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100+ Free ATPL Flight Planning Practice Questions

Pass your CASA Airline Transport Pilot Licence (Aeroplane) — Flight Planning (AFPA) exam on the first try — instant access, no signup required.

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Key Facts: ATPL Flight Planning Exam

100

Practice Questions

OpenExamPrep

40

Official Questions

CASA

70%

Pass Mark

CASA

3.0 hrs

Time Limit

CASA

The CASA ATPL Flight Planning (AFPA) exam is a 3.0-hour test requiring advanced calculations of fuel policies, flight logs, and PNR/ETP. Passing score is 70%. This prep includes 100 realistic practice questions.

Sample ATPL Flight Planning Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to test your ATPL Flight Planning exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1A B727 is cruising at FL330 with a TAS of 460 kt. The track is 090°T and the wind velocity is 270°/50 kt. What is the groundspeed and the time required to cover a sector distance of 230 NM?
A.Groundspeed is 510 kt; time required is 30 minutes.
B.Groundspeed is 410 kt; time required is 34 minutes.
C.Groundspeed is 460 kt; time required is 30 minutes.
D.Groundspeed is 510 kt; time required is 27 minutes.
Explanation: A wind direction of 270° and a track of 090° represents a pure tailwind of 50 kt. Therefore, the groundspeed is TAS + tailwind = 460 + 50 = 510 kt. Time = (Sector Distance / Groundspeed) * 60 = (230 / 510) * 60 = 27.06 minutes, which rounds to 27 minutes.
2Given a sector distance of 340 NM, a TAS of 470 kt, and a constant headwind component of 60 kt, calculate the sector flight time and the fuel burn if the aircraft fuel flow (FF) is 4,800 kg/hr.
A.Time: 55.4 minutes; Fuel burn: 4,432 kg.
B.Time: 49.8 minutes; Fuel burn: 4,320 kg.
C.Time: 49.8 minutes; Fuel burn: 3,980 kg.
D.Time: 43.4 minutes; Fuel burn: 3,472 kg.
Explanation: Groundspeed = TAS - Headwind = 470 - 60 = 410 kt. Flight time = (340 / 410) * 60 = 49.75 minutes (or 0.829 hours). Fuel burn = 0.829 hours * 4,800 kg/hr = 3,980 kg.
3An aircraft is planned to climb from Sea Level to FL310. The climb tables indicate: time to climb is 18 minutes, distance covered is 85 NM, and fuel used is 1,200 kg. If the average headwind component during climb is 20 kt, what is the ground distance covered during the climb?
A.85 NM.
B.73 NM.
C.91 NM.
D.79 NM.
Explanation: Ground distance is adjusted for wind. Average headwind is 20 kt over a climb duration of 18 minutes (0.3 hours). Wind effect on distance = Wind Speed * Time = 20 kt * 0.3 hr = 6 NM. Since it is a headwind, the ground distance covered is reduced: 85 NM - 6 NM = 79 NM.
4During a high-altitude sector, your flight plan specifies a track of 180°T, a TAS of 450 kt, and wind from 270°T at 90 kt. What is the drift angle and the groundspeed (GS) using navigation computer principles?
A.Drift angle: 11.5° Left; GS: 441 kt.
B.Drift angle: 11.5° Right; GS: 459 kt.
C.Drift angle: 11.5° Right; GS: 441 kt.
D.Drift angle: 9.0° Right; GS: 430 kt.
Explanation: Wind is from 270°T (West) and the aircraft is flying 180°T (South), creating a direct crosswind from the right. Under navigation triangle math: sin(drift) = Crosswind / TAS = 90 / 450 = 0.20, so drift = arcsin(0.20) = 11.54° Right. Groundspeed is TAS * cos(drift) - Headwind. Headwind component is 0 kt (wind is exactly perpendicular to track). GS = 450 * cos(11.54°) = 440.9 kt, which rounds to 441 kt.
5Define 'Sector Fuel' in the context of flight planning logs under Australian regulations.
A.The fuel required to fly from departure to destination, including alternate and variable reserves.
B.The minimum fuel required to fly from the point of entry of a flight information region (FIR) to its exit.
C.The fuel required to perform a step climb within a sector, including cruise and taxi allowances.
D.The fuel required to fly from the start of a sector to the end of that sector, based on planned cruise speed and expected meteorological conditions, excluding reserve fuels.
Explanation: Sector Fuel represents the actual fuel consumed to traverse a specific flight log segment (excluding reserves, taxi, climb, or alternate fuel). It is calculated based on sector distance, groundspeed, and cruise fuel flow.
6You are flying a sector of 280 NM at FL350. The TAS is 465 kt. Forecast wind is 090°/40 kt and the track is 120°T. Calculate the headwind/tailwind component and the sector time.
A.Tailwind: 35 kt; Sector time: 34 minutes.
B.Headwind: 35 kt; Sector time: 43 minutes.
C.Headwind: 20 kt; Sector time: 38 minutes.
D.Headwind: 35 kt; Sector time: 39 minutes.
Explanation: Wind angle relative to track = 120° - 090° = 30°. Headwind component = Wind Speed * cos(30°) = 40 * 0.866 = 34.6 kt (rounds to 35 kt headwind). Groundspeed = TAS - Headwind = 465 - 34.6 = 430.4 kt. Sector time = (280 / 430.4) * 60 = 39.03 minutes (rounds to 39 minutes).
7A B727 flight log shows a planned fuel burn of 3,200 kg for a sector. If the actual groundspeed is 10% lower than planned due to unforecast headwinds, what is the expected increase in sector fuel burn, assuming fuel flow remains constant?
A.290 kg.
B.320 kg.
C.356 kg.
D.400 kg.
Explanation: If groundspeed is 10% lower, the actual groundspeed is 0.9 of planned. Sector time = Distance / GS. Thus, actual time is Planned Time / 0.9 = 1.111 * Planned Time (an 11.11% increase in time). Since fuel flow is constant, actual fuel burn is 1.111 * 3,200 = 3,556 kg. The increase is 3,556 - 3,200 = 356 kg.
8Which of the following describes the correct procedure for applying the Zone Wind in a flight log climb segment?
A.Use the wind velocity forecast at the cruise flight level for the entire climb.
B.Use the surface wind velocity for the first half of climb, and the cruise altitude wind for the second half.
C.Use the mean wind velocity between the departure aerodrome elevation and the planned cruise flight level.
D.Use the wind velocity forecast at the midpoint altitude of the climb, ignoring surface wind.
Explanation: For climb calculations in flight planning, the wind used is the average wind vector (mean wind) experienced during the climb. This is typically calculated as the average of the winds at key altitudes or the mean wind between the surface and the top-of-climb level.
9An aircraft cruises at FL370 with a TAS of 455 kt. The track is 260°T and the wind is 290°/60 kt. Calculate the crosswind and wind correction angle (WCA).
A.Crosswind: 30 kt; WCA: 3.8° Right.
B.Crosswind: 30 kt; WCA: 3.8° Left.
C.Crosswind: 52 kt; WCA: 6.6° Right.
D.Crosswind: 45 kt; WCA: 5.7° Right.
Explanation: Wind angle relative to track = 290° - 260° = 30°. Crosswind component = Wind Speed * sin(30°) = 60 * 0.5 = 30 kt. WCA = arcsin(Crosswind / TAS) = arcsin(30 / 455) = 3.78° (rounds to 3.8°). Since the wind is from the right (290° relative to 260° track), the aircraft must steer right into the wind. So WCA is 3.8° Right.
10During a flight planning exercise, you calculate a top-of-climb (TOC) point. The aircraft climbs at an average Groundspeed of 280 kt. The still-air climb distance is 72 NM, and there is an average headwind component of 35 kt. If the climb takes 15 minutes, what is the ground distance to the TOC?
A.80.8 NM.
B.70.0 NM.
C.63.2 NM.
D.72.0 NM.
Explanation: Climb time is 15 minutes = 0.25 hours. Average headwind is 35 kt. Wind correction to distance = Headwind * climb time = 35 * 0.25 = 8.75 NM. Ground distance to TOC = Still-air distance - wind correction = 72 - 8.75 = 63.25 NM (rounds to 63.2 NM).

