JCAA CPL Theory Exam study guide
JCAA CPL Theory Exam · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The JCAA Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL) Theory Examination is the ground-examination stage that a pilot in Japan must pass before holding a commercial aeroplane licence and being paid to fly. It is aimed at pilots who already hold a private licence or have completed integrated training and now need commercial-level knowledge across ten subjects: air law and ATC procedures, aircraft general knowledge, flight performance and planning, human performance, meteorology, navigation, operational procedures, principles of flight, communications, and radio navigation. The JCAA CPL Theory Exam study guide has 10 sections and about 2,585 words.
01Air Law and ATC Procedures
This domain checks whether you can apply the Japanese Civil Aeronautics Act (航空法), its implementing regulations (CAR), ICAO Annex 2 rules of the air, and AIP Japan/NOTAM material to routine and abnormal flight. Expect flight-plan filing, clearance readback, position reporting, altimetry, airspace classification and SSR procedures.
294 words, about 1 min02Aircraft General Knowledge - Airframe, Systems and Powerplant
This section covers airframe structures and flight controls, hydraulic and electrical systems, fuel, ice and rain protection, pressurisation, piston and turbine powerplants, and propellers. Questions test system purpose, normal indications and the first correct response to a malfunction.
282 words, about 1 min03Flight Performance and Planning
This domain tests take-off and landing performance, density altitude, mass and balance, centre of gravity, fuel planning, alternates and the practical use of performance charts and a navigation log. Take-off and landing distances increase with mass, altitude, temperature and tailwind; they decrease with headwind and lower temperature.
280 words, about 1 min04Human Performance and Limitations
This domain examines hypoxia, hyperventilation, decompression, spatial disorientation, sensory illusions, fatigue, stress, vision, hearing, medication and crew decision-making. Questions often ask for the first correct recognition or response rather than a diagnosis.
256 words, about 1 min05Meteorology
Meteorology questions cover pressure, temperature, wind, clouds, fronts, icing, thunderstorms, wind shear, altimetry and the interpretation of METAR, TAF, SIGMET and PIREP information. Pressure decreases with height; altimeter setting errors affect all aircraft in the same area but not terrain clearance.
263 words, about 1 min06Navigation
Navigation tests dead reckoning, chart reading, magnetic variation and deviation, the wind triangle, groundspeed, heading, fuel and time, and the use of NDB, VOR, DME, GNSS and area navigation. True track is measured on the chart; magnetic track = true track corrected for variation; compass heading also corrects for deviation.
243 words, about 1 min07Operational Procedures
Operational Procedures covers pre-flight preparation, mass and balance, fuel, normal and emergency checklists, MEL usage, TCAS, EGPWS, oxygen, icing, runway incursion avoidance and security procedures. Pre-flight action includes weather, NOTAM, performance, fuel, mass and balance, and aircraft serviceability.
238 words, about 1 min08Principles of Flight
This domain tests lift and drag, angle of attack, stall, stability and control, load factor, turning, Mach effects, V speeds and wake turbulence. Lift increases with angle of attack up to the critical angle, then decreases; a stall occurs at the critical angle of attack regardless of speed or attitude.
259 words, about 1 min09Communications (VHF and Radiotelephony)
Communications tests VHF radio use, standard phraseology, readback requirements, position reports, distress and urgency calls, phonetic alphabet and lost-communication procedures. Use standard phraseology and identify the station called, your call sign and the message.
218 words, about 1 min10Radio Navigation
Radio Navigation covers VOR, DME, ILS, NDB/ADF, GNSS, RNAV, RNP, radar and transponder use, including interpretation of cockpit indications and approach guidance. VOR gives magnetic bearing from the station; the CDI shows the selected radial and whether you are left or right of it.
252 words, about 1 min