100+ Free SACAA ATPL Flight Planning Practice Questions

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Sample SACAA ATPL Flight Planning Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to test your SACAA 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.

1Under SACAA CAR Part 121, what is the standard requirement for contingency fuel for a commercial jet transport aircraft when no reduced contingency fuel procedure is authorized?

A.5% of the planned trip fuel, or 5 minutes holding fuel at 1,500 ft above the destination aerodrome in standard conditions, whichever is higher

B.10% of the total ramp fuel loaded before engine start

C.15 minutes at normal cruise fuel consumption regardless of trip distance

D.3% of the planned trip fuel plus 10 minutes at holding speed at 1,500 ft

Explanation: SACAA CAR Part 121 mandates that standard contingency fuel must be 5% of the planned trip fuel, or fuel required to hold for 5 minutes at 1,500 ft above the destination aerodrome elevation in standard conditions, whichever is higher.

2Under SACAA CAR Part 121, final reserve fuel for a turbine-engine aeroplane is calculated as the amount of fuel required to fly for:

A.30 minutes at holding speed at 1,500 ft (450 m) above aerodrome elevation under standard temperature conditions

B.45 minutes at normal cruise consumption at Flight Level 300

C.20 minutes at long-range cruise speed at 10,000 ft

D.60 minutes at holding speed at 1,500 ft above destination alternate

Explanation: For turbine-powered commercial aeroplanes under CAR Part 121, final reserve fuel is defined as the fuel required to hold for 30 minutes at holding speed at 1,500 ft above aerodrome elevation under ISA conditions, based on estimated arrival mass.

3Which component of operational fuel burn accounts for engine start, pushback, taxiing to the active runway, and APU operation prior to takeoff?

A.Taxi fuel

B.Contingency fuel

C.Trip fuel

D.Extra fuel

Explanation: Taxi fuel is the total amount of fuel expected to be consumed prior to takeoff, including APU usage on the ground, engine start, pushback, and taxiing to the departure runway threshold.

4According to SACAA CAR Part 121, trip fuel includes fuel required for which phase of flight?

A.Takeoff roll, climb, cruise, descent, approach, and landing at destination

B.Engine start, ground taxi, climb, cruise, and 30-minute holding

C.Cruise, descent, diversion to alternate, and final reserve holding

D.Climb, cruise, descent, and 5% contingency reserve

Explanation: Trip fuel is the calculated fuel required for takeoff roll, climb from departure aerodrome, cruise, descent, instrument approach, and landing at the destination aerodrome.

5When planning a flight to an isolated aerodrome under CAR Part 121 where no destination alternate is available, what additional fuel requirement must be loaded?

A.Fuel to fly for 2 hours at normal cruise consumption after reaching destination, including final reserve fuel

B.Fuel to hold for 45 minutes at 5,000 ft above the isolated destination

C.15% contingency fuel based on total ramp fuel loaded

D.Fuel to fly to the nearest en-route alternate plus 30 minutes final reserve

Explanation: For flights to an isolated aerodrome where no suitable destination alternate aerodrome exists, CAR Part 121 mandates carrying trip fuel, contingency fuel, plus additional fuel to fly for 2 hours at normal cruise fuel consumption upon reaching destination (which includes final reserve fuel).

6What is the primary operational purpose of Destination Alternate Fuel in a commercial IFR flight plan?

A.To cover missed approach at destination, climb to cruise altitude, cruise to alternate, descent, approach, and landing at alternate

B.To provide holding fuel for 30 minutes at destination before initiating diversion

C.To compensate for unexpectedly strong head winds encountered during the initial en-route cruise segment

D.To replace contingency fuel whenever weather at destination is forecast above CAT I minima

Explanation: Alternate fuel must account for executing a missed approach at the destination aerodrome, climbing to cruise level, cruising to the destination alternate aerodrome, descending, conducting an approach, and landing at the destination alternate.

7Under what condition may a commercial flight operated under CAR Part 121 be dispatched without nominating a destination alternate aerodrome?

A.The duration of the flight is less than 6 hours and two separate runways are available at destination with weather forecast above prescribed non-alternate minima

B.The pilot-in-command has logged more than 2,000 hours on the aircraft type and holds a valid ATPL

C.The aircraft carries at least 20% extra fuel above trip fuel regardless of forecast weather

D.The departure aerodrome is within 100 NM of the destination aerodrome

Explanation: Under CAR Part 121, a destination alternate is not required if the flight duration does not exceed 6 hours, two usable independent runways are available at destination, and weather reports/forecasts indicate visual/instrument weather conditions well above prescribed non-alternate minima for the period 1 hour before to 1 hour after ETA.

8When declaring 'MINIMUM FUEL' to Air Traffic Control, the pilot is indicating that:

A.The aircraft fuel supply has committed to land at a specific aerodrome and any change to the clearance may result in landing with less than final reserve fuel

B.An immediate emergency exists and priority landing clearance is required

C.The aircraft has consumed all contingency fuel and is now using alternate fuel

D.The aircraft has reached its Point of Safe Return and must turn back immediately

Explanation: Declaring 'MINIMUM FUEL' informs ATC that the aircraft is committed to landing at a specific aerodrome and any delay or route alteration could result in landing below planned final reserve fuel. It is an advisory declaration, not an emergency declaration.

