CAA NZ ATPL Theory - Flight Planning study guide
CAA NZ ATPL Theory - Flight Planning · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The CAA NZ ATPL Flight Planning examination is one of the theory papers a candidate must pass before the New Zealand Civil Aviation Authority will issue an Airline Transport Pilot Licence. It is aimed at commercial pilots progressing to the ATPL, and it tests the planning judgement expected of a pilot in command of a multi-crew turbine aeroplane: building a fuel plan that satisfies the applicable reserves, keeping the aeroplane inside its mass and balance envelope, computing take-off and landing performance from the declared data, and translating all of that into an operational flight plan and an ATS flight plan. The CAA NZ ATPL Theory - Flight Planning study guide has 8 sections and about 2,467 words.
01Flight Planning Fundamentals and Regulatory Requirements
Flight planning fundamentals and regulatory requirements test whether you can build a legal flight plan from the Civil Aviation Rules, the operator's exposition and current aeronautical information. The exam expects you to know who is responsible, which documents are required, and when an alternate or additional fuel is mandatory.
355 words, about 2 min02Route Planning and Navigation Data
Route planning and navigation data test your ability to turn AIP NZ routes, waypoints and wind into a usable magnetic heading, ground speed and EET. The exam focuses on chart reading, FIR boundaries, PBN route structure and the track-to-heading calculation.
337 words, about 2 min03Fuel Planning and Fuel Management
Fuel planning and fuel management test the legal minimum fuel, the components of block fuel, and your ability to monitor and replan in flight. The exam expects turbine and piston differences, contingency rules and the meaning of MINIMUM FUEL and MAYDAY FUEL.
310 words, about 2 min04Mass and Balance
Mass and balance test whether the planned loading stays within structural and CG limits and whether performance data is based on the correct mass. The exam covers MTOW, MLW, MZFW, index methods, load sheets and the effect of CG on performance.
325 words, about 2 min05Take-off and Landing Performance
Take-off and landing performance test your ability to use AFM/POH charts with the correct corrections and compare the result with the declared distances. The exam focuses on TORA, TODA, ASDA, LDA, V speeds, obstacle clearance and contaminated-runway factors.
268 words, about 1 min06En-route Performance, Cruise Control and In-flight Replanning
En-route performance, cruise control and in-flight replanning test your ability to fly the cruise efficiently and change the plan when fuel, weather or ATC demands it. The exam covers specific range, cost index, step climb, equal time point (ETP) and point of no return (PNR).
306 words, about 2 min07Meteorology Applied to Flight Planning
Meteorology applied to flight planning test your ability to convert forecasts and observations into fuel, alternate and performance decisions. The exam includes NZ-specific weather, MET products, winds and temperatures aloft, icing, turbulence, volcanic ash and altimetry corrections.
270 words, about 1 min08Flight Documentation, Operational Flight Plan and ATS Flight Plan
Flight documentation, the operational flight plan and the ATS flight plan test whether the paperwork matches the flight you are actually going to fly. The exam covers OFP contents, ICAO ATS flight plan items, filing and activation, and the link between the two documents.
296 words, about 1 min