The overall result for this subject is sound. As a general guide to further improvement, candidates who failed had knowledge deficiencies across the following subject areas:

• Basic ground speed errors these affected a number of questions, including determine ETI and EST for given positions
• Aircraft speeds, TOSS, Va, Vne, manoeuvering speeds
• Determination of MTOW or TODR using the graphs in figures 3, 5 or 12
• Understanding of range and endurance and factors affecting
• Definitions of terms such as MAC, empty weight, ZFW, ramp weight, etc.
• Aeroplane Weight Limitations, Loading and Balance – the relationship between fuel carried, burned off and aeroplane weight limitations

The overall result for this subject is sound. As a general guide to further improvement, candidates who failed had knowledge deficiencies across the following subject areas:

• Helicopter Limitations, including rotor RPM, VNE and flight load factors. All have serious operating and flight safety implications
• Take-off and Landing Weight – when and when not to use ‘Area B’ gross weight performance
• Hover performance
• Calculations for CG position and loading appear to be most problematic to candidates

Be warned some CASA questions require 30 min holding fuel to be added. They have to state it though.

Also know how to read your TAFS. Check they are Valid, check the INTER or TEMPO periods actually apply to your destination or alternate. And know exactly when and how much extra fuel is to be held , depending on ETA relative to INTER and TEMPO.

The E-6B uses the actual triangle of velocities to determine the G/S, consequently an ‘E TAS’ is not appropriate, it is correct.

When using an E6B the answer automatically includes ETAS.

If the drift is below 5 degrees, you can use the formula for PNR or ETP where you divide by (2xTAS).

However if the drift is above 5 degrees, you must divide by (GS-onwards x GS home).

Get the GS-onwards as per usual, then spin the wheel 180 degrees to get GS-home.

Using this method you will note, GS-onwards + GS home does not equal 2 x TAS.

Note, often CASA will give winds from GPWT, which is given in TRUE. You must convert TRUE to MAGNETIC winds before doing any calculations.

YOU MUST KNOW THIS!!!!!!

We been alerted to the fact SEVERAL 4 MARK PNR’s are being given with strong (35KT) crosswind factors.

You would only need this for strong x winds components relative to TAS, ie. high drift angles about 10 degrees and higher.
Eg
Given a PNR with a 150kt TAS and 35kt crosswind component find pnr etc.
You can use your E6B or CR to get drift
But lets approximate with
CWC x 60 / TAS = WCA
35 x 60 / 150 =14° drift
ETAS = 150 x cos (14°) = 145.5kt
A 4.5kt or 3% variation between TAS and ETAS

To highlight the importance in really strong xwinds imagine this
Given a PNR with a 150kt TAS and 100kt crosswind component find pnr etc.
CWC x 60 / TAS = WCA
100 x 60 / 150 =40° drift
ETAS = 150 x cos (40°) = 100kt

And in slight x winds
Given a PNR with a 150kt TAS and 3kt crosswind component find pnr etc.
CWC x 60 / TAS = WCA
3 x 60 / 150 =1° drift
ETAS = 150 x cos (1°) = 149.97kt

The magic number seems to be anything above about a 10 degree drift, which is anything with a xwind above about 16% of TAS
Given a PNR with a 150kt TAS and 16% xwind component or 25kt crosswind component find pnr etc.
CWC x 60 / TAS = WCA
25 x 60 / 150 =10° drift
ETAS = 150 x cos (10°) = 147.7kt
Notice how at 10% , now we are starting to effect TAS to the point where our calcs could be out.

Where as with a 15 kt xwind which is 10% of TAS 150
It doesn’t seem viable to need to calculate ETAS.
CWC x 60 / TAS = WCA
15 x 60 / 150 =6° drift
ETAS = 150 x cos (6°) = 149.1kt

We have been reliably informed the winds given for ETP calculations may for some questions be very strong winds.

If that is the case the basic formula shown in some of the text books will be inaccurate.

32 questions in total.

2 TO and Landing charts with various runway lengths and types. Winds are given in True from GPWT (convert them).

Loading systems Alpha Bravo and Charlie

5 Echo questions

Know all definitions of TODA TORA ASDA and the others and exactly what they mean/

Pavement type and strength, letters and numbers from ERSA.

Fuel questions with INTER or TEMPO with fuel flow rates for cruise and holding.

Upon entering the room write all your formulas out.

Practice with a folded A4 into 8 squares

Write a formula in each square and memorise which one goes where and when to use it.

Practice writing these out until you can do it in your sleep.

Know how to input date and time for a flight notification.

32 questions = less than 5 min per question.

Warning – there are lots of ETP questions where they try to trick you so you think its a PNR. And vice versa.

There are some questions where taking off with a slight tailwind downslope is better than taking off with a headwind and an upslope.

Matt’s older normal questions where amazing!!! Do not underestimate using these.

