Find out what you need when sitting your private pilot licence (aeroplane) exam including permitted materials and pass rates.
The PPLA exam includes multiple-choice questions and questions where you type a whole number in a box.
You have 3.5 hours to complete the exam and to pass, you will need to get at least 70% of the marks.
The exams cost $208.51 each ($143.51 invigilator fee and $65 CASA fee).
Preparing for your exam
The exams will test your knowledge on the syllabus in Part 61 Manual of Standards (MOS) schedule 3.
Permitted material
You may use either the Airservices or Jeppesen list of permitted materials. You need to supply these materials.
You cannot use a combination of materials from both the Airservices List and the Jeppesen List.
Airservices list
CAR 1988
Part 61 of CASR
CASR Part 61 plain English guide
Part 91 of CASR and Part 91 MOS
CASR Part 91 plain English Guide
AIP Book
ERSA
AUS PCA
Visual Flight Rules Guide (VFRG)
Sydney, Townsville and Bourke WACs
Navigation equipment
Jeppesen list
CAR 1988
Part 61 of CASR
CASR Part 61 plain English guide
Part 91 of CASR and Part 91 MOS
CASR Part 91 plain English Guide
Jeppesen Airway Manual
AUS PCA
Visual Flight Rules Guide (VFRG)
Sydney, Townsville and Bourke WACs
Navigation equipment
The Visual Flight Rules Guide (VFRG) and the CASR Part 91 plain English Guide may not have current information. If you choose to use these documents, make sure you also have other materials to help with current laws and procedures.
The VFRG referred to in the lists of permitted material is the document produced by us and not by another party or organisation.
Your invigilator will give you some things before the exam, which you must hand back at the end. These include:
- pen
- pencil
- ruler
- eraser
- scribble pad
- The RPL, PPL and CPL (aeroplane) workbook (PDF 643kB).
Pass rates
You can see how candidates performed in their PPLA exam.
| Year | 0 - 54% | 55 - 59% | 60 - 64% | 65 - 69% | 70 - 74% | 75 - 79% | 80+% | Pass rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 5.30 | 5.36 | 7.38 | 15.01 | 15.95 | 16.90 | 34.11 | 66.96% |
| 2021 | 6.17 | 4.61 | 8.92 | 17.68 | 17.01 | 15.53 | 30.09 | 62.63% |
| 2022 | 6.16 | 6.23 | 10.38 | 15.47 | 16.92 | 15.72 | 29.12 | 61.76% |
| 2023 | 7.46 | 5.24 | 8.04 | 13.44 | 15.61 | 15.82 | 34.39 | 65.82% |
Check the results of candidates from previous years.
Fuel policy in PPLA exams
Our Flight Crew Licence exams reference policies related to fuel usage and reserves.
In your PPLA exam, fuel reserves will be carried in accordance with CASR Part 91 MOS, Chapter 19, table 19.02 (2), Item 1. This applies to aeroplanes with MTOW less than 5,700 kg (piston engine or turboprop) under VFR by day.
We recommend you avoid rounding off at intermediate stages of your workings when calculating fuel requirements in your exam.
Common errors:
The following areas have been weak areas for candidates:
- correct use of the take-off and landing charts
- find time/distance and revision of estimates
- work out density height and/or pressure height
- correct use of the various loading systems (ALPHA, BRAVO and CHARLIE)
- interpretation of meteorological forecasts.
6 Feb 2024