Private Pilot Licence

PPAER practice exams and study notes

The written exam for the Private Pilot Licence — Aeroplane.

7 chapters · 4 mock exams in the PPAER format · 66 exam charts · 16 diagrams

Human Factors is part of the PPL course. Already unlocked PPL? Sign in to open it. See what it covers

Full course

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  • 7 chapters of study notesEach ends with a quiz: 105 questions, every answer explained
  • 4 mock exams in the PPAER format100 questions · 3 h each
  • 1 topic practice setUntimed
  • 66 exam charts and tablesEvery chart, plate and table the practice questions use
  • 16 interactive diagramsInside the chapters
Unlock PPL — $89Read a free chapter: Aeronautics General Knowledge

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Chapters

Tap a chapter to see what it covers

  1. Locked: Chapter 1: Air Law75 min · 16 sections · 15-question quiz

    Canadian Aviation Regulations, airspace classification, VFR minima, right-of-way rules, and pilot responsibilities.

    • Structure of CARs
    • Airspace classifications (Class A–G)
    • VFR minima by airspace
    • Right-of-way rules (CARs 602.19)
    • Altimeter setting procedures
    • Transponder requirements
    • Flight plans and itineraries

    Ends with a 15-question quiz; the pass mark is 60%.

  2. FREEChapter 2: Aeronautics General Knowledge60 min · 14 sections · 15-question quiz

    Aircraft systems, piston engines, propellers, airframe components, and basic aerodynamics.

    • Four forces of flight
    • Piston engine operation
    • Fuel systems
    • Electrical systems
    • Pitot-static system
    • Propeller theory

    Ends with a 15-question quiz; the pass mark is 60%.

    Read free: Aeronautics General Knowledge
  3. Locked: Chapter 3: Meteorology70 min · 16 sections · 15-question quiz

    Weather theory, Canadian weather products (METAR, TAF, GFA), turbulence, icing, and weather hazards.

    • Atmosphere structure
    • METAR/TAF decoding
    • GFA interpretation
    • Thunderstorm hazards
    • Icing conditions
    • Wind shear and turbulence

    Ends with a 15-question quiz; the pass mark is 60%.

  4. Locked: Chapter 4: Navigation65 min · 14 sections · 15-question quiz

    VFR chart reading, dead reckoning, pilotage, magnetic variation, and GPS basics.

    • VNC chart symbols
    • Magnetic vs. true north
    • Dead reckoning calculations
    • Pilotage techniques
    • GPS fundamentals
    • Time and distance calculations

    Ends with a 15-question quiz; the pass mark is 60%.

  5. Locked: Chapter 5: Flight Instruments50 min · 14 sections · 15-question quiz

    Pitot-static instruments, gyroscopic instruments, magnetic compass, and instrument errors.

    • Altimeter operation and errors
    • Airspeed indicator limitations
    • Vertical speed indicator
    • Attitude indicator
    • Heading indicator
    • Compass errors (ANDS, OSUN)

    Ends with a 15-question quiz; the pass mark is 60%.

  6. Locked: Chapter 6: Human Factors45 min · 15 sections · 15-question quiz

    Aeronautical Decision Making, IMSAFE checklist, hypoxia, spatial disorientation, and fatigue.

    • IMSAFE checklist
    • ADM models
    • Hypoxia types and symptoms
    • Spatial disorientation
    • Fatigue and stress
    • Illusions in flight

    Ends with a 15-question quiz; the pass mark is 60%.

  7. Locked: Chapter 7: Pilot Navigation & Flight Planning60 min · 14 sections · 15-question quiz

    Cross-country flight planning, fuel calculations, weight and balance, and density altitude.

    • Flight planning process
    • Fuel calculations
    • Weight and balance basics
    • Density altitude effects
    • Performance charts
    • Diversion planning

    Ends with a 15-question quiz; the pass mark is 60%.

The exam

PPAER · 100 questions · 3 hours

Pass mark: 60% overall and 60% in each of four subject areas.

Transport Canada, TP 12880E (Sixth Edition, May 2025)

How the PPAER works

Common questions

Is it a subscription?
No. PPL is a one-time payment of $89 CAD, by card through Stripe. Nothing renews and you are not charged again.
What do the 3 months cover?
Every chapter, chapter quiz and PPAER mock exam in the PPL course, with its charts and diagrams, for 3 months from the day you pay. When they end the course locks again, and you can buy another 3 months if you need them.
What if I don't pass?
If you write the PPAER and do not pass (a partial pass counts as not passing), we give you 3 more months of PPL, free, once per purchase. Write the exam while your access is active or within 30 days after it ends, and email us from your account’s address within 30 days of writing it. Otherwise all sales are final, unless you were charged twice or by mistake, or the law requires a refund. Refunds and the pass guarantee
Which devices does it work on?
Any phone, tablet or computer with an up-to-date web browser; there is no app to install. Your reading place, quiz scores and unfinished mock exams are saved to your account, so you can switch devices.
How current is it?
The study content was last updated on 3 October 2026. The PPAER format on this page was checked against Transport Canada's TP 12880E (Sixth Edition, May 2025) on 19 September 2026. Every answer is explained and names its source: the CARs section, TC AIM paragraph or TP study guide it relies on.
Is this a ground school? Will it recommend me for the exam?
No. TC Exam Prep is study notes and exam practice, not a ground school, and it cannot recommend you for the PPAER. The letter of recommendation comes “from the Flight Training Unit or from the flight instructor who is responsible for the training of the applicant” (Standard 421.13(3)(a)), and Standard 421.13(3) requires it to be “dated within 60 days prior to the date of the written examination”: your flight school or instructor issues it.