ATPL Exam Topics Australia: Complete Guide to CASA Theory Exams

The Airline Transport Pilot Licence (ATPL) is the highest level of pilot certification issued by CASA in Australia. Before you can hold an ATPL, you must pass a rigorous series of theory exams covering advanced aviation knowledge across multiple subjects. This guide breaks down every ATPL exam topic, what to expect, and how to build a study strategy that works.

ATPL theory exam overview

The CASA ATPL theory examination consists of 7 separate written exams, each focused on a specific aviation discipline. Unlike the RPL's single 37-question paper, the ATPL suite covers far more ground with greater depth and complexity.

• Pass mark: 70% for each individual exam
• Validity: Passes are valid for 5 years
• Examination format: Computer-based multiple-choice, administered at CASA-approved test centres
• When to sit: Most candidates sit exams alongside their CPL flight training or after completing PPL hours
• Order: There is no mandatory sequence — most pilots start with their strongest subjects

The 7 ATPL theory exam subjects

1. Air law (ALAW) — approximately 30 questions

Air law covers the full breadth of Australian aviation legislation, international regulations, and operational rules. At the ATPL level, the depth required goes well beyond RPL air law.

Key topics include:

• Civil Aviation Act, Civil Aviation Regulations (CAR), and Civil Aviation Safety Regulations (CASR)
• ICAO Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs)
• Airspace classifications, controlled and non-controlled airspace rules
• Air Traffic Control (ATC) procedures and phraseology
• Rules of the air — right of way, separation minima, wake turbulence
• NOTAM interpretation and AIP structure
• Airline licensing and recency requirements
• Accident and incident reporting obligations (ATSB, CASA)

Difficulty: Medium–High. This subject involves heavy memorisation of specific regulation numbers and limits. Use the CASA ERSA and AIP as primary references alongside study materials.

2. Aircraft general knowledge (AGK) — approximately 60–80 questions

AGK is typically the longest and most technically demanding of the ATPL exams. It covers the detailed functioning of aircraft systems at a level appropriate for operating transport-category aircraft.

Key topics include:

• Airframes: Structural design, materials, fatigue limits, pressurisation systems
• Powerplants: Turbofan, turboprop, and turboshaft engine operation; fuel and oil systems; engine instruments
• Electrical systems: AC/DC generation, bus bars, emergency power
• Hydraulics and pneumatics: Actuators, accumulators, landing gear systems
• Flight controls: Primary and secondary controls, fly-by-wire concepts, autopilot systems
• Fire protection: Detection and extinguishing systems
• Ice and rain protection: Anti-icing vs de-icing methods
• Instruments: Pitot-static systems, gyroscopic instruments, EFIS, FMS

Difficulty: High. AGK has a broad scope with many interconnected systems. Begin with engines and instruments, which carry the highest question weighting.

3. Flight planning and monitoring (FPM) — approximately 45–60 questions

FPM tests the ability to plan and monitor flights at a professional level, including fuel planning, alternate aerodrome selection, and ETOPS considerations for long-range operations.

Key topics include:

• Fuel calculations: trip fuel, contingency, alternate, final reserve, extra
• ETOPS planning and fuel considerations
• Alternate aerodrome selection rules
• En-route performance monitoring and drift-down procedures
• ATC flight planning (ICAO flight plan format and fields)
• Interpretation of ERSA, DAP, AIP, and SIDs/STARs
• Weight and balance for transport aircraft

Difficulty: Medium–High. FPM is a mix of calculation and rule recall. The fuel planning section requires understanding both regulations and practical methodology.

4. Human performance (HUP) — approximately 25–35 questions

Human performance (also called human factors) examines how physiology, psychology, and crew dynamics affect flight safety. At the ATPL level, this goes well beyond RPL human factors material.

Key topics include:

• Hypoxia: types, symptoms, time of useful consciousness (TUC) at various altitudes
• Spatial disorientation: visual and vestibular illusions, leans, graveyard spiral
• Vision: night adaptation, empty-field myopia, CFIT risk factors
• Fatigue and circadian rhythm: effects on decision-making, fatigue risk management
• Crew Resource Management (CRM): communication, authority gradient, assertiveness
• Threat and Error Management (TEM): identifying, trapping, and managing errors
• Situational awareness and loss of SA scenarios
• Decision-making models: FORDEC, DODAR, 5P

Difficulty: Medium. This subject is conceptual rather than highly numerical. Many candidates find human performance one of the more achievable ATPL subjects.

5. Meteorology (MET) — approximately 35–50 questions

The ATPL meteorology exam is significantly more demanding than its RPL equivalent. It covers synoptic analysis, upper-level forecasting, and phenomena specific to jet-route operations.

