JCAA ATPL Theory study guide
JCAA ATPL Theory · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The JCAA ATPL Theory examination is the knowledge test that aspiring airline transport pilots in Japan must clear before the practical and licensing stages. It is aimed at candidates who already hold, or are completing, the commercial pilot training path and are preparing to fly as captain or first officer in commercial air transport. The JCAA ATPL Theory study guide has 9 sections and about 2,145 words.
01Air Law and ATC Procedures
This domain tests the Chicago Convention 1944, the ICAO Annex framework, rules of the air, ATS separation and clearances, and the Japanese Civil Aeronautics Act as applied by JCAB. Article 1 of the Chicago Convention confirms the complete and exclusive sovereignty of each State over its airspace.
258 words, about 1 min02Aircraft General Knowledge (Airframe, Systems, Powerplant, Electrics)
Airframe, systems, powerplant and electrics questions test how an aircraft generates and distributes power, how subsystems fail, and which indications follow. Electrical: 115 V AC 400 Hz from IDGs, 28 V DC from transformer-rectifiers, battery for essential DC; bus ties let one generator supply both sides.
253 words, about 1 min03Flight Performance and Planning (Mass and Balance, Performance, Flight Planning)
Mass and balance, takeoff and landing performance, and flight planning: CG limits, runway distance definitions, climb gradients and fuel policy. Mass is the sum of items; moment = mass × arm; CG = total moment / total mass.
238 words, about 1 min04Human Performance and Limitations
Human performance tests hypoxia, vision, spatial disorientation, fatigue, stress, decision-making, CRM and error models. Time of useful consciousness: about 3–5 min at FL250, 1–2 min at FL300, 30–60 s at FL350 and 15–20 s at FL400.
222 words, about 1 min05Meteorology
Meteorology covers the ISA, pressure and altimetry, clouds and icing, thunderstorms and wind shear, METAR/TAF decoding, and Japanese seasonal weather. ISA sea level: 15°C, 1013.25 hPa; lapse rate about 2°C per 1,000 ft; tropopause near 36,000 ft.
247 words, about 1 min06Navigation (General Navigation, Radio Navigation, Instrumentation)
General navigation, radio navigation and instrumentation: Earth geometry, magnetism, VOR/DME, ILS, GNSS and basic instrument interpretation. A great circle is the shortest path; a rhumb line cuts meridians at a constant angle.
256 words, about 1 min07Operational Procedures (including emergency and abnormal procedures)
Operational procedures tests emergency and abnormal handling, checklists, rejected takeoff, engine failure, depressurization, fire, MEL and ETOPS. Before V1, a serious failure calls for a rejected takeoff; after V1, continue and deal with the problem airborne.
224 words, about 1 min08Principles of Flight
Principles of flight covers lift and drag, stability, control, stalls, load factor, high-speed flight and wake turbulence. Lift = CL × ½ρV²S; induced drag falls with speed, parasite drag rises with V².
230 words, about 1 min09Communications (VFR and IFR, radiotelephony)
VFR and IFR radiotelephony, standard phraseology, readback, distress and urgency, lost communications, and Japanese ATC practices. MAYDAY ×3 for distress; PAN PAN ×3 for urgency; 121.5 MHz is the civil emergency frequency.
217 words, about 1 min