FAA A&P Study Plan (30–60 Days): Pass General, Airframe & Powerplant

Why a Structured Study Plan Matters

The three FAA knowledge tests cover a vast amount of material. The Aviation Mechanic ACS (FAA-S-ACS-1) spans everything from basic electricity and regulations to turbine engine theory, sheet metal repair, and complex aircraft systems. Without a plan, it is easy to spend too much time on subjects you already know while neglecting areas that need more attention.

A structured study plan addresses this by distributing your study time proportionally across all three test sections. It also builds in critical review periods and practice tests so that knowledge is consolidated rather than forgotten. Candidates who follow a planned schedule consistently outperform those who study ad hoc.

This 8-week plan assumes you are studying 8–10 hours per week — roughly one hour per weekday plus a longer session on the weekend. Full-time students can compress it to 30 days (about 4 weeks at 15–20 hours per week). If you have less time, extend the timeline to 10–12 weeks. The key is maintaining consistency rather than intensity.

Week 1–2: General — Foundations and Regulations

Start with the General test (60 questions, 2 hours). It is the foundation for everything else: its subjects — basic electricity, materials, processes, physics, weight and balance, and regulations — appear again inside the Airframe and Powerplant tests.

Week 1: Materials, Drawings, and Physics

Study FAA-H-8083-30B (General Handbook) chapters on aircraft drawings, materials and hardware, and physics. Focus on aluminum alloys and heat treatment, rivets and fasteners, hardware identification, and the physics of forces and simple machines. Create a reference sheet with key values (rivet spacing rules, alloy properties, torque concepts). Start the SkyLicense General module and take the diagnostic assessment to establish your baseline.

Week 2: Basic Electricity and Regulations

Cover the General Handbook chapter on basic electricity (DC and AC theory, Ohm law, circuits, batteries) and the regulations subject area: 14 CFR Parts 43 (maintenance rules and records), 65 (mechanic certification), and 91 (inspection requirements). Learn the logbook entry requirements, annual versus 100-hour inspections, and who may sign what. Take timed General simulations — aim for 70 percent by the end of week 2.

Week 3–5: Airframe — Structures and Systems

The Airframe test (100 questions, 2 hours) covers aircraft structures, landing gear, flight controls, hydraulics, pneumatics, environmental systems, fuel, and electrical power. This is the largest subject area and deserves three full weeks.

Week 3: Airframe Structures

Study FAA-H-8083-31B (Airframe Handbook) structural chapters: fuselage, wings, empennage, wood and fabric structures, sheet metal repair, and composite materials. Cover rivet types and patterns, edge distance, corrosion prevention and control, and NDT methods (visual, dye penetrant, magnetic particle, eddy current, ultrasonic, radiographic) per AC 43.13-1B Chapter 5.

Week 4: Landing Gear, Flight Controls, and Hydraulics

Cover landing gear systems (shock struts, retraction, wheels, brakes, anti-skid, tires), primary and secondary flight controls (ailerons, elevators, rudder, trim tabs, flaps, slats, spoilers), and hydraulic and pneumatic power systems (pumps, actuators, valves, accumulators, fluids, and troubleshooting). These are among the most heavily tested AM.II subject areas.

Week 5: Environmental, Fuel, and Electrical Systems

Cover cabin atmosphere control and pressurization, aircraft fuel systems, electrical power systems (generators, alternators, buses, circuit protection, wiring per AC 43.13-1B), instruments, communication and navigation systems, ice and rain protection, and fire protection. Finish the week with a full timed Airframe simulation — aim for 75 percent or better before moving on.

Week 6–7: Powerplant — Engines and Propellers

The Powerplant test (100 questions, 2 hours) covers both reciprocating and turbine engines, plus propellers. This is the second-largest subject area and requires careful attention.

