PPL Communications exam

What the exam covers

Pocket Pilot teaches Communications in seven lessons, about 37 minutes of reading in all.

1. 01

   VHF Radio & Propagation

   6 min

   The aviation VHF band · 8.33 kHz channel spacing · Licence to use the radio · Propagation: line of sight · Antenna types · Frequency selection in flight · ATIS: the pre-recorded briefing · Squelch · Transmission technique · Common bad habits

2. 02

   Phonetic Alphabet & Numbers

   4 min

   The ICAO phonetic alphabet · Numbers · Decimal point · Standard time format · Read-back of numbers · Common pronunciation traps · Brevity vs accuracy

3. 03

   Standard Phraseology

   6 min

   Core operating words · Establishing contact · Standard transmissions in a circuit · Read-back items · Conditional clearances · Frequencies and frequency changes · Radio checks and the readability scale · Position reports · Acknowledging clearances and changes · Plain language when you need it · Skill-test phraseology

4. 04

   Q-Codes & ATC Services

   5 min

   Pressure Q-codes · Direction-finding Q-codes · Other Q-codes you may hear · ATC services in EASA airspace · Transferring between services · Alerting and emergency phraseology · Lost communications · Light gun signals (lost-comms arrival)

5. 05

   Transponder Operations

   6 min

   Transponder modes · ADS-B · Standard squawk codes: Europe · Frequency monitoring codes ("listening squawks") · Setting the transponder · "Squawk Ident" · Setting an assigned squawk · Mode C altitude · Transponder failures · TCAS interactions

6. 06

   Distress & Urgency Communications

   5 min

   Distress vs urgency · The MAYDAY call structure · The PAN PAN call structure · On which frequency? · Distress communication priority · After the MAYDAY · False MAYDAY / PAN · Useful additional phrases · Preparation

7. 07

   Lost Comms & Radio Failure

   5 min

   Diagnose the problem first · Squawk 7600 · VFR lost-comms procedure · Joining a controlled aerodrome NORDO · Light gun signals (refresher) · IFR lost-comms procedure · Partial failures · Avoid making things worse · Carrying a backup · After landing

How the exam works

Communications is one of the nine PPL(A) theory exams. Each is a separate multiple-choice paper, sat at your school or at a test centre approved by your national aviation authority. This one has 12 questions in 20 minutes, and you need 75% to pass, which is 9 correct answers.

• You have four attempts at each subject before further training is required.
• You must pass all nine within 18 months of your first sitting, in no more than six sittings.
• Your passes then stay valid for 24 months, and your skill test must fall inside that window.

The Communications mock exam in Pocket Pilot has the same question count, time limit and pass mark, drawn from a growing bank of practice questions.

Try three exam questions

From the Pocket Pilot Communications question bank, each with the app's explanation and the source it cites.

1. 01 / 03

   Which of the following must always be read back in full?

   1. ATraffic information
   2. BAn altimeter setting (QNH or QFE) passed by ATC
   3. CThe surface wind passed with a landing clearance
   4. DA 'goodbye' frequency change pleasantry
   Show the answerHide the answer

   Answer B. SERA.8015 lists the mandatory read-back items: clearances, runway in use, taxi and hold instructions, SSR codes, level/heading/speed instructions, frequency changes, transition levels, and altimeter settings. Traffic and wind information need only be acknowledged.

   Source

   SERA.8015

   Lesson

   Standard Phraseology

2. 02 / 03

   You are lost on a VFR flight, in visual conditions with adequate fuel remaining. The appropriate radio call is:

   1. AMAYDAY MAYDAY MAYDAY
   2. BSECURITE, SECURITE, SECURITE
   3. CPAN PAN, PAN PAN, PAN PAN
   4. DNo call: being lost is not reportable
   Show the answerHide the answer

   Answer C. Being lost with fuel in hand is an urgency, not yet a distress: declare PAN PAN and ask for help early, while there is still fuel to work with. It escalates to MAYDAY if fuel runs towards final reserve or conditions deteriorate. Controllers would far rather hear an early PAN than a late MAYDAY.

   Source

   CAP 413 / ICAO Annex 10 Vol II

   Lesson

   Distress & Urgency Communications

3. 03 / 03

   From a VDF-equipped station, a controller passes 'your QDM is 270'. This is:

   1. AThe true bearing of your aircraft from the station
   2. BThe runway in use
   3. CThe magnetic heading to steer, in zero wind, to reach the station
   4. DThe magnetic bearing of your aircraft from the station
   Show the answerHide the answer

   Answer C. QDM is the magnetic heading to steer toward the station assuming no wind. QDR is the reciprocal: your magnetic bearing from the station. QTE is the true bearing from the station.

   Source

   CAP 413 / ICAO Doc 8400

   Lesson

   Q-Codes & ATC Services

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