water Aerodrome Supplement (WAS)
  • Canadian Air Regulations (CARs)
  • Required Documents
  • Emergencies
  • AIM, CFS, WAS, CARS Parts IV, VI
13. Meteorology I – Basic Meteorology
  • The Atmosphere
  • ICAO Standard Atmosphere
  • Clouds
  • Pressure
  • Wind
  • NavCanada Website
  • Weather Services
  • METAR
  • FTGU pp 123-134, AWWS
14. Meteorology II – Basic Weather Theory
  • Moisture & Temperature
  • Stability
  • Air Masses
  • Fronts
  • Wx @ Fronts
  • Wx Products:
  • TAF/GFA/Charts
  • FTGU pp 135-145, AWWS
15. Meteorology III – Active Weather
  • Cloud Formation
  • Lifting process
  • Precipitation
  • Fog
  • Visibility
  • Thunderstorms
  • Icing
  • AIRMET/SIGMET/
    PIREP/FD
  • FTGU pp 146-156, AWWS
16. Pilot Decision Making (PDM)
  • The Accident Chain
  • The Decision Making Process
  • Factors Affecting Decision Making
  • Situational Awareness
  • Stress and Stress Management
  • Personality Traits
  • Hazardous Attitudes
  • Managing Risk
  • Accident Case Studies
  • FTGU pp 312-319, TP13897, www.TSB.gc.ca
17. Navigation I – Introduction to Navigation
  • Definition
  • Latitude & Longitude
  • Time Zones
  • Time & Longitude
  • Bearings & Headings
  • Rhumb lines & Great Circle Routes
  • Magnetic Compass
  • Earth’s Magnetism
  • Magnetic Dip
  • Variation & Deviation
  • Allowing for Variation & Deviation
  • Compass Construction
  • Northerly Turning Errors
  • Acceleration Errors
  • Aviation Charts/Maps
  • Projections/Scale
  • VNC/VTA/CFS
  • Chart Index/Symbols
  • Basic Plotting
  • FTGU pp 175-190]
18. Navigation II – Nav Logs, Calculations, Computers
  • E6B computer
    • Slide rule side
    • Wind side
  • Electronic Computers
  • Pre-Flight planning form
  • Performance Charts
  • Weight & Balance
  • Cross-Country Planning/ Diversions
  • Basic Plotting Exercise
  • FTGU pp 195-206
19. Navigation III – Radio Theory & Radio Communications
  • Radio Frequencies (Bands)
  • Requirements
  • Licensing
  • Priority of Communications
  • Radio Communication Techniques
  • Phonetic Alphabet
  • Call Signs
  • Two Way & Broadcast Communications
  • Standard Sequences
  • Distress Communications
  • NavCanada VFR Phraseology Guide
  • FTGU pp 207-226, NavCanada
20. Navigation IV – Radio Navigation
  • Radio Communications
  • VOR (VHF Omni Range)
  • ADF (Automatic Direction Finder)
  • GNSS/GPS (Global Positioning System)
  • WAAS
  • Transponder
  • Primary & Secondary Surveillance Radar
  • FTGU pp 227-255

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