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100+ Free SAMRA Practice Questions

Pass your Transport Canada ATPL Aeroplane Meteorology, Radio Aids & Flight Planning (SAMRA) exam on the first try — instant access, no signup required.

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2026 Statistics

Key Facts: SAMRA Exam

80

Exam Questions

Transport Canada

3.5 hrs

Time Limit

Transport Canada

70%

Passing Score

Transport Canada

$105

Exam Fee (CAD)

Transport Canada

24 mos

Result Validity

Transport Canada

14 days

First Retake Wait

Transport Canada

The Transport Canada SAMRA exam consists of 80 multiple-choice questions to be completed in 3.5 hours, with a passing score of 70%. It costs $105 CAD and covers Meteorology, Flight Planning, and Radio Aids. The exam is written in-person, and passing is valid for 24 months toward ATPL licensing.

Sample SAMRA Practice Questions

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

1Where is the strongest vertical and horizontal wind shear associated with a jet stream typically located?
A.On the warm air side (equatorward side) of the jet core
B.Directly in the center of the jet core
C.On the cold air side (polar side) of the jet core
D.Directly below the jet core on the warm air side
Explanation: The strongest wind shear associated with a jet stream is found on the cold air (polar) side of the jet core, near the tropopause. The horizontal temperature gradient is steepest on this side, leading to rapid changes in wind speed over short distances. This area is highly prone to Clear Air Turbulence (CAT).
2What is a primary characteristic of a low-level nocturnal jet stream over the Canadian Prairies?
A.It forms during the day due to solar heating and dissipates at sunset
B.It is associated with a strong temperature inversion and can cause severe low-level wind shear
C.It occurs at altitudes between 18,000 and 24,000 feet near cold fronts
D.It is characterized by steady easterly winds exceeding 60 knots near the surface
Explanation: A low-level nocturnal jet stream forms during the night as a radiation temperature inversion decouples the air aloft from surface friction. This allows winds just above the inversion (usually between 1,000 and 3,000 feet AGL) to accelerate, creating strong wind shear that poses a hazard during takeoff and landing.
3Which cloud types are key indicators of severe mountain wave activity and associated high-velocity downdrafts?
A.Altocumulus standing lenticular (ACSL) and rotor (roll) clouds
B.Cumulonimbus and mammatus clouds
C.Cirrus and cirrostratus clouds
D.Stratus and stratocumulus clouds
Explanation: Altocumulus standing lenticular (ACSL) clouds form at the crests of mountain waves, indicating high wind speeds aloft. Rotor (or roll) clouds form underneath the wave crests at lower levels, marking areas of extreme turbulence and violent downdrafts that can exceed the climb performance of modern aircraft.
4Under what meteorological conditions is an aircraft most likely to accumulate clear ice?
A.In stratiform clouds at temperatures between -15°C and -20°C with small water droplets
B.In cumuliform clouds at temperatures between 0°C and -10°C with large supercooled water droplets
C.In clear air below a temperature inversion when the humidity is below 50%
D.In cirrus clouds at temperatures below -40°C with ice crystals
Explanation: Clear icing occurs when large supercooled water droplets (often found in cumuliform clouds or freezing rain) impact the aircraft skin at temperatures just below freezing (0°C to -10°C). Because the droplets are large, they freeze slowly, allowing the water to spread back over the wing before freezing into a solid, heavy sheet of ice.
5During flight, when is the formation of hoar frost on an aircraft structure most likely to occur?
A.When climbing rapidly through a warm front into colder, drier air aloft
B.When flying in heavy snow at temperatures well below freezing
C.When descending from cold altitude air into a warmer, moist air mass
D.When cruising in stable stratiform clouds at temperatures between -10°C and -20°C
Explanation: Hoar frost forms by sublimation when a cold-soaked aircraft structure descends rapidly from cold high altitudes into a warmer, highly moist air mass. The moisture in the warm air freezes immediately upon contact with the sub-freezing skin of the aircraft, forming a white, crystalline deposit.
6Which combination of factors is necessary for the formation of radiation fog?
A.Strong winds, clear skies, and a rapid drop in atmospheric pressure
B.Light winds (2 to 5 knots), clear skies, high relative humidity, and a cold land surface
C.Warm moist air blowing over a cold ocean current with winds exceeding 15 knots
D.A cold front passing over a warm lake during midday hours
Explanation: Radiation fog requires a moist air mass near the surface, clear skies to allow maximum terrestrial radiation cooling, and light winds (2 to 5 knots) to gently mix the cooled air without dispersing it. Calm winds prevent mixing (leading to dew), while strong winds lift the fog into a low stratus layer.
7How does advection fog differ from radiation fog regarding wind speed limitations?
A.Advection fog requires completely calm winds, whereas radiation fog requires strong gusty winds
B.Advection fog is unaffected by wind and only forms during the heat of the day
C.Advection fog can persist and even thicken with moderate to strong winds, whereas radiation fog is dispersed by winds above 5 knots
D.Radiation fog requires winds of 15 to 20 knots, while advection fog requires 5 to 10 knots
Explanation: Advection fog forms when warm, moist air moves horizontally over a colder surface. It is physically associated with wind and can persist or even intensify with wind speeds up to 15 knots or more. In contrast, radiation fog relies on nighttime cooling and is easily dispersed by wind speeds exceeding 5 knots.
8In meteorology, what does the term 'frontogenesis' refer to?
A.The dissipation or weakening of an existing frontal zone
B.The movement of a cold front at speeds exceeding 30 knots
C.The initial creation or intensification of a frontal zone or temperature gradient
D.The occlusion process when a cold front overtakes a warm front
Explanation: Frontogenesis is the meteorological term for the creation, development, or intensification of a front. It occurs when wind patterns bring air masses of different temperatures and densities closer together, sharpening the horizontal temperature gradient.
9Which of the following weather patterns is typically associated with the passage of a fast-moving cold front?
A.A wide band of continuous rain, steady pressure, and stable stratiform clouds lasting several days
B.Clear skies, light winds, and decreasing visibility due to radiation fog
C.A narrow band of intense showers, possible thunderstorms, a sharp wind shift, and rapidly rising pressure behind the front
D.Gradually lowering ceilings, warm temperatures, and persistent drizzle ahead of the boundary
Explanation: A fast-moving cold front forces warm, unstable air upward rapidly along its steep slope. This produces convective weather, such as cumulonimbus clouds, heavy showers, and thunderstorms in a narrow band. As the front passes, the wind shifts rapidly, the temperature drops, and the atmospheric pressure rises quickly.
10What is the typical sequence of clouds observed as a classic warm front approaches an airport?
A.Cumulonimbus, cumulus, stratocumulus, then clear skies
B.Cirrus, cirrostratus, altostratus, nimbostratus, then stratus
C.Altocumulus standing lenticular, rotor clouds, then fog
D.Stratus, nimbostratus, cirrus, then altocumulus
Explanation: Because a warm front has a shallow slope, the warm air rises gradually over the cold air ahead of it. This creates a predictable sequence of clouds starting hundreds of miles ahead of the surface front: high cirrus, followed by cirrostratus, mid-level altostratus, thick rain-bearing nimbostratus, and finally low stratus and fog near the surface boundary.

