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100+ Free ATPL General Navigation (061) Practice Questions

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2026 Statistics

Key Facts: ATPL General Navigation (061) Exam

55 questions

Exam Length

EASA ECQB (subject 061)

2 h 15 min

Time Allowed

EASA ATPL exam structure

75%

Pass Mark

EASA ATPL theory

13 subjects

ATPL(A) Theory Exams

EASA Part-FCL

4 minutes

Time per 1 degree of Longitude

Arc-to-time (15 deg/hour)

1852 m

One Nautical Mile

International definition

EASA ATPL General Navigation (061) is a theory exam for airline-pilot candidates training at an Approved Training Organisation. It has 55 multiple-choice questions in 2 hours 15 minutes, pass mark 75%, no negative marking, drawn from the European Central Question Bank (ECQB 2026). Content spans the basics of navigation (Earth shape, great circles and rhumb lines, departure, convergency = change of longitude x sin latitude, conversion angle = half convergency), magnetism and compasses (variation, deviation, dip, acceleration and turning errors), charts (Mercator with secant scale expansion and straight rhumb lines, Lambert conformal conic with constant convergence, polar stereographic, gnomonic), dead reckoning (triangle of velocities, drift, groundspeed, TAS/CAS/Mach on the flight computer, the 1-in-60 rule), in-flight navigation (position lines, fixing, climb/descent and ETA revision) and time (UTC/LMT, arc-to-time at 15 degrees per hour). FCL.025 allows up to 4 attempts per subject and 6 sittings, with all passes within 18 months.

Sample ATPL General Navigation (061) Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to test your ATPL General Navigation (061) exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1A great circle and a rhumb line are drawn between two positions in the Northern Hemisphere that lie on the same parallel of latitude. Where does the great circle lie relative to the rhumb line?
A.South of (equatorward of) the rhumb line
B.Coincident with the rhumb line
C.North of (poleward of) the rhumb line
D.Crossing the rhumb line at the mid-meridian only
Explanation: Between two points on the same parallel in the Northern Hemisphere the great circle curves toward the nearer pole, so it lies north of (poleward of) the rhumb line, which follows the parallel itself.
2Two positions lie on the Equator, 30° of longitude apart. What is the distance between them along the Equator?
A.1500 NM
B.2400 NM
C.3600 NM
D.1800 NM
Explanation: Along the Equator (a great circle) 1° of arc equals 60 NM, so 30° × 60 = 1800 NM. The change of longitude can be used directly only because the points are on the Equator.
3Two positions are both on latitude 60°N and are 10° of longitude apart. Using the departure formula, what is the east-west distance between them?
A.300 NM
B.520 NM
C.600 NM
D.1040 NM
Explanation: Departure = change of longitude (min) × cos(latitude) = (10 × 60) × cos 60° = 600 × 0.5 = 300 NM.
4An aircraft flies due south from 55°N 010°W to 35°N 010°W. What distance, in nautical miles, has it travelled?
A.1100 NM
B.1320 NM
C.2400 NM
D.1200 NM
Explanation: Along a meridian the change of latitude is 20° = 1200', and 1' of latitude equals 1 NM, so the distance is 1200 NM.
5Calculate the convergency between A (50°N 010°W) and B (50°N 020°E).
A.19.1°
B.30.0°
C.11.5°
D.22.9°
Explanation: Convergency = change of longitude × sin(mean latitude) = 30° × sin 50° = 30 × 0.766 = 22.9°.
6The conversion angle between two positions is defined as which fraction of the convergency between them?
A.One quarter of convergency
B.One half of convergency
C.Equal to convergency
D.Twice the convergency
Explanation: Conversion angle = ½ × convergency. It is the angle between the great-circle track and the rhumb-line track measured at one of the two positions.
7The great-circle initial track from A to B is 080°(T) and the convergency between A and B is 8°. B is east of A in the Northern Hemisphere. What is the rhumb-line track from A to B?
A.072°(T)
B.076°(T)
C.084°(T)
D.088°(T)
Explanation: The rhumb line lies equatorward of the great circle. Conversion angle = ½ × 8° = 4°; for an easterly great-circle track in the Northern Hemisphere the rhumb-line track is greater, so 080° + 4° = 084°(T).
8The shape of the Earth is best described for navigation purposes as which of the following?
A.A perfect sphere
B.A prolate spheroid, elongated at the poles
C.A geoid identical to mean sea level everywhere
D.An oblate spheroid, flattened at the poles
Explanation: The Earth is an oblate spheroid: its polar diameter is about 23 NM less than its equatorial diameter (compression ≈ 1/297), flattened at the poles and bulging at the Equator.
9Convergency is zero at which location on the Earth?
A.At the poles
B.At 45° latitude
C.At the Equator
D.Everywhere along a meridian
Explanation: Convergency = change of longitude × sin(latitude). At the Equator latitude is 0°, sin 0° = 0, so meridians are parallel there and convergency is zero. It is maximum at the poles where sin = 1.
10One nautical mile is internationally defined as exactly how many metres?
A.1609.3 m
B.1852 m
C.1000 m
D.1760 m
Explanation: The international nautical mile is defined as exactly 1852 metres, approximately equal to 1 minute of arc of latitude on the Earth.

