Which CPL Exam To Start With?

[Diversion90]

G'Day I am currently building my hours before I can start my CPL training and I am going to start knocking off the exams one by one.

Will be self studying and I am wondering if anyone has any advice on which exam to start with? I have heard mixed views on starting with Human Factors which I hear is the easiest one (apparently), or to start with the more difficult ones like Aerodynamics.

Any advice would be much appreciated.

Oh I plan on using Bob Taits books anything else worth looking at?

[propelled]

Hi,

I don't think it really matters which one you start with, so long as you prepare for each exam well, then just book in your exam and do it..
I'm studying at present for ops/performance and i've only got another few weeks to sit and pass that exam... Should have done it 3 yrs ago when I did the other 6!! hmmm, so maybe you should get that one out of the way 1st!...
Good Luck with them!

[BubbaMc]

You can do the CPL exams separately now? I remember having to do all the exams in one day.

[Di_Vosh]

Bubba, I did mine in 2002 and they were all done separately then.

D90, as others have said, just start doing them.

HF is the easiest of them, IMHO. Just don't let that be an excuse not to prepare.

Bob Tait is the way to go; no doubt about that! :ok:

Good luck!

DIVOSH!

[Diversion90]

Thanks for the replies and yeah CPL is broken down into 7 separate exams.

[tmpffisch]

IMO, start with the hardest first, and leave the easiest to last. Then you can transition straight into doing your ATPL's and start those with the easier ones first while they're still fresh in your mind.

[Bullethead]

G'day D90,

Do the required medical first because if you can't pass it there's no point doing the rest.

Many centuries ago, before I started flying, I did a Class I medical, including all the specialist bits, just to make sure there wasn't anything medical that was going to preclude my holding a CPL/ATPL.

Regards,
BH.

[SM227]

If your looking at doing ATPL's and IREX as well leave CPL human factors for last then sit AHUF the next day, MET too except there is some new content to learn. Do CPL law then IREX then ALAW as the former two make up alot of that exams content. Basicly if you can do them all without big gaps between exams you will find the journey much easier.

Many seem to recomend that you do CPL systems then CPL aerody, as it helps to know how it works before you start looking at how it works from an aerodynamic perspective.

Get into them, stay at it and they will be over before you know it. Good Luck! :ok:

[el_capitano]

Bubba,

I remember those days when the CPL was an all in one test, thats how I did the CPL back then, the ATPL was also one test conducted over 2 days...

I think the new system is a better one....
:hmm:

[FL170]

Hey Diversion

I completed CPL theory at the beginning of the year and found personally doing Met, and HF first up as it got the ball rolling for me and gave me the drive and confidence i needed to finish the rest. This comes down to the individual obviously but I think we all need a bit of encouragement as fuel to study.

One other thing, don't rely on BT for all the subjects. If my memory serves me right, Perf. and planning I used ATC and that filled in some gaps that Bob was lacking. His AGK book will suffice and Nav aswell. If you want to pay $40 for a photocopied cut and pasted CARs then buy his AIRLAW book :}, but keep an eye out on ebay and you will find them come and go very cheap!

All the best for them mate it's a great feeling once there gones:ok:

[Ultralights]

air law first, the rest are easy. bob tait, cant go wrong!

[increasedescent]

If you're doing a 150 hr integrated course you better check you meet the flying requirements too. Otherwise, I would only second what SM227 said, do CHUF last, I couldn't tell the difference between that and AHUF.

ID

[Diversion90]

Thanks for the response, I currently have a PPL and am able to start the CPL exams now.

SM227 following up with those couple of ATPL's after sounds like a good option, not sure if I will though as I dont plan on doing an instrument rating for a while.

BulletHead have done the class 1 before I started training.

[BubbaMc]

I've heard lots of good things about Bob Tait.

Slightly OT, what are his ATPL texts like? Do they contain everything needed to self study?

[B747ERNG]

Hi Diversion90,

If you're doing 150 hrs syllabus, make sure you read this first:


http://www.casa.gov.au/fcl/download/vfras01.pdf
(page1-5)
(ii) after accumulating 5 hours pilot in command cross country time, or achieving the competencies of the
PPL (as specified in the PPL Achievement Record)
• Navigation
• Aircraft Operation, Performance and Flight Planning
• Flight Rules and Air Law.


Since you mentioned you have PPL, I assume you already have 5 hrs PIC x-country time.

I recommend start with MET because CPL MET is 95% identical to PPL MET. If you have PPL already, CPL MET shouldn't take too long to prepare. Difference is CPL MET is heavily based on interpreting weather forecast, so make sure you understand the forecasts at the end of Bob Tait's textbook.

Then, do AirLaw. Some elements mentioned in MET will be covered again in AirLaw, so save you time to study the MET element again. AirLaw also helps you to learn how to find info from AIP, CAO & CAR. These are very important reference for your CPL training.

