SAMRA/SARON/INRAT

[Hueymeister]

Just finished the Aero Course and...well my brain melted. May not get a chance to write the exams quickly as they seem to be taking an age to get back to me about spaces at the exam centres. Any good advice (other than smashing the WorkBook) on how to prepare for the exams? Advice greatly appreciated.

[Nav99]

When did you email transport Canada regarding the exam dates?
Are you convert any license to transport Canada equivalent?

I have email them and waiting for their response to convert my FAA ATP to TCCA.

[Kaptein]

Suggest as follows to study / read / review - I wrote them last year, passed all 3 the first round:

1. Aerocourse Ground school - ATP workbook, ATPL questions and answers workbook and Instrument Questions and Answers Workbook
2. Read latest AIM
3. Download Dauntless INRAT Theory App from App store - once off payment - well worth it.
4. Browse through CARS online.
5. Purchase the pdf CAP and CFS from NAVCANADA website
6. Purchase a www.nizus.com membership for 3 months for all 3 - it has loads of practise exams which are similar to what you will get in the exams - these were great leading up to the exams to keep practising and they give you great explanations of your errors

This pulled me through with all marks in high 80's

PM for more info if you want.

[Hueymeister]

Lovely
Thank you

[WWSG]

Hi guys.

First of all, thank you, guys, for all tips.
I received my health certificate yesterday after waiting seven months for it. I've been studying to convert my Brazilian flight license to TC. Regarding the three exams I need to do, which one would you advise me to do first: SAMRA, SARON, or INRAT?

[Kaptein]

Originally Posted by WWSG

Hi guys.

First of all, thank you, guys, for all tips.
I received my health certificate yesterday after waiting seven months for it. I've been studying to convert my Brazilian flight license to TC. Regarding the three exams I need to do, which one would you advise me to do first: SAMRA, SARON, or INRAT?

Suggest either INRAT or SAMRA. Then whatever you chose, do the other one after. Reason being, both exams has a large section of Meteorology - so once you study for one, most is covered for the other. Optimizes your study time.

I did SARON, SAMRA, INRAT, in that order.

[WWSG]

Thank you. I'll do that and leave Saron as the last one.
Did you wait a long time between each test?

[antigravity61]

Originally Posted by Kaptein

Suggest as follows to study / read / review - I wrote them last year, passed all 3 the first round:

1. Aerocourse Ground school - ATP workbook, ATPL questions and answers workbook and Instrument Questions and Answers Workbook
2. Read latest AIM
3. Download Dauntless INRAT Theory App from App store - once off payment - well worth it.
4. Browse through CARS online.
5. Purchase the pdf CAP and CFS from NAVCANADA website
6. Purchase a www.nizus.com membership for 3 months for all 3 - it has loads of practise exams which are similar to what you will get in the exams - these were great leading up to the exams to keep practising and they give you great explanations of your errors

This pulled me through with all marks in high 80's

PM for more info if you want.

This is to the point.

Wrote all 3 in 3 days. Had to repeat SARON. If you are not used to CAR, please go through the important sections. I can’t emphasis more about this. I am not from Canada so had a hard time with the CAR.
Else, if you put in efforts it quite doable.

Wrote the exams in July, received the license in Oct

[Kaptein]

Wrote SARON and SAMRA back to back, same week. Then INRAT 4 weeks later.

[WWSG]

You said to purchase a Nizuz membership to practice the questions. What is the difference between Nizus and ATPL Questions and answers workbook? I had Aerocourse online classes, I've answered all the workbook questions, and I almost have all questions/answers memorized, but I'm not feeling confident yet.

[Kaptein]

Originally Posted by WWSG

You said to purchase a Nizuz membership to practice the questions. What is the difference between Nizus and ATPL Questions and answers workbook? I had Aerocourse online classes, I've answered all the workbook questions, and I almost have all questions/answers memorized, but I'm not feeling confident yet.

Nizus questions are in exam format - so you have say 13 x SARON exams and 15 x SAMRA exams with 100 questions each. Like you would get them in the exam.

The explanations for each question are also good.

Worth it.

[WWSG]

I purchased it, and you're right. It will help me so much. I would appreciate it if one of those tests was exactly the same one I will do. The explanations in each test are more useful for understanding each point than reading 300 pages. I was an airline pilot in Brazil for many years, and I remember when I was applying for ANAC (It is like TC in Canada) exams, I used to do many practice tests like Nizuz and one of them was the same test with the same questions in the same order I had done it a few days before the test. What a dream. Thanks, man!

[cane003]

Hey!

