How I prepared for the Recreational Pilot's Licence (RPL) test: my method and tips

Read the details about how I prepared and passed the RPL test at https://techexplorations.com/flight-l...

The world of aviation is obsessed with regulation, exams, and learning. As I understand this world, it seems the primary driver for this obsession is safety. The secondary driver is technological change. Constant learning is every pilot's reality. For every hour of flying, there are multiple hours of pouring through textbooks and taking exams.

After my week of fun at the flying camp, I decided to study for the RPL exam before getting in a plane again.

In every jurisdiction around the world, there is an organisation that is in charge of regulating civil aviation. In Australia, this is CASA. In the US, it is the FAA. In Europe, there are many.

As I am flying in Australia, I have to learn to rules and regulations designed and enforced by CASA, and pass the many exams. Each license has its own syllabus, but all syllabuses draw from the same source of legislation and rules.

For example, for the RPL exam, a student pilot has to show adequacy on the syllabus in Part 61 Manual of Standards (MOS) schedule 3 - units 1.1.1 BAKC, 1.1.2 RBKA, unit 1.5.1 RFRC, unit 1.8.1 RMTC and 1.6.1 PHFC and also know the content of the RPL, PPL and CPL (Aeroplane) workbook.

For the PPL exam, the student is tested on their knowledge on the syllabus in Part 61 Manual of Standards (MOS) schedule 3.

All this is very confusing for a new pilot, to say the least. There are ground schools where a qualified instructor can help students make sense of it, however I was too busy with work to attend one and preferred to study at home. So I had to figure out what is needed, how to learn it, and how to know that I am ready for the actual exam. I will discuss this later.

It is important to know that I did not have to pass the RPL exam to start flying lessons. I could choose to leave the exam for later, and get started with lessons at any time. However, after discussing this with Greg (my flight instructor), I decided to pass the exam first, and then start with the lessons. The sad truth is that study and exams is boring. Flying is exciting. Many students to the exciting thing first, and hit a wall when they try the boring thing, and never recover. As a general rule in life, I do boring first and fun second.

I also feel that having done all this study (and having passed the exam) has prepared me much better for the flying lessons. I have a much better understanding of aerodynamics, airplane performance and engine management, VFR rules (Visual Flight Rules), meteorology, and aerodrome operations than if I had chosen to work on the exam later.

I started study during a very busy time at Tech Explorations. This is generally the case, and there is rarely "down time" that I can count on for study.

In the video, I explain my study method, the study materials I used, and what happened on the exam day.

00:00:00 Start
00:00:40 About aviation exams
00:02:55 How I prepared
00:04:13 Study materials
00:04:30 How I prepared
00:08:04 Exam day
00:11:25 Invitation