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Sample SACAA PPL Human Performance Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to review concepts for the SACAA PPL Human Performance exam. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1Approximately what percentage of dry air, by volume, is oxygen?
A.About 21%
B.About 78%
C.About 50%
D.About 4%
Explanation: Dry air is roughly 78% nitrogen and about 21% oxygen (≈20.95%), with argon, carbon dioxide and trace gases making up the remainder.
2Which gas makes up the largest proportion of dry air by volume?
A.Nitrogen
B.Carbon dioxide
C.Oxygen
D.Argon
Explanation: Nitrogen comprises about 78% of dry air by volume and is the dominant atmospheric gas.
3Boyle’s law states that, at constant temperature, the volume of a gas is:
A.Inversely proportional to its pressure
B.Directly proportional to its pressure
C.Independent of pressure
D.Proportional only to humidity
Explanation: Boyle’s law: at constant temperature, gas volume varies inversely with pressure. This explains expansion of trapped body gases during climb.
4Dalton’s law states that the total pressure of a gas mixture equals:
A.The sum of the partial pressures of its constituent gases
B.The pressure of the heaviest gas alone
C.Atmospheric pressure minus vapour pressure only
D.Oxygen partial pressure multiplied by cabin altitude
Explanation: Dalton’s law: total pressure of a mixture equals the sum of each gas’s partial pressure. Oxygen availability at altitude depends on its falling partial pressure.
5Henry’s law is most relevant in aviation physiology when explaining:
A.Why nitrogen can come out of solution and form bubbles during decompression (decompression sickness)
B.Why night vision depends on rods
C.Why the iris changes pupil size
D.Why short-term memory holds about seven items
Explanation: Henry’s law: the amount of gas dissolved in a liquid is proportional to the gas pressure. Rapid pressure reduction can release dissolved nitrogen as bubbles (DCS/bends).
6Hypoxia is best defined as:
A.A deficiency of oxygen available to the body’s tissues
B.Too much carbon dioxide in the blood only
C.An excess of nitrogen in the middle ear
D.Low blood sugar after missing a meal
Explanation: Hypoxia means insufficient oxygen reaching body tissues. In flight it commonly results from reduced oxygen partial pressure at altitude (hypoxic hypoxia).
7A major operational danger of hypoxia is that the affected pilot often:
A.Is unaware of impairment and may even feel performance is better than usual
B.Immediately feels severe chest pain that forces an emergency descent
C.Always loses consciousness within 30 seconds above 5 000 ft
D.Can reliably detect it by a sudden improvement in night vision
Explanation: Hypoxia frequently impairs judgement and skilled performance before the pilot recognises the problem; euphoria or false confidence can occur. Another person may notice symptoms first.
8Which set best represents early or progressive hypoxia symptoms relevant to pilots?
A.Impaired judgement/performance, headache, breathlessness with exercise, and possible euphoria
B.Improved colour vision and sharper instrument scan
C.Only ear pain during descent
D.Immediate red-out of vision at +1G
Explanation: Between roughly 10 000–15 000 ft cabin altitude, skilled performance can degrade with limited awareness; longer exposure often brings headache. Higher altitudes add more severe symptoms and loss of useful consciousness.
9Which factor increases a pilot’s susceptibility to hypoxia?
A.Smoking, fatigue, alcohol, cold exposure, or certain drugs
B.Living at high altitude and being fully acclimatised
C.Breathing 100% oxygen above 10 000 ft
D.Using a proper instrument scan at night
Explanation: Smoking (including carbon monoxide effects), fatigue, alcohol, cold, and some drugs reduce hypoxia tolerance. Acclimatisation and supplemental oxygen improve tolerance.
10Under SACAA Part 91 rules taught for non-pressurised aircraft, supplemental oxygen equipment is required when operating:
A.Above 10 000 ft up to 12 000 ft for longer than 60 minutes, or above 12 000 ft
B.At any altitude above 5 000 ft for any duration
C.Only above FL250 regardless of duration
D.Only at night above 3 000 ft
Explanation: CAR 91.04.19 (as taught in SACAA PPL Human Performance materials): a non-pressurised aircraft must not be operated above 10 000–12 000 ft for more than 60 minutes, or above 12 000 ft, unless equipped with prescribed supplemental oxygen.

About the SACAA PPL Human Performance Exam

The SACAA PPL Human Performance and Limitations examination is a mandatory computer-based theoretical knowledge subject for the South African Private Pilot Licence (Aeroplane). It tests aviation physiology (atmosphere, hypoxia, vision, hearing/balance), health and fitness rules under Part 91 (alcohol, scuba, blood donation, medication), and basic aviation psychology (information processing, stress/fatigue, judgement, hazardous attitudes, and situational awareness) from the official PPL Human Performance syllabus.