About the ATPL General Navigation (061) Exam

General Navigation (subject 061) is one of the 13 EASA ATPL(A) theoretical-knowledge examinations that candidates must pass to obtain the Airline Transport Pilot Licence. It is a calculation-heavy subject covering the basics of navigation, magnetism and compasses, charts and projections, dead reckoning, in-flight navigation and time. The exam is computer-based multiple choice drawn from the European Central Question Bank (current release ECQB 2026) and is sat at national authority test centres. Subject 061 comprises 55 questions in 2 hours 15 minutes with a pass mark of 75%.

Questions

55 scored questions

Time Limit

2 hours 15 minutes

Passing Score

75% per subject

Exam Fee

Approx. EUR 60-130 per subject sitting (varies by NAA) (EASA national aviation authorities (computer-based testing at approved centres))

ATPL General Navigation (061) Exam Content Outline

30%

Basics of Navigation

Earth as an oblate spheroid, great circles and rhumb lines, latitude/longitude and position notation, departure = change of longitude (min) x cos(latitude), convergency = change of longitude x sin(latitude), conversion angle as half the convergency, and distance units (1 NM = 1852 m)

12%

Magnetism and Compasses

Magnetic variation and compass deviation, true/magnetic/compass heading conversions, magnetic dip and the weakening horizontal field near the poles, and the acceleration (east-west) and turning (north-south) errors of the direct-reading compass

22%

Charts and Projections

Direct Mercator (straight rhumb lines, scale expanding as secant of latitude, great circle concave to the Equator), Lambert conformal conic (constant chart convergence = change of longitude x sin(parallel of origin), near-straight great circles), polar stereographic and gnomonic, chart scale and measuring tracks and distances

24%

Dead Reckoning Navigation

Triangle of velocities relating heading, TAS and wind to track and groundspeed, drift and maximum-drift estimation, TAS/CAS/Mach conversions on the navigation computer, the 1-in-60 rule for track error and closing angle, and time-speed-distance problems

8%

In-Flight Navigation

Position lines (VOR radial, DME range, bearings) and fixes (best at 90-degree cuts, cocked hat, running fix), DR positions, climb and descent distance and rate calculations, and ETA revision from in-flight groundspeed checks

4%

Time

UTC and Local Mean Time, arc-to-time conversion (Earth rotates 15 degrees per hour, so 1 degree of longitude = 4 minutes of time), and sunrise/sunset and day-length variation with latitude and season

How to Pass the ATPL General Navigation (061) Exam

What You Need to Know

  • Passing score: 75% per subject
  • Exam length: 55 questions
  • Time limit: 2 hours 15 minutes
  • Exam fee: Approx. EUR 60-130 per subject sitting (varies by NAA)

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 General Navigation (061) Study Tips from Top Performers

1Memorise the core formulae: departure = change of longitude (min) x cos(latitude), convergency = change of longitude x sin(latitude), and conversion angle = half the convergency
2Drill the 1-in-60 rule until it is automatic: track error (degrees) = distance off track x 60 / distance gone, and add the closing angle to regain a waypoint
3Know the chart properties cold: Mercator rhumb lines are straight with scale expanding as the secant of latitude; Lambert chart convergence is constant and equals change of longitude x sin(parallel of origin)
4Practise TAS/CAS/Mach conversions on a CRP-5 or E6B; remember the local speed of sound depends only on absolute temperature (a = 38.95 x square root of T in kelvin)
5Apply arc-to-time confidently: the Earth turns 15 degrees per hour, so 1 degree of longitude equals 4 minutes of time, and east longitudes are ahead of UTC
6Use 1 NM = 1852 m and 1 minute of latitude = 1 NM, and always measure Mercator distances against the latitude scale at the mid-latitude of the line

Frequently Asked Questions

What is EASA ATPL General Navigation (061)?

It is one of the 13 EASA ATPL(A) theoretical-knowledge exams. Subject 061 covers the basics of navigation, magnetism and compasses, charts and projections, dead reckoning, in-flight navigation and time, and is required for the Airline Transport Pilot Licence (Aeroplane).

How many questions are on the 061 exam and how long is it?

The General Navigation exam has 55 multiple-choice questions and lasts 2 hours 15 minutes. Each question has four options with one correct answer, and there is no negative marking; the pass mark is 75%.

What is the pass mark for ATPL theory subjects?

The pass mark is 75% in every EASA ATPL theory subject, including 061. Under FCL.025 a candidate may have up to 4 attempts per subject and 6 examination sittings, and must pass all 13 subjects within 18 months of first sitting.

Which question bank do EASA ATPL exams use?

EASA exams are drawn from the European Central Question Bank (ECQB). The current release is ECQB 2026, a content refresh of the 2020 syllabus; the question counts and durations, including 55 questions in 2 hours 15 minutes for 061, are unchanged.

What calculations are tested in General Navigation?

Expect departure, convergency and conversion angle, chart-scale and chart-convergence problems, TAS/CAS/Mach conversions on the flight computer, triangle-of-velocities (heading, wind, drift and groundspeed) problems, the 1-in-60 rule, climb/descent distances and arc-to-time conversions.

Is a flight navigation computer allowed in the exam?

Yes. Candidates use an approved manual navigation computer (CRP-5 or equivalent) and plotting instruments for the calculation and chart questions. Knowing how to apply convergency, the 1-in-60 rule and TAS/Mach corrections quickly is essential.

How does 061 relate to the other navigation subjects?

General Navigation (061) provides the foundation for Radio Navigation (062) and Flight Planning and Monitoring (033). Communications is now a single merged subject (090) following ED Decision 2019/017/R, which combined the former VFR and IFR communications exams.