Nz Caa Frto study plan
Nz Caa Frto · Give each week a clear focus.
8 weeks · About 7 hours per week
Radio telephony procedures and phraseology
Recite from memory the standard ICAO radiotelephony call structure (station called, station calling, type, position, intention) and apply it aloud to five different departure scenarios
Pronounce the ICAO spelling alphabet and figure-by-figure digit pronunciation without hesitation, including the standard groupings for hundreds and thousands
Write out the correct readback content for a route clearance, a level instruction and a frequency change, then compare each against the required readback elements
Log every self-correction you make while practising aloud so you can see which phraseology habit needs drilling
Your checkpoint
A 10-minute self-recorded radiotelephony session covering five departure scenarios, with a written list of every phraseology error you identified in the playback
Radio telephony procedures and phraseology
Deliver the standard phraseology for circuit joins, downwind, base, final, go-around and after-landing without reading from notes
Distinguish and correctly use conditional clearances, line-up clearances and take-off clearances, stating aloud why each readback differs
Practise the phraseology for position reporting at uncontrolled aerodromes, including the standard calls for joining and departing the circuit
Identify the phraseology you should never use (ambiguous plain language, non-standard abbreviations) and substitute the correct standard term for each
Your checkpoint
A one-page personal phraseology card covering circuit, departure and arrival calls, written entirely from memory then checked against your study references with corrections marked
Aeronautical radio frequencies, communication equipment and radio failure procedures
List the standard VHF and HF frequency bands and the emergency frequencies used in New Zealand, and state the purpose of each
Explain how to select, set and verify a frequency on a typical light-aircraft radio stack, including standby/active swapping and volume/squelch adjustment
Describe the transponder code conventions you must know, including the standard emergency, radio failure and unlawful interference codes
Draft a checklist for a pre-flight radio and transponder serviceability check
Your checkpoint
A completed frequency and transponder reference sheet plus a written pre-flight radio check checklist, both self-tested with a closed-book quiz scoring at least 90%
Aeronautical radio frequencies, communication equipment and radio failure procedures
Explain the difference between loss of communication in VMC and in IMC, and state the actions a pilot should take in each case
Describe how to set and use the radio failure squawk and how to attract attention when radio failure is suspected
Identify the communication equipment failure modes (headset, PTT, intercom, antenna, power) and the in-flight troubleshooting order for each
State the circumstances in which you would divert, continue or hold after a radio failure, and justify each decision aloud
Your checkpoint
A written radio failure decision tree covering VMC and IMC cases, with actions, squawks and diversion criteria, tested by explaining it aloud without notes in under five minutes
Airspace, ATS services, clearances and readback requirements
Describe the classes of airspace used in New Zealand and state the ATS service and clearance requirements for each
Explain the difference between controlled and uncontrolled airspace and identify the communication and clearance obligations in each
List the elements of a clearance that must be read back and explain why each element is safety-critical
Practise issuing and reading back clearances in a role-play with a study partner or by recording both parts yourself
Your checkpoint
A completed airspace classification comparison table with service, clearance and communication requirements, plus a recorded clearance readback exercise with zero missed mandatory elements
Airspace, ATS services, clearances and readback requirements & Aeronautical information, emergency communications and NZ regulatory context
Explain the purpose and content of the main aeronautical information publications you will use, and locate the information you need for a planned flight
Describe how NOTAMs, MET information and aerodrome information are obtained and used before and during flight
State the standard emergency communications content, including distress and urgency calls, and when each is used
Identify the NZ regulatory framework that governs radio telephony and communication equipment, and state where the relevant rules sit
Your checkpoint
A flight-planning information pack for one planned flight, containing the relevant AIP, NOTAM and MET extracts, with a written note on how each item affects communications or clearances
Aeronautical information, emergency communications and NZ regulatory context & Radio telephony procedures and phraseology
Deliver the distress and urgency calls and the associated readback and acknowledgement phraseology without notes
Explain the emergency communications sequence for a forced landing, an engine failure and a medical emergency, and the information ATS needs from you
State the NZ regulatory requirements for radio equipment carriage, licensing and operator responsibilities
Practise emergency phraseology in a simulated scenario, including a Mayday relay and a PAN PAN call
Your checkpoint
A recorded 15-minute emergency communications simulation covering three scenarios, with a written self-assessment of phraseology accuracy and completeness
Radio telephony procedures and phraseology & Aeronautical radio frequencies, communication equipment and radio failure procedures & Airspace, ATS services, clearances and readback requirements & Aeronautical information, emergency communications and NZ regulatory context
Complete a full-length timed mock examination under exam conditions and mark it against the published syllabus domains
Re-drill every question you answered incorrectly by writing the correct answer and the reason it is correct
Recite the phraseology, frequency, clearance and emergency content you have learned in a single closed-book session
Identify your three weakest remaining areas and write a targeted revision plan for the final days before the exam
Your checkpoint
A completed mock examination with a scored breakdown by domain, a corrected error log and a one-page final revision plan