Aircraft General Knowledge
Last updated: April 21, 2026 · Maintained by Aviatr Editorial Team
Aircraft General Knowledge (AGK) covers the technical knowledge of how aircraft systems work. For PPL(A) candidates, this includes the piston engine (four-stroke cycle, carburation, fuel injection, magneto ignition, cooling and lubrication systems), fuel types and grades (AVGAS 100LL), propeller operation, the airframe (materials and structural members), flight instruments (altimeter, ASI, VSI, compass, attitude indicator, HSI), electrical systems, hydraulics, undercarriage operation, and emergency equipment. AGK is highly technical and rewards candidates who have hands-on time on their training aircraft. Reading the Pilot Operating Handbook (POH) for your training type alongside study materials reinforces concepts significantly. Common exam areas include propeller effects (torque, gyroscopic precession, slipstream, asymmetric blade effect) and instrument errors.