Air transport pilot licence (aeroplane) exams - AASA, APLA and AFPA

An air transport pilot licence (ATPL) lets you fly in any private or commercial operation.

Doing the exams is part of getting your ATPL.

To test your theory on an aeroplane licence (ATPLA) you will do 7 exams on different subjects:

• 4 subjects are common across aircraft category ratings.
• 3 subjects are particular to the category rating you're applying for.

To get a full ATPL exam credit, you need to pass the 7 subject-parts of the ATPL exam in one 'window'.

We would recommend not to attempt any subject exam until you have completed aeronautical knowledge training.

Exam timeframe

You must do all the exams within one window. Unless you have an exemption, that means you have 2 years to pass all 7 subjects.

Or, when converting category, you have 2 years to pass the 3 category-specific subjects. This may apply when you already hold an ATPL (A or H) licence or an ATPL (A or H) theory credit.

Before you do the exam

To sit the ATPL exams, you must have either:

• an Australian Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL) for the relevant aircraft category
• a full exam credit in the Australian CPL exam of the relevant aircraft category.

A full exam credit means you passed all 7 subject-part exams within the window.

Air transport pilot licence flight planning (aeroplane) exam - AFPA

The exams include multiple-choice questions and questions where you type a whole number in a box.

You have 3 hours to complete the exam.

To pass, you will need to get at least 70% of the marks.

These exams cost $201.98 each ($136.98 invigilator fee and $65 CASA fee).

Preparing for your exam

The exams will test your knowledge on the syllabus in Part 61 Manual of Standards (MOS) schedule 3.

Permitted material

You may use either the Airservices or Jeppesen list of permitted materials. You need to supply these materials.

You cannot use a combination of materials from both the Airservices list and the Jeppesen list.

Your invigilator will give you some things before the exam, which you must hand back at the end. These include:

• pen
• pencil
• ruler
• eraser
• scribble pad
• blank flight plan form.

Pass rates

You can see how candidates performed in their AFPA exam.

Check the results of candidates from previous years.

Common errors

The following areas have been weak areas for candidates:

• ground speed and fuel policy errors
• highest cruise level for abnormal operations
• maximum payload at planning
• landing weight for abnormal operations
• position of a PNR, whether Normal Operations (PNR/NO) or Abnormal operations (PNR/DP, PNR/1 IN-OP)
• normal operations flight plan.

Air transport pilot licence performance and loading (aeroplane) exam - APLA

The exams include multiple-choice questions and questions where you type a whole number in a box.

You have 2.5 hours to complete the exam.

To pass, you will need to get at least 70% of the marks.

These exams cost $195.45 each ($130.45 invigilator fee and $65 CASA fee).

Preparing for your exam

The exams will test your knowledge on the syllabus in Part 61 Manual of Standards (MOS) schedule 3.

Permitted material

You may use either the Airservices or Jeppesen list of permitted materials. You need to supply these materials.

You cannot use a combination of materials from both the Airservices list and the Jeppesen list.

Your invigilator will give you some things before the exam, which you must hand back at the end. These include:

• pen
• pencil
• ruler
• eraser
• scribble pad
• ATPL APLA workbook
• A3 sized B727 Load and Trim sheets.

Pass rates

You can see how candidates performed in their APLA exam.

Check the results of candidates from previous years.

Common errors

The following areas have been weak areas for candidates:

• take-off or landing performance, MTOW, EOL, average take-off EPR value, MLW etc.
• effects of temperature, weight or engine failure on cruise level
• range calculations
• CG position, % MAC for take-off, landing or after a change in load
• load sheet workings, lines inaccurately drawn and incorrect weight calculations.

Air transport pilot licence aerodynamics and aircraft systems (aeroplane) exam - AASA

The exams include multiple-choice questions and questions where you type a whole number in a box.

You have 1.5 hours to complete the exam.

To pass, you will need to get at least 70% of the marks.

These exams cost $169.34 each ($104.34 invigilator fee and $65 CASA fee).

Preparing for your exam

The exams will test your knowledge on the syllabus in Part 61 Manual of Standards (MOS) schedule 3.

Permitted material

Your invigilator will give you some things before the exam, which you must hand back at the end. These include:

• pen
• pencil
• ruler
• eraser
• scribble pad.

Pass rates

You can see how candidates performed in their AASA exam.

Check the results of candidates from previous years.

Common errors

The following areas have been weak areas for candidates:

• effect of wing sweep on aircraft performance
• forces acting in flight, for maximum angle/rate of climb, range and endurance
• asymmetric flight
• flight controls - flying tail
• electrical systems
• landing gear, brakes and nose wheel steering
• auto-pilot operation
• flight management computer operations.

Fuel policy in ATPL, AFPA and APLA exams

Our Flight Crew Licence exams reference policies related to fuel usage and reserves.

The fuel reserves will be carried in accordance with those specified in the Boeing 727 Performance and Operating Handbook.

We recommend you avoid rounding off at intermediate stages of your workings when you are calculating your fuel requirements in your exam.