Maricopa Community Colleges  AET107   19952-99999 
Official Course Description: MCCCD Approval: 11/22/94
AET107 19952-99999 LEC 5 Credit(s) 5 Period(s)
Private Pilot Ground School
Ground school in preparation for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Private Pilot Certificate written examination. Includes aerodynamics, airplane systems, airports, airspace, communications, Federal Air Regulations, navigation, airplane performance, flight planning, and flight physiology. Requires passing a written exam similar to the FAA Private Pilot written exam. Prerequisites: None. Corequisite: AET110.
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MCCCD Official Course Competencies:
 
AET107   19952-99999 Private Pilot Ground School
1. Name and explain the function of primary and secondary flight controls. (I)
2. Describe the factors affecting stability, lift, and maneuvering flight loads. (I)
3. Name the basic pitot-static instruments and describe their limitations. (II)
4. Describe the purpose of essential engine accessories and instruments. (II)
5. Use the Federal Aviation Regulations to determine qualification requirements, privileges, limitations, and responsibilities of student, recreational, and private pilots. (III)
6. Explain the use and limitations of the five classes of airspace. (IV)
7. Calculate airplane weight and balance. (V)
8. Determine airplane performance using charts and graphs. (VI)
9. Measure temperature and explain its effect upon weather. (VII)
10. Explain the thunderstorm development cycle. (VIII)
11. Predict wind shear and explain its effect on an airplane. (VIII)
12. Define common aviation weather report abbreviations. (IX)
13. Differentiate between area, terminal, and winds aloft forecasts. (IX)
14. Identify weather chart symbols. (X)
15. Procure local and enroute weather forecasts. (XI)
16. Demonstrate use of navigation charts. (XII)
17. Use flight computer. (XIII)
18. Describe radio navigation systems. (XIV)
19. Explain factors impacting route selection. (XV)
20. Plan a 250-mile cross-country flight, determining times, distances, directions, and facilities available. (XV)
21. Explain the effect of psychological, physiological, and medical factors affecting pilots during flight. (XVI)
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MCCCD Official Course Outline:
 
AET107   19952-99999 Private Pilot Ground School
    I. Airplane Components and Aerodynamics
        A. Airplane components
        B. Cockpit familiarization
        C. Four forces acting on an airplane
        D. Primary and secondary flight controls
        E. Maneuvering flight loads
      II. Engines, Systems, and Instruments
          A. Aircraft engines
          B. Aircraft Systems
          C. Pitot-static instruments
          D. Gyroscopic instruments
          E. Magnetic compass
        III. Federal Aviation Regulations (FARs)
            A. FAR Part 1
            B. Airman's Information Manual Glossary
            C. National Transportation Safety Board 830
            D. FAR Part 61
            E. FAR Part 91
          IV. Airports, Airspace, and Communications
              A. Introduction to airports
              B. Airspace classifications
              C. Radio communications
              D. Airport Operations
            V. Weight and Balance
                A. Terminology
                B. Implications
                C. Calculations
              VI. Airplane Performance
                  A. Affects of atmospheric conditions
                  B. Use of performance charts and graphs
                  C. Takeoff and landing performance
                  D. Climb performance
                  E. Cruise performance
                  F. Descents, glides, and load factors
                VII. Weather Theory and Patterns
                    A. The earth's atmosphere
                    B. Temperature characteristics and lapse rate
                    C. Atmospheric pressure and circulation
                    D. Cyclones and anticyclones
                    E. Local wind effects
                    F. Atmospheric moisture and stability
                    G. Clouds and cloud types
                    H. Airmass types and source regions
                    I. Fronts and associated weather
                  VIII. Weather Factors
                      A. Thunderstorms
                      B. Icing
                      C. Fog and other visibility restrictions
                      D. Turbulence
                        1. Atmospheric turbulence
                        2. Wake turbulence
                        3. Obstructions turbulence
                      E. Recognition of critical weather situations from the ground and in flight
                    IX. Weather Reports and Forecasts
                        A. Aviation forecasting services
                        B. Surface aviation weather reports
                        C. Terminal forecasts
                        D. Area forecasts
                        E. Winds and temperature aloft forecasts
                        F. Airmets
                        G. Sigmets
                        H. Convective Sigmets
                        I. Pireps
                      X. Weather Charts
                          A. Pictorial weather
                          B. Surface analysis
                          C. Weather depiction
                          D. Low level prognostic
                          E. Radar summary
                        XI. The Procurement of Weather Information
                            A. National Weather Service
                            B. Flight Service Stations
                            C. Weather briefings
                            D. Weather checklist
                            E. Departure, enroute, and destination weather
                            F. Current and forecast weather
                            G. Special hazards
                            H. Weather log
                          XII. Aeronautical Charts and Publications
                              A. Features
                              B. Types of aeronautical charts
                              C. Sectional
                              D. Flight Information Publications
                            XIII. Flight Computers
                                A. Types
                                B. Use of flight computer - calculator side
                                C. Use of flight computer - wind side
                              XIV. Navigation
                                  A. Pilotage
                                  B. Dead reckoning
                                  C. Navigation Logs
                                  D. Radio Navigation - Variable Omni Range (VOR)
                                  E. Radio Navigation - Automatic Direction Finder with Non- Directional Beacon (ADF/NDB)
                                XV. Cross-Country Flight Planning
                                    A. Go/no-go decision making
                                    B. Implications of aircraft loading
                                    C. Route selection
                                    D. Altitude selection
                                    E. Completion of navigation log
                                    F. Cross-Country Flight Simulation
                                  XVI. Physiology
                                      A. Oxygen and altitude
                                      B. Medical factors
                                      C. Pilot factors
                                      D. Sensory system and illusions
                                      E. Sensations in flight
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