CASA RPL with PPL Theory
CASA RPL with PPL Theory
Hello,
I am thinking of doing my RPL soon and have bought some Bob Tait books to study the theory (RPL+PPL)
Now, given that I hope to one day do my PPL (time and money permitting in future), I was thinking of studying through to PPL level and sitting for the PPL theory exam with Aspeq in the first instance.
Would CASA recognise my PPL theory exam as fulfilling the RPL theory test for the purposes of issuing the RPL (I know that the RPL/BAK exam can also be set by the school)? Seems like a waste of money and time to do both theory exams if my end goal was the PPL in future.
I am thinking of doing my RPL soon and have bought some Bob Tait books to study the theory (RPL+PPL)
Now, given that I hope to one day do my PPL (time and money permitting in future), I was thinking of studying through to PPL level and sitting for the PPL theory exam with Aspeq in the first instance.
Would CASA recognise my PPL theory exam as fulfilling the RPL theory test for the purposes of issuing the RPL (I know that the RPL/BAK exam can also be set by the school)? Seems like a waste of money and time to do both theory exams if my end goal was the PPL in future.
As mentioned by @Bosi72, the PPL will cover you for RPL.
Anecdotally the RPL exam seems to have some harder questions than the PPL despite it covering less of the syllabus and that the material examined is solely a subset of the PPL material.
This discrepency seems borne out by the success rate in the 2 exams, CASA data indicates the RPL has a pass rate of around 55% whilst the (more involved) PPL exam has a higher pass rate of around 65%
Talking with students when doing KDRs it appears the RPL exam seems (even more than normal for CASA) to be filled with questions designed to trip you up rather than trying to establish your knowledge of the material.
For several reasons I would suggest you study for and do the PPL exam rather than the RPL. It saves doing 2 overlapping exams (if you go on to PPL), it will broaden your knowledge and understanding generally and I suspect it will mean your knowledge will be examined more fairly in the exam.
my 2c
Anecdotally the RPL exam seems to have some harder questions than the PPL despite it covering less of the syllabus and that the material examined is solely a subset of the PPL material.
This discrepency seems borne out by the success rate in the 2 exams, CASA data indicates the RPL has a pass rate of around 55% whilst the (more involved) PPL exam has a higher pass rate of around 65%
Talking with students when doing KDRs it appears the RPL exam seems (even more than normal for CASA) to be filled with questions designed to trip you up rather than trying to establish your knowledge of the material.
For several reasons I would suggest you study for and do the PPL exam rather than the RPL. It saves doing 2 overlapping exams (if you go on to PPL), it will broaden your knowledge and understanding generally and I suspect it will mean your knowledge will be examined more fairly in the exam.
my 2c
As mentioned by @Bosi72, the PPL will cover you for RPL.
Anecdotally the RPL exam seems to have some harder questions than the PPL despite it covering less of the syllabus and that the material examined is solely a subset of the PPL material.
This discrepency seems borne out by the success rate in the 2 exams, CASA data indicates the RPL has a pass rate of around 55% whilst the (more involved) PPL exam has a higher pass rate of around 65%
Talking with students when doing KDRs it appears the RPL exam seems (even more than normal for CASA) to be filled with questions designed to trip you up rather than trying to establish your knowledge of the material.
For several reasons I would suggest you study for and do the PPL exam rather than the RPL. It saves doing 2 overlapping exams (if you go on to PPL), it will broaden your knowledge and understanding generally and I suspect it will mean your knowledge will be examined more fairly in the exam.
my 2c
Anecdotally the RPL exam seems to have some harder questions than the PPL despite it covering less of the syllabus and that the material examined is solely a subset of the PPL material.
This discrepency seems borne out by the success rate in the 2 exams, CASA data indicates the RPL has a pass rate of around 55% whilst the (more involved) PPL exam has a higher pass rate of around 65%
Talking with students when doing KDRs it appears the RPL exam seems (even more than normal for CASA) to be filled with questions designed to trip you up rather than trying to establish your knowledge of the material.
For several reasons I would suggest you study for and do the PPL exam rather than the RPL. It saves doing 2 overlapping exams (if you go on to PPL), it will broaden your knowledge and understanding generally and I suspect it will mean your knowledge will be examined more fairly in the exam.
my 2c
I just went straight to CPL theory because I didn't see the point in doing it all twice.
I’m not sure why most flying schools don’t set their own RPL theory exams and cut CASA out of the equation completely at this stage. Would have to check but pretty sure the regs still allow this.
Pulling the RPL away will save a student about $2000-$3000 if going direct to PPL. That money will buy you 10 hours hour building later on so definitely worth it. Considering the cost these days re training, it is a wise choice.
A benefit however doing the RPL is getting some experience with a CASA flight examiner doing a flight test. We are going back to the ice ages when I did it however I did value the feedback on that early flight test before I did the PPL then the big one later on. I did get some comments that I probably wouldn’t have got prior from my instructors. Those few very basic points prevented me performing such habits in a more important flight test later on.
A benefit however doing the RPL is getting some experience with a CASA flight examiner doing a flight test. We are going back to the ice ages when I did it however I did value the feedback on that early flight test before I did the PPL then the big one later on. I did get some comments that I probably wouldn’t have got prior from my instructors. Those few very basic points prevented me performing such habits in a more important flight test later on.
I know a few places bypass RPL (theory and flight test) completely and, sure, this may seem like it saves the student some money, but it also means you have less solo hours going into the PPL test which, as PoppaJo points out, isn't a great way to pass first time.
Pulling the RPL away will save a student about $2000-$3000 if going direct to PPL. That money will buy you 10 hours hour building later on so definitely worth it. Considering the cost these days re training, it is a wise choice.
A benefit however doing the RPL is getting some experience with a CASA flight examiner doing a flight test. We are going back to the ice ages when I did it however I did value the feedback on that early flight test before I did the PPL then the big one later on. I did get some comments that I probably wouldn’t have got prior from my instructors. Those few very basic points prevented me performing such habits in a more important flight test later on.
A benefit however doing the RPL is getting some experience with a CASA flight examiner doing a flight test. We are going back to the ice ages when I did it however I did value the feedback on that early flight test before I did the PPL then the big one later on. I did get some comments that I probably wouldn’t have got prior from my instructors. Those few very basic points prevented me performing such habits in a more important flight test later on.
Or is there some overlap/extra timing needed if you did the RPL then PPL? Someone was telling me to just shoot through to PPL to save money/time but I didn't really get how it worked given I thought that the RPL was just a subset of the PPL - and the only money I will save is the CASA fee ($400 aircraft rental fee I suppose goes towards PIC time, so counts towards hour building I guess). It seemed logical to "lock in" something in the first instance - then go onto shoot for PPL
Yes the PPL theory will cover RPL licence test and the CPL theory credit will cover PPL if you want to skip the PPL exam as well. Ive done all the exams CASA has to offer and the RPL was the second hardest exam I sat, ATPL flight planning was number one.
RPL solo time (a) is around $100/hr cheaper than having an instructor sitting next to you and (b) allows you to start building command hours early and confidence in your own flying technique. If you skip RPL, the first time you'll be able to solo hire and take a few friends up on your own won't be until the other side of PPL. Each to their own.
