Atpl Flight Planning

[2BNASty]

Hi Guys/Gals,

I Started studying Flight Planning and was just buying ERC H charts. I noticed new charts are active June 9th (or there abouts). Must the charts be the latest for the exam - do CASA update the exams each time charts are updated?

oh yeh.. probably done to death, but any tips on self studying this subject ?
cheers

2BNASty:ok:

[HEALY]

2BN

The only thing about using old charts is 'use them at your own peril' . Having said that when I did FP the common questions used say between MEL-PH have not changed in ages. A few new ones have creeped in lately though especially around PH.

The TAC charts will be needed in alot of cases to work out the final distances to your AD. These do change alot with new waypoints coming in alot with changes to airspace structure and new arrival procedures.

Having some old ones will help for study if the questions were made up a while ago and you can write, screw them up, burn them as much as you like.

In the way of tips here are some off the top of my head.
1) Be very disciplined with setting up calcs. Dont try and do 2 things at once.
2) Make sure your calculator is in the corrst mode for answers as 2 or 3 decimal places with stuff up a whole 5 mark question.
3) You will be shown shortcuts at some stage (hopefully!!!) but learn the long method first so you KNOW what you are trying to do.
4) Its easy to get LOST with the questions so draw pictures to keep your head around it. I drew a vertical profile/horizontal profile for each question and wrote the numbers next to it.
5) Get a BIG KICK ARSE NAV COMPUTER (wizz wheel) the pocket one will fail you in the test.
6) Know the 727 limitations or at least understand what each limitation means in relation to each other.
7) Know approx SAR's for different Mach Cruise speeds.
8) LASTLY.......KNOW THE FUEL POLICY (GET INTIMATE WITH IT)

GOOD LUCK

[Merlins Magic]

My tip for Self Study ATPL Flight Planning.

DON"T DO IT.

The cost of sitting the subject will be cheaper than the cost of phyciatric assessment and treatment you will need by attempting this by self study.

You also meet plenty of people from the industry and we all know who you know goes along way in this game.

Enjoy.
:ok:

PS. Plenty of Red Bull helps as well.

[2BNASty]

Thanks for the speedy responses. Unfortunately, or fortunately... I work full time and have to study a couple hours each day when I get home. So a course would be out of the question ie AFT

Apparently Avery is an excellent text when it comes to Flight Planning, can anyone confirm this as apose to AFT?

Thanks
2BN

[penetrator]

Gday I used AFT got through on first attempt without to much grief. Maybe it was a good exam!

[HEALY]

I used Rob Avery's home study for flight planning. Passed first time with minimum fuss. He uses the idea of drawing the problem and seeing what is happening.

The majority of the time spent studying it and practising you will be feeling like crap and wonder how on earth you will pass but their is light at the end of the tunnel.

[gary gearbox]

Dont be put off doing the exam after self study only. Just make sure you understand what you are actually trying to work out, then its just the 3 P's. Practice, patience, and perserverance. When you get a question wrong make sure you work out why. I used AFT's home study notes and they were fine.

Good Luck!

GG

[kicka330]

They tend to give you those "last distances" now i believe.
Old maps are fine(withing a few updates) as long as you can read them, however its always nice looking at nice crisp maps.

I found FP probably one of the best.
I love the ****. its basicly "climb"-"cruise"-"somthing happens"-"decend".
+/- a one step every second question.
The hardest ones are the <5 markers. Thats probably becuase all my time went into the 5 markers and when i got to the exam i just went straight into them. Did the questions like i practiced. The 2-3 markers seem to trick people.

my 2c anyway!