ATPL General Navigation (061)

It tests whether you can fix a position, plan a route and predict where the aircraft will be. That means the geometry of the Earth, chart projections, magnetism and compass errors, the wind triangle, and the arithmetic of great circles, rhumb lines and time. The bias is strongly towards numerical problems rather than definitions.

It is a computer-based, multiple-choice examination taken at an approved examination centre. Each item has a single correct answer, and many require you to work a calculation before selecting from the options. The exact item count and time allowed are set by the licensing authority, so check its current published figures rather than relying on hearsay.

Most candidates find the concepts straightforward but the execution unforgiving. Errors come from arithmetic and unit slips rather than from misunderstanding. If you are comfortable with trigonometry, interpolation and mental reciprocals, the workload is moderate; if not, budget extra time for drilling the methods until they are reliable under time pressure.

Start with the shape of the Earth, latitude and longitude, and chart projections, because nearly everything later depends on them. Then take magnetism and compasses, followed by the triangle of velocities, which is the highest-weighted and most examined area. Leave great circles, rhumb lines and time until the fundamentals are secure.

Yes, in practice. The CRP-style circular computer and a navigation plotter are the standard tools for wind triangles, conversions and plotting, and using them fluently saves minutes per question. Learn the manual methods first; a calculator or app is useful for checking, but the exam expects you to handle the standard navigation tables and computer.

Mixing up track, heading and drift; forgetting to apply variation and deviation in the right order; using the wrong latitude sign in great-circle formulas; and mishandling time-zone conversions near the date line. A second frequent cause is simply running out of time because basic arithmetic was not automatic.

Retakes are normally possible, but the number of attempts, the waiting period and any requirement to complete additional training are set by the authority that administers your licence. These rules differ between states and change over time, so confirm the current position with your authority or approved training organisation before booking.

Plan for a structured course of several weeks with daily practice, not a last-minute cram. The subject rewards repetition: work through a few dozen wind-triangle and great-circle problems per week, then switch to full timed papers. Track your error types in a log so revision targets your actual weaknesses.

Those administrative details are published by the licensing authority that runs your examinations, and they are updated periodically. Check the authority's own website or your approved training organisation for the current question count, time allowed, pass mark, fee and validity period rather than relying on forum posts.

No. This is independent study material written to help you revise. It is not produced, reviewed or endorsed by any aviation authority, and it does not reproduce any official question bank. Always treat your authority's published syllabus and your training organisation's notes as the authoritative source.