Why oh why oh why . . . . .
Thread Starter
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 506
Likes: 5
From: U.S.A
Why oh why oh why . . . . .
. . . . .do the FAA ask such STUPID questions on the ATP exam.
It is 1950's stuff. I hold an ATP in 4 other countries making this FAA test my fifth such exam.
I have two issues with this exam.
Firstly, who cares how much performance as a % is lost when a "light twin loses one engine".
Secondly, why is this examined at ATP level? Does the relevance of this (pointless) information change according to your license level?
This question is just one of the many examples of how the industry is a joke. Most of the ATP study is rote learning of pointless irrelevant information. It doesn't make pilots better or safer, it just robs them of time that could be better spent on more useful information.
Rant over. Sorry to waste your time!
Now, its back to studying the speed difference between dynamic and viscous hydroplaning! Like I give a #$@! during touchdown!!!!!!
It is 1950's stuff. I hold an ATP in 4 other countries making this FAA test my fifth such exam.
I have two issues with this exam.
Firstly, who cares how much performance as a % is lost when a "light twin loses one engine".
Secondly, why is this examined at ATP level? Does the relevance of this (pointless) information change according to your license level?
This question is just one of the many examples of how the industry is a joke. Most of the ATP study is rote learning of pointless irrelevant information. It doesn't make pilots better or safer, it just robs them of time that could be better spent on more useful information.
Rant over. Sorry to waste your time!
Now, its back to studying the speed difference between dynamic and viscous hydroplaning! Like I give a #$@! during touchdown!!!!!!
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
From: sweden
I can also feel sometimes that we need to learn stuff which we'll never get in use. especially in the subject radio navigation.
But my opinion is that it's quite good to have knowledge about the two questions you got. Keep on studying and I wish you luck!
But my opinion is that it's quite good to have knowledge about the two questions you got. Keep on studying and I wish you luck!
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 954
Likes: 5
From: USA
I haven't witnessed such whining about a silly knowledge test since...
Well since....
Oh yeah, not since I was studying for the FAA ATP myself back in 2000!
Some things just don't change I guess. I recall feeling much the same. Just get er done, move on and forget about it as best you can.
westhawk
Well since....
Oh yeah, not since I was studying for the FAA ATP myself back in 2000!
Some things just don't change I guess. I recall feeling much the same. Just get er done, move on and forget about it as best you can.
westhawk
Last edited by westhawk; 1st December 2012 at 00:55.
Joined: Nov 2007
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
Posts: 1,954
Likes: 30
From: Texas
Because the people writing the test questions have to understand the subject matter and, well, you can tell where this is going.
Just be glad they're past "When Undertaking Very Hard Routes, Keep Direction By Good Methods."
Just be glad they're past "When Undertaking Very Hard Routes, Keep Direction By Good Methods."
Last edited by MarkerInbound; 5th December 2012 at 10:57.
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 126
Likes: 0
From: Saudi Arabia
Thread Starter
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 506
Likes: 5
From: U.S.A
Check Airman, good point. JAR box is ticked. What a joke.
Durban, agree. You ever worked in Singapore? Holy crap that stuff is pathetic.
The point being, the FAA should be much better. And so should CAA,CAAS,CAD,CAAC etc.
Durban, agree. You ever worked in Singapore? Holy crap that stuff is pathetic.
The point being, the FAA should be much better. And so should CAA,CAAS,CAD,CAAC etc.
Thread Starter
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 506
Likes: 5
From: U.S.A
sv_741 india bravo,
Does the Shepard Air download include every exam question you could expect to see? Or are they just examples?
Regards
PS blood not so boiling now. calm blue ocean calm blue ocean
Does the Shepard Air download include every exam question you could expect to see? Or are they just examples?
Regards
PS blood not so boiling now. calm blue ocean calm blue ocean
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 616
Likes: 0
From: Tamworth, UK / Nairobi, Kenya
"there are no stupid questions, only stupid answers"
who cares what percentage power is lost when one engine quits? - the people in that plane, they might not care about the actual number in a percentage, but they certainly care how much power is lost.
Sarcasm off...
I've seen a few tests in a few countries. In my opinion, the tests in the US are designed to make you a better pilot, the tests in most other countries seem to be designed to make you a better test taker.
who cares what percentage power is lost when one engine quits? - the people in that plane, they might not care about the actual number in a percentage, but they certainly care how much power is lost.
Sarcasm off...
I've seen a few tests in a few countries. In my opinion, the tests in the US are designed to make you a better pilot, the tests in most other countries seem to be designed to make you a better test taker.
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 1,305
Likes: 35
From: Vietnam
Darkroom,
I have to agree with you there. I have completed the Australian ATPL exams and what you say seems very true. I simply memorised loads of stuff and when the exam was done I just data dumped it and moved onto the next one. None of the questions seemed relevant to the day to day operations of an airplane.
I recently did some online FAA ATP exam questions and I must say they seemed much more relevant. Questions about what you can fly with what class of medical you hold seemed more relevant than the Australian questions which seemed to focus more on knowing what colours are on a TCAS screen. When I get into something with a TCAS I as sure my employer will make sure I know how to use it. He on the other hand is going to expect me to know what type of medical I need.
I have to agree with you there. I have completed the Australian ATPL exams and what you say seems very true. I simply memorised loads of stuff and when the exam was done I just data dumped it and moved onto the next one. None of the questions seemed relevant to the day to day operations of an airplane.
I recently did some online FAA ATP exam questions and I must say they seemed much more relevant. Questions about what you can fly with what class of medical you hold seemed more relevant than the Australian questions which seemed to focus more on knowing what colours are on a TCAS screen. When I get into something with a TCAS I as sure my employer will make sure I know how to use it. He on the other hand is going to expect me to know what type of medical I need.
Joined: Mar 2010
Aviation Qualifications: ATP+Mil
Posts: 343
Likes: 65
From: St. John's Wood
From SV_741_India_Bravo's link to Sheppard Air:
If "unlike other test prep programs" only Sheppard Air has all the questions, then it sounds like someone in the FAA is passing the questions directly to Sheppard. Could that all end in tears sometime?
Don't worry... unlike other test prep programs, you won't be disappointed by finding 25 questions on your FAA test you've never seen before... we won't let you down... we guarantee it.
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 60
Likes: 0
From: Tie Pay
The FAA exam is like the other ATP exams and theory I have done in my 40 year career. Totally theoretical and mostly unrelated to the real world.
Especially in flight planning,w and b and perf. Having to interpolate as fine as 40lbs difference in fuel burn to get the correct answer in a 727 burning 8000lbs/hour is not only pointless but negative training. Landing dist calcs the same, countless questions that test your ability to thumb a calculator and interpolate that would get you into trouble in the real world.
crazy stuff.
Especially in flight planning,w and b and perf. Having to interpolate as fine as 40lbs difference in fuel burn to get the correct answer in a 727 burning 8000lbs/hour is not only pointless but negative training. Landing dist calcs the same, countless questions that test your ability to thumb a calculator and interpolate that would get you into trouble in the real world.
crazy stuff.
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 81
Likes: 0
From: Montana
I'm using sheppard air, worth the money. I'm taking the ATP written next week so I can upgrade in a few months. It's not that bad, just memorize the test, get it done and then concentrate on what you really need to know. I have reccurent next month and Im also studying for that.
