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.
Click the arrow to see some key examples.
Airspace Rules: Adhering to ATC instructions in a busy airport like Heathrow is critical to avoid mid-air collisions.
Licenses and Regulations: A pilot can only operate in low-visibility conditions if they hold a valid instrument rating.
International Agreements: Agreements like the Chicago Convention ensure standardised procedures globally, allowing pilots to fly internationally without confusion.
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.
Click the arrow to see the correct answer and an explanation!
Answer: When the runway will be used at night.
Explanation: Runway edge lights are fitted around the edge of the runway, so pilots can make the runway out clearly. They are particularly useful at night. The runway edge is also painted, but this is more to make the runway more distinguishable 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.
Click the arrow to see some key examples.
Understanding Engine Failures: Recognising signs of engine failure (e.g., unusual vibrations) can save lives, as seen in the "Miracle on the Hudson" landing.
Hydraulic Systems Management: These systems control things like the flight controls and the landing gear. If you want to appreciate how important hydraulics are, read about United Airlines flight 232!
Electrical Systems and Backup Power: Knowing how to handle electrical system failures is crucial, such as when Air Canada Flight 143 ran out of fuel and relied on backup systems for a safe landing.
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.
Click the arrow to see the correct answer and an explanation!
Answer: Main wheel spin-up or weight on wheels logic
Explanation: Let's break the answers down. The first option doesn't make sense because we select landing flaps in the air. Remember, the autobrakes are wheel brakes; we only want them to come on after we have touched down.
Reverse thrust might make sense initially, but what if we forget to select reverse thrust? This would mean that after landing we have no reverse thrust and also no wheel brakes, as the autobrakes haven't kicked in because we forgot to select reverse thrust! This would be bad design, so is not correct.
So the correct answer is either main wheel spin up or nose wheel spin up. We land on the main gear first, and we want the autobrake to kick in as soon as safely possible to bring the aircraft to a nice safe stop. This means the autobrakes kick in when the main 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.
Pitot-Static System Errors: Ice-blocked pitot tubes caused Air France Flight 447 to lose critical airspeed data, leading to a crash.
Glass Cockpit Integration: Modern aircraft use advanced displays to show data, simplifying pilot workload.
Autopilot and Flight Directors: Automation will be a big part of your life as an airline pilot, knowing how to effectively and safely manage it is crucial.Let's test your knowledge! Try this practice question.Let's test your knowledge! Try this practice question.
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.
Click the arrow to see the correct answer and an explanation!
Answer: It warns the pilots of an impending stall.
Explanation: It wouldn't be a very good warning system if it only warned us once we had already stalled! We want the system to warn us with enough time to recover before we actually enter the stall.
Also, the system only warns; it doesn't prevent the stall. Us pilots are responsible for stall recovery!
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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!
Click the arrow to see some key examples.
Load Distribution: Overloading or improper cargo placement can lead to crashes, like the National Airlines Flight 102 accident.
Centre of Gravity Management: Incorrect balance can make the aircraft unstable, especially during takeoff and landing.
Fuel Management: Calculating fuel weight accurately is essential to avoid being overweight, particularly for long-haul flights.
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.
Click the arrow to see the correct answer and an explanation!
Answer: through it's centre of gravity.
Explanation: The centre of gravity represents the average of all of the gravitational forces acting on an object. When an aircraft is on the ground, weight is the main force acting on it. We assume that the aircraft's weight acts through the centre of gravity.
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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.
Takeoff Performance: Just because two runways are the same length doesn't mean we can take off from them both. Our takeoff distance changes dramatically with factors like temperature and altitude.
Climb and Cruise Efficiency: Adjusting thrust and angle during a climb can save fuel and reduce engine wear.
Landing Distance Calculation: Factors like wet runways or heavy aircraft can drastically increase landing distance.
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.
Click the arrow to see the correct answer and an explanation!
Answer: When the runway is contaminated.
Explanation: As airline pilots, we are paid to be as efficient as safely possible. One thing we do to reduce fuel burn is reduce thrust on takeoff instead of blasting off with full thrust all the time.
'Safely' is the key word in the above paragraph. Sometimes we limit the amount of thrust reduction in the interest of safety. Some examples are:
Strong crosswinds
Narrow runway
Contaminated runway (snow, ice, etc.)
After de-icing
Note, obstacles at the end of the runway don't really affect our choice as pilots, as our performance applications will not let us takeoff with a thrust so low that it could put us close to obstacles.
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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.
Click the arrow to see some key examples.
Fuel Reserves: Always planning for contingencies prevents situations like the Avianca Flight 52 fuel exhaustion incident.
Alternate Airport Selection: We need to carefully review, select, and maybe even change our planned alternates.
Efficient Routing: Choosing optimal altitudes and airways reduces fuel costs and travel time, crucial for airlines.
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.
