CASA ATPL flight planning
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Newcastle, Australia
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Thanks to all for the help - passed third time around with 90%. The "autopsy" for those going into for the future:
- Sounds like this is what is being taught now, but just in case, work out actual TAS for climb and descent for use when calculating ETAS, use actual MAGVAR for the leg and when in doubt, more segments are better. Those where the things that have changed in the past few months which I was not aware of
That robbed me of a bunch of marks and the followed sealed my fate:
- EXAM 1 (58%). Made a error using my calculator (the divide symbol and the % symbol are reversed on supplied calculator vs my calculator). Although a little over the top when it comes to supplying all the gear now, those are the rules and they are pretty clearly spelt out. Practice with a regular pencil, sharpening as you go have a good play with the calculator before the exam starts. I also ran out of time and had to guess 3 - 4 two mark questions
- EXAM 2 (68%). Even with the technique issues listed earlier, I would passed this had it not been for one thing.......in my quest for speed, I sacrificed accuracy. The clues to slow down were there when I had to consistently go back and change things / redo questions. A lot has been said about speed, but for me, slowing it down was the trick that got be through the third exam.
Anyway, I hope that's of some help to someone. The beer does taste better after flight planning!!!!
- Sounds like this is what is being taught now, but just in case, work out actual TAS for climb and descent for use when calculating ETAS, use actual MAGVAR for the leg and when in doubt, more segments are better. Those where the things that have changed in the past few months which I was not aware of
That robbed me of a bunch of marks and the followed sealed my fate:
- EXAM 1 (58%). Made a error using my calculator (the divide symbol and the % symbol are reversed on supplied calculator vs my calculator). Although a little over the top when it comes to supplying all the gear now, those are the rules and they are pretty clearly spelt out. Practice with a regular pencil, sharpening as you go have a good play with the calculator before the exam starts. I also ran out of time and had to guess 3 - 4 two mark questions
- EXAM 2 (68%). Even with the technique issues listed earlier, I would passed this had it not been for one thing.......in my quest for speed, I sacrificed accuracy. The clues to slow down were there when I had to consistently go back and change things / redo questions. A lot has been said about speed, but for me, slowing it down was the trick that got be through the third exam.
Anyway, I hope that's of some help to someone. The beer does taste better after flight planning!!!!
Join Date: Feb 2006
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Quick question to people who recently sat AFPA self studying from AFT notes: are the Cyber exams realistic compared to the actual CASA one from the point of view of number & difficulty of the questions vs time available? I just did the first one, passed with 84% but took me far longer than three hours to complete. I'm booked for the real thing in a week.
Last edited by nibbio86; 9th Jul 2013 at 03:50.
I averaged about 85% in 2 1/2 hours on the AFT practice exams. (Scores were 74 "gusting" 100%)
I finished the real one in 2:58 with 84%.
I spoke to Nathan before my actual exam and he recommends a minimum result of 80% in under three hours...
I found they prepared you very well. The only difference I noted between CASA and AFT's questions were that the answer tolerances were A LOT closer on the AFT questions than the CASA exam, and most of the CASA problem EMZWs were even, requiring less interpolation for fuel flows - saving a few seconds!
I finished the real one in 2:58 with 84%.
I spoke to Nathan before my actual exam and he recommends a minimum result of 80% in under three hours...
I found they prepared you very well. The only difference I noted between CASA and AFT's questions were that the answer tolerances were A LOT closer on the AFT questions than the CASA exam, and most of the CASA problem EMZWs were even, requiring less interpolation for fuel flows - saving a few seconds!
Last edited by Username here; 9th Jul 2013 at 04:15.
I sat my exam this week and felt that the question bank had been rewritten compared to when I had sat it earlier this year. The answers seemed spaced more like the old, old questions and they questions while asking the same thing were using different parts of the country, a lot of PNG to Top End questions and 1 even requiring H5. Looks like GS might have bitten the bullet and rewritten them from scratch. If you follow the new CASA rounding and interpolation and RTFQ you should be fine.
Join Date: Jul 2008
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One thing I did notice is that not all questions with the same allocated mark take the same amount of work / time. I had a 5 marker which took 20 minutes, another which took less than 10, then a 4 marker which took 15 minutes and another 4 marker which took around 5 mintues. Similar comments for the 3 and 2 mark questions.