Week 6: Reciprocating Engines

Study FAA-H-8083-32B (Powerplant Handbook) reciprocating engine chapters: the four-stroke cycle, engine construction (crankcase, crankshaft, pistons, rings, valves), ignition systems (magneto timing, spark plugs), fuel metering (carburetors, fuel injection), lubrication, and cooling. Cover engine inspection procedures, compression testing, and common failures.

Week 7: Turbine Engines, Instruments, and Propellers

Cover gas turbine fundamentals: the Brayton cycle, compressor types (centrifugal versus axial), combustion chambers, turbine sections, spools (N1, N2, N3), exhaust systems, and thrust management. Study engine instruments (EGT, N1/N2, fuel flow, torque), engine starting, fire protection, and propellers (fixed-pitch, constant-speed, governors, feathering, reversing, synchronization). Finish with a full timed Powerplant simulation — aim for 75 percent or better.

Week 8: Integrated Review and Final Simulations

This week is dedicated to review and consolidation. Do not introduce new material — instead, focus on reinforcing what you have already studied:

• Take one full-length practice test per day, rotating through General, Airframe, and Powerplant
• Review every incorrect answer and identify the relevant ACS knowledge element and handbook chapter
• Focus extra time on your weakest subject areas based on practice test results
• Re-read your reference sheets: logbook requirements, AD compliance, inspection intervals, and key values
• Create summary sheets for each major system and carry them for quick review during spare moments

Using an AI-powered platform like SkyLicense during this phase is particularly effective. The adaptive algorithm automatically identifies your weak areas and generates targeted practice questions, making your review time far more efficient than random question selection. Aim to score 80 percent or higher on each full simulation before scheduling your real tests.

The 30-Day Compression

Studying full-time? You can compress this plan to roughly 30 days: Days 1–6 for General foundations and regulations, Days 7–18 for Airframe (structures, then systems), Days 19–27 for Powerplant (reciprocating, then turbine and propellers), and Days 28–30 for integrated review with two full simulations per day. This pace is intense — protect your sleep and keep sessions to 90 minutes max.

Test-by-Test Scheduling Recommendations

The FAA allows you to take the three knowledge tests in any order. However, most successful candidates follow this sequence:

1. General test first — Its foundations (electricity, materials, regulations) support the technical tests, and passing early builds confidence.
2. Airframe or Powerplant next — Whichever you feel more confident about. A confidence-building pass helps momentum.
3. The remaining technical test — By now, you have established a strong study rhythm.

Space your tests at least one to two weeks apart to allow focused preparation for each. Many candidates schedule one test per month. Remember: knowledge test results are valid for 24 months, and after passing all three you present FAA Form 8610-2 to a Designated Mechanic Examiner (DME) for the oral and practical (O&P) exam.

Test Day: What to Expect at the PSI Center

The knowledge tests are administered by PSI at FAA-authorized computer testing centers. Arrive early with a government-issued photo ID. The test is computer-based; figures and diagrams needed for questions are displayed on screen. You cannot bring reference materials, but a calculator (or on-screen calculator) is permitted for calculation questions. If you fail a test, you must wait 30 days before retaking it — another reason to prepare thoroughly the first time.

SkyLicense: Your Study Companion for Every Week

SkyLicense is designed to support you through every phase of this plan. Our platform covers all three tests with:

• ACS-aligned question banks — Questions mapped directly to the Aviation Mechanic ACS knowledge elements.
• Adaptive practice — The AI focuses on your weak areas, not the topics you have already mastered.
• Timed test simulations — Full-length practice tests with the real question counts and time limits (60q/2h General, 100q/2h Airframe and Powerplant).
• Detailed explanations — Every answer explained with references to the AMT handbooks, AC 43.13-1B, and the regulations.
• Progress tracking — Analytics that show your improvement over time across every subject area.

The FAA General module is free; Pro at $29.99/month unlocks the complete Airframe and Powerplant banks, and a Lifetime plan is available for $199.

Start your 30–60 day plan with SkyLicense →