Then, do Nav. CPL NAV is also very similar to PPL NAV. It covers MET, AirLaw again, so you save a lot of study time. After study Bob Tait's Nav book, I became very confident in using the 1 in 60 during my solo flights.

Then, do AGK and aerody. They're very straight forward and interesting to learn.

Then, when you have plenty time, do Performance. This subject takes a lot of time, normally I can do other subjects in 2 weeks, but with Performance I actually spent 4 weeks. Make sure you spare plenty of time for this one.

Finally, do Human. It's not very difficult and is 99% identical to ATPL Human, so as soon as you have all credit for CPL theory, you can sit the ATPL Human the next day.

Just be careful with Performance, you really need to allow more time for that. Most of my mates under estimate Performance and found time not enough to study this subject. I think Met, Law & Nav are most directly related to your x-country training, so I highly recommend doing them first.

Enjoy your flights!:ok: and study......

p.s. If you're doing NVFR, the Aviation theory centre has a very good NVFR textbook. They also have a very nice initial twin-engine textbook!

[motivated68]

Having pased 6 subjects and doing a theory school course,and also reading BT books. Have found that only the basics are in the books. Some of the questions I had in exam are NOT in the BT book or in the ATC book.
Good luck.

[PyroTek]

I've heard lots of good things about Bob Tait.

Slightly OT, what are his ATPL texts like? Do they contain everything needed to self study?

No such thing as Bob Tait ATPL texts, unfortunately.

I bought all his CPL books 2 days ago. this topic came up at a very prime time for me.

[Diversion90]

I have decided on doing AGK first and picked up Bob Taits AGK book yesterday. I am going to give each exam plenty of time to study for as I am not in a rush to get them done in a short frame of time. Was planning on knocking them over say one a month but will possibly need to do them a bit faster. Time will tell.

[j3pipercub]

Just never let them go till the next day, or before you know it, you'll have one month left till your three year deadline with Performance and Air law to go...

not speaking from experience

j3

[tmpffisch]

Also worth while planning the exams around knowledge you'll need at the time. I did AGK first and is probably best done first, as it's practical knowledge. As is CNAV.

The order I'd recommend is
CAGK
CNAV
CFPA
CADA
CMET
CLWA
CHUF

That way, you've left the easy ones to last, letting you start your ATPL's with the easiest first, while they're still in your head. Also allows you to go out hour building, with some practical knowledge such as AGK, NAV and FPA up your sleeve.

[chickoroll]

i self studyied all cpl and atpl exams on my own, i recomend you do human factors then aerdynamics then general knowledge. as for met, air law, nav, and performance they all come easy with experience when you are flying around getting hrs. as you will use what you learn out of these subjects pretty much everytime you fly. also with the casa exams they take practice in learning what the question is asking you it is never a straight forward question.

[Lasiorhinus]

Have found that only the basics are in the books. Some of the questions I had in exam are NOT in the BT book or in the ATC book.

What, you're surprised that the textbooks don't contain all the exam questions??

The books contain the full syllabus - not "just the basics". The Bob Tait books teach just the syllabus - ie, what CASA has determined is the minimum standard required. ATC takes it upon themselves to give you loads of extra information that is rather irrelevant for the theory exams, and they make no distinction on what is important for the exam, and what is just extra information.

If you want a textbook that has all the exam questions already in it, I think you should try the American syllabus.

[increasedescent]

I'm with Lasiorhinus, expecting to be given the Q's and A's just to get a pass is not conducive to good learning environment, especially in aviation. Even in training, there will be plenty of situations that require you to 'think on your feet', and without an understanding of the concepts, that just won't be possible. Treat every opportunity to learn more.

D90 - If you're giving yourself a month, then book the exam in for a months time! This is what got me through my ATPLs. Book it in, give yourself a deadline (as long as it's reasonable) and if something unforeseen comes up, you can change the exam date up to 4 days prior. It'll keep you on your toes.

ID

[Dekka]

Remember: study, remember and understand as much as possible
THEN REVISE!!

[AVIATOR1982]

Just a quick heads up, with the recent inclusion of TEM in the CHUF syllabus the exam has become a very different beast, i did it about four weeks ago and trust me its a tough exam. You will find about 40% of the 40 questions are threat and error management and if you don't properly prepare for it you will be in for a surprise. I know plenty of guys and gals who were like my friend said CHUF was real easy blah blah blah..... guess what most of them failed it...

[Diversion90]

I ended up starting with AGK and have also done Aerody as well. Have Met booked for next week.

I wanted to hold off on Human Factors, due to the introduction of TEM, which I notice has now been included in the new Bob Tait books.

Btw Bob Tait books are certainly the way to go.