About the SAMRA Exam

The Transport Canada SAMRA exam is a mandatory written test for the Airline Transport Pilot Licence (ATPL) - Aeroplane. It tests advanced pilot knowledge in Meteorology (Section 8 of TP 690), Flight Planning (Section 9), and Radio Communications and Navigation Aids (Section 10). It is designed to ensure that airline-bound flight crews possess the necessary understanding of high-altitude meteorology, complex instrument navigation, and detailed flight dispatch and planning concepts.

Questions

80 scored questions

Time Limit

3.5 hours (210 minutes)

Passing Score

70%

Exam Fee

$105 CAD (Transport Canada)

SAMRA Exam Content Outline

40%

Meteorology

Atmospheric properties, local and global weather systems, frontal analysis, clouds and precipitation, visibility and fog, jet streams, mountain waves, icing, turbulence, thunderstorms, and interpretation of weather charts (METAR, TAF, GFA, SigMet, Upper Wind, and Significant Weather charts).

30%

Flight Planning

Practical flight planning operations including advanced weight and balance calculations, CG shifts, aircraft performance limitations, fuel planning (takeoff, enroute, holding, alternate, and reserve fuel requirements under CARs Part VII), and alternate airport weather minima.

30%

Radio Communications and Navigation Aids

Radio wave propagation characteristics (HF, VHF, UHF), navigation aids (ADF/NDB, VOR, DME, ILS), global navigation satellite systems (GPS/GNSS, RAIM, WAAS), inertial navigation systems (INS/IRS), transponder operations (Mode A, C, S, ADS-B), and airborne weather radar principles.

How to Pass the SAMRA Exam

What You Need to Know

  • Passing score: 70%
  • Exam length: 80 questions
  • Time limit: 3.5 hours (210 minutes)
  • Exam fee: $105 CAD

Keys to Passing

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

SAMRA Study Tips from Top Performers

1Master upper-air charts (250 hPa, 500 hPa) and Graphic Area Forecasts (GFAs), paying close attention to decoding symbols and wind data.
2Understand the legal fuel reserve requirements under CARs Part VII (705/704) for turbo-jet and turbo-prop aircraft.
3Practice center of gravity (CG) calculations and shifts, converting measurements into %MAC (Mean Aerodynamic Chord) accurately.
4Study radio wave propagation limitations, especially the VOR reception boundaries, ADF night effect, and coastal refraction.
5Know GNSS operations thoroughly, including satellite requirements for RAIM (5 satellites) and Fault Detection and Exclusion (FDE - 6 satellites).
6Be prepared for icing questions, especially the temperature ranges for clear versus rime icing and the hazards of Supercooled Large Droplets (SLD).

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Transport Canada SAMRA exam?

The SAMRA (Meteorology, Radio Aids to Navigation, and Flight Planning) is one of two written exams required by Transport Canada to obtain an Airline Transport Pilot Licence (ATPL) - Aeroplane. The other required exam is SARON.

How many questions are on the SAMRA exam, and what is the pass mark?

The SAMRA exam consists of 80 multiple-choice questions. The passing score is 70%, and you are given 3.5 hours (210 minutes) to complete it.

What happens if I fail the SAMRA exam?

If you fail the exam, you must wait before rewriting. The first failure carries a mandatory 14-day waiting period. The second failure requires a 30-day wait, and subsequent failures require progressively longer waiting periods.

How long is a passing grade on the SAMRA valid?

A passing grade on the SAMRA written examination is valid for 24 months (2 years). You must complete all other requirements for the ATPL, including passing SARON and meeting flight experience requirements, within this period.

What is the cost of the SAMRA exam?

The official Transport Canada fee is $105 CAD per exam. If you write the exam at an authorized third-party invigilator rather than a Transport Canada Centre, the invigilator may charge an additional scheduling or administration fee.