ANAC Flight Engineer Theoretical Exam (Mecânico de Voo)

It is a multiple-choice theoretical exam delivered under ANAC supervision, covering the domains in the official syllabus. Each item has a single correct answer and there is no penalty for guessing beyond the pass mark, so answer every question. ANAC publishes the current number of items and the time allowed; check its site before you schedule.

Most candidates find the systems and performance items hardest, because they test reasoning rather than recall. Regulatory and air law items are easier if you read the current RBAC text directly. The exam rewards broad, even coverage: a candidate who is strong on engines but weak on weight and balance and meteorology usually struggles.

Yes, ANAC allows re-examination, but the rules on waiting periods, the number of attempts and how long a passed subject remains valid are set out in current regulation and can change. Confirm the present retake policy with ANAC or your approved training organisation before relying on a plan that assumes an immediate second sitting.

Treat it as a multi-month project if you are studying alongside work. A common approach is to cover one syllabus domain per two to three weeks, with the last month reserved for mixed timed practice and review of weak areas. Candidates with recent maintenance experience on relevant types can compress the systems phase.

Start with aircraft systems and powerplants, since they underpin performance and abnormal procedures. Then take performance and weight and balance, followed by maintenance and airworthiness and the RBAC material. Meteorology, navigation and avionics can run in parallel as lighter daily sessions, and human factors and air law are efficient to finish last.

Three recur: memorising diagrams without understanding system logic, so questions phrased differently defeat the candidate; skipping weight and balance calculations because they feel tedious; and studying regulations from outdated summaries instead of the current RBAC text. Poor time management in the exam itself also costs marks on longer calculation items.

Only with ANAC. The authority publishes the current fee, the pass mark, the number of questions, the duration and the scheduling calendar on its official website and through its examination channels. Any figure quoted by a third party, including a training provider, should be verified against that source before you pay or book.

Substantially, especially for systems, powerplants and airworthiness items, because you already know how components behave in service. The gap is usually the flight-operations side: performance, weight and balance, meteorology and crew resource management. Budget extra time there rather than assuming your technical background covers it.

Use them to diagnose, not to memorise. After each set, write down why every wrong option was wrong; that reasoning is what the exam tests. Keep sets timed once you are past the halfway point of preparation, and revisit missed topics a week later to confirm retention rather than recognising the answer.