ATPL(A) Aerodynamics and Aircraft Systems (AASA) Course with Nathan Higgins
Advanced Flight Theory’s ATPL(A) Aerodynamics and Aircraft Systems (AASA) course provides comprehensive preparation for the CASA ATPL Aerodynamics and Aircraft Systems – Aeroplane examination.
The AASA syllabus is broad, covering aircraft aerodynamics, gas turbine engines, electronic flight instrument systems, flight management systems and the major aircraft systems found in modern transport-category aircraft.
The course is available through both our Full-Time ATPL(A) Ground School and Distance Learning programs and combines comprehensive course material, detailed systems explanations, supporting videos, simulator demonstrations, revision material and online Practice CyberExams.
Our hybrid course combines high-quality printed study material with powerful online learning tools, giving you multiple ways to learn, practise and prepare for your CASA exams.
Course notes, revision tests and paper practice exams are provided in print, making it easy to highlight key concepts, work through questions and add your own notes as you study, helping to reinforce understanding and improve knowledge retention. Our Online Practice CyberExams provide the final level of preparation, allowing you to test your knowledge under realistic exam-style conditions. Designed to reflect the style and difficulty of CASA examinations, they help you identify any remaining gaps, improve exam technique and build confidence before sitting the real exam.
Course Material Included
AFT’s AASA course includes:
- Basic Gas Turbine – Course Notes and Revision Tests
- Basic Gas Turbine – Revision Test – Answers
- Aerodynamics – Course Notes and Revision Tests
- Aerodynamics – Revision Test – Answers
- Aircraft Systems – Course Notes and Revision Tests
- Aircraft Systems – Revision Test – Answers
- Automatic Flight and Flight Management – Course Notes and Revision Tests
- Automatic Flight and Flight Management – Revision Test – Answers
- AASA Paper Practice Exams x 4
- AASA Paper Practice Exam – Answers
Online AASA Practice CyberExam Access
- 4 Practice CyberExams × 2 attempts each
- First 4 exams: Unique, unseen questions
- Repeat attempts: Randomly regenerated and reshuffled
- 8 Premium Marking Credits included*
- CASA-Style Knowledge Deficiency Report (KDR) – After each Practice CyberExam is marked, students receive a KDR identifying correct and incorrect responses, together with the relevant CASA syllabus references. The KDR helps students identify specific areas requiring further revision before progressing to their next Practice CyberExam or CASA examination.
* Full-Time and Distance Learning students who require additional practice may request additional Complimentary Marking Credits to support their ongoing preparation.
AFT’s Online Practice CyberExams are designed to replicate CASA’s exam style and level of difficulty, giving you realistic exam preparation before sitting the real exam.
View AFT’s Practice CyberExam Demo.
ATPL Course Support
- Unlimited phone, text or email course support from expert instructors.
Amendment Service
- 12-month course note Amendment Service. *
*Amendments are provided on request during the 12-month amendment period. After 12 months, an upgrade fee, reprinting costs and postage fees will apply to any amendments or course upgrades requested.
What Will You Study in AASA?
ATPL(A) Aerodynamics and Aircraft Systems covers a wide range of technical subjects relating to the operation, control and systems of modern transport-category aircraft.
Students study Basic Gas Turbines (BGT) in detail, developing an understanding of gas turbine engine construction, operation and the principles affecting engine performance.
The course also examines modern Electronic Flight Instrument Systems (EFIS) and Flight Management Systems (FMS), together with aircraft navigation, flight guidance and control systems.
Aircraft hydraulic and electrical systems form another important part of the course, with students developing an understanding of system design, operation, redundancy and the interaction between major aircraft systems.
Supporting videos are used throughout the course to demonstrate important systems and concepts and to help students relate theoretical knowledge to real aircraft operation.
AFT also uses an EFIS computer simulator displayed on large screens in the classroom. The simulator allows instructors to demonstrate, in real time, a complete flight using modern EFIS displays and FMS functions, helping students understand how the systems studied throughout the course integrate during normal flight operations.
AASA Full-Time Ground School – Sunshine Coast Airport
For students completing AASA as part of AFT’s Full-Time ATPL(A) Ground School, classroom tuition commences on Wednesday and continues through to the following Thursday.
During this period, students work through the extensive AASA syllabus, including gas turbine engines, EFIS, FMS, aircraft navigation and control systems, hydraulics and electrical systems.
Simulator demonstrations, instructional videos and detailed classroom explanations are incorporated throughout the course to reinforce the theoretical material and demonstrate how individual aircraft systems work together.
Students complete their AFT AASA Practice CyberExams on Thursday before sitting the CASA AASA PEXO examination on Friday.
This structured progression from detailed classroom tuition, to revision and Practice CyberExams, and finally the CASA examination is designed to build technical knowledge, systems understanding and examination confidence throughout the course.
AASA Distance Learning Study
The same comprehensive AASA subject material is also available through AFT’s Distance Learning program for students who prefer to study independently and progress through the subject at their own pace.
Distance Learning students work through AFT’s comprehensive AASA course material covering Basic Gas Turbines, EFIS, FMS, aircraft navigation and control systems, hydraulic systems and electrical systems, together with structured revision material, Paper Practice Exams and online AASA Practice CyberExams.
More Practice. More Preparation.
AFT’s AASA course provides multiple levels of revision and practice to help students consolidate the large volume of technical material covered in the subject and build confidence before sitting the CASA examination.
Course Revision Material
Reinforce the major AASA topics and systems through structured revision material covering the technical knowledge required for the CASA examination.
Instructional Videos and EFIS/FMS Simulation (Full-Time Ground School)
Visual demonstrations help students understand complex aircraft systems and see how EFIS, FMS and associated aircraft systems operate together during flight.
Paper Practice Exams (PPE)
Once the course material has been completed, progress to structured paper-based Practice Exams to test your knowledge across the full subject, identify areas requiring further revision and check your answers.
Online AASA Practice CyberExams (CEX)
The final stage of preparation. Complete dedicated Practice CyberExams under exam-style conditions to test your technical knowledge, systems understanding and exam technique before sitting the CASA examination. Each marked CyberExam includes a CASA-style Knowledge Deficiency Report (KDR) to identify areas requiring further revision.
Hybrid learning by design.
Additional Material Required
There is no Permitted Material required to take into the ATPL(A) Aerodynamics and Aircraft Systems CASA Examination.