CAA NZ ATPL Air Law study plan

Map the Civil Aviation Act 1990 structure: locate and summarise the provisions covering the Authority's functions, rule-making powers under Part 3, and Director delegations in your own words

Distinguish a Civil Aviation Rule from an advisory circular and an AC from an acceptable means of compliance by writing one worked example of each for Part 91

Explain how a NZ rule references an ICAO Annex Standard and what happens when the two differ, citing the notification process for differences

Trace the Chicago Convention articles that establish sovereignty, nationality of aircraft and the annex structure, and list which Articles underpin each

Define the key Part 1 terms that recur across the exam: 'pilot-in-command', 'air operation', 'commercial transport operation', 'aircraft', 'aerodrome'

Build a decision table for fuel and oil requirements under Part 91 and Part 121/125, covering taxi, trip, contingency, alternate, final reserve and holding scenarios

Work through at least six flight-time and duty-period calculations under Part 121/125 Subpart K, including cumulative limits over 7, 14 and 28 days

List every document and record that must be carried on an international commercial flight and state who is responsible for each

Explain the right-of-way rules in Part 91 Subpart B in order of precedence and apply them to four converging-traffic scenarios

Describe the cruising level semicircular rule, the NZ-specific level allocation and the conditions for using a non-standard level

Compile the ATPL eligibility requirements from Part 61: age, experience totals, night and instrument time, and the knowledge and flight-test pathway

Compare ATPL privileges and limitations against CPL privileges, including command, training and instrument privileges

Summarise the Class 1 medical certification process, validity periods by age, and the conditions that require a medical review or limitation

List the airworthiness certificate types and the maintenance requirements for Part 121/125 operators, including the maintenance control manual and reliability programme

State the instrument and equipment requirements for IFR operations and for operations in controlled airspace, and identify which items are MEL-dependent

Describe position reporting requirements, compulsory reporting points and the content and order of a position report

Explain clearance readback requirements and the difference between an ATC clearance and an instruction, with three examples of each

Classify NZ airspace classes A to G by service provided, VMC minima and radio and clearance requirements

Summarise control zone, control area and special use airspace (danger, restricted, military operating areas) entry requirements and the process to obtain access

State transponder and radio requirements by airspace class and the procedures for radio failure in controlled airspace

Calculate aerodrome operating minima from the applicable rules, including visibility, RVR and ceiling for a given approach type and category

Describe low visibility operations requirements: operator approval, crew qualification and aerodrome equipment

Outline the TAIC investigation process from notification through to report, and state who notifies whom and within what time

List the categories of reportable accident and incident and distinguish them from occurrences that need only internal recording

Summarise CAA enforcement powers, the infringement and offence regime, and the range of penalties available

Classify dangerous goods by hazard class and state the shipper, operator and crew responsibilities for acceptance, loading and notification

Explain the security screening and access-control requirements that apply to commercial air transport operations

Summarise noise certification and emissions requirements applicable to aircraft operating in NZ, including the chapter standards referenced

Describe the meteorological information sources and the operator's obligations for obtaining and using forecasts and observations

Outline SAR obligations for pilots, including ELT requirements, distress communication and the customs and immigration process for international arrivals and departures

Re-derive the ICAO Annex Standards most tested: Annex 1 licensing, Annex 2 rules of the air, Annex 6 operations and Annex 8 airworthiness, noting NZ differences

Re-run fuel, duty and performance calculations under timed conditions to build speed and accuracy

Re-state right-of-way, cruising level and position reporting rules without notes

Identify and close your three weakest topics from weeks 1 to 6 by re-reading the source rule and rewriting the summary

Re-state the Act and rule structure, ATPL and medical requirements, airworthiness and enforcement regimes from memory

Complete two full-length timed mock exams under exam conditions and record the score by domain

Review every missed question, classify the error as knowledge, misreading or calculation, and correct the underlying gap

Build a final one-page cue sheet of numbers, time limits and validity periods that are easy to confuse