Here is my experience regarding those exams.

I'm converting my EASA (Europe) ATPL into Canadian one. I fly for European airline with +7khrs on A320.

I just wrote SARON, SAMRA and INRAT 3 days in a row.

I had to squeeze reviews between work and family time. Was not that easy.
I spent a total amont of approx 100h in the last months trying to understand CARs and specificities of those written exams.

As time was limited, I intended to focus on passing, not having highest marks possible.

Culhane ATPL books from 2018, TC AIM and Nizus 1 months subscription were my sole materials. At first, training marks were low (50-60%) but increased slowly with time. I went to write exams with training marks between 65 and 80.

I was happy to notice that exams were quite similar from those of Nizus. Maybe questions are sometime a bit trickier in real exams, but still doable.

I passed all 3 exams with marks from 84 to 92.

TC AIM vas very useful. And nizus tests enables to know on which parts reviews should be emphasized.

Happy flights!








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[rudestuff]

What's the average study burden for these exams compared to say EASA (6-12 months) or FAA (3-5 days)?

[Kaptein]

Originally Posted by rudestuff

What's the average study burden for these exams compared to say EASA (6-12 months) or FAA (3-5 days)?

One month for each exam and you will be fine. Its a lot of work to get through and the questions are set up to ensure you have some background knowledge (ie: you studied)

[rudestuff]

Good to know, thanks!

[Metallicwings2023]

Hello fellow aviators,

I'm in the process of converting my ICAO ATPL to a TC ATPL and recently had a discussion with a CAME (Civil Aviation Medical Examiner) who advised that the Canadian civil aviation medical process typically takes around six months. I'm planning to appear in exams by June 2024.

Given this timeline, I'm curious to know if now is the right time to start preparing for the SAMRA, SARON, and INRAT exams. Additionally, I'm interested in understanding if there are any options or strategies to potentially expedite or reduce this six-month timeline for the TC medical approval process.

Any insights or advice from those who have navigated this process would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you in advance!

[Metallicwings2023]

Is it only the format or the content as well. I have cleared ICAO ATPL exams from by using ATPL GS. Didn't touch another book. Is Nizus subscription sufficient for exams preparation ?

[+TSRA]

discussion with a CAME (Civil Aviation Medical Examiner) who advised that the Canadian civil aviation medical process typically takes around six months

I may be a year out of date since I recently returned from an office job to line flying, but Transport always seemed to prioritize those working over those applying. For example, an FO I worked with at my last company had his ATPL in hand after only about three weeks because we went to bat for him saying his upgrade would be delayed. But a new person, off the street - good luck getting that same level of service. I'd agree with your CAME - expect at least six months for the medical, and just as long again for the license.

​​​​​​​Given this timeline, I'm curious to know if now is the right time to start preparing for the SAMRA, SARON, and INRAT exams

Start studying now. Transport Canada exams are as much an exercise in English comprehension as they are about aviation knowledge, with some questions featuring a "double negative" that can only be answered if you fully understand the topic. While no one cares about your exam results once you see "pass," a lower pass score will eventually cause you issues when you transition into larger and faster aircraft. When teaching on my current machine, I get to assume you fully understand all the required knowledge about, say, Mach Tuck, or how to avoid turbulence around a jet stream, or how a hydraulic or electric system works. I'm not going to spend even 3 minutes trying to explain it to you. That's your responsibility as a professional. Leaving this sort of thing to the last minute will only cause you stress down the road.

I would suggest that if you can get your hands on an aircraft manual - King Air, Dash 8, ATR - you'll find some of the material easier to understand. I say that because if you understand how a system works on an actual airplane, then the examples they give during the exam become a variation of a theme rather than some lofty idea. Take what a book or course says and then compare that to how it works on that aircraft. Ideally, the aircraft you pick will be a complex turbo-prop or jet (ideally both as I had both prop and jet questions on my exams).

​​​​​​​Is Nizus subscription sufficient for exams preparation ?

There is no requirement for you to front any money, except for the textbooks. While these programs are great at getting you a pass, they're not all so great in having you understand the material enough to operate with because the "why" is often lost to pretty pictures or animations. I'm not saying don't do it, I'm saying that no, a subscription to an online course is not sufficient. Plus, you likely clicked a box that said they are not responsible for missing content or out-of-date information, so always double-check with the source material, especially for subjects such as Air Law.

[Metallicwings2023]

"I'm grateful for your comprehensive response. Could you recommend additional reading material? I've recently completed my EASA ATPL with the Oxford ATPL books. Would you say these suffice for SAMRA, SARON, and INRAT?"