I know the advice so far has been if you exceed your approx. 3 minutes per mark allocation, move on, but I would suggest that if your not stuck (ie your simply doing the legwork on a question with many segments), then press with it (within reason) and assess how you're going "on average" every 2-3 questions. Clearly if you're stuck, don't persist - move on.
I know the advice so far has been if you exceed your approx. 3 minutes per mark allocation, move on, but I would suggest that if your not stuck (ie your simply doing the legwork on a question with many segments), then press with it (within reason) and assess how you're going "on average" every 2-3 questions. Clearly if you're stuck, don't persist - move on.
Last edited by tik_nat; 9th Jul 2013 at 04:58.
- 3, 5 markers
- around 3, 4 markers which were either difficult but not many steps or lots of steps but easy
- around 3, 3 markers
- around 4, 2 markers many of which were more time consuming than the 2 markers
- Only 2 one markers
I agree with tik_nat, don't stick religiously to the marks per question formula, use it as a guide. You've probably done enough practice exams by now to have a feel for the pace needed for each question type. I found I had enough time to play with 2 questions that were 4 or 5 marks after running through all the questions once.
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Join Date: Jun 2013
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Lowlevel13
hey buddy I finished AFPA 2 months ago and it was my final too,
What kind of troubles r u facing ??
I will tell you what I did, I've took 2 weeks theory course with UNSW Jeremy andrews he is a legend,, I went through all his notes, after that I went through the AFT cyber exams all 4 of them I really found the CASA exam pretty the same as the AFT cyber exams, if u do that u should have no troubles with it, I had some troubles when I was doing it self study but when I took the course with Jeremy it was piece of cake,, let me know if you need anything
What kind of troubles r u facing ??
I will tell you what I did, I've took 2 weeks theory course with UNSW Jeremy andrews he is a legend,, I went through all his notes, after that I went through the AFT cyber exams all 4 of them I really found the CASA exam pretty the same as the AFT cyber exams, if u do that u should have no troubles with it, I had some troubles when I was doing it self study but when I took the course with Jeremy it was piece of cake,, let me know if you need anything
Join Date: Nov 2009
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Hey guys, been a little quiet here over the last few months and wondering if many others are having success with the exam?
In particular for those studying with AFT texts circa mid last year (not sure if the text has been updated over summer) are you finding the material good preparation for the exam? I'm hearing lots of third hand rumours but would be interested to get the facts!
In particular for those studying with AFT texts circa mid last year (not sure if the text has been updated over summer) are you finding the material good preparation for the exam? I'm hearing lots of third hand rumours but would be interested to get the facts!
Join Date: May 2007
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Just passed AFPA in the last few weeks. Self studied, using AFT material, passed first time round. I had the updated 2013 notes. The teaching method appears to be the same as the old notes I had, just the difference between the answers has been tightened up a bit.
It is a speed and accuracy exam. I had all PNRs for my 5 marker questions, and no fuel dumping questions surprisingly. I had seen all the types of questions in the AFT practice exams, so definitely worth having a go at those. Also a few questions with max payload/min fuel flights, so make sure you're good with those. Without having sat the exam with its previous issues in 2013, I would like to think it has all been worked out by now.
It is a speed and accuracy exam. I had all PNRs for my 5 marker questions, and no fuel dumping questions surprisingly. I had seen all the types of questions in the AFT practice exams, so definitely worth having a go at those. Also a few questions with max payload/min fuel flights, so make sure you're good with those. Without having sat the exam with its previous issues in 2013, I would like to think it has all been worked out by now.
Join Date: Apr 2012
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Hi,
I'm currently going through AFT course have been living and breathing this subject solid. Still hearing all the doom and gloom stories about the pass rate and quite a few 2/3 timers on course.
Does anyone have an update on this exam. In regards to time pressure still significant and the tolerances used.
Heard a rumour the exam might have been tweaked a little to the positive side??
I'm currently going through AFT course have been living and breathing this subject solid. Still hearing all the doom and gloom stories about the pass rate and quite a few 2/3 timers on course.
Does anyone have an update on this exam. In regards to time pressure still significant and the tolerances used.
Heard a rumour the exam might have been tweaked a little to the positive side??
I sat the exam three times last year. By my third attempt the question bank had definitely been rewritten. Same style of questions, same tolerances as before the "issues" but different locations and routes used.
I found the third attempt a very fair exam. I was prepared and I passed with a good mark using all but the last 2 minutes of the exam.
I found the third attempt a very fair exam. I was prepared and I passed with a good mark using all but the last 2 minutes of the exam.