9In an ICAO Flight Plan, what does an equipment code of 'S' in Item 10a indicate?

A.Standard equipment: VHF COM, NAV (VOR/ILS), and ADF

B.Satellite communications capability only

C.Single-engine operational status

D.Standard RVSM and PBN approval combination

Explanation: Item 10a code 'S' is the standard equipment identifier representing VHF radiocommunications, VOR navigation, and ILS approach aid capability.

10In ICAO Flight Plan Item 15, how is a cruising speed of Mach 0.82 formatted?

A.M082

B.MACH82

C.M820

D.0.82M

Explanation: In ICAO Flight Plan Item 15, cruising speed in Mach number is represented by the letter 'M' followed by 3 digits representing hundredths of Mach (e.g., M082 for Mach 0.82).

About the SACAA ATPL Flight Planning Exam

The SACAA ATPL Flight Planning & Monitoring examination tests advanced operational flight planning for commercial transport aeroplanes (CAR Part 121). Key syllabus areas include fuel requirement calculations (trip, 5% contingency, alternate, 30-min jet final reserve, extra, isolated aerodrome), Critical Point (PET) and Point of Safe Return (PSR) calculations under normal and abnormal conditions, ICAO ATC flight planning (Items 7, 8, 9, 10, 13, 15, 16, 18, 19), ETOPS fuel planning, high-altitude jet performance, Mach/TAS and ISA temperature corrections, and en-route navigation log monitoring.

Questions

40 scored questions

Time Limit

180 minutes

Passing Score

75%

Exam Fee

R450 per subject sitting under SACAA Part 187 user fees (South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA))

SACAA ATPL Flight Planning Exam Content Outline

25%

CAR Part 121 Commercial Fuel Policy

Taxi, trip, contingency (5%), alternate, 30-min jet final reserve, extra, and isolated aerodrome fuel rules.

15%

Point of Equal Time (PET) & Critical Point (CP)

Calculation of PET/CP for all-engine, one-engine-inoperative (OEI), and depressurised scenarios.

15%

Point of Safe Return (PSR) / PNR

Calculation of time and distance to PSR/PNR with normal fuel consumption, abnormal fuel flows, and headwind/tailwind shifts.

15%

ICAO ATC Flight Planning & Item 10/18 Codes

Filing ICAO flight plans, equipment suffixes (Item 10a/10b), PBN codes, EET, Item 18 SAR info, and Item 19 endurance.

15%

Jet & Turboprop En-route Navigation Logs

Climb/cruise/descent leg planning, TAS/Mach calculations, ISA temperature aloft, wind drift, and groundspeed.

15%

ETOPS & Critical Fuel Scenario Planning

ETOPS threshold distance, ETP (Equal Time Point), critical fuel reserves for engine failure and cabin depressurisation.

How to Pass the SACAA ATPL Flight Planning Exam

What You Need to Know

Passing score: 75%
Exam length: 40 questions
Time limit: 180 minutes
Exam fee: R450 per subject sitting under SACAA Part 187 user 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

SACAA ATPL Flight Planning Study Tips from Top Performers

1Master CAR Part 121 fuel calculations: Taxi + Trip + Contingency (5%) + Alternate + Final Reserve (30 min jet @ 1500 ft holding).

2Practice PET and PSR formulas using different groundspeeds for normal, OEI, and depressurised profiles.

3Understand ICAO Flight Plan Item 10a/10b equipment codes and Item 18 PBN/ NAV designators.

4Learn Mach-to-TAS conversions and ISA temperature offset calculations for high-altitude cruise flight.

5Solve full route flight logs systematically to avoid cumulative rounding errors on fuel burn.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the format of the SACAA ATPL Flight Planning exam?

The exam consists of 40 multiple-choice questions administered on the SACAA PEXO computer system with a time limit of 180 minutes (3 hours). Pass mark is 75%.

What fuel policy rules are tested in SACAA ATPL Flight Planning?

Questions are based on South African Civil Aviation Regulations (CAR) Part 121 / SA-CATS 121, requiring calculation of taxi fuel, trip fuel, 5% contingency fuel, destination alternate fuel, 30-minute jet final reserve fuel, and additional fuel for isolated aerodromes or critical scenarios.

What calculation equipment is permitted during the SACAA ATPL exam?

Candidates may use an approved mechanical flight computer (e.g. Jeppesen Student/Pro CR-3 or E6B), non-programmable scientific calculator, protractor, and non-magnetic ruler.

How are PET and PSR calculated in the exam?

Point of Equal Time (PET) uses D_PET = (D * GS_return) / (GS_out + GS_return). Point of Safe Return (PSR) uses T_PSR = (Endurance * GS_return) / (GS_out + GS_return) where Endurance is safe fuel available divided by average fuel flow.

100+ Free SACAA ATPL Flight Planning Practice Questions

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