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ATPL subject 021

ATPL Aircraft General Knowledge: what it covers and how to study it

Aircraft General Knowledge (subject 021) covers how the aeroplane is built and how its systems and engines work. In the Mastering ATPL series it is split into two books: Airframe and Systems, and Powerplant and Electrics.

By Matthew Dowell, airline training captain and Chief Flight Instructor. A revision guide, not approved by any regulator. Your training organisation sets the syllabus and exam rules, and regulations always take precedence.

What the Aircraft General Knowledge paper covers

• Airframe and structure
• Hydraulics and flight controls
• Pneumatics, air conditioning and pressurisation
• Fuel systems and fire protection
• Electrical systems
• Piston and turbine engines

Where students find it hard

This paper rewards understanding over memory. Questions describe a fault or a change and ask what follows, so students who can only recall a system diagram struggle when the question is turned round. Electrics and turbine engines are common stumbling blocks because they build on earlier ideas.

How to study Aircraft General Knowledge

• For each system, be able to trace cause and effect: what happens if this component fails?
• Draw the main systems from memory, then check your drawing against the book.
• Study electrics and engines in small steps, and make sure each step is clear before the next.

The Mastering ATPL book for this subject

The two books together cover the whole subject, and each is organised by system so you can study one at a time. Powerplant and Electrics is on Amazon and the Other stores links; Airframe and Systems is on the Other stores links, with Amazon to follow.

Mastering ATPL · Subject 021

Airframe and Systems

Aircraft General Knowledge, part 1: structure, hydraulics, flight controls, pneumatics, fuel and fire.

Buy on Amazon UK Amazon US Other stores

Also on Amazon in Europe: Amazon.de · Amazon.fr · Amazon.es · Amazon.it · Amazon.nl

Mastering ATPL · Subject 021

Powerplant and Electrics

Aircraft General Knowledge, part 2: electrics, piston and turbine engines.

Buy on Amazon UK Amazon US Other stores

Also on Amazon in Europe: Amazon.de · Amazon.fr · Amazon.es · Amazon.it · Amazon.nl

How this book is organised

The subject is covered by two books, Airframe and Systems and Powerplant and Electrics, and each is organised by system so you can study one system at a time. Between them they follow the topics listed above, from airframe and structure to piston and turbine engines. Each book is a revision guide and question bank built on the full published learning objectives for the subject, and each ends with a mock examination weighted as the real one.

Related subjects

• ATPL Instrumentation
• ATPL Principles of Flight
• ATPL Air Law

See also: all 13 ATPL subjects and 14 study guides · how the EASA ATPL exams work · what order to study and sit the papers · Aircraft General Knowledge in the airline technical interview.