ATPL Exams

Introduction
Civil Aviation Safety Regulations (CASR) (1998) 61.700(3) (a) states "passed the aeronautical
knowledge examination for the air transport pilot licence and the associated aircraft category rating"
as one of the qualifications for the issue of an Air Transport Pilot Licence.

Syllabus
The ATPL theory exams, for both aeroplane and helicopter categories, respectively test the
Aeronautical knowledge standards specified in CASR Part 61, Manual of Standards, Schedule 3.

Exam structure
In each (aeroplane and helicopter) ATPL exam, there are seven parts. Each part covers one or two
aeronautical subject(s) detailed in the respective syllabus. Due to the syllabus scope for each part
and the time involved, each part is examined separately. Thus each of the (aeroplane and helicopter)
ATPL part-exams is an individual exam.

Subject exams
The part-exams are commonly referred to as subject exams but essentially each subject exam is just
a part-exam of the ATPL (aeroplane or helicopter) exam.
Candidates may choose to sit subject-part exams in any order they prefer, and in any number in a
day, subject to the sessions available at an approved venue for that day.
A candidate passing a subject exam is awarded a temporary pass for that subject. When all seven
subject exams have been passed within a window (see
Re-training period and window, the candidate is awarded a full ATPL exam credit (either for
aeroplane or helicopter).
Notes: A pass in a subject exam may only be held as a temporary pass until the candidate
successfully completes the set of seven subject exams in the window period described above.
If all the seven subject exams are not passed within the defined period, the temporary pass(es) for
subject exam(s) will progressively become EXPIRED PASSES at the end of the window.
Therefore candidates are strongly advised not to attempt any subject exam until they have
undertaken comprehensive and satisfactory aeronautical knowledge training, required by the
respective aeronautical knowledge syllabus.

Subject exams
For both aeroplane and helicopters, the subject exam testing the syllabus section 'Aircraft General
Knowledge' is examined under the title of 'Aerodynamics & Aircraft Systems', while that for 'Flight
Rules & Air Law' is examined under the title of 'Air Law'.
The following table illustrates the subject exams for the relevant ATPL licence, their respective exam
code and the time currently permitted for the sitting.
Subject

Aircraft Category

Exam Code Time

Air Law

Aeroplane & Helicopter AALW

1.5 hours

Human Factors

Aeroplane & Helicopter AHUF

1.25 hours

Meteorology

Aeroplane & Helicopter AMET

1.5 hours

Navigation

Aeroplane & Helicopter ANAV

1.5 hours

Flight Planning

Aeroplane

AFPA

3 hours

Performance & Loading

Aeroplane

APLA

2.5 hours

Aerodynamics & Aircraft

Systems

Aeroplane

AASA

1.5 hours

Flight Planning

Helicopter

AFPH

3 hours

Performance & Loading

Helicopter

APLH

2.5 hours

Aerodynamics & Aircraft

Systems

Helicopter

AASH

1.5 hours

Pre-requisite for ATPL exam

The pre-requisite qualification for sitting the ATPL exam is an Australian Commercial Pilot Licence
(CPL) or a 'full exam credit'* in the Australian CPL exam of the relevant aircraft category.
* For the current CPL exam version (effective since 12 March 2002) the term 'full exam credit' means
all 7 subject part exams have been passed within the permitted period.