PPL Mentor Select Topics

Human Performance

HP focuses on what flight does to the human body, it is relatively straightforward, interesting and logical subject. Most people find this the easiest subject to get into and pass. If there is a chance your PPL training may extend beyond two years, take HP as your last exam (see the PPLmentor.com introduction to Ground School).

The specific topics and sub-topics are shown below, tick which of these you require.

Human Performance

Human Physiology and Flying, The brain, nervous system, blood circulation, The atmosphere, oxygen requirements, hypoxia and anaemia. Carbon dioxide & Carbon monoxide. Hyperventilation, barotrauma, Scuba diving. Pooleys chapter 1

Eyesight, Vision and structure of the eye, blind spot. Peripheral, binocular, colour vision. Night vision and lighting. Visual scanning techniques. Visual illusions & perspective. Glasses, contact lenses and eyesight deficiency correction. Pooleys chapter 2

Hearing & Balance, The structure of the ear, sound, levels & frequencies. Semi-circular canals, the capula and & balance. Sensing orientation, gravity & acceleration. Vestibular illusions & motion sickness. Pooleys chapter 3.

10 Health, Hygiene & Fitness, Personal fitness both mentally and physically. Medical checks, medication, alcohol. Stress management & stressors. Fatigue, sleep, sleep disorders & Jet lag. sleep, illnesses, food hygiene, infectious disease. Pooleys chapter 4-5.

Information Processing, The Brain, reflex actions, autonomic, stimulation & perception, expectation & confusion, memory & motor programming. Decision making & personality, cockpit management, crew coordination and leadership. Airmanship, situation awareness, threat and error management. Pooleys chapters 6-8.

Flight Deck, Layout of controls & pilot positioning. Analogue -vs- digital, AI, DI, ASI, altimeter, ASI, flight director, ADF & VOR / HSI. Glass panels and head up displays. Checklists, scanning techniques and airfield markings. Pooleys chapter 9.

Safety, First Aid & Survival, Passenger briefings & use of equipment. First Aid. Survival, flight plans, ELTs, communication and signals. Ditching, sea & land survival. Pooleys chapters 10-12.

Select / deselect all the sub-topics

Additional resource that may be useful to Human Performance