Key topics include:

• Atmosphere: ICAO standard atmosphere, temperature and pressure lapse rates
• Pressure and wind systems: isobars, geostrophic wind, gradient wind, ageostrophic flow
• Frontal systems: warm, cold, occluded, and stationary fronts; frontal weather
• Upper-level weather: jet streams, clear air turbulence (CAT), tropopause
• Thunderstorms: development stages, types, associated hazards (hail, lightning, wind shear, icing)
• Icing: structural icing types (clear, rime, mixed), supercooled large droplets (SLD), anti-icing certification
• Fog and low cloud: radiation, advection, steam, and frontal fog
• Aviation weather products: METAR, TAF, SIGMET, AIRMET, SIGWX charts, wind and temperature forecasts
• Tropical meteorology: ITCZ, tropical cyclones, monsoon systems

Difficulty: High. Meteorology is one of the hardest ATPL subjects. It requires genuine conceptual understanding, not just memorisation. Allow extra study time for this subject.

6. Navigation (NAV) — approximately 45–60 questions

ATPL navigation goes far beyond basic map reading, covering celestial navigation, advanced radio navigation, GNSS, and area navigation (RNAV).

Key topics include:

• Earth and charts: Great circles, rhumb lines, convergence, map projections (Lambert, Mercator, polar stereographic)
• Radio navigation: VOR, DME, ILS (localiser, glidepath, outer marker), ADF/NDB, VORTAC
• GNSS/GPS: System principles, RAIM, augmentation (SBAS, GBAS), integrity monitoring
• RNAV and RNP: Performance-based navigation (PBN), RNP-RNAV approach concepts
• Inertial navigation systems (INS/IRS): Gyroscope principles, Schuler tuning, error accumulation
• Celestial navigation: Basic principles (less tested on modern exams but included in syllabus)
• Time: UTC, LMT, standard time zones, date line

Difficulty: High. Navigation has both calculation-heavy and conceptual elements. Strong candidates study radio navigation thoroughly — it carries heavy weighting in this exam.

7. Performance (PERF) — approximately 40–55 questions

Performance is highly mathematical, requiring candidates to apply aircraft performance data to realistic scenarios. The principles involved in reading performance charts form the foundation, but ATPL performance adds significant complexity.

Key topics include:

• Take-off performance: Field length requirements, accelerate-stop distance, V₁/V_R/V₂ speeds, WAT limits
• Climb and cruise performance: Gradient, rate of climb, best range speed, long-range cruise
• En-route performance: Drift-down after engine failure, obstacle clearance
• Landing performance: Approach climb, landing field length, V_REF speeds
• Contaminated runways: Wet, snow-covered, and icy runway performance penalties
• Weight and balance: CG limits, moment calculations, trim effects at transport aircraft scale
• ETOPS performance: Single-engine diversion fuel burn and range

Difficulty: Very High. Performance is the most calculation-intensive ATPL subject. Expect graph interpretation, interpolation, and multi-step problems. This subject requires the most dedicated study time for most candidates.

ATPL study strategy

Recommended study order

Most ATPL candidates and instructors recommend the following sequence:

1. Human performance — fastest to pass, builds confidence early
2. Air law — mostly memorisation, steady progress with flashcards
3. Meteorology — harder, but conceptual understanding is rewarding
4. Navigation — builds on meteorology; start radio navigation early
5. Aircraft general knowledge — broad but important; do engines first
6. Flight planning and monitoring — builds on navigation and air law
7. Performance — leave last; hardest subject, needs full focus

Time allocation

Experienced ATPL candidates spend an average of 400–600 hours total study time across all 7 subjects. A realistic breakdown by subject is:

• Human performance: 30–40 hours
• Air law: 50–70 hours
• Meteorology: 70–90 hours
• Navigation: 70–90 hours
• Aircraft general knowledge: 80–100 hours
• Flight planning and monitoring: 60–80 hours
• Performance: 80–100 hours

How RPL and PPL preparation helps

If you're working towards your RPL or PPL first, you're already building the foundational knowledge that every ATPL subject expands on:

• Aerodynamics feeds into AGK and performance
• Meteorology basics directly prepare you for ATPL MET
• Navigation fundamentals form the foundation for ATPL NAV
• Performance chart reading is an essential base for ATPL PERF
• Air law principles are built upon directly in ATPL ALAW

Starting with a strong RPL or PPL foundation is one of the best investments you can make for your eventual ATPL journey. See our aerodynamics, meteorology, navigation, and performance study guides for more on each of these core topics.

Practise the fundamentals now

Whether you're preparing for your RPL, PPL, or have your sights on the ATPL, the core aviation theory knowledge is the same — the ATPL just demands greater depth. Use The Pilot Exam to build your foundation in aerodynamics, meteorology, navigation, and performance chart reading with 1,000+ CASA-style practice questions and interactive performance charts.

A solid understanding of RPL and PPL theory is the strongest starting point for anyone pursuing an airline career.