To complete our ATPL(A) Course, you will need to ensure you have all the material needed to complete your study and most importantly, sit your CASA examinations. For a full list of what you need to complete the ATPL exams, please see CASA’s  Permitted Material allowed to be taken into Examinations under Part 61.

You need to have the current edition of the following documents to complete the ATPL(A) CASA PEXO Exams: 

• Navigation equipment
• A basic calculator 
• AIP Complete
• ERSA with RDS
• All ERC High Charts
• All ERC Low Charts
• B727 Performance and Operating Handbook (included in AFT’s Flight Planning and Performance and Loading courses)
• CAR 1988*
• CASR Part 61, 91, 121, 135*
• MOS Part 91, 121, 135*
• CAO 48.1 Instrument 2019*

* These combined documents can be purchased in our AALW Air Law Document Package, which includes the following printed CASA Documents Permitted Material, which has been extracted specifically for the ATPL Air Law Examination by Nathan Higgins.

To see the current pricelist and place your order, please visit our online Pilot Supply Shop.

Important Note: Departure and Approach Procedures (DAP) East and West are a permitted reference for the CASA ATPL Air Law Exam. The main topic covered in the Air Law syllabus that references DAP East and West is noise curfew procedures and requirements. If you do not already have DAP East and West and wish to avoid the considerable cost of purchasing these documents, you should familiarise yourself with noise curfew procedures before sitting the CASA Air Law Exam.

There is a considerable amount of information regarding the CASA PEXO Exam system available on CASA’s ATPL Exams Page. 

The ATPL examination is made up of seven separate examinations. These are:

• Flight Planning (AFPA)
• Navigation (ANAV)
• Performance and Loading (APLA)
• Aerodynamics and Aircraft Systems (AASA)
• Human Factors (AHUF)
• Meteorology (AMET)
• Air Law (AALW)

It is highly recommended that you complete the Performance and Loading course before completing Flight Planning as many of the concepts in Flight Planning are first introduced in Performance and Loading.

Individual Subject Credits

All ATPL exams are individual examinations. Candidates may choose to sit any number of papers at any particular sitting and be credited with a pass in each examination separately. When all subjects have been passed, a candidate is awarded a pass in the ATPL examination.

Examination Pre-Requisites

The pre-qualification requirements for the ATPL is a pass in the Australian CPL(A) theory examination or a CPL(A) Licence. You will be unable to book an examination unless you meet this requirement.

In particular, overseas students should note that they must hold a CASA CPL(A) or have a pass in all seven parts of the CASA CPL(A) theory exam to meet pre requisite qualifications for sitting CASA ATPL(A) PEXO Exams. It is essential for overseas students to contact the CASA Flight Crew Examination and/or Licencing Sections to confirm they meet this requirement prior to booking their CASA ATPL examinations.

Perpetual Validity Period

The ATPL credit once issued, will remain valid indefinitely. This may be reviewed at a later date.

Two Year Time Frame

As of 1 September, 2014 a candidate has two years to pass all seven ATPL examinations to be awarded an ATPL theory pass.

Pass Mark Required

The pass mark for each CASA examination is 70%, except for the Air Law where the pass mark is 80%.

Exam Fees

ASPEQ has a contract for the nationwide delivery of Flight Crew licensing examinations for the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). ASPEQ is responsible for the booking and delivery of the examinations through a network of examination sites, while CASA is responsible for the provisions of the examinations through their PEXO Exam System.

The fees for the examination service is split into two parts –

• CASA Examination Fee
• ASPEQ Examination Delivery Fee

Examination Venues

CASA PEXO Exams can be sat a many CASA authorised exam centres Australia wide.

Booking your CASA/ASPEQ PEXO Exams

All CASA Flight Crew Licencing Exams are to be booked through ASPEQ’s website.

There are two parts to the ATPL Examination fees – a CASA fee and an ASPEQ fee.

