In this guide, we will go over some of the top online resources for UK pilot practice questions, the most common challenges for student pilots, and how they can overcome them. Read below to learn more!
Pilot exams require a lot of studying and learning. Whether you are a new or experienced candidate, there is always something new to learn in aviation. Pilot exams are designed to assess the aptitude of candidates and provide a detailed overview of their theoretical knowledge.
If you are looking to become a pilot, then you will have to give it your all and ace the numerous practical and theoretical exams mandated by the Civil Aviation Authority. Don’t know how to check your progress and knowledge? Don’t worry! There are several online resources that you can rely on to get challenging practice questions that can help you prepare for your exams.
In this guide, we will go over some of the top online resources for UK pilot practice questions, the most common challenges for student pilots, and how they can overcome them. Read below to learn more!
Pilot Exams – The Basics
There are two main types of pilot licences in aviation: the Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL) and the Private Pilot Licence (PPL). These licence programmes include theoretical exams on subjects like operational procedures, radio navigation, meteorology, and flight performance.
Please note that these subjects are taught in detail so that pilots understand the theoretical side of aviation, however, compared to a CPL, PPL candidates don’t get to go into the depths of each topic. Instead, you get a shortened version of these subjects with the option to expand on your understanding later when you pursue a CPL.
A Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL) includes more in-depth theoretical knowledge with additional subjects. A CPL programme has 13 in-depth subjects:
- Air Law
- Operational Procedures
- Meteorology
- Human Performance & Limitations
- Principles of Flight (More in-depth than PPL)
- Aircraft General Knowledge (AGK) - Airframe, Systems, and Powerplant
- Aircraft General Knowledge (AGK) - Instrumentation
- Flight Performance & Planning – Mass & Balance
- Flight Performance & Planning – Performance
- General Navigation
- Radio Navigation
- VFR Communications
- IFR Communications
Finally, there is also the Airline Transport Pilot Licence (ATPL) programme which includes 13 challenging exams covering advanced aviation topics. All these exams are regulated by the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and follow EASA-style multiple-choice questions.
Top Online Resources for UK Pilot Practice Questions
One of the best ways to get a better understanding of pilot exams is to check out question banks and mock papers available online. These online resources are by far the most effective way for candidates to learn not just about the structure of the test but also about how to improve their study strategies.
While there are plenty of mock tests and papers online, here are some of the top online platforms offering practice questions and exams tailored for UK pilots:
JobTestPrep
If you are looking for a practice site that provides you with almost every type of challenging question in aviation, then look no further. This site provides free online resources that can help new and experienced candidates with any type of aviation exam. JobTestPrep provides free practice exams including PILAPT and Cut-e, commonly used by airlines. The resources available here can help candidates interpret data, solve matrices, and enhance overall test performance.
QuizAero
One of the best things about QuizAero is that it provides versatility for beginners and experienced students in aviation. Whether you are just starting and want to understand the structure of the tests or are someone who wants the most challenging questions to test their knowledge, this site can provide you with both experiences.
Furthermore, if you want to test your knowledge on various light aircraft then this site will provide you with questions related to not only fixed and flex-winged aircraft but also microlights and helicopters, making it an all-encompassing platform for practice questions. Their database is curated by UK flight examiners, ensuring alignment with actual exam content – so you will be getting a very close mock of the real tests!
AirQuiz
AirQuiz is for candidates who want highly standardised mock tests that replicate the real tests conducted by the CAA. This site is known for its large user base of student pilots and is an excellent spot for testing and increasing your aviation knowledge. The site features extensive resources and provides challenging questions for all types of pilots. AirQuiz also specialises in online practice examinations for EASA PPL(A) and UK IMC certifications. The best thing about this platform is that AirQuiz’s questions are regularly updated by a team of examiners and instructors to reflect current standards which enables students to prepare based on the most up-to-date questions.
Pilot Assessments
This site is known for its no-frills and straight-to-the-point resources. While not the prettiest question bank site on the internet, Pilot Assessment is one of the most visited sites for candidates who want to expand their learning and test their aptitude. This site provides free resources for student pilots who want to ace several certifications or regular tests.
The best part about this platform is that it continuously updates its repository and provides the most up-to-date question banks for everyone!
Modular Pilot Training Blog
If you want a continuously evolving and opinion-based question bank site, then look no further than Modular Pilot Training. Also doubling as an interesting aviation blog, this site provides up-to-date questions pooled from actual students who have recently taken their exams.
Not only do you get a large database of challenging questions to expand and test your learning, but you can also get meaningful advice on passing the PPL theory exams, including further recommendations for study materials and practice questions platforms like PPL Cruiser and AirQuiz.
Top Challenges for Student Pilots Starting In Aviation
Flight training is extensive, exhaustive, and requires a lot of attention. This isn’t just a side skill that you learn and then grow out of. Once you enter a flight programme, you can be sure that you will come out the other side a changed person.
There are several challenges to learning to fly a light aircraft for student pilots. Let’s go over some of the most common ones:
Financial Challenges
We wish we could tell you that aviation is affordable for everyone and is cheaper thanks to numerous subsidies – but this is unfortunately not the case, at least for now and the foreseeable future. The truth is that aviation is a capital-extensive field that requires considerable investment that is spread across operations using industry standards, and businessmen come up with a viable pricing strategy that helps them offset the initial cost and earn profit.
