Complete your theoretical knowledge course for the PPL(A) or LAPL(A) at Waterford Aero Club!
As part of the training requirements for either the PPL or LAPL courses, you must complete ground school with an Approved Training Organisation. The ground school provides training towards the nine Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) exams covering the following subjects:
- Air Law
- Human Performance
- Meteorology
- Flight Planning & Performance
- Operational Procedures
- Communications
- Principle of Flight
- Aircraft General Knowledge
- Navigation
Waterford Aero Club provides online ground school training with classes run every twelve weeks.
The class schedule for 2022 is:
| Class 0122 | Class 0222 | Class 0322 | Class 0422 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Class Delivery | 3rd Feb – 12th Mar | 1st May – 5th Jun | 1st Aug – 10th Sep | 1st Nov – 15th Dec |
| Mock Exams | 19th Mar | 11th Jun | 17th Sep | 17th Dec |
| IAA Application Deadline | 29th Mar | 20th Jun | 26th Sep | TBC (Jan 2023) |
| IAA Exams | 19th-21st Apr | 11th-13th Jul | 17th-19th Oct | TBC (Jan 2023) |
Want to enroll?
Each of our subjects can be purchased individually so you can choose how many subjects to study in one class block. The fee per subject is €80 and includes:
- On-line classes
- Pooleys manual (in e-book format or hard copy for €10 supplement)
- Practice questions
- Email access to an instructor if you require any additional support / assistance
- Revision notes
- Mock exam
- IAA exam recommendation
Frequently Asked Questions
Are there any entry requirements?
No, there are no prior educational or experience requirements to enroll on the ground school
course.
I am not a member of Waterford Aero Club – can I enroll?
Yes, non-members are welcome to join the club as an associate member (€50 per year) and
complete the ground school classes.
How long do I have to complete the exams?
The regulations in respect of the examinations are set by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and administered in Ireland by the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA).
- All nine exams must be completed within an 18-month period starting with the date of your first exam attempt.
- The exam results are then valid for 24 months from the date the last exam was passed.
What is the format of the exams?
The exams are computer-based, multiple choice type questions, with each exam ranging from 20 to 60 minutes in duration. The pass grade for each exam is 75%. Here is an example of the question and answer format:
Q: What is the meaning of the abbreviation “VMC”?
A. Instrument flight conditions
B. Variable meteorological conditions
C. Visual meteorological conditions
D. Visual flight rules
Do I have to physically attend classes in Waterford?
No, the entire course is designed to be delivered online over zoom and is scheduled for a mix of evenings and weekends. You will only have to attend Waterford on one Saturday morning per module to complete the mock exams.
How much does it cost to take the IAA exams?
The IAA publish details of the exam fees on their website here: https://www.iaa.ie/personnel-licensing/pilot-licences-(eu-regulations)/examination-dates—multiple-choice-questions-(mcq)/ppl-examinations. It is more cost effective to take the exams in the groupings suggested by the IAA as they charge the same fee for one subject or all subjects in that block.
I am doing an ICAO licence conversion and only need to study Air Law and Human Performance – is that possible?
Yes, each subject is purchased individually so you can choose the subject or subjects you require.
I am learning to fly at another school / club, can I still complete my ground school with Waterford Aero Club?
Yes, the exams can be completed with any training organisation and this can be confirmed with your club/school directly.
Can I take all nine subjects in the one sitting?
Yes, this is possible, but you would need to commit to a significant amount of study and revision time and it’s unlikely to be achievable for someone working full time. For each subject you should allow for approximately three hours of online class time, four to eight hours of self study and one hour for the mock exam.
We recommend that you take the exams over two or three sittings. You should also speak to your flight instructor and get their guidance as to when you are likely to complete your flight training so you can coordinate the completion of both the flight and ground elements.
At what point in my flight training should I start ground school?
Our advice is to start as early as possible. It is best to discuss this directly with your flight
instructor. However, you will need knowledge of Air Law before you solo and Navigation before your cross countries for example.
