The 13 ATPL Subjects: What are they all about?
- Cameron Murphy
- Dec 1, 2024
- 11 min read
The Airline Transport Pilot License is the pinnacle of aviation certifications, requiring mastery over 13 subjects. Each subject equips pilots with essential knowledge to operate aircraft safely and effectively. Let's break down the syllabus, subject by subject.
Air Law
Exam duration: 1 hour
Number of questions: 44
Our difficulty rating: Medium
Air Law governs the legal and procedural framework of aviation, ensuring safety and standardised operations worldwide. This subject is often found to be quite boring, but it can be surprisingly enjoyable once you get into the flow of it.
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Let's test your knowledge! Try this practice question.
When does a runway have to be fitted with runway edge lights?
When the runway is not fitted with centerline lights.
When the runway length is less than 300 meters.
When the runway will be used at night.
When the runway is indistinguishable from it's surroundings.
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Aircraft General Knowledge
Exam duration: 2 hours
Number of questions: 80
Our difficulty rating: Medium/Hard
AGK covers the technical understanding of aircraft systems, including engines, hydraulics, and electrical systems, ensuring pilots know how their machines work. Its sister subject is called Instrumentation, which is the next subject in this blog.
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Let's test your knowledge! Try this practice question.
When armed prior to landing, when do the autobrakes kick in?
Landing flap selection or ground spoiler deployment.
Reverse thrust or idle selection.
Main wheel spin-up or weight on wheels logic.
Nose wheel spin-up or all wheels spin up.
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Instrumentation
Exam duration: 1 hour and 30 minutes
Number of questions: 60
Our difficulty rating: Medium/Hard
As mentioned before, this is the sister subject to AGK! Instrumentation focuses on the tools pilots use to monitor aircraft performance, position, and condition, from altimeters to attitude indicators. An advanced understanding of this subject will really help you in your type rating.
Click the arrow to see some key examples.
Let's test your knowledge! Try this practice question.
Which of the following is correct regarding the stall warning system?
It prevents the aircraft from entering a deep stall.
It warns the pilots about an impending stall.
It warns the pilots that the aircraft has stalled.
It prevents the aircraft from stalling.
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Mass and Balance
Exam duration: 1 hour and 15 minutes
Number of questions: 25
Our difficulty rating: Medium
This subject is about keeping the aircraft from being too heavy and also keeping the centre of gravity within it's defined limits. You can imagine that the aircraft is going to act very differently if loads of heavy people and suitcases are at the back of it!
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Let's test your knowledge! Try this practice question.
When an aircraft is on the ground, the total weight will act vertically...
through its centre of gravity.
through the main wheels.
through a point defined as the datum point.
through its centre of pressure.
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Performance
Exam duration: 2 hours
Number of questions: 45
Our difficulty rating: Hard
Performance covers the physics of how an aircraft flies under various conditions, helping pilots optimise fuel use, speed, and climb rates. Nowadays, technology helps us a lot with performance calculations, but it's still crucial to understand what is going on inside your iPad.
Click the arrow to see some key examples.
Let's test your knowledge! Try this practice question.
When should reduced takeoff thrust normally not be used?
When it's dark.
When the runway is wet.
When tall obstacles are present at the end of the runway.
When the runway is contaminated.
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Flight Planning and Monitoring
Exam duration: 2 hours
Number of questions: 42
Our difficulty rating: Medium/Hard
Flight planning teaches us how to calculate routes, fuel requirements, and alternate airports, ensuring efficiency and safety. The job starts long before the takeoff—before we even get to the aircraft, in fact! Throughout the day, we constantly plan for the next phase of flight.
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Let's test your knowledge! Try this practice question.
Who is responsible for terrain separation during an IFR flight on an ATS route?
The aircraft owner.
The pilot-in-command.
The operator.
The air traffic controller.
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Human Performance
Exam duration: 1 hour and 30 minutes
Number of questions: 48
Our difficulty rating: Easy/Medium
This subject explores the physiological and psychological factors affecting pilots, ensuring they can perform under stress. You would be amazed at the amount of aviation accidents and incidents that have occurred where human performance has played a major part.
