PilotPrepPilotPrep

Everything you need to excel in your pilot theory

Interactive lessons, working simulations and ASPEQ-style questions for the NZ CAA syllabus. Every answer explained, not just marked.

Inside a course

pilotprep.co.nz
PPL Aircraft Technical Knowledge26%

Carburation, lesson 10 of 19

Formation of Carburettor and Intake Ice

12.12.18

Carburettor icing is dangerous for a reason that has nothing to do with how cold it is outside. Ice forms inside the induction system, on a day that can feel perfectly mild, and the first the pilot knows about it is a small loss of power.

Use the simulation to watch both effects at work. Set a mild day with a close dew point, see the throat temperature fall below zero while the outside air stays warm, and notice how quickly the ice runs away once it starts.

Interactive simulation

Carburettor icing

Watch the throat temperature fall below zero while the outside air stays warm.

Check your understanding

By how much can the venturi pressure drop and fuel vaporisation together cool the inside of a carburettor below the outside air temperature?

Built so the theory makes sense

Lessons, simulations and practice questions, all built around the NZ CAA syllabus.

Working simulations sit inside the lessons. Fly the standard overhead join from Flight Radio Telephony.

Interactive lessons
1,679
Working simulations
353
Narrated videos
183
Exam-style questions
10,000+

One course for each exam subject, built on the NZ CAA syllabus with lessons, simulations and mock exams. Every course has free modules you can open before you buy.

Full course

PPL Flight Radio Telephony

12 modules, 118 lessons, 21 simulations

$149NZD, 6 Months Access

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Full course

PPL Air Navigation and Flight Planning

19 modules, 209 lessons, 64 simulations

$249NZD, 6 Months Access

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Full course

PPL Aircraft Technical Knowledge (Aeroplane)

35 modules, 472 lessons, 103 simulations

$249NZD, 6 Months Access

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Every course includes

  • The whole courseEvery lesson, simulation and video.
  • Quizzes and mock examsA quiz for each module and mock exams set out like ASPEQ.
  • Every answer explainedWhy the right option is right and the others are not.
  • Help when you are stuckThe AI tutor and discussions on every lesson.

Training a group of students? Pilot Prep for flight schools

Questions, answered

Something else on your mind? Contact us

  • Built on the NZ CAA syllabus
  • Pay once per course, no subscription
  • Study on your phone, tablet or laptop
  • Free practice exams with no sign-up

Do I need any prior flight experience to start these courses?

No. The courses are written for people starting from zero, and they work just as well as a refresher if you already fly. Each subject builds the fundamentals first and then layers the harder material on top, so nothing has to be taken on faith.

Which exams and standards do you cover?

Everything is built to the New Zealand CAA PPL theory syllabus and aimed at the ASPEQ exams. Lessons and questions are tagged with the syllabus codes the examiner works from, so you can see exactly what each topic covers, and we keep the material current as the rules and the AIP change.

Can I try it before I pay?

Yes, in two ways, both free. You can attempt real exam questions with full explained feedback on our free practice exams page without creating an account at all. Sign up for a free account and you can also open real lessons from every course in the catalogue before you buy anything.

How much does it cost, and is it a subscription?

It is not a subscription. You pay once per course and get full access for the period shown with its price, so there is no recurring charge and nothing to cancel. Each course page lists its price and access period, and flight schools and training organisations are quoted separately.

How do these online courses differ from a traditional ground school?

You can use the platform alongside a flight school’s ground course or entirely on its own. Lessons are interactive and available on demand, every quiz question is explained rather than just marked, and progress is tracked so instructors can see where a student is up to. Self-study learners get the same material at their own pace, which makes it equally useful to an organisation and to a solo student.

How long does it take to complete each course?

Each lesson carries a recommended time estimate, but you set the pace. Two to six weeks per subject is a realistic target if you want the material to stick rather than just skimming it before an exam. Some students finish sooner and others take longer, and either is fine.

What if I need to take a break from studying?

Step away whenever you need to. Your progress, notes and quiz results are saved, so you return to exactly where you stopped. Because access is a one-off purchase rather than a subscription, a break does not trigger another payment.

What happens if I get stuck on a topic?

Ask in the discussion thread attached to the lesson, put the question to the built-in AI tutor, or message our team directly. Discussions and the AI tutor are available whenever you are studying; our staff reply during New Zealand business hours.

Can I study on my phone?

Yes. Everything runs in the browser on a phone, tablet or laptop, with no app to install, and your progress follows you between devices. You can read a lesson on the bus and pick the quiz back up on a laptop at home.

Find the course for your next exam

Open the free modules in any subject, then unlock the whole course with one payment.