PPL(A) Theory Examination Austria: Format & Procedure

Overview: What to Expect

The PPL(A) theory examination in Austria is harmonised Europe-wide under Part-FCL and is administered by Austro Control. Testing is conducted by computer (CBT – Computer Based Testing), typically at the Vienna-Schwechat location or at authorised examination sites. All questions are drawn from the ECQB (European Central Question Bank) of EASA – a centralised, non-public question bank that is updated on a regular basis.

You sit all nine subjects as separate examinations. Each subject must be passed individually.

The Nine Subjects in Detail

For the PPL(A) you must complete the following subjects:

1. Air Law
2. Human Performance
3. Meteorology
4. Communications (VFR)
5. Principles of Flight
6. Operational Procedures
7. Flight Performance and Planning
8. Aircraft General Knowledge
9. Navigation

The number of questions per subject varies: smaller subjects such as Communications or Operational Procedures contain 12–16 questions, while larger subjects such as Navigation or Meteorology contain up to 30 questions.

Question Format

All questions are multiple choice with four answer options (A, B, C, D), with exactly one correct answer. There is no penalty for incorrect answers – you should therefore answer every question, even if you have to guess.

Questions are generally available in German; at Austro Control you may choose your language (German or English). Note: some ECQB questions are translated directly from English – if a phrasing seems unusual, checking the original English term can help.

Pass Mark: 75 Percent

You must answer at least 75 % of questions correctly in each individual subject. There is no overall grade – a 95 % result in Meteorology does not compensate for a 70 % result in Air Law. If you fail one subject, you only need to retake that subject.

Time Limits

The time allocated per subject depends on the number of questions. You have approximately 75 seconds per question, which in practice is very comfortable. Indicative figures:

• Air Law: approx. 30 minutes (24 questions)
• Navigation: approx. 45 minutes (30 questions)
• Communications: approx. 20 minutes (16 questions)

The exact times are displayed on screen before each subject. Within a subject you can navigate forwards and backwards between questions and review flagged questions at the end.

Attempts and Deadlines

Key rules under Part-FCL.025:

• You have a maximum of 4 attempts per subject.
• Within one examination session (= a period of 18 months from the date of your first attempt) you must have passed all nine subjects.
• You may use a maximum of 6 sittings.
• Once all nine subjects have been passed, you have 24 months to complete the practical skill test.

If you miss a deadline, you must resit all subjects – including those already passed.

Registration and Prerequisites

Registration for the theory examination is handled through your ATO (Approved Training Organisation) or DTO. Prerequisites:

• Minimum age 16 years (to sit the examination)
• Recommendation from your flying school (Course Completion Certificate)
• Registration via the Austro Control eGov portal

Examination fees at Austro Control are in the low double-digit euro range per subject; exact amounts are subject to change – check the current fee schedule on the Austro Control website.

Strategy: How Many Sittings Should You Plan?

Two to three sittings is the norm. A well-established grouping:

• Sitting 1: Air Law, Communications, Human Performance, Operational Procedures (primarily memory-based subjects)
• Sitting 2: Meteorology, Principles of Flight, Aircraft General Knowledge
• Sitting 3: Navigation, Flight Performance and Planning (calculation-intensive)

Completing everything in a single day is possible, but demanding. Plan realistically.

Tips for Exam Day

• Do not forget your ID – without a valid photo ID document you will not be permitted to sit the examination.
• Permitted aids: non-programmable calculator, navigation equipment (plotter, dividers), flight computer (E6B or CRP-1). Personal notes are not permitted. Charts and tables are provided.
• Arrive early: At least 30 minutes before the scheduled start time.
• Time management: Work through all questions once first, flag difficult ones, then review them calmly at the end.
• Read carefully: Pay close attention to negations ("not", "except") and units (ft vs. m, kt vs. km/h).
• For Navigation and Flight Performance: Allow sufficient time for plotting and calculations, but do not get stuck on a single question.
• No smartwatch, no mobile phone in the examination room – both must be handed in before the examination begins.

After the Examination

Your result is generally displayed immediately upon completion of each subject on screen. A written confirmation follows via the Austro Control eGov portal. Passed subjects remain valid until the end of your examination session.

If you practise systematically – ideally using current ECQB-style questions rather than textbooks alone – the examination is very manageable. Most candidates pass their subjects on the first attempt, provided they do not underestimate the workload.