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Let's test your knowledge! Try this practice question.
What human function is most sensitive to a lack of oxygen?
Night vision.
Touch.
Hearing.
Motor coordination.
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Meteorology
Exam duration: 2 hours
Number of questions: 84
Our difficulty rating: Medium/Hard
Yes, you read that right, 84 questions! This is the biggest exam in the syllabus, by number of questions, but don't worry, most are quite quick. Meteorology teaches pilots how to interpret weather data, plan around it, and manage in-flight weather challenges.
Click the arrow to see some key examples.
Let's test your knowledge! Try this practice question.
What is the standard pressure setting in hectopascals?
1013.55 hPa
1225 hPa
15 hPa
1013.25 hPa
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General Navigation
Exam duration: 2 hours and 15 minutes
Number of questions: 55
Our difficulty rating: Hard
Our statistics show that this is the subject in which we deliver the most tuition. It is very time-consuming, and many students initially struggle to finish the exam in time. It involves using maps, charts, and techniques to navigate the globe.
Click the arrow to see some key examples.
Let's test your knowledge! Try this practice question.
What is the danger with power lines when flying VFR?
This isn't a problem, as they're always marked on maps.
They can be higher than expected, particularly in valleys.
They aren't a factor due to their small vertical extent.
They aren't strong enough to damage a plane.
Click the arrow to see the correct answer and an explanation!
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Radio Navigation
Exam duration: 1 hour and 30 minutes
Number of questions: 66
Our difficulty rating: Medium
Radio navigation is how we get around, using aids such as VORs and GPS. The future of this area of the syllabus is very interesting, as GPS is becoming more and more common, replacing many conventional approaches. Every year I feel like I'm doing more and more GPS approaches.
Click the arrow to see some key examples.
Let's test your knowledge! Try this practice question.
Where is the GNSS system's aerial located on the aircraft?
Bottom of the fuselage.
Left wing tip.
Top of the fuselage.
In the cockpit.
Click the arrow to see the correct answer and an explanation!
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Operational Procedures
Exam duration: 1 hour and 15 minutes
Number of questions: 42
Our difficulty rating: Easy/Medium
Operational procedures emphasise safety through standardised practices, including handling emergencies and complying with regulations. In my opinion, the most difficult part of the transition between light aircraft and the airlines is the standard operating procedures.
Click the arrow to see some key examples.
Let's test your knowledge! Try this practice question.
Out of the following, which action should cabin crew take first in case of a cabin fire?
Move passengers away from the source of the fire.
Ask the flight crew to increase ventilation in the cabin.
Provide supplementary oxygen to those who need it.
Put on life jackets and prepare to ditch.
Click the arrow to see the correct answer and an explanation!
Want to learn more?
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Use the code 'FREETRIAL' at checkout.
Principles of Flight
Exam duration: 1 hour and 30 minutes
Number of questions: 46
Our difficulty rating: Hard
This subject explains the aerodynamics of flight, helping pilots understand how forces like lift and drag affect their aircraft. It's tricky; we've got to be honest. There is a lot of maths and physics, but our expert tutors can make it all seem like a breeze.
Click the arrow to see some key examples.
Let's test your knowledge! Try this practice question.
What is correct about an aircraft stall?
An aircraft stalls at 15 degrees nose up.
An aircraft can never stall below critical alpha.
An aircraft can only stall below it's stall speed.
An aircraft can stall at any speed and attitude.
Click the arrow to see the correct answer and an explanation!
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Use the code 'FREETRIAL' at checkout.
Communcations
Exam duration: 1 hour
Number of questions: 34
Our difficulty rating: Easy/Medium
Effective communication between pilots and ATC is vital for clarity and safety, especially in high-stress situations. There are multiple ways to communicate from a modern airliner. We even use something called CPDLC, which is esentially texting!
Click the arrow to see some key examples.
Let's test your knowledge! Try this practice question.
What does the transponder code 7700 indicate?
Communications failure.
Distress.
Urgency.
Hijacking.
Click the arrow to see the correct answer and an explanation!
Want to learn more?
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Use the code 'FREETRIAL' at checkout.
Really like the summary to 13 ATPL's..good stuff already!