2 P chart questions – numbers had to be typed in

1 x charter fuel question VFR

2 x private fuel questions

1 x charter PNR safe endurance question

1 x alternate for charter with no variable reserve

all questions refer to trip fuel not flight fuel

1 questions had an INTER and 1 had a TEMPO

1 question had a specified company policy requiring 20 gal/hr extra fuel

Some questions gave TAF’s requiring candidate to calculate winds to get GS

No asymmetric questions

Some short answers about ETP or PNR with winds significantly different enroute. What is efects of declining / increasing head/tailwind on ETP.

Refer ERSA TODR and TORA….runway 1000m asda 50m clearway 80m, what is TODA

Private flight A to B X Gals / hr 42 min , then B to C with Y Gals / hr for 18 mins….what is min startup fuel  – typed answer

Echo’s where basic with rows 2 and 3, how much in rear compartment. A weight shift echo with ballast. A how many nose 5kg ballast ti ZFW.

32 questions , 10 had typed answers

PNR’s with winds given, but not headwind given (calculate them) then find PNR.

4 marker was a PNR with winds

Got an asymmetric ETP

1 x Echo What is Take off distance

1 x Echo What is landing distance

1 x Alpha What is Take off distance

1 x Bravo What is max Take off weight

1 x PNR – what is safe endurance

1 x what is rate of climb, with climb speed and gradient required  given

All fuel questions were new type and in kg. All had burn rate given in kg/hr.

A cargo question with 2 sides of object given, what must third side be to stay within load force limits.

A bravo with pilot only and 4 x 40kg  cargo in row 3. How much ballast (5kg) and what fuel to keep it in envelope.

A QLD Nav Rockhampton to Toowombah with Alt Y### . Calculate holding fuel to alternate. This had a TEMPO.

Look up runway characteristics for Y### is it concrete or asphalt, flexible or rigid, high or low load bearing. So know how to find these and the codes in ERSA.

What is max distance between runway gables? or Max distance between runway markings? Not sure. Its in ERSA CAAP and AIP.

8 P chart questions – 2 with lots of working worth 4 marks each

6 P charts questions with requiring exact number to be typed 2 marks each

2 Weight and balance calcs

1 x 4 mark PNR

3 marks ECHO, ETP, Fuel calculations

1 x Echo 2600 % MAC

Definitions questions 1 mark

All pure calculations, no NAVs

There was a TAF with INTER or TEMPO TCU etc, what is min fuel at startup (be clear on additional fuel due to INTER and TEMPO)

Scenario strong tailwind, what is  airpseed for maximise endurance or range.

Time for the exam was not an issue. The biggest issue was having to type exact answers for all the P chart questions.

Know waste gates, turbo and supercharges and how they perform at various altitudes.  The rest of what is in these exams and the tips here are pretty accurate.

This exam is probably they hardest of the 70% pass mark exams. Do not take it lightly. Use these exams, then only after you are scoring very well repeatedly, use your text book questions, to make sure you cover everything possible. 

I understood the topic exceptionally well after using these exams, however, it is still a very tough subject with a lot of difficult questions.

Know landing & take-off distances or weights, and load questions.

Know ERSA, esp ALAs, RDS & how to find conversion tables

Know CAAP 92 and 234 – you can self print, but they must be stapled or bound. No loose leaf pages allowed.

Be careful with units – kilograms v lbs, litres v gallons,  miles v kilometres, minutes v nautical miles.

Know ETP & PNR calculations

When working with wind be sure to knwo when it is True or Magnetic

Know variation E is variation least, Variation W is variation best

Do lots and lots of ECHO practice questions until you know all the numbers by heart – CG fwd & rear limits, arms, key weights & limits

Note this is in the syllabus, but people have said it “so far” is not in the exams.

They give you TAS and wind in format 210/18 kt.

Track from A to B is 040°

You have to work out heading and ground speed. Then calculate PNR or ETP.

I was perplexed by the SSR codes question in my CFPA exam last week having never seen nor read about them when studying.
So I took a stab in the dark and got the answer wrong.

3 items had to be matched to the codes /S, P, D, M, J, E as per the Supplementary Information diagram off the Flight Notification Form.

1 First aid kit
2 Water
3 ELT 406MHz

Only after the exam was I able to find the info in the AIP as per the attached photos.

The Flight Notification Form is under Appendix 1 in the AIP ENR 1.10-13
Supplemental Information – Item 19 ENR 1.10-30 & 31

It may seem odd for the examiners to dig a question out of the depths of the AIP like this but I guess if they have asked it then we had better know it.

I passed with 82%, my lowest of the 4 sat since September but am very happy as it was the toughest so far.

______

Note we have added this as the last question in CFPA Exam 10

Learn the forward limit equation for Echo and why its 2360

******Know where to find conversions in ERSA*****

Lots and lots of weight and balance questions and ZFW, and a few trick ones where i blew my wight past limits and had to readjust. Lots of fuel /wind/GS calcs and a few ETP PNR questions.

All loading charts with scenarios for Alpha Bravo Charlie and Echo.

SSR Codes from AIP ENR 1.10-13  The Flight Notification Form &
Supplemental Information – Item 19 ENR 1.10-30 & 31

Remember when calculating that winds are given as True and you need to convert to Magnetic!!!