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Key Facts: EASA ATPL 081 Principles of Flight Exam
46 questions
Exam Length
EASA ECQB 2026 subject 081
1 h 30 min
Time Limit
EASA ATPL(A) theory
75%
Pass Mark (no negative marking)
EASA Part-FCL
4 attempts
Maximum Attempts per Subject
FCL.025
18 months
Window to Pass All Subjects
FCL.025
13 subjects
ATPL(A) Theory Subjects
EASA Part-FCL
+2.5 / -1.0 g
Normal-Category Limit Load Factors
CS-25 / V-n diagram
EASA ATPL 081 Principles of Flight (Aeroplanes) is a theoretical-knowledge subject taken by airline-transport pilot candidates through an Approved Training Organisation. The computer-based exam has 46 single-best-answer multiple-choice questions, a 90-minute time limit, a 75% pass mark and no negative marking, drawn from the European Central Question Bank (ECQB 2026). Content spans subsonic aerodynamics (continuity and Bernoulli, lift and drag coefficients, induced drag, wingtip vortices, ground effect, high-lift devices and the total-drag curve); high-speed aerodynamics (Mach number, critical Mach, shock waves and wave drag, swept wings, area rule, buffet and coffin corner, Mach trim); the stall (boundary-layer separation, stall-speed factors, deep stall, spins, stick shaker and pusher); stability (static and dynamic, CG effects, Dutch roll, spiral and phugoid modes); control (adverse yaw, trim and balance tabs, mass balance, flutter); limitations (V-n diagram, VA, VMO/MMO, load factors, gust loads); and propellers and flight mechanics including VMCA and the critical engine. Under FCL.025 candidates have up to four attempts per subject and must pass all subjects within 18 months.
Sample EASA ATPL 081 Principles of Flight Practice Questions
Try these sample questions to test your EASA ATPL 081 Principles of Flight exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.
1Applying the continuity equation to incompressible, subsonic flow through a streamtube, what happens to the flow velocity as the cross-sectional area of the tube decreases?
2According to Bernoulli's theorem for incompressible flow, if the static pressure in a streamtube decreases, what must happen to the dynamic pressure, assuming total pressure remains constant?
3Dynamic pressure (q) is calculated using which expression, where rho is air density and V is true airspeed?
4On a conventional cambered aerofoil at a small positive angle of attack, the chordwise point of lowest static pressure (suction peak) is normally located:
5What is the definition of the chord line of an aerofoil section?
6In the lift equation L = CL x 1/2 rho V^2 x S, for a given aeroplane in straight-and-level flight, if true airspeed is doubled while remaining subsonic and lift is held equal to weight, the required lift coefficient CL must:
7On a typical CL versus angle-of-attack curve for a subsonic aerofoil, the lift coefficient reaches its maximum value (CLMAX) at approximately:
8How does the centre of pressure of a conventional cambered aerofoil move as the angle of attack is increased from a low value toward the stall?
9Induced drag on a wing of finite span is primarily caused by:
10How does induced drag vary with indicated airspeed in steady level flight, all else being equal?
About the EASA ATPL 081 Principles of Flight Exam
Principles of Flight (subject 081) is one of the 13 theoretical-knowledge subjects of the EASA ATPL(A) examination. It tests the aerodynamics, stability, control and flight mechanics that govern how an aeroplane flies, from low-speed lift and drag through transonic shock waves to stall, spin and asymmetric-flight behaviour. Questions are computer-based, single-best-answer multiple choice drawn from the European Central Question Bank (current release ECQB 2026). The subject contains 46 questions in 1 hour 30 minutes, with a 75% pass mark and no negative marking.
