Commercial pilot licence (aeroplane) exams - CADA, CLWA, CFPA and CSYA

A commercial pilot licence (CPL) lets you fly an aircraft for work.

To test your theory on aeroplane (CPLA), you will do 7 exams on different subjects:

• 3 subjects are common across aircraft categories (CHUF, CNAV and CMET)
• 4 subjects are particular to aeroplanes.

Booking the CPL exams

You can do the exams in any order.

Plan when you do the exams carefully and book them only when you understand each exam subject.

You must pass all the exams within one window. For example, you have 2 years to pass all 7 subjects, starting on the date of your first CPL subject pass.

When changing category, you have 2 years to pass the 4 category-specific subjects. This may apply when you already hold a CPL (A or H) licence or a CPL (A or H) theory credit.

Commercial pilot licence aerodynamics (aeroplane) exam – CADA

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.

The 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

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 CADA exam.

Year	0 - 54%	55 - 59%	60 - 64%	65 - 69%	70 - 74%	75 - 79%	80+%	Pass rate
2020	5.97	4.27	7.46	9.52	13.33	17.91	41.53	72.77%
2021	5.98	5.40	8.68	11.45	14.15	15.03	39.31	68.49%
2022	5.72	5.59	7.93	10.79	12.54	16.57	40.87	69.98%
2023	7.06	5.29	7.73	10.95	14.05	16.67	38.26	68.98%

Check the results of candidates from previous years.

Common errors

The following areas have been weak areas for candidates:

• spoilers and vortex generators
• knowledge of range and endurance flying
• wing design – anhedral, dihedral, aspect ratio, wash-out
• factors affecting aircraft stability
• flow dynamics – pressure changes with changes in angles of attack
• take-off and landing – 'ground effect' and how it effects aeroplane performance.

Commercial pilot licence flight rules and air law (aeroplane) exam – CLWA

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

You have 2 hours to complete the exam.

To pass, you will need to get at least 80% of the marks.

The exams cost $182.38 each ($117.38 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.

Pass rates

You can see how candidates performed in their CLWA exam.

Year	0 - 54%	55 - 59%	60 - 64%	65 - 69%	70 - 74%	75 - 79%	80+%	Pass rate
2020	0.72	0.86	1.39	2.63	5.69	12.43	76.28	76.28%
2021	2.20	1.44	1.37	3.19	6.90	10.93	73.98	73.98%
2022	0.80	1.31	2.41	3.64	6.78	13.56	71.50	71.50%
2023	0.89	0.96	1.72	3.31	7.01	11.92	74.19	74.19%

Check the results of candidates from previous years.

Common errors:

The following areas have been weak areas for candidates:

• airspace requirements
• pilot maintenance requirements
• rules of the air
• tracking requirements.

Commercial pilot licence operation, performance and flight planning (aeroplane) exam – CFPA

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.

The 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 list 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
• The RPL, PPL and CPL (Aeroplane) workbook (PDF 643kB).

Pass rates

You can see how candidates performed in their CFPA exam.

Year	0 - 54%	55 - 59%	60 - 64%	65 - 69%	70 - 74%	75 - 79%	80+%	Pass rate
2020	12.24	8.39	7.70	13.56	11.40	17.17	29.53	58.11%
2021	13.49	8.13	8.43	14.50	11.31	19.09	25.04	55.45%
2022	14.24	7.79	6.86	13.65	9.65	17.26	30.56	57.47%
2023	12.03	7.87	6.52	14.33	11.24	16.47	31.53	59.25%

Check the results of candidates from previous years.

Fuel policy in CFPA exams

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

The fuel reserves will be carried in accordance with either:

• CASR Part 91 MOS, Chapter 19, table 19.02 (2), Item 1 for aeroplanes with MTOW less than 5,700 kg (piston engine or turboprop) under VFR by day, or
• CASR Part 135 MOS, Chapter 7.

Each question will clearly state whether the flight is conducted as a Part 91 or Part 135 operation.

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

Common errors

The following areas have been weak areas for candidates:

• basic ground speed
• fuel policy requirements
• aircraft speeds, TOSS, Va, Vne, manoeuvring speeds
• determination of MTOW or TODR using the graphs
• range, endurance and factors affecting
• definitions of terms including MAC, empty weight, ZFW and ramp weight
• aeroplane weight limitations, loading and balance.

Commercial pilot licence aircraft general knowledge (aeroplane) exam – CSYA

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 CSYA exam.

Year	0 - 54%	55 - 59%	60 - 64%	65 - 69%	70 - 74%	75 - 79%	80+%	Pass rate
2020	3.05	2.48	4.12	8.07	12.20	18.07	52.00	82.27%
2021	3.49	2.30	5.87	7.14	13.17	18.97	49.05	81.19%
2022	3.54	2.86	7.23	9.19	11.37	17.32	48.49	77.18%
2023	3.66	3.60	5.95	9.94	13.21	16.55	47.09	76.85%

Check the results of candidates from previous years.

Common errors

The following areas have been weak areas for candidates:

• ammeter indications
• recognition of different fuels
• correct use of carburettor heat
• turbo-chargers and associated engine handling
• understanding of magneto operations and their failures.