What is the Skill Test?
The PPL(A) Skill Test is the final practical examination in accordance with Part-FCL (Annex to Commission Regulation (EU) No 1178/2011, Appendix 7). The test is conducted by a Flight Examiner (FE) authorised by Austro Control. You fly a pre-planned flight with the examiner that covers all relevant licensing requirements.
Prerequisites before you are eligible to sit the test:
- At least 45 hours of flight time (including at least 25 hours dual and 10 hours solo, of which 5 hours must be solo cross-country, including one solo cross-country flight of at least 270 km with full-stop landings at two aerodromes other than the departure aerodrome).
- All 9 theoretical knowledge examinations passed with Austro Control.
- Valid Class 2 medical certificate.
- Recommendation from your flight instructor (Course Completion Certificate from the ATO/DTO).
- Language Proficiency assessment completed.
Procedure on the Day of the Test
Allow approximately 4–5 hours. A typical schedule:
- Briefing & paperwork (approx. 30–45 min): The examiner checks your logbook, medical certificate, theory endorsements, language proficiency entry, and the aircraft documentation set.
- Flight preparation (60–90 min): You receive a routing (typically approx. 100–150 NM with two to three turning points). You carry out a weather briefing, NOTAM check, mass & balance, performance calculation, flight planning with current wind, fuel calculation, and flight plan task.
- Pre-flight with aircraft inspection — observed by the examiner.
- Flight (approx. 90–120 min, depending on weather and route).
- Debriefing with a result for each section.
The Six Sections
The Skill Test is divided into six sections, each assessed separately:
- Section 1 — Pre-flight Operations and Departure: Documentation check, mass & balance, weather, flight planning, pre-flight inspection, engine start, taxi, takeoff, climb, radio communication.
- Section 2 — General Airwork: Steep turns (45°), stalls (clean configuration, landing configuration, approach stall), slow flight, recovery from unusual attitudes, climbs and descents, possibly under foggles for basic instrument flying.
- Section 3 — En-route Procedures: Navigation according to plan, ETA estimation, pilotage, dead reckoning, radio navigation (VOR/GPS), diversion to an alternate aerodrome, altitude and track keeping, radio communication with FIS.
- Section 4 — Approach and Landing Procedures: Approach using the standard circuit, normal landing, short field, soft field, touch and go, go-around, crosswind landing where conditions permit.
- Section 5 — Abnormal and Emergency Procedures: Simulated engine failure (EFATO and at cruise altitude with forced landing), fire, electrical failures, carburettor icing, other system failures per POH.
- Section 6 — Basic Instrument Flight: At least a 180° turn under the hood, straight and level flight, climbs and descents using instruments only.
Assessment: Pass, Partial Pass, Fail
Each section is assessed individually as "pass" or "fail". Possible outcomes:
- Complete pass: All six sections passed. The examiner submits the Skill Test Form to Austro Control; you apply for the licence.
- Partial pass: One section failed — you only need to re-fly that one section, within 6 months of the first attempt.
- More than one section failed or re-test failed: complete re-test (all sections). From the second failed attempt onwards, additional training prescribed by the ATO/DTO may be required.
- Safety-relevant error: If the examiner terminates the test (e.g. airspace infringement, dangerous action), the test is considered failed.
Tolerances to guide you (per AMC to Appendix 9):
- Altitude ±150 ft in normal flight
- Heading ±10°
- Airspeed +10 / −5 kt
- Steep turns: altitude ±100 ft, bank angle ±5°
Preparation — What Really Helps
- Check flight with a senior instructor one to two weeks before the test. Honest feedback — not a feel-good flight.
- Practice the routing in both directions. The examiner chooses the destination, but diversions often come in an unexpected direction.
- Know your POH inside out: V-speeds, emergency checklists (memory items), limitations. These will be tested in a question-and-answer format.
- Radio communication in English or German — depending on the aerodromes involved. Make sure your phraseology is solid, especially distress calls (MAYDAY) and urgency calls (PAN-PAN).
- Mass & balance using real figures, not the standard profile from your training aircraft. Bring your own calculation method.
- Mental simulation: Walk through the entire flight step by step at home. What do you say and do during an engine failure at 800 ft AGL after takeoff?
Common Pitfalls
- Airspace infringement during a diversion because you look at the chart too late.
- Wrong or forgotten checklist on touch and go (carb heat, flaps, trim).
- Forced landing approach too high or too short — practise field selection and the landing pattern honestly.
- Radio errors during frequency changes at high-workload moments.
- Stall recovery with altitude loss >100 ft instead of a clean forward pressure and power application.
If You Fail
No drama — but take it seriously. The examiner will provide written documentation of which section(s) were failed, along with a specific reason. Next steps:
- Debrief with your flight instructor — ideally the following day.
- Targeted additional training (1–3 flights usually suffice for a partial fail).
- Book a new appointment with the same or a different examiner. The examiner fee (typically €300–500 in Austria, depending on the examiner) is payable again, as is the aircraft rental.
- Complete the re-test within 6 months; otherwise the entire Skill Test must be repeated from the beginning.
Failing the Skill Test once does not make you a worse pilot. What matters most is that you address the identified weakness thoroughly before attempting the test again.