Questions
46 scored questions
Time Limit
1 hour 30 minutes
Passing Score
75% per subject (no negative marking)
Exam Fee
Approx. EUR 60-130 per subject sitting (set by each national aviation authority) (EASA national aviation authorities, computer-based testing (commonly LPLUS TestStudio) drawing from the European Central Question Bank)
EASA ATPL 081 Principles of Flight Exam Content Outline
Subsonic Aerodynamics
Continuity equation and Bernoulli's theorem, dynamic pressure, aerofoil terminology and the chord line, CL versus angle-of-attack curve and CLMAX, pressure distribution and movement of the centre of pressure, the aerodynamic centre at 25% chord, downwash, ground effect, induced drag and aspect ratio, wingtip vortices and winglets, parasite drag and the total-drag curve with VMD, plus flaps, slats and spoilers
High-Speed Aerodynamics
Mach number and the temperature-dependent local speed of sound, critical Mach number, normal shock waves with their pressure/temperature rise and velocity drop, wave drag and drag-divergence Mach number, sweepback raising MCRIT, area rule, low-speed and high-speed (Mach) buffet, coffin corner, and Mach trim countering Mach tuck
The Stall
The stall as an angle-of-attack phenomenon, boundary-layer separation in an adverse pressure gradient, factors raising stall speed (mass, load factor, contamination), accelerated stalls, deep stall on T-tail aircraft, spin autorotation and recovery (opposite rudder then forward elevator), and stall protection by stick shaker and stick pusher
Stability
Static versus dynamic stability, longitudinal stability and the restoring nose-down moment, CG effects on stability and stick force per g, the neutral point and static margin, lateral stability from dihedral, directional stability from the fin, Dutch roll and the yaw damper, spiral instability, and the phugoid and short-period oscillations
Control
Elevator, aileron and rudder effectiveness and the role of dynamic pressure, adverse yaw and its cures (coordinated rudder, differential and Frise ailerons), trim tabs, servo/balance and anti-balance tabs, horn aerodynamic balance, mass balancing to prevent flutter, and control-force feel
Limitations & Flight Envelope
The V-n diagram with its CLMAX stall boundary and limit load factor, design manoeuvring speed VA and its variation with mass, load factor in level turns (n = 1/cos bank), VMO/MMO and the crossover altitude, VNE/VDF, VLE/VLO, gust loads and turbulence penetration speed, and typical normal-category limit load factors of +2.5/-1.0 g
Propellers & Flight Mechanics
Blade angle versus blade angle of attack, constant-speed propeller governing and feathering, propeller efficiency, torque reaction and P-factor, VMCA definition (5-degree bank, maximum rudder) and the factors that change it, the critical engine, and the force balance in climb, glide and turning flight
How to Pass the EASA ATPL 081 Principles of Flight Exam
What You Need to Know
- Passing score: 75% per subject (no negative marking)
- Exam length: 46 questions
- Time limit: 1 hour 30 minutes
- Exam fee: Approx. EUR 60-130 per subject sitting (set by each national aviation authority)
Keys to Passing
- Complete 500+ practice questions
- Score 80%+ consistently before scheduling
- Focus on highest-weighted sections
- Use our AI tutor for tough concepts
EASA ATPL 081 Principles of Flight Study Tips from Top Performers
Frequently Asked Questions
How many questions are on the EASA ATPL 081 Principles of Flight exam and how long does it last?
Subject 081 has 46 multiple-choice questions and a time limit of 1 hour 30 minutes. The pass mark is 75% and there is no negative marking, so unanswered or wrong questions simply score zero.
What topics does Principles of Flight (081) cover?
It covers subsonic aerodynamics (lift, drag, induced drag, high-lift devices), high-speed aerodynamics (Mach number, shock waves, wave drag, swept wings, buffet), the stall and spin, stability, control, flight-envelope limitations including the V-n diagram, and propellers with asymmetric-flight topics such as VMCA and the critical engine.
What is the pass mark for EASA ATPL theory exams?
Every EASA ATPL theoretical-knowledge subject, including 081, requires a minimum of 75% to pass. Under FCL.025 a candidate may attempt each subject up to four times, sit no more than six exam sessions, and must pass all subjects within an 18-month window.
What is VMCA and why is it tested in 081?
VMCA is the minimum control speed in the air with the critical engine inoperative - the lowest speed at which straight flight can be held with maximum rudder and not more than 5 degrees of bank toward the live engine. 081 tests the factors that raise VMCA, such as higher air density (lower altitude) increasing asymmetric thrust.
What is coffin corner?
Coffin corner is the narrow band of speed at high altitude where the low-speed (pre-stall) buffet boundary and the high-speed Mach buffet boundary converge. It defines the aerodynamic ceiling, leaving very little margin between stalling and Mach buffet.
Is the exam based on the ECQB, and is it current for 2026?
Yes. Questions are drawn from the European Central Question Bank, currently released as ECQB 2026. The 2026 release is a content refresh; the 46-question count, 90-minute duration and 2020 syllabus structure are unchanged.
How does load factor affect stall speed?
Stall speed increases with the square root of load factor. In a level 60-degree-bank turn the load factor is 2 g (1/cos 60), so the stall speed rises by a factor of about 1.41, roughly a 41% increase over the 1 g stall speed.