The CASA examination fees are for the PEXO Exam service provided by CASA via their web-based delivery system. The ASPEQ exam delivery fees are charged for each examination subject required. The fee structure is based around the length of the examination subject as this determines the amount of computer time used to deliver the subject. Please see CASA’s website for current exam fee information for AASA, APLA and AFPA or AALW, AHUF, ANAV and AMET.

IMPORTANT NOTE: CASA and ASPEQ PEXO fees are NOT included in our course fees for Full Time Ground School or Distance Learning Courses. If you are attending our Full Time Ground School Classes we have pre-booked CASA PEXO Exam sessions for our students at the end of each subject. If requested, we can book your exam in one of these sessions for you on your first day in class and charge the exams fees to your account. Our pre booked sessions mean you do not need to book your own CASA PEXO Exams for subjects you do in class with us. You must book your own CASA PEXO Exams for any Distance Learning subjects you study.

Before booking any CASA PEXO Exams candidates need to be sure of their eligibility and timing before making a booking.

Course Outline

Meteorology, Air Law and Human Factors

You should allow approximately 10 full days of devoted self study time to cover all of the material required to sit the remaining subjects of Meteorology, Air Law and Human Factors. The study material includes reference material, revision tests, and Practice CyberExams.

Meteorology

Study Material Included:

• AFT Meteorology Notes, Revision Tests and Answers
• AFT Upper Level Meteorology Notes, Revision Tests and Answers
• AFT Meteorology Additional Revision Tests and Answers
• Bureau of Meteorology – Manual of Aviation Meteorology Textbook
• AFT AMET Practice CyberExams with 8 Standard Marking Credits

Air Law

Study Material Included:

• AFT Air Law Notes and Revision Tests
• AFT Air Law Notes and Revision Tests Answers with References
• CASA Plain English Guide
• AFT AALW Practice CyberExams with 8 Standard Marking Credits
• AFT AALW Practice CyberExam References

Human Factors

Study Material Included:

• Bob Tait Human Performance and Limitations Notes
• AFT Human Factors Supplementary Notes
• AFT Human Factors Supplementary Notes Answers
• Tony Wilson – Human Performance and Limitations Textbook
• AFT Threat and Error Management Notes
• AFT AHUF Practice CyberExams with 8 Standard Marking Credits

Course Outline

Our course is very intensive, however we have done everything possible to ensure adequate time is given to fully cover the full ATPL(A) Syllabus. We have found that our short course format with our constant revision tests, leads to better information retention, especially on exam day!

Please Note: There may be some slight variations to the format described below when public holidays interfere with the scheduled CASA Exams at the end of each subject.

Navigation

Navigation commences on Monday, with six days spent in the classroom and the CASA ANAV Exam scheduled for the Tuesday after class finishes.

Study Material Included:

• AFT Navigation Theory Notes, Revision Tests, Answers and Workings
• AFT Navigation Practical Notes, Revision Tests, Answers and Workings
• AFT Navigation Additional Revision Tests, Answers and Workings
• AFT ANAV Practice CyberExams with 8 Standard Marking Credits
• AFT ANAV Practice CyberExam Answers and Workings
• AFT ANAV Random Question Generators

Navigation includes studying the static/pitot system, gyroscopic/laser ring instruments, weather radar, radar/radio altimeters and the latest on GPS. The principles of operation of radio navigation aids and their errors and limitations, determining position by way of radio navaid information (RMI with VOR/ADF) and the use of an ERC are covered next. You will learn to plot Critical Points and the Point of Safe Diversion on ERC and how to calculate track intercepts without a chart using basic trigonometry. The subject material is covered in the classroom from Monday to Friday, with Practice CyberExams over the weekend and the Monday before the CASA ANAV PEXO Exam on the Tuesday.

Aerodynamics and Aircraft Systems

Aerodynamics and Aircraft Systems commences on a Wednesday, with seven days spent in the classroom and the CASA AASA Exam scheduled for the Friday after class finishes.