Click the arrow to see the correct answer and an explanation!
Answer: The pilot-in-command.
Explanation: As a crew, we are responsible for terrain clearance. There is one big exception to this rule, when we are under vectors from ATC. In this case, ATC are ultimately responsible.
This doesn't mean we can switch off and ignore our surroundings. It is crucial that we maintain sound situational awareness at all times.
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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.
Click the arrow to see some key examples.
Fatigue Management: Long-haul pilots on trans-Pacific routes must combat fatigue using rest strategies.
Situational Awareness: Poor situational awareness contributed to the Tenerife airport disaster.
Somatogravic Illusion: The captain of Gulf Air Flight 072 suffered from this illusion as he pushed the nose down as they accelerated during a go around.
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.
Click the arrow to see the correct answer and an explanation!
Answer: Night vision.
Explanation: Vision in general is the first sense to be affected by a lack of oxygen. This is notable as you 'black out' if your brain isn't getting enough oxygen.
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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.
Thunderstorms and Turbulence: Pilots avoid storms by using onboard weather radar and charts from the pre-flight planning phase.
Icing Risks: Ice buildup on wings caused the crash of Air Florida Flight 90.
Windshear Awareness: Quick response to windshear, such as during Delta Airlines Flight 191, is critical to survival.
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
Click the arrow to see the correct answer and an explanation!
Answer: 1013.25 hPa
Explanation: In meteorology, we have something called the international standard atmosphere (ISA), which is the worldwide average of loads of weather stuff, like temperature and pressure. For example, below are some ISA sea level values.
Temperature: 15°C
Air density: 1.225 kg/m³
Air pressure: 1013.25 hPa
These are values we have to learn by heart. They are simply to gloabl average at sea level.
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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.
Magnetic Variation: Pilots flying over the polar regions must adjust for extreme magnetic variation.
Dead Reckoning: Combining compass heading with speed and wind data is vital in GPS-degraded areas.
Waypoints and Fixes: This is the modern way in which we navigate around the globe, children of the magenta!
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!
Answer: They can be higher than expected, particularly in valleys.
Explanation: Google photos of light aircraft wrapped up in power lines; they're definitely a danger!
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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.
VOR Use: Tracking a radial will be a big part of your instrument rating, not so much in airlines these days.
ILS for Landings: An Instrument Landing Systems (ILS) is still the only certified way of doing an autoland for now.
GPS Reliability: Modern pilots rely heavily on GPS, but knowing backups like VOR is essential for system failures.
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!
Answer: Top of the fuselage.
Explanation: The GNSS antenna receives signals from satellites. Even though we fly quite high in airliners, the satellites are still higher than us! Therefore, having the antenna on the top of the aircraft will put it in the best place to have line of sight with the satellites.
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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.
Emergency Checklists: Following these procedures saved lives on Qantas Flight 32 after an engine explosion.
Deicing Procedures: Proper deicing prevented crashes like the one involving American Eagle Flight 4184.
Noise Abatement: Airlines receive hefty fines if we fly where we shouldn't; it's our job to make sure we don't incur these fines.
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!
Answer: Move passengers away from the source of the fire.
Explanation: Passenger and aircraft safety is paramount. In any dangerous situation, we want to minimise passenger injuries and aircraft damage. Extra ventilation in the cabin is going to do very little; it would be like turning the air con up in your car with the back seat on fire.
Want to learn more?
Click this button to book your free trial class.
Use the code 'FREETRIAL' at checkout.
Want to learn more?
Click this button to book your free trial class.
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.
Lift vs. Drag: In order to takeoff, we need to know how fast we need to be going to generate enough lift to counteract the drag.
Stalls: Understanding stall recovery, as seen in the Colgan Air Flight 3407 crash, is critical.
Mach Tuch Awareness: This can be very dangerous to flight, we need to know about the systems on board that we have to work against it.
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!
Answer: An aircraft can stall at any speed and attitude.
Explanation: An aerodynamic stall occurs at a certain angle of attack, named the critical angle of attack. We can get to this angle of attack at pretty much any speed and attitude, depending on many factors such as centre of gravity position and bank angle.
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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.
Standard Phraseology: Miscommunication led to the Tenerife collision; clear communication could have prevented it.
Mayday Calls: Pilots use Mayday for emergencies, such as engine fires or serious medical issues onboard.
CPDLC (Data Link Communication): Modern aircraft use text-based communication to complement radio, especially in remote areas.
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!
Answer: Distress
Explanation: On aircraft, we have something called a transponder. We enter a four-digit numerical code into this device, which means that the controllers always know exactly who we are. Under certain conditions, we can enter special codes into the transponder so the controllers can see us clearly and take the appropriate action. For example:
7500 = Hijacking
7600 = Communications failure
7700 = Distress
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Really like the summary to 13 ATPL's..good stuff already!