ATPL right answers = CASA wrong answers (***hole)!

[CloudStreet]

Going back to my pseudonym...

It seems to me that the more experience and the more (you think) you know, going into an ATPL exam - the more the potential for disaster.

Aerody and Systems being a case in point. The exam (to my mind) is wriddled with 'qualitative' questions such as "which is the most IMPORTANT function of a..." I who's oppinion? Mine or CASA's?

And who is to know what CASA is thinking on any given day? The old joke headline "Psychic wins lottery" should be "Psychic passes ATPL exam"!

I guess this is old news to many but a recent question regarding asymmetric operations, raising the dead and the subsequent position of the balance ball has demonstrated itself as patently incorrect and you have to answer it wrong to get, the right answer ***hole!

Any other experiences? Feed back is our only tool!

Fly Safe! :D

TTFN. ;)

[GA Driver]

Better get used to it...

[HEALY]

Cloudstreet

I think I had the same question come up. Is it the one where your engine fails, you balance the ball and Keep the wings LEVEL...where does the ball sit. Can someone put my mind at ease and tell me the ball would be centred and only a slight Angle of bank would cause the ball to be off centre.

I failed that exam 4 times I think and S..T me to tears but got there. Had my ATPL unfrozen the other week and jeez did it feel good.

Wish you all the best.

[CloudStreet]

Thanks for your good wishes and WELL DONE!! :-D

I cracked the Aerody yesterday too! :-) But it is still as ambiguous as hell.

On the issues of the ball (being a multi-engine instructor) if wings are level and you are not yawing then ball must be centered. After all it is simply a ball in a tube (with alcohol - if you get desperate!). Then, raise the dead and the ball simply responds to gravity and stays at the bottom of the tube which means it moves towards the live engine.

That is fact, however it seems CASA think the laws of physics don't apply to them!

It finally looks like I may qualify for my ATPL (just 2 to go) only 4000 hours late!

For everyone else out there the secret is to "bang the rocks together guys!" (had to be there)

TTFN. ;)

[NDB APPROACH]

i think you guys might be reading abit much into the question. it asks after an engine failure where will the balance ball be situated. it will be offset towards live engine. as a result of the rudder input the ball will become centred.

these casa mongrels write questions that are too confusing and can be easy 'read into'. alot of the time they are basic questions asked in a complex manner

[CloudStreet]

It is now coming to light that there are a few of this type of question in the database. I got a one of a similar style in my exam and it was factually correct.

There does appear to be one version of the question 'out there' which is incorrect and (as you say) it is a simple question dressed up then reportedly you need to put the wrong answer in to get it (CASA) 'right'!

TTFN.

[HEALY]

The dodgy question explains that the pilot has already applied necessary rudder to centre the ball and wants to know the ball position after the subsequent actions.

It seemed that during my numerous visits to Canning Vale for AGK that the questions were alot more to do with non mechanical systems about Inputs/Outputs of Autopilots blah blah blah. Speaking to my theory provider it was evident that they were finding it hard to a) find reference material and b) keep upgrading theory tutorials. How can anyone study for it.

Ill get off the soapbox now, just in a frustrated mood at the moment after somebody broke into my car last night and stole my flightbag.

[Ralph the Bong]

What sort of stupid question is this, anyway? ATPL candidates should not be asked such F$%^& ridicularse questions in the first place. Who writes this drivel? This stuff is adequately covered during initial twin/IFR training. I have heard storties that the current sylybus is out of touch with the real world. This seems to prove it.

[the wizard of auz]

As are most of the other exams. I recently did CPL(H) airlaw and was asked several fixed wing specific questions. like take off/landing seperation standards, to witch there were no helicopter answers.
the whole system needs to sorted out.
I guess that there is an upside though, when your shooting a back course approach for the third time on some dark, wet and windy night, you can reflect on the knowlege that the retaining bolts on the outboard leading edge flap are grade eight, UNF threaded 3/8' and are secured with a castlated metal lock nut.
the questions are written by people that are out to trick you and make the questions as ambiguouse as possible.
how are you expected to pick THE MOST CORRECT answer from several answers.
Its all just bolloks.

Oh, I managed to get a PASS.

[Steve76]

When I did my ATPL Performance and Loading for the helicopter, I was the only helo jock in a room of 200 guys.

They told me I got 30% and refused to remark it without charging me another $75. I told them where to stick it and for the next month didn't bother to study a moment for P & L.

Waltzed into the exam with a pissed off, **** them attitude and passed with the only score of 100% I have ever recieved.

I figure the dorks marked the first paper using the fixed wing answers. What a waste of time and money....

[the wizard of auz]

In all the helicopter exams I have sat, including the last one, I have had several fixed wing questions. I clearly remember the last exam I sat had a question regarding take off and landing seperation standards, they didn't even have the correct seperation distances for helicopters in the list of answers to choose from.
I am sure that some of the questions I have answered incorrectly in other helicopter exams have been marked using fixed wing answers.
I actually failed one exam by 2%. If all the exams that were failed because of this problem, I believe that ASL would go broke repaying the exam fee's and supervision fee's. :mad: