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 helicopter (ATPLH), 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'.
Do not 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 (helicopter) exam - AFPH
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 $210.33 each ($145.33 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.
Airservices list
- S76 Performance and Operating Handbook
- AIP Book
- Navigation equipment
- A basic calculator
Jeppesen list
- S76 Performance and Operating Handbook
- Jeppesen Airways Manual
- Navigation equipment
- A basic calculator
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 AFPH exam.
| Year | 0 - 54% | 55 - 59% | 60 - 64% | 65 - 69% | 70 - 74% | 75 - 79% | 80+% | Pass rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 5.88 | 0 | 5.88 | 11.76 | 14.71 | 5.88 | 55.88 | 76.47% |
| 2021 | 15.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 35.00 | 10.00 | 40.00 | 85.00% |
| 2022 | 5.41 | 0.00 | 5.41 | 5.41 | 24.32 | 13.51 | 45.95 | 83.78% |
| 2023 | 0.00 | 7.69 | 7.69 | 0.00 | 38.46 | 15.38 | 30.77 | 84.62% |
| 2024 | 11.11 | 5.56 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 33.33 | 0.00 | 50.00 | 83.33% |
| 2025 | 8.33 | 0.00 | 4.17 | 4.17 | 4.17 | 12.50 | 66.67 | 83.33% |
Check the results of candidates from previous years.
Common errors
The following areas have been weak areas for candidates:
- calculation of OEI PNR
- calculation of PNR
- calculation of total fuel required.
Air transport pilot licence performing and loading (helicopter) exam - APLH
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 $203.39 each ($138.39 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.
Airservices list
- S76 Performance and Operating Handbook
- Part 133 of CASR and Part 133 MOS
- CASR Part 133 Plain English Guide for Australian air transport operations - rotorcraft – Note 1
- Navigation equipment
- A basic calculator
Jeppesen list
- S76 Performance and Operating Handbook
- Part 133 of CASR and Part 133 MOS
- CASR Part 133 Plain English Guide for Australian air transport operations - rotorcraft – Note 1
- Navigation equipment
- A basic calculator
Note 1: The Plain English Guides may not have current information. If you choose to use these documents, make sure you also have other materials to help with current laws and procedures.
These ‘guides’ include the following notice:
Disclaimer: The guide has been prepared by CASA for information purposes only, and while every effort has been made to ensure that the contents accurately conform to the civil aviation legislation, this guide is not the law. CASA accepts no liability for damages or liability of any kind resulting from its use. You should ensure you are using the most current version of the guide, which can be found on the CASA website.
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 APLH exam.
| Year | 0 - 54% | 55 - 59% | 60 - 64% | 65 - 69% | 70 - 74% | 75 - 79% | 80+% | Pass rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 6.90 | 0 | 3.45 | 10.34 | 17.24 | 31.03 | 31.03 | 79.31% |
| 2021 | 8.00 | 0.00 | 4.00 | 8.00 | 20.00 | 20.00 | 40.00 | 80.00% |
| 2022 | 7.69 | 10.26 | 10.26 | 10.26 | 12.82 | 12.82 | 35.90 | 61.54% |
| 2023 | 7.69 | 7.69 | 3.85 | 19.23 | 11.54 | 15.38 | 34.62 | 61.54% |
| 2024 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 6.25 | 12.50 | 18.75 | 62.50 | 93.75% |
| 2025 | 0.00 | 18.18 | 4.55 | 4.55 | 4.55 | 9.09 | 59.09 | 72.73% |
Check the results of candidates from previous years.
Common errors
The following areas have been weak areas for candidates:
- CG limits for take-off, cruise and landing
- adjustments required to the payload to permit operations in CG limits
- movement of CG due to fuel consumption in flight.
Air transport pilot licence aerodynamics and aircraft systems (helicopter) exam - AASH
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 $175.69 each ($110.69 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 AASH exam.
| Year | 0 - 54% | 55 - 59% | 60 - 64% | 65 - 69% | 70 - 74% | 75 - 79% | 80+% | Pass rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 3.13 | 3.13 | 3.13 | 6.25 | 18.75 | 18.75 | 46.88 | 84.38% |
| 2021 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 3.57 | 21.43 | 10.71 | 21.43 | 42.86 | 75.00% |
| 2022 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 2.78 | 19.44 | 11.11 | 16.67 | 50.00 | 77.78% |
| 2023 | 0.00 | 4.00 | 20.00 | 4.00 | 16.00 | 12.00 | 44.00 | 72.00% |
| 2024 | 0.00 | 3.85 | 0.00 | 15.38 | 26.92 | 11.54 | 42.31 | 80.77% |
| 2025 | 4.55 | 4.55 | 4.55 | 0.00 | 31.82 | 27.27 | 27.27 | 86.36% |
Check the results of candidates from previous years.
Common errors
The following areas have been weak areas for candidates:
- aerodynamics
- hydraulic systems
- air supply systems
- gas turbine engines – compressors, combustion process and chamber(s), turbines
- turbine temperatures
- FMS.
Fuel policy in ATPL, AFPH and APLH 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 S76 Performance and Operations Handbook.
We recommend you avoid rounding off at intermediate stages of your workings when calculating fuel requirements in your exam.
7 May 2026