CAA NZ ATPL Instruments & Navaids exam-day guide
CAA NZ ATPL Instruments & Navaids · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Photo ID
Bring current, signed photo identification (passport or national photo licence). Confirm with the provider which forms are accepted and whether a secondary ID is required.
Examination admission/booking confirmation
Print or download the confirmation showing your candidate number, exam sitting, date, time and venue. Confirm with the provider whether a printed copy is mandatory.
Approved calculator
Bring a non-programmable calculator. Check with the provider whether programmable or graphing calculators are prohibited and whether calculators are supplied at the workstation.
Formula sheet and reference material
CAA NZ instrument and navigation exams generally provide any necessary formulae and conversion data on screen or on a supplied sheet. Confirm with the provider what, if anything, you may bring in and what is supplied.
Writing materials
Bring pens and pencils plus an eraser if the venue permits. Confirm with the provider whether rough paper, a whiteboard or an on-screen scribble pad is provided and whether personal paper is allowed.
Personal items stowed
Plan to leave phones, smart watches, notes and bags in the designated locker or storage area. Confirm with the provider the rules on watches, water bottles and clothing with pockets.
Timing and travel plan
Arrive with margin before the reporting time. Confirm with the provider the reporting time, late-arrival policy and whether you must complete check-in before the scheduled start.
Syllabus and knowledge gaps review
Work through the published CAA NZ ATPL Instruments & Navaids syllabus and list weak areas: flight instruments and errors, gyroscopic principles, pressure systems, ADC/air data, radio altimetry, GNSS, VOR/ILS/DME, radar, RNAV/PBN, and performance-based navigation.
Practice under timed conditions
Complete at least one full-length timed practice set and review every error by topic. Confirm with the provider the number of questions, time allowed and pass mark for the current syllabus.
Rest and hydration plan
Protect sleep in the 48 hours before the sitting; avoid last-minute cramming of new material. Plan a light meal and water before the exam, subject to venue rules.
Venue access check
Confirm the venue address, parking or public transport, and building access. Confirm with the provider whether you must report to a specific reception or examination room.
Special arrangements
If you need extra time, a separate room, or other accommodations, confirm with the provider well in advance; approval may take time and cannot usually be arranged on the day.
Plan the day
Confirm booking, venue and reporting time with the provider. Re-read the current syllabus and exam format. Build a one-page summary of weak topics: instrument error corrections (position, manoeuvre, temperature, lag), gyro drift and apparent wander, pitot-static blockages, ADC inputs and outputs, radio altimeter limitations, GNSS RAIM and integrity, VOR/ILS/DME principles, and PBN/RNAV specifications. Do one timed practice set and review errors by topic.
Target the two or three weakest areas with worked numerical problems: true altitude from indicated altitude and temperature error, turn radius and rate, DME slant range versus ground range, ILS glidepath geometry, and GNSS accuracy/containment concepts. Write out the formulae you will use so recall is automatic. Stop introducing new material.
Do a light review of your summary sheet only. Check travel, ID and any approved calculator, and confirm what the provider supplies versus what you must bring. Set two alarms. Aim for a normal night's sleep rather than extra cramming.
Eat a normal meal and hydrate moderately. Arrive with margin, carry your ID and confirmation, and leave devices stowed. Skim only your summary sheet; do not attempt new topics. Follow the invigilator's check-in and briefing instructions.
Read the whole question before answering, especially where wording turns on 'indicated', 'true', 'calibrated', 'pressure' or 'density'. Answer confident questions first, flag and return to longer calculations, and watch units. If the format allows review, check flagged items before submitting. If unsure of a rule on breaks, materials or timing, ask the invigilator rather than guessing.
Rules to check
Bring current photo identification and present it on request. Confirm with the provider which documents are accepted and what happens if ID is missing or expired.
Follow the invigilator's instructions on personal items, phones, smart watches and notes. Electronic devices should be switched off and stowed unless the provider states otherwise.
Do not communicate with other candidates during the sitting and do not attempt to access unauthorised material. Confirm with the provider the exact definition of misconduct and the consequences.
Confirm with the provider in advance whether breaks are permitted, whether the clock stops, and how to leave and re-enter the room. Do not assume a break is available.
Confirm with the provider the scoring rules: number of questions, time allowed, pass mark, whether questions are equally weighted, and whether there is negative marking.
If you believe a question is defective or ambiguous, note it and continue; confirm with the provider how to raise a query after the sitting rather than stopping to argue during it.
Confirm with the provider the result notification timeline and the process for a re-sit or appeal.
Use only the calculator and reference material permitted by the provider; if you are unsure whether an item is allowed, ask before the test begins.