Learning to fly, even as a hobby can be expensive. Flight training programmes involve various fees such as aircraft rental fees, fuel costs, training materials, licencing fees, medical licencing fees, flight training fees, documentation fees, certification fees, and much more. Adding all these fees can reveal a very large lump sum of money!
This exuberant cost is why many candidates must first understand the financial requirements of taking up aviation. While there are some discounts, scholarships, deals/offers, and incentives, the fact is flight training programmes will still require a considerable investment from students.
For example, the average cost for a private licence can go anywhere between £12,000 and £16,000, and learning to become a commercial pilot requires even deeper pockets since CPL programmes are more in-depth.
The good news is that comprehensive flight schools, such as Sherburn Aero Club, offer dedicated programs for young pilots looking to get into commercial aviation early. One benefit of this is that they get subsidised pricing and the ability to graduate earlier and start earning from their commercial licence as soon as possible.
To make it easier on your pocket, we recommend that you apply for incentives, scholarships, and any new offers that may arise during your training to get financial relief.
Study Challenges
New students, especially the ones coming from a variety of backgrounds can find the technical world of aviation a bit too challenging. Not only do these students have to learn from scratch but they also must get accustomed to the exam structure and the varying difficulty levels of each subject.
Keep in mind that these tests are designed to evolve with the new policies in aviation which is why students are encouraged to keep their eye on every type of news related to aviation. Students may also find studying these dense subjects difficult on their own which is why we recommend that you try to form small study groups where you can learn together and test each other’s knowledge.
Finally, it is also important to continuously test your knowledge using question banks and mock exams. These exams are designed to replicate real-world exams and are a great way to get an idea about your preparation. If you fail the mock tests, don’t worry, take note of every question that you got wrong and what you can add to your learning to make it better.
Mock exams are perhaps the only way to truly gauge your preparation, so we recommend that you either subscribe to one of the paid platforms or opt for free online resources to push your preparation to new heights.
Technical Challenges
Apart from studying, there are also several practical and technical challenges students can face during their training. One common problem student pilots face early on is overcoming the technical jargon used in flight training.
If you were to listen to the technical terms as a layman, you would probably be left scratching your head, however, the terms used in aviation are very intentional and are designed to convey important information in the most efficient way possible, hence the numerous abbreviations and mnemonics.
Keep in mind that aviation is a highly technical field that requires pilots to be highly well-versed in all the lingo and technicalities of flight training.
This can be challenging for newcomers in aviation, however, if you focus on training your technical knowledge using question banks, you can get a very good idea about the lingo in aviation – without taking too much time. Again, we recommend that you look at online resources that can help you get started. The earlier you start, the more your flight training will make sense. As a bonus, we also suggest watching instructional videos, and general aviation-related videos, and learning from additional materials for the best results.
Physical and Mental Challenges
Flight training is more than just about flying aircraft. It entails both mental and physical skills. These skills come together to help the pilot navigate everyday operations and, especially, emergencies. Physical and mental aptitudes are a vital requirement for any great pilot and if you want to excel in your hobby or career in aviation, then you will have to strengthen yourself mentally and physically.
Furthermore, pilots will also need to build a strong mindset and adopt healthy behaviours which help them forge a strong personality. In other words, they will need to adopt a professional mindset when pursuing a hobby or career in aviation. As an example, we suggest that if you meet any accomplished pilot, you will immediately notice their calm demeanour and strategic thinking skills. These skills make them highly respectable people and capable pilots. Keep in mind that pilots are required to make quick decisions in various circumstances which is why they need to build a highly versatile and adaptable mindset.
If this doesn’t sound like you then don’t worry. Every pilot starts fresh and even if they innately don’t have these skills, the flight and ground training that you will receive will sharpen your intuition and skills over time.
WHY CHOOSE SHERBURN AERO CLUB?
Sherburn Aero Club, which has been operational since 1964, is the ideal place for most of your training and flying needs. It is one of the largest flying clubs in the North of England and also one of the largest in the country.
With a large fleet of new aircraft and an airfield refurbishment with new runways, hangars, and an extended clubhouse, Sherburn caters to brand-new flyers who have just started their journey to the skies, as well as seasoned flyers who have been operating aircraft for decades.
If you wish to begin your career in aviation or wish to take to the skies as a hobby, Sherburn’s flight training school offers private and commercial licences, along with pilot medicals to ensure a smooth journey going forward.
Sherburn offers a dedicated day-long Flight Radiotelephony Operator’s Licence (FRTOL) course for those wishing to get the certification, running the first Sunday of every month.
For those who wish to experience the thrill of a flight for fun or to help fuel their aviation dreams, Sherburn offers experience flights for the newbie, as well as the veteran.
The flight experience option is also available for people who wish to take to the skies for special occasions, even if they aren’t into aviation in the long run.
In addition to that, if you are looking for a hangarage for your own aircraft, need servicing or repairs, want to buy a new aircraft or aviation equipment, or are just looking to enjoy and watch the aircraft, Sherburn Aero Club is the place to be.
Call us on 01977 682 674, email us at flightdesk@sherburnaeroclub.com, or message us via our online contact form for more information on the top online resources for UK pilot practice questions and flight training at Sherburn.
Photo by Lorin Both on Unsplash
