This document is “080 Principles of Flight,” part of the JAA (Joint Aviation Authorities) Airline Transport Pilot’s Licence Theoretical Knowledge Manual series, published by Oxford Aviation Training with Jeppesen. It is a Second Edition manual approved as JAA compliant by the UK Civil Aviation Authority, and it follows the series’ standard format of numbered chapters with worked explanations, figures, and self assessment questions with answers.
The manual opens with foundational material: an overview of general definitions and physics concepts such as mass, force, weight, centre of gravity, work, energy, and Newton’s three laws of motion, before moving into basic aerodynamic theory covering the principle of continuity, Bernoulli’s theorem, and streamlines. From there it builds into the core aerodynamic subjects of lift and drag, including detailed treatment of wake turbulence generation, decay, and avoidance, followed by a full chapter on stalling that explains both low speed stall and the high speed shock stall phenomenon at cruise altitudes.
The middle chapters address aircraft stability and control in depth, covering longitudinal, directional, and lateral stability, dynamic effects such as Dutch roll and pilot induced oscillations, and the mechanics of flight controls, including aerodynamic balancing methods like internal balance and balance tabs. Flight mechanics is also addressed, with particular attention to asymmetric thrust and the concept of the critical engine on multi engine aircraft.
Later chapters move into more advanced and specialised topics: high speed flight and compressibility effects, including the aerodynamic benefits and drawbacks of wing sweepback, propeller theory, and windshear, covering microburst structure, the energy gain and loss experienced during an encounter, typical recovery technique, and windshear reporting and visual clues. Together, these chapters give ATPL candidates a comprehensive theoretical grounding in why and how aircraft fly.
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