PPL SYLLABUS

[jimdavis]

Hello Colin

I believe that the current move to moderate the PPL exam questions is largely a waste of time and resources because the questions are based on a seriously flawed syllabus.

To do the job properly and to ensure that future generations of pilots and instructors are taught the fundamentals of airmanship and safe flight, the syllabus needs a complete overhaul.

As you possibly know I have been testing the water by using Avcom to find out how the aviation community responds to the above. Here are the results:

Topic: SUSPECT & IRRELEVANT EXAM QUESTIONS received over 170 responses - many of which listed several problem questions.
Topic: JIM DAVIS PETITION which called for support of the statement "THE SYLLABUS SHOULD BE ENTIRELY CONCERNED WITH SAFETY AT PPL LEVEL. ANY MATERIAL THAT HAS NO BEARING ON SAFETY SHOULD BE DROPPED" received 100 overwhelmingly positive responses.

The details of both these posts can be studied on Avcom.

While I know that these figures may seem small, it must be understood that the majority of licenced pilots have no interest in such things and know almost nothing of the current syllabus and PPL exams. So my surveys have only eliciting responses from members who are currently battling with these problems. So it seems a large percentage of this vital sector of aviation are indeed concerned and have first-hand knowledge of the system.

A syllabus that requires pilots to learn the names of the chambers of the heart, but pays scant attention to the practical problems of landing on wet grass, is bound to increase the accident rate. There are many examples of this sort of thing. There are even Com questions about Doppler Nav systems which haven't been used for a quarter of a century.

I believe that unless CAA takes this seriously and embarks on a total overhaul of the syllabus, it will be responsible for the blood of future generations of pilots.

My surveys on Avcom show that I am not alone in this opinion.

Unfortunately handing the problem to the people who have created it is not the solution. It needs to be viewed with the fresh eyes of someone or some organisation who are knowledgeable and passionate about flying training. It will certainly cost money to get the right people on board, but it has to be worth it when compared with the cost of accidents caused by flawed foundations in the pilot training system.

All the best

Jim Davis

[Colin Jordaan]

Dear JD
Thank you for raising the issue about the PPL syllabus and Exams.
You are quite right that the CAA has concentrated on reducing the number of reference books required and moderating the exam questions because this is what the flight schools requested us to do.
The second phase has been to look at our pilot licencing process in toto. Part 61 was developed by the instructor and flying community over a period of 14 years, and when it was finally published, everyone knew that it was far from perfect, but how long can you continue in committee trying to satisfy everybody.
I have read all 102 posts and have passed them on to “the people that are accused of creating the mess in the first place”.
I must remind you that the CAA’s presence on Carcom is limited, and it is in fact the flying community itself that largely decides on our Regulations.
I think it is rather churlish to blame a couple of individuals at the CAA for the current situation.
I have requested our team to follow a simpler path, namely to identify a pilot licencing system from a country, that is simple and that works. We will then copy it, lock stock and barrel. We are busy with that process right now. Once we have identified such a system, it will be submitted to Carcom.
I do not believe in re-inventing the wheel, and the only changes that should be made are where local conditions dictate this.
We will update this blog as soon as we have more information.
Best regards
CJ

[codegit]

Dear JD
I have requested our team to follow a simpler path, namely to identify a pilot licencing system from a country, that is simple and that works. We will then copy it, lock stock and barrel. We are busy with that process right now. Once we have identified such a system, it will be submitted to Carcom.
I do not believe in re-inventing the wheel, and the only changes that should be made are where local conditions dictate this.
We will update this blog as soon as we have more information.
Best regards
CJ

Hi Colin

Will you please give us an update on progress with regard to the new "pilot licensing system"???

Regards
James

[Colin Jordaan]

Dear Jim and all interested parties.
The new "pilot licencing system" in my previous response refers to adopting the rules and syllabus of another country, modifed to suit SA conditions. This will not happen overnight and it will be difficult to give an exact timeline. We have however committed to a complete overhaul of all of the Regulations within 1 year of the new Aviation Act becoming effective, which is scheduled to take place on 1 October 2009. Hope this helps

[jimdavis]

Dear Jim and all interested parties.
The new "pilot licencing system" in my previous response refers to adopting the rules and syllabus of another country, modifed to suit SA conditions. This will not happen overnight and it will be difficult to give an exact timeline. We have however committed to a complete overhaul of all of the Regulations within 1 year of the new Aviation Act becoming effective, which is scheduled to take place on 1 October 2009. Hope this helps

Thanks for the update, Colin. It does indeed help folks who are planning their future.

All the best

Jim

[marco]

Some news about the 1 october date?

regards

Marco

[Colin Jordaan]

The Aviation Act implementation date is the responsibility of the National Dept of Transport and it has been slipping repeatedly (for various reasons). We are however expecting it to be before the end of this year.

[marco]

any news or upgrade?

regards

[Colin Jordaan]

Hi Marco
The latest date we were given was 15 February 2010.

[bullet]

Hi Colin,

Did anything happen on 15 February ? There is understandably a lot of interest in the proposed new PPL syllabus.
Thank you.

[Colin Jordaan]

Dear Bullet
The Act came into effect on 31 March 2010.
We are working on the PPL syllabus

[jimdavis]

Dear Bullet
The Act came into effect on 31 March 2010.
We are working on the PPL syllabus

Thanks for the update Colin. What does it mean to the man in the street? When are changes likely to come into effect? And what will they be?

All the best

Jim