About the ATPL Flight Planning Exam

The CASA ATPL Flight Planning Exam (AFPA) is a mandatory subject for the Airline Transport Pilot Licence in Australia. It is highly quantitative and tests route planning, high-altitude cruise management (Long Range Cruise - LRC, Step Climbs), jet fuel requirements (taxi, trip, contingency/variable reserve, holding, alternate fuel under Part 121 regulations), and multi-engine jet Point of No Return (PNR) and Equal Time Point (ETP) calculations.

Assessment

Closed-book computer-based exam administered at approved ASPEQ centers. Candidates are permitted to use a navigation computer, drawing tools, approved calculators, and reference manuals (such as Boeing 727 Performance Manual, AIP, ERSA, PCA, ERC).

Time Limit

3.0 hours

Passing Score

70%

Exam Fee

Approx. $150 - $250 AUD (plus test center provider fees) (CASA / ASPEQ Exam Delivery)

ATPL Flight Planning Exam Content Outline

25%

Route Planning & Flight Logs

High-altitude route navigation, wind vector adjustments, speed schedules, and flight log preparation

25%

Fuel Policies & Reserves

Part 121/135 airline fuel requirements, taxi, trip, variable/contingency reserves, alternate fuel, and holding fuel

20%

Point of No Return (PNR)

Safe endurance, engine-out/depressurization PNR calculations, distance and time to PNR

20%

Equal Time Point (ETP)

All-engine, engine-out, and depressurized ETP calculations, and time/distance to ETP

10%

High-Altitude Cruise Management

Step climbs, cost index optimization, optimum altitude, and temperature effects on performance

How to Pass the ATPL Flight Planning Exam

What You Need to Know

  • Passing score: 70%
  • Assessment: Closed-book computer-based exam administered at approved ASPEQ centers. Candidates are permitted to use a navigation computer, drawing tools, approved calculators, and reference manuals (such as Boeing 727 Performance Manual, AIP, ERSA, PCA, ERC).
  • Time limit: 3.0 hours
  • Exam fee: Approx. $150 - $250 AUD (plus test center provider fees)

Keys to Passing

  • Complete 500+ practice questions
  • Score 80%+ consistently before scheduling
  • Focus on highest-weighted sections
  • Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

ATPL Flight Planning Study Tips from Top Performers

1Memorize ETP and PNR formulas under wind: ETP = (Total Distance * GS Home) / (GS Out + GS Home). Keep wind vectors in mind when finding GS
2Understand Part 121 fuel reserve rules: know the 10% variable reserve requirements and how they are calculated based on the trip fuel
3Practice step climbs: know how to read the B727 cruise tables to determine fuel burn changes when climbing to the optimum altitude as aircraft weight decreases

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the passing score for the ATPL AFPA exam?

The passing score is 70%. It is widely considered one of the hardest pilot theory exams due to the complexity of the calculations.

What publications are allowed in the exam?

You are permitted to use a navigation computer (analog or electronic), approved calculators, and reference manuals like the B727 Performance Manual.