Aviation Theory Education (Part C)

C.1.0   Aviation Theory General Concepts

Aviation theory is intended to be an integral part of flying and provides the pilot with background tools to help make appropriate manipulative and command decisions.

Unfortunately for aviation standards and for flying efficiency the theory and the flying are often treated as separate activities in ab-initio training. The theory is often regarded as an examination that must be passed to allow the pilot to take a flight test so the theory training becomes examination driven and the students are just taught to pass examination questions.

At Professional Pilot Training the theory, personal development and flying skills are all integrated so that the student must understand the theory and then how it is applied in an operational sense. The Flying Instructors teach the theory. Often the flying briefing for navigation, stalls, turning, night etc are used as the master for organising and teaching a theory subject. The instructors use the same terminology and concepts in the classroom and in the air.

The full cockpit synthetic trainer and the flying classroom are used as a training aid to explain theory subjects. By using these techniques the students gain an in-depth practical knowledge of theory and understand how it is applied in the air.

Our theory is also modified to incorporate the educational techniques used by the schools in the country of the cadets secondary education. For example in PNG the English wording uses short sentences and the students are provided with an individual text book that they can study at home. PPT provides a text book for each subject that the student can modify as required for their study habits.

PPT teaches study techniques and encourages the use of tools such as mind mapping to assist in study and examination preparation. Computers are available for researching information on the internet or preparing formal reports and keeping personal notes.

The results of our theory training are excellent, we confidently claim that they are unmatched by any flying or theory school in Australia including those teaching Australian university students.

The private, commercial, IREX and ATPL examinations are set, supervised and marked by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority. Examinations prior to Basic Aeronautical Knowledge are internally set and examined.

The standards achieved in the flying and academics also reflect good selection practices. To achieve high academic standards the candidate must be able to demonstrate that they have achieved an excellent standard during secondary education. PPT conducts aptitude testing on applicants. Those applicants who will struggle with the academics are identified and not placed on training