BDCA ATPL Knowledge Exam study guide
BDCA ATPL Knowledge Exam · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The BDCA ATPL Knowledge Examination is the written theory stage that aspiring airline transport pilots in Bangladesh must clear before progressing toward the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) ATPL licence. It is aimed at commercial pilots building hours who now need to demonstrate airline-level theoretical knowledge, and at candidates converting or upgrading qualifications. The BDCA ATPL Knowledge Exam study guide has 10 sections and about 3,173 words.
01Air Law and ATC Procedures: Rules, Clearances and Airspace
Air law questions test precise knowledge of the international and national rules that govern flight. Know the hierarchy: ICAO Annexes set standards and recommended practices, while the State's own regulations (and any differences filed with ICAO) have legal force for the pilot.
394 words, about 2 min02Aircraft General Knowledge: Airframe, Systems and Powerplant
Understand the primary structure (fuselage, wings, empennage, landing gear) and how loads flow through the airframe. Know the difference between primary controls (aileron, elevator, rudder) and secondary effects (flaps, trim, spoilers), and be able to explain adverse yaw, differential ailerons, and why aileron drag increases on the downgoing wing.
328 words, about 2 min03Flight Performance and Planning: Mass, Balance and Performance
Every performance question rests on mass and centre of gravity. Know the definitions: basic empty mass, dry operating mass, take-off mass, landing mass, and the difference between maximum structural masses and performance-limited masses.
336 words, about 2 min04Human Performance and Limitations: Perception, Physiology and Crew Resource Management
Understand how the vestibular system works: the semicircular canals sense angular acceleration and can give false sensations after a sustained turn, while the otoliths sense linear acceleration and gravity. The somatogravic illusion (a strong acceleration feels like a climb) and the leans are classic examination topics.
310 words, about 2 min05Meteorology: Atmosphere, Clouds and Hazardous Weather
Know the standard atmosphere, the lapse rate (about 2 °C per 1000 ft in the lower atmosphere), and how pressure, temperature and density change with height. Be comfortable with QNH, QFE and QNE and what each is referenced to, and with the transition altitude and transition level.
331 words, about 2 min06Navigation: Dead Reckoning, Charts and Radio Aids
Know the shape of the Earth (oblate spheroid), the meaning of latitude and longitude, and the properties of map projections. A Mercator chart is conformal - angles are correct and a straight line is a rhumb line - but scale varies with latitude.
315 words, about 2 min07Operational Procedures: Checklists, Emergencies and Ground Operations
Operational procedures questions test disciplined use of checklists, clear roles and standard calls. Know the difference between normal, abnormal and emergency checklists, and that memory items are limited to time-critical actions followed by the checklist.
272 words, about 1 min08Principles of Flight: Lift, Drag and Stability
Understand the four forces and how they balance in steady flight. Lift depends on air density, velocity squared, wing area and lift coefficient; the lift coefficient varies with angle of attack and reaches a maximum at the critical angle.
333 words, about 2 min09Communications: VFR and IFR Phraseology and Failure Procedures
Know the standard readback requirements and the meaning of words such as cleared, approved, expect, standby and roger. Understand that roger means received, not agreed, and that wilco means will comply.
265 words, about 1 min10Radio Navigation: Ground Aids, GNSS and Approach Systems
Understand how each aid produces a line of position. VOR gives a magnetic radial from the station; the CDI centres when the selected radial matches, and the TO/FROM flag tells you which side of the station you are on.
289 words, about 1 min