FCL exams

CyberExams
Grade 1 Flight Instructor Rating examination (AFR1)

AFR1 on CyberExams

With effect from 26 January 2004, the Grade 1 Flight Instructor Rating examination (AFR1) is available on the CyberExams system. A candidate may attempt the AFR1 provided he/she has the pre-requisite qualification.

ASL delivers it on behalf of CASA. The examination is available during weekdays by prior arrangement. ASL has examination venues throughout Australia.

Syllabus

The syllabus for the AFR1 remains unchanged, as published in Civil Aviation Order (CAO) 40.1.7, Appendix II.

Examination References

The following references are useful study material for the AFR1.

• Aviation Instructor's Handbook (FAA-H-8083-9)
  This is the principal reference text
• A suitable management book on 'motivation'
  A Grade 1 Flight Instructor Rating candidate is expected to have basic understanding of the theories of motivation proposed by:
  • Abraham Maslow's 'Hierarchy of Needs'
  • Donald Macgregor 'X & Y' Theory
  • Frederick Herzberg '2-Factor' Theory.

  While FAA-H-8083-9 provides some short paragraphs on the first two (but mainly on Maslow), most management books provide satisfactory information on the 3 theories

  • Human Factors in Flight by Frank Hawkins or any human factors book on 'memory', 'motivation', 'stress', etc
    Optional - to supplement information in the above publications
  • Preparing Instructional Objectives by Robert F Mager
    Optional - a useful text on 'behavioural objectives' to compliment FAA-H-8083-9
  • Measuring Instructional Results by Robert F Mager
    Optional - additional useful text on 'behavioural objectives'

Examination Details

The AFR1 is a two-hour examination, consisting generally of 50 multi-choice questions. To qualify for the award of a Pass in the AFR1 the candidate shall achieve 75% in the examination.

CASA reserves the right to reduce the number of questions without prior notice, but when doing so, will not reduce the 2 hours permitted time for the examination.

Cost

The CASA fee for the AFR1, as published in the Civil Aviation (Fees) Regulation, remains at $65. ASL charges its own supervision fees. Candidates are advised to check the ASL fees on its website (www.aslexam.com) prior to booking the examination.

Material Permitted/Provided for Examination

The candidate is NOT permitted to take in any material for the examination session, other than a pencil or pen.

ASL will provide a scribble pad for the candidate.

Pre-requisite Qualification for AFR1

As the AFR1 is an examination leading towards the award of a Grade 1 Flight Instructor Rating, the candidate is required to hold a Grade 2 Flight Instructor Rating before he/she may be permitted to undertake the examination.

If a candidate has been inadvertently permitted to undertake the AFR1 without the pre-requisite qualification, this shall be taken as the candidate knowingly sitting a CASA examination without a mandatory pre-requisite qualification. CASA will then consider the examination attempt as invalid.

Re-training after a failed attempt

Failing an examination is indicative of knowledge deficiency, which is a safety-related issue. Therefore CASA requires the unsuccessful candidate to undergo re-training before being permitted to re-attempt the examination.

The re-training period for an unsuccessful AFR1 attempt is tabulated as follows:

Continued Failures

Continued failures after the last listed re-training period in each score band in the above table will require the maximum re-training period of 28 days.

'Minimum' Re-Training Period

The listed re-training period is the 'minimum' that a candidate shall observe before re-attempting the examination. As an instructor, the candidate shall consider whether the 'minimum' period is adequate for his/her personal case. This ensures that he/she may have adequate time to comprehensively analyse the knowledge-deficient areas, plan and re-train to a satisfactory standard before re-attempting the examination.

Candidates are advised that the likelihood of further failure cannot be discounted if they elect to re-sit the examination without adequate and satisfactory re-training.

Candidates should note that CASA policy does not permit any reduction of the listed re-training period for any candidate. The CyberExams system automated control has been set to ensure that there may not be any deviation from this policy.

A candidate is personally responsible for planning and managing his/her own activities including the possibility of travel plans conflicting with the mandatory need to undergo a re-training period to re-sit a failed examination.

(eg. if a candidate intends to sit and pass the AFR1 before departing from Australia, he/she is advised to make allowance in the travel arrangements for this possibility. Alternatively, the candidate may re-sit the examination after his/her return to Australia.)

Knowledge Deficiency Reports (KDR)

The KDR for the AFR1 is issued with the result advice, and lists either the syllabus or topic items tested by questions the candidate has not answered correctly. For a candidate who has achieved only 50% or less, the entire syllabus shall be the KDR. All syllabus items are from CAO 41.1.7, Appendix II, therefore the KDR will not mention the syllabus title or source.

Examination venues and bookings

Details of the ASL venues are available on the ASL website www.aslexam.com. The AFR1 may also be booked on the same website. ASL may be contacted on 02 6262 8820.

Practice examination

A CyberExams 'Practice Examination' facility is available showing the CASA screen-based flight crew examination. Candidates are advised to utilise this facility to familiarise themselves with a typical CyberExams examination.