ATPL Flight Planning exam-day guide
ATPL Flight Planning · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Admission ticket / confirmation email
Print or download the appointment confirmation showing date, time, and test centre address. If you have not received one, confirm with the provider how entry is verified.
Valid photo ID
Bring the original government-issued photo ID in the exact name used on your booking. Which ID types are accepted, and whether a second form is required, should be confirmed with the provider.
Approved calculator
Bring a non-programmable calculator with working batteries, or the model your provider permits. Check the permitted-model list with the provider; some centres supply equipment and some do not.
Writing materials
Bring pens and pencils in case the centre does not supply them, but expect that only centre-issued paper or materials may be used during the test. Confirm the local policy.
Flight planning tools
If the exam is taken in a format that allows a navigation plotter, protractor, or ruler, confirm in advance which physical tools are permitted at your centre.
Watches and electronic devices
Bring a plain wristwatch if you rely on one, and expect phones, smartwatches, and other devices to be switched off and stored. Confirm the storage arrangements with the provider.
Medical or access arrangements
If you need extra time, a separate room, or medication access, confirm that approval is already recorded with the provider before test day.
Route and arrival time
Plan to arrive well before the reporting time, allowing for traffic and security checks. Ask the provider for the exact reporting time and latest arrival permitted.
Refreshment plan
Bring water and a snack for before or after the test if the centre allows it; confirm whether food and drink are permitted in the test room.
Exam content familiarity
Know the structure, time limit, and question style for the Flight Planning paper from the official syllabus. Do not rely on memory of a specific past paper.
Mental arithmetic readiness
Practise fuel, time, distance, and wind-triangle calculations under timed conditions so that method recall is automatic on the day.
Backup transport plan
Have a fallback route and the centre's contact number saved offline, in case of delays. Confirm with the provider what happens if you arrive late.
Plan the day
Finish content revision and switch to timed practice. Work through mixed Flight Planning questions covering fuel planning, wind triangles, critical point and point of no return calculations, and diversion fuel, then review every error by method rather than by answer.
Re-read your own formula sheet: fuel consumption conversions, specific gravity use, true track and heading corrections, and the definitions of contingency, alternate, and reserve fuel. Write it out from memory once to expose gaps.
Check logistics: confirm the appointment time, address, ID requirements, and permitted equipment with the provider. Resolve any uncertainty now rather than on the morning.
Do one light revision pass over weak topics and stop. Avoid new material and avoid cramming late into the night; protect a full night's sleep.
Prepare and pack the ID, confirmation, calculator, pens, and any approved tools. Lay out clothes and confirm travel arrangements and the alarm.
Eat normally and limit caffeine. If you feel unwell, contact the provider to ask about rescheduling rules rather than assuming you can transfer the booking.
Eat a proper breakfast, arrive early, and avoid last-minute discussion of answers with other candidates. Do a brief five-minute skim of your formula sheet only.
Switch off and stow all electronic devices as instructed, present your ID, and listen carefully to the invigilator's briefing on rules and timing.
Read the whole paper structure first if permitted, then work in passes: answer confident questions, flag long calculations, and return to them. Keep an eye on the clock and allocate time per question.
For calculation questions, write down the given values, state the formula, and check units and rounding. Sanity-check results against expected magnitudes, for example fuel burn against endurance.
If a question seems to lack data, re-read it for embedded information such as wind, temperature, or aircraft mass. If still unclear, mark your best answer and move on.
Use remaining time to check that every question has an answer and that flagged items are resolved. Confirm with the provider how and when results are released.
Rules to check
Bring the original photo ID matching your booking name; without acceptable ID you may be refused entry. Confirm the accepted ID types with the provider in advance.
Arrive by the reporting time stated by the provider. Late arrival may mean refusal or loss of the fee; confirm the exact cut-off with the provider rather than assuming a grace period.
Phones, smartwatches, and other electronic devices must be switched off and stored as directed. Unauthorised devices in the test room may be treated as misconduct.
Use only equipment the provider permits. If you are unsure whether a calculator or plotter is allowed, confirm with the provider before the test.
Follow invigilator instructions on starting, stopping, and leaving the room. Do not communicate with other candidates during the test.
If you need to leave the room, raise your hand and wait for instruction. Confirm the provider's policy on breaks and whether test time is paused.
Attempt every question unless the format penalises wrong answers; confirm the scoring and any penalty rules with the provider before the exam.
If you believe a question is faulty, note it mentally, answer as best you can, and report it to the invigilator afterwards. Do not stop working to argue the point during the test.