ATPL Flight Planning Tricks, Short Cuts etc

[Time Map Ground]

Originally Posted by chocotriya

Thank you for the encouragement. I will be doing my last chance of Flight Planning exam after 3 failed attempts, so close to 70% mark. Doing practice exams now but I still think i am not up there yet. Can anyone share information where i can get more practice exams books or online? I already have the "blue book", and two Rob Avery books. Any advice, suggestion, tricks and shortcuts would be great too. Thanks

AFT's online practice exams are great as well. They are very good preparation for the real AFPA exam. You can either purchase credits for 4 practice exams (all their questions) or buy their distance learning package which comes with detailed notes, more practice questions and access to the online practice exams, as well as detailed solutions for them.

[Skiiiz]

Hi guys!
I'm taking the exam real soon so I'd appreciate any help.Can someone please let me know what the accuracy/rounding off limits are like? I've heard that now most of the exam consists of type-ins and I'm not too sure if I'm doing enough to be prepared. I got stuck on a few questions with calculating landing weights and fuel on board with 1- inop. My answer was off by at least 100kg because, I had used a different way point and averaged out one segment to match the RSWT. So I don't know what else to do 😭
Also with PNR's & C.P. Is being +/-5 NM enough?

Looking forward to hearing your inputs 🤝 😁

[alphacentauri]

Skiiz, I don't remember the answer options being that close together. Surely there is an option that is much closer to your figures than all of the rest?

Its been a while since I sat them.....but that's how I remember it

[Skiiiz]

Originally Posted by alphacentauri

Skiiz, I don't remember the answer options being that close together. Surely there is an option that is much closer to your figures than all of the rest?

Its been a while since I sat them.....but that's how I remember it

Thanks Alpha!
I'm attempting the cyber exam questions at the back of the book that have the answers worked out (not the revision questions with multiple choices) so I don't really have any other options to compare my answers to ....except for the answer given.

Also, I'm not too sure how to divide the segments of flight. I thought I had that sorted earlier on, but now that I'm doing more questions and cross checking with the answers given in the book, it has me confused. Some of the questions worked out, seem to have been divided into extra segments according to the RSWT which makes sense and provides accuracy, then another question will show very few flight segments averaging RSWT'S even though there is a large change in weather and track direction. Is there a rule for this ? 🤔
Sorry I'm self studying and I feel like I'm overlooking a lot of things 🙃 appreciate the help !

[alphacentauri]

If you have access to the worked answers, how is it you are not able to compare the workings to yours and find out exactly where you are making the error?

If I recall the dividing of segments is directly related to what exactly it is you are trying to work out. Its been too long since I did it to offer any practical advice, but I did ring the help line and recall asking heaps of questions along the lines you are asking. That's the advantage of buying the course notes, you pay for the support.

I self studied too.....its difficult, but not impossible.

Ring the school you are studying through, they will help

Alpha

[TW218]

I know you have figured this out [plotplot]. I did the exam over 30 years ago when ATPL was single exam. I have returned to aviation and asked to teach this subject. I would like to have a go.

1. BRW NZAA = 71 450KG + FBO NORM OPS = 85 400 KG < MBRW NZAA
2. LW YSSY with most FOB [Most Reserves Intact] at LDG = 85 400 KG - 14 900 KG [ FBO ONE INOP] = 70 500 KG < MLW YSSY
NOTE: I chose ONE INOP because you will land with the most reserves intact if in the best scenario you do not burn into it. You will have to carry 4000 KG WX HLDG fuel if you suffer and engine failure prior to the ONE INOP ETP/CP and need to return to NZAA.
3. ZFW at SHUT DOWN in YSSY = 70 500 KG - 100 KG [TAXI] - 1490 KG [VR] - 1500 KG [FR] - 4000 KG [HLDG] = 63 410 KG
4. Payload = 63 410 KG [ZFW] - 47 250 KG [BW] = 16 160 KG

[TW218]

Originally Posted by brns2

Flight from A-B
BRW at A= 82,600
BW= 47,050

B is suitable, A is acceptable with 30mins holding

Flight fuel NO=14600
FF NO to A-BCP then OEI From the CP= 15200
FF NO to A-bCP then DP from the CP= 16150

Max P/L is closest to:
A)15150
B)16500
C)16100 (I put, but wrong, i calc max P/L to be 16,090, but C is closet)
D) 15650

Am i missing something?

16 090 KG is based on the NORM OPS Fuel [The closest in this case is D, as you cannot carry extra as you will exceed the BRW by selecting C]
15 230 KG is the more accurate answer based on ONE INOP Fuel reserves being greater on LDG. But the best answer is A, again as you can carry less P/L but not more than your answer.