Study Material Included:

• AFT Basic Gas Turbine Notes, Revision Tests and Answers
• AFT Aerodynamics Notes, Revision Tests and Answers
• AFT Aircraft System Notes, Revision Tests and Answers
• AFT Automatic Flight and Flight Management Notes
• AFT AASA Practice CyberExams with 8 Premium Marking Credits
• AFT AASA Practice CyberExam Answers

The Aerodynamics and Aircraft Systems Syllabus is very broad, covering BGT (Basic Gas Turbines), EFIS (Electronic Flight Instrument Systems), FMS (Flight Management Systems) and all aircraft navigation and control systems. These are all discussed in great detail. Special videos on many of the important aspects will be viewed. Aircraft Hydraulic and Electrical Systems are also topics covered during the course.

Advanced Flight Theory has an EFIS Computer Simulator, displayed via large screens. The simulator allows us to show, in real time, a complete flight using the latest in EFIS displays and FMS. Wednesday to the following Thursday are spent learning the subject material, with Practice CyberExams sat on Thursday before the CASA AASA PEXO Exam on the Friday.

Performance and Loading

Performance and Loading commences on a Monday, with five days spent in the classroom and the CASA APLA Exam scheduled for the Monday after class finishes.

Study Material Included:

• CASA B727 Performance and Operations Handbook
• B727 Additional Graph Copy Package
• AFT Weight Limitations Notes, Revision Tests, Answers and Workings
• AFT Cruise Performance Notes, Revision Tests and Answers
• AFT Performance Aerodynamics Notes, Revision Tests and Answers
• AFT Weight and Balance Notes, Revision Tests, Answers and Workings
• CASA APLA Workbooklet
• B767 Flight Study Guide
• Part 161 and Part 121 MOS
• Performance and Loading Revision Tests, Answers and Workings
• AFT APLA Practice CyberExams with 8 Premium Marking Credits
• AFT APLA Practice CyberExam Answers and Workings
• AFT APLA Random Question Generators

This subject involves calculation of Weight and Balance for a Boeing 727, a thorough investigation of takeoff and landing performance and a detailed look at CASR 121 MOS Chapter 9, so you fully understand the reasons behind all of the operational performance standards. The first four days in class covers the course material, with revision on Friday and our Practice CyberExams completed over the weekend before the CASA APLA PEXO Exam on the Monday.

Flight Planning

Flight Planning commences on a Tuesday, with nine days spent in the classroom. No CASA Exam date is booked for Flight Planning. This allows students more time to practice and refine the techniques needed in the AFPA exam. The additional time should ensure all methods and processes are fully understood and careless errors eliminated, with the added benefit of reduced time pressure before attempting the CASA exam. The majority of our students will book the AFPA exam themselves after returning home and allowing themselves enough extra time for suitable revision and practice. We do not have any pre booked exam sessions with ASPEQ for our Flight Planning courses and encourage you to book and sit the exam when you are fully prepared.

Study Material Included:

• CASA B727 Performance and Operations Handbook
• AFT Flight Planning Notes and Revision Tests
• AFT Flight Planning Notes and Revision Tests Answers and Workings
• AFT Flight Planning Forms
• AFT AFPA Practice CyberExams with 8 Premium Marking Credits
• AFT AFPA Practice CyberExam Answers and Workings
• AFT AFPA Random Question Generators

We start with a discussion of the effects on jet engine performance and aircraft aerodynamics, of cruising at high altitude and high speed. True Air Speed to Mach Number conversions, and other important considerations when flying near the speed of sound are also explained.

Once you fully understand these concepts you are ready to start Flight Planning. This is not only the most interesting, but also the most complex and time consuming section of the CASA syllabus. Step by step you will become familiar with the Boeing 727 Handbook, so by the end of the first week you are confidently planning RPT flights, including calculation of the PNR and ETP for Normal Operations, One Engine Inoperative Flight and Depressurised Cruise.

We also cover Yaw Damper failure, Buffet Boundary considerations and Alternate aerodrome requirements. You will eventually feel confident working through challenging problems. The second week of Flight Planning is devoted to consolidation and revision with CASA style revision tests and Practice CyberExams.