Core ground school
The PPL ground-school syllabus across six subjects — principles of flight, aircraft technical and general, flight performance and planning, navigation, meteorology and human performance. Built from Zino Aviation's own course material.
Master the core concepts of private pilot licence (ppl) through guided AI tutoring, worked examples and scenario-based practice.
Syllabus
Aerodynamics & the forces of flight
Chapter 1: Atmosphere, Basic Physics and Density
Explain Newton’s laws and their relevance to aircraft motion. Differentiate between mass, weight, speed, velocity, acceleration, force and energy. Describe the composition and structure of the atmosphere relevant to PPL flight. State ISA sea-level reference values and explain their use. Explain how pressure, temperature, altitude and humidity affect air density and aircraft performance.
Chapter 2: Lift and Aerofoil Theory
Define aerofoil, chord line, mean camber line, relative airflow and angle of attack. Explain lift generation using pressure distribution and downward deflection of airflow. Use the lift formula to identify factors affecting lift. Interpret the lift curve and identify the critical angle of attack. Explain how flaps, slots and slats change lift, drag and stall behaviour.
Chapter 3: Drag and Aerodynamic Efficiency
Differentiate parasite/profile drag from induced drag. Explain form drag, skin-friction drag and interference drag. Describe wingtip vortices and their relationship to induced drag. Interpret parasite, induced and total drag curves. Explain L/D ratio, best glide and the effect of flaps and gear on drag.
Chapter 4: Forces Acting on an Aircraft
Identify lift, weight, thrust and drag and their normal lines of action. Explain equilibrium in straight-and-level flight. Describe force relationships in climb, descent and glide. Explain load factor in a turn and its effect on stall speed. Connect aircraft loading and CG position to force balance and control.
Chapter 5: Effects of Controls
Identify the three axes of rotation and associated movements. Describe the primary and secondary effects of ailerons, rudder and elevator. Explain adverse yaw and how design features reduce it. Explain trim tabs and related tab systems. Apply control-effectiveness principles to slow flight, stalls and coordinated turns.
Chapter 6: Stability
Differentiate static and dynamic stability. Describe positive, neutral and negative stability. Explain longitudinal, lateral and directional stability. Explain the effect of forward and aft CG on stability and control. Identify common stability modes such as spiral tendency, phugoid and Dutch roll at an introductory level.
Chapter 7: Stalling
Define aerodynamic stall in terms of critical angle of attack. Differentiate stall speed from stall angle. Explain factors affecting stall speed. Recognise signs of an approaching stall. Describe generic stall recovery priorities subject to POH/AFM and instructor guidance.
Chapter 8: Spinning and Spin Awareness
Define spin and autorotation. Explain how a stall plus yaw can lead to a spin. Differentiate incipient spin, developed spin and spiral dive conceptually. State generic spin-recovery concepts subject to POH/AFM. Explain why aft CG and incorrect control inputs can worsen spin recovery.
Chapter 9: Aircraft Performance
Explain power required and power available at PPL level. Differentiate Vx, Vy and cruise climb speed. Explain how weight, altitude, temperature, wind and configuration affect climb. Differentiate range and endurance concepts. Explain glide range, best glide speed, minimum sink and landing performance considerations.
Engines, airframes, electrics & instruments
Chapter 1: Piston Engines
Define piston engine and explain why it is called a heat engine.
Chapter 2: Piston Engine Systems
Explain why aircraft piston engines use independent duplicated ignition systems.
Chapter 3: Airframes
Define compression, tension, shear, torsion and bending stresses.
Chapter 4: Hydraulics, Undercarriage and Fuel Systems
Explain hydraulic-force transmission and list the advantages of hydraulic systems.
Chapter 5: Aircraft Electrical System
Define basic electrical terms: AC, DC, amperes, volts, ohms, watts, resistance and busbar.
Chapter 6: Aircraft Instruments
Explain magnetic compass construction and the errors of deviation, dip, acceleration/deceleration and turning.
Performance charts, fuel, weight & balance
Chapter 1: Terminologies and Symbols
Define IAS, CAS/RAS, EAS and TAS and explain why they differ. Identify major V-speeds and state the operational meaning of each. Explain QFE, QNH, QNE, OAT and ISA in performance planning. Calculate pressure altitude using QNH and airfield elevation. Calculate ISA temperature, ISA deviation and density altitude using the module method.
Chapter 2: Aerodromes
Define runway length and runway slope. Calculate runway slope from threshold elevations and runway length. Explain stopway, clearway and displaced threshold. Differentiate TORA, TODA, ASDA and LDA. Apply declared-distance terminology to take-off and landing planning.