Exam sponsor: South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA). The requirements and fees below concern the certification or admission exam, separate from our free practice resources.

Questions

30 questions

Time Limit

45 minutes

Passing Score

75%

Exam / Certification Fees

~R425–R450 per subject (confirm current SACAA Part 187 fee; ATO invigilation may add charges)

Exam sponsor website

Fees, eligibility, and exam policies can change. Confirm them with the exam sponsor before applying or paying.

Our practice resources: topics covered

We aim to reflect publicly available exam outlines and topic information in our study resources. Coverage, format, and difficulty may differ from the actual exam, and we cannot guarantee that every detail is accurate or current. Confirm exam requirements, fees, and policies with the official exam sponsor.

20%

Atmosphere, Respiration and Hypoxia

Atmosphere composition, gas laws, respiration, hypoxia, hyperventilation, supplemental oxygen, TUC, and cabin-pressure concepts.

8%

Circulatory System and Acceleration

Heart and blood, anaemia, blood donation rules, blood pressure, and positive/negative G effects (grey-out, blackout, red-out).

15%

Vision and Visual Illusions

Cones/rods, night vision, dark adaptation, lookout, and illusions such as empty-field myopia, autokinesis, black-hole approach, and false horizons.

12%

Hearing, Balance and Disorientation

Ear anatomy, Eustachian issues, noise, vestibular system, leans/Coriolis/somatogravic illusions, motion sickness, and IMC instrument trust.

20%

Flying and Health

Alcohol and BAC rules, scuba diving, carbon monoxide, medication, smoking, illness, nutrition, IMSAFE, toxic hazards, and fitness to fly.

10%

Information Processing and Memory

Attention, perception, expectancy, working memory, chunking, communication readbacks, habits, and workload limits.

8%

Stress, Fatigue and Sleep

Arousal–performance relationship, stress management, acute vs chronic fatigue, sleep need, and circadian rhythms.

7%

Judgement, Decision-Making and SA

Hazardous attitudes and antidotes, situational awareness, risk assessment, and press-on-itis avoidance.

Preparing for the SACAA PPL Human Performance Exam

What You Need to Know

  • Passing score: 75%
  • Exam length: 30 questions
  • Time limit: 45 minutes
  • Exam / certification fees: ~R425–R450 per subject (confirm current SACAA Part 187 fee; ATO invigilation may add charges) Official sources

Using Our Practice Resources

  • Work through all 100 available questions
  • Review every answer and explanation
  • Track weak areas and revisit them
  • Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

SACAA PPL Human Performance: Suggested Study Strategy

1Memorise SACAA Part 91 fitness numbers: alcohol 8 hours / BAC 0.02 g/100 ml, scuba 24 hours, blood donation 72 hours.
2Know non-pressurised oxygen teaching: above 10 000–12 000 ft for >60 minutes, or above 12 000 ft, requires supplemental oxygen equipment.
3Drill hypoxia vs hyperventilation: if altitude makes hypoxia possible, treat as hypoxia first (oxygen/descent).
4Learn night-vision basics: rods/off-centre scan, protect dark adaptation, and name classic illusions (autokinesis, black-hole, false horizon).
5Practise vestibular illusions and the rule: in IMC, trust instruments—not the seat of the pants.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the pass mark for the SACAA PPL Human Performance exam?

CAR 61.01.10 sets the pass mark for SACAA theoretical knowledge examinations at 75%. There is no negative marking, so unanswered questions should still be attempted before time expires.

How many questions and how much time does SACAA PPL Human Performance allow?

Human Performance is commonly scheduled for about 45 minutes. Question counts are typically in the 20–40 range (often around 30) depending on the paper generated by the SACAA online examination system. Confirm the on-screen timer and count for your sitting.

How much does the SACAA PPL Human Performance exam cost?

Expect roughly R425–R450 per theoretical subject under current SACAA fee practice, but always verify the live Part 187 / SACAA fee schedule. Many ATOs add an invigilation or facility charge on top of the Authority fee.

What topics does SACAA PPL Human Performance cover?

The syllabus covers basic aviation physiology (atmosphere, hypoxia, hyperventilation, vision, hearing/balance, G-forces), flying and health (alcohol, scuba, blood donation, medication, CO, fitness), and basic psychology (attention/memory, stress/fatigue, judgement, hazardous attitudes, and situational awareness).

How long are PPL theory passes valid?

All required PPL theoretical subjects must normally be passed within 18 months of the first examination pass. After the final theory pass, candidates typically have 36 months to complete the PPL skills test before theory credits expire.