Flight Performance and Planning 1

1. Basic requirements for VFR flight planning. Aeronautical charts for navigation, aerodrome charts, Aeronautical Information Publication (AIP).
2. Planning of altitudes, airspeeds and headings. Basic navigation calculations. Fuel planning and calculation. In-flight fuel monitoring.
3. ICAO flight plan and its use for VFR flights. Routes, aerodromes and procedures.
4. Mass and balance. Maximum mass limitations. Calculation of aircraft mass and centre of gravity (CG). Forward and aft CG limits. Effects of aircraft mass and CG position on flight performance and handling characteristics. Associated hazards.
5. Take-off and climb performance. Factors affecting take-off distance. Use of flaps. Performance calculations and use of the Aircraft Flight Manual (AFM). Level-flight performance. Range and endurance and the factors affecting them. Use of the Aircraft Flight Manual. Descent and gliding performance.
6. Landing performance and required landing distance. Factors affecting landing distance. Use of flaps. Performance calculations and use of the Aircraft Flight Manual (AFM).
7. Air temperature and heat: physical principles, measurement and heat transfer. Heating and cooling of the atmosphere. Horizontal and vertical temperature distribution and their causes. Temperature near the Earth's surface and surface effects. Effects of cloud cover and wind. Vertical temperature distribution in the troposphere and tropopause. Diurnal temperature variation and temperature and climatic cycles.
8. Atmospheric pressure and air density. Measurement and vertical and horizontal distribution of pressure and their causes. Representation of pressure on meteorological charts. Isobars and isobaric surfaces. Variation of pressure with altitude. Altimetry and altitude measurement. QNH, QFF, QFE and QNE. Relationship between pressure, temperature and density. Pressure systems and their global distribution. Location of the principal pressure systems.
9. Definition and measurement of wind. Causes of wind. Pressure-gradient force, Coriolis force, geostrophic wind and gradient wind. Determination of wind speed and direction. Convergence, divergence and subsidence. General atmospheric circulation around the Earth. Local winds. Anabatic and katabatic flows. Land and sea breezes.
10. Humidity and water vapour in the atmosphere. Condensation, evaporation, sublimation, freezing and melting. Latent heat. Relative and absolute humidity. Temperature and dew point. Mixing ratio. Adiabatic processes and cloud formation. Clouds, precipitation and visibility: cloud types and cloud classification. Flying conditions associated with different cloud types. Fog, mist and haze. Types of fog and their formation mechanisms. Precipitation, development of precipitation, types of precipitation and their relationship to cloud types. Atmospheric stability: causes and physical principles. Interpretation and evaluation of upper-air soundings.
11. Types of air masses and their characteristics. Factors affecting the properties of air masses. Classification of air masses according to their source regions and their transformation. Warm fronts and associated cloud and weather conditions. Warm sectors and associated cloud and weather conditions. Second-type cold fronts and associated cloud and weather conditions. Weather conditions behind a cold front. Warm and cold occlusions and their associated cloud and weather conditions. Movement of fronts and pressure systems and their life cycles.
12. Thunderstorms: thunderstorm structure and sequence of development stages. Thunderstorm cells. Frontal and air-mass (heat) thunderstorms. Conditions required for thunderstorm formation and the development process. Forecasting and typical areas of occurrence. Meteorological hazards to flight: turbulence and its effects on aircraft. Wind shear and associated meteorological conditions. Clear-Air Turbulence (CAT) and its effects on flight. Thermal turbulence. Hazards in mountainous areas, including vertical air movements, mountain waves, wind shear and turbulence. Icing. Phenomena reducing visibility: reduction in visibility caused by fog, mist, smoke, dust, sand and precipitation. Reduction in visibility caused by drifting and blowing snow.
13. Meteorological charts: Significant Weather (SIGWX) charts, surface charts and upper-air charts. Symbols and conventions used on analysis and forecast charts. Meteorological information for flight planning and flight operations. Content and use of pre-flight meteorological information. Meteorological briefing and consultation.