Chapter 3: Performance Graphs
Interpret airspeed calibration and stall-speed graphs. Use take-off performance graphs for ground roll and distance over a 50 ft obstacle. Use climb performance and time/distance/fuel-to-climb graphs. Use engine-performance and best-power mixture range graphs. Use landing performance graphs while applying wind, weight, pressure altitude and temperature correctly.
Chapter 4: Performance Tables
Read performance tables accurately. Interpolate between published values. Apply headwind, tailwind, grass and surface corrections. Differentiate take-off ground run from total distance to clear a 50 ft obstacle. Correct landing distance for tailwind and dry-grass runway conditions.
Chapter 5: Fuel Performance and Calculations
Calculate fuel weight using USG x 6 lb/USG. Convert US gallons to litres and kilograms to pounds. Calculate fuel weight using specific gravity. Calculate trip fuel, reserve fuel, total fuel required and endurance. Calculate fuel performance in ground nautical miles per US gallon. Explain why fuel planning must not be sacrificed for payload.
Chapter 6: Weight and Balance
Define major aircraft weight terms including BEW, OEW, ZFW, ramp weight, take-off weight and landing weight. Explain MTOW, MZFW, MRW and MLW. Define CG, datum, arm and moment. Complete a basic loading form using weight x arm = moment. Calculate loaded CG and verify it against a CG envelope. Calculate the effect of adding, removing or shifting weight.
Chapter 7: Hydroplaning
Define hydroplaning/aquaplaning. Explain dynamic hydroplaning. Explain viscous hydroplaning. Explain reverted-rubber hydroplaning. Identify operational conditions that increase hydroplaning risk. Apply conservative braking, landing and go-around judgement on wet or contaminated runways.
Chapter 8: Modern Operational Performance Planning
Explain why POH/AFM data has primacy over generic worked examples. Apply conservative performance margins for take-off and landing decisions. Identify common calculation traps: units, stale weather, wrong runway, wrong graph and tailwind optimism. Explain the South African relevance of high-elevation, hot weather and variable runway surfaces. Use a repeatable go/no-go performance review before flight.
Weather theory for safe VFR flying
Chapter 1: The Atmosphere
Explain the role of the atmosphere in weather formation and aviation operations.
Chapter 2: Temperature
Define temperature and explain its importance in aviation meteorology.
Chapter 3: Pressure
Define atmospheric pressure and explain why it matters to aircraft altitude indication.
Chapter 4: Humidity
Define humidity and explain the role of water vapour in aviation weather.
Chapter 5: Air Density
Define air density and explain why it matters to aircraft performance.
Chapter 6: Stability and the Adiabatic Process
Define an adiabatic process in the context of rising and descending air.
Chapter 7: Wind
Define wind and state common units used for wind speed in aviation.
Chapter 8: Air Masses
Define an air mass and explain the significance of source region.
Chapter 9: Clouds
Define a cloud and explain how fog relates to cloud formation.
Chapter 10: Fronts
Define a front, frontal surface and frontal line.
Chapter 11: Visibility
Define visibility and explain why it is critical to PPL flight operations.
Chapter 12: Precipitation
Define precipitation and explain when cloud particles begin to fall.
Chapter 13: Thunderstorms
Define a thunderstorm and relate it to cumulonimbus cloud development.
Chapter 14: Turbulence
Identify the main conditions contributing to turbulence.
Chapter 15: Icing
Define icing and explain its relevance to engine and airframe performance.
Chapter 16: South African Weather
Explain the broad roles of the Benguela and Agulhas currents.
Chapter 17: METAR and TAF
Define METAR and explain its purpose in pre-flight and in-flight planning.
Physiology, limitations & human factors
Chapter 1: The Aviation Environment
Explain why aviation exposes humans to an environment different from sea-level living conditions.
Chapter 2: The Human Body
Differentiate the central and peripheral nervous systems and explain their aviation relevance.
Chapter 3: The Lungs
Describe the respiratory pathway from trachea to alveoli.
Chapter 4: The Ears
Describe the outer, middle and inner ear and their functions.
Chapter 5: The Eyes
Identify the main structures of the eye and their functions.
Chapter 6: Pressure
Explain Boyle's Law and Dalton's Law in aviation physiology terms.
Chapter 7: Acceleration and Vibration
Define acceleration and G-force in aviation terms.
Chapter 8: Flying and Health
Differentiate physical and emotional stress, and acute and chronic stress.
Chapter 9: Modern Human Factors, ADM and Threat-and-Error Management
Explain the relationship between human limitations, decision-making and accident prevention.
Each lesson ends with a knowledge check. Every subject finishes with its own final assessment of multiple-choice and scenario-based questions, with full rationales and a 70% pass mark.
All tutoring is grounded in Zino Aviation’s own Private Pilot Licence (PPL) material — the AI tutor won’t invent regulations or figures that aren’t in your source.
