EASA ATPL 033 Flight Planning study plan

Derive the wind triangle from scratch: given TAS, true track and wind velocity, compute true heading, drift angle and ground speed by both the formula method (sin/cos rules) and a plotting exercise, and state which method you would use in the exam and why.

Convert between true, magnetic and compass directions using variation and deviation, and explain where each value is obtained on an operational flight plan.

Compute leg time, elapsed time and ETA across a multi-leg route with different winds per leg, including the effect of a change of heading at a waypoint on the next leg's groundspeed.

Complete at least 15 wind-triangle and ETA calculations under timed conditions (90 seconds each) and log every error by cause: sign, formula choice, arithmetic, unit.

Identify each numbered field of the ATS flight plan form and state what content goes into it for a scheduled IFR flight, distinguishing fields completed by the operator from those completed by ATS.

Build a full navigation plan for a 3-leg route: compute each leg's true track from coordinates, apply wind to get heading and groundspeed, and total the elapsed time including climb and descent segments.

Select a cruising level for a given track and direction, applying the semicircular (or quadrantal) rule and checking against airway and airspace constraints.

Explain the difference between an airway, a conditional route, a direct routing and a free-route area, and state what permits or restricts each.

Convert a route description into a list of waypoints with coordinates, and verify that each leg's track is consistent with the charted airway direction.

Calculate the effect of a 20 kt change in wind velocity on total trip time and state the direction of the error if the wind is forecast wrongly.

Define each fuel component (taxi, trip, contingency, alternate, final reserve, additional/extra) and compute a full fuel figure for a given sector using the operator's stated policy percentages and time allowances.

Apply the correct final reserve rule for the operation type and state how the figure changes between turbine and piston aeroplanes.

Read a take-off performance chart: extract maximum take-off mass for given pressure altitude, temperature, runway length, slope and wind, and identify the limiting factor in each case.

Read a climb and cruise performance table to obtain time, fuel and distance to climb, and cruise TAS/fuel flow for a selected level and mass.

Read a landing performance chart and determine the maximum landing mass at destination and at the alternate for given conditions.

Compute aircraft mass and CG position from a load sheet: basic mass, crew, passengers by zone, hold load, fuel, and check the result against forward and aft CG limits.

Explain how fuel burn in flight moves the CG and calculate the CG at destination for a given fuel burn and tank configuration.

Identify which mass limits (structural, performance-limited, regulated) govern a given sector and state which one is actually limiting.

Recompute the fuel plan after a mass change and state the effect on trip fuel and on the CG.

Explain in-flight replanning fuel rules: when contingency fuel may be used, what constitutes a decision point, and how the alternate fuel is protected.

Write a position report in standard format and compute a revised ETA from an actual position fix, stating the new groundspeed and the remaining fuel at destination.

Plan a diversion to an alternate from a given point: compute track, heading, groundspeed, time and fuel to the alternate, and compare with the fuel available.

List the documents in an operational flight plan package and state the purpose and the person responsible for each: operational flight plan, load sheet, ATS flight plan, MET briefing, NOTAM summary.

Interpret a NOTAM affecting a route or an alternate and state how it changes the plan.

Extract the planning-relevant items from a MET forecast: wind at levels, temperature, destination and alternate conditions, and the fuel penalty of a forecast change.

Explain the EDTO approval framework: what threshold applies, what the dispatch and en-route alternates must satisfy, and what the operator must hold.

Compute an equal time point between two suitable en-route alternates, given the wind in each direction, and state the assumptions the calculation depends on.

Identify the critical fuel scenario for a given EDTO sector and explain which scenario usually drives the fuel requirement and why.

Distinguish a diversion alternate from an en-route alternate in terms of weather minima and fuel planning.

State the in-flight decision points on an EDTO sector and what triggers a decision to divert or continue.

Complete a full end-to-end flight plan in one sitting: route, levels, wind, navigation calculations, performance extraction, mass and balance, fuel, and ATS flight plan fields.

Work the same plan against a time limit and identify which steps consume the most time, then build a personal sequence for the exam.

Recompute the plan after a mid-exercise change (wind change, alternate change, mass change) and state the knock-on effect on every downstream figure.

Check the completed plan for internal consistency: fuel totals, masses, ETAs and CG must all agree across the documents.

Rehearse flight-plan filing rules: when a flight plan must be filed, what triggers a change message, and what happens if it is not closed.

Review every domain's weak points identified in weeks 1-7 and re-solve one representative problem from each.

Take two full mixed-topic practice papers under exam conditions and record the score per domain.

For each domain scoring below 75 percent, re-derive the underlying rule from first principles rather than memorising the answer.