Being a pilot is many children’s first dream job. Playing with aircraft toys and drones is so much fun and we’re all drawn by the notion of flying, but it takes great determination to make that happen. Every pilot needs to have the appropriate skills, like strong communication skills, being able to remain calm in stressful situations and understand how the aircraft works. These and many others enable them to be successful in the field and do their job properly. There are also various practical and theory exams you need to pass to become a pilot and grow professionally.
Instrument Flight Rating or Instrument Rating (IFR) Exam
Instrument Rating Exam is part of the ifr training (Instrument Flight Rating). It’s very important for those who want to advance their career. You’ll be gaining more knowledge and learn about planning IFR flights, instrument approaches, navigation aids, and much more. It’s a pretty extensive course and a lot of information needs to be absorbed. There are many courses that can properly prepare you for the exam, and you’ll need relevant IREX theory materials that you can study from. The required pass mark is 70% and the examination lasts three and a half hours.
Since we all learn differently and at a different pace, some may need more or less time to master the subject. It will depend on other factors as well, like whether you have a full-time job. This will, of course, affect your study hours, so you’ll need to think about that, too. This being said, don’t book an exam date beforehand. Start studying first and see how it goes and then you can decide on the date. Otherwise, you might not be able to prepare in time for the exam.
It’s permitted to take certain IREX theory materials to the exam and the list of the permitted materials is on the CASA website. This means that you’ll have the information in front of you but you need to know where to find it. There can also be underlining and highlighting but there are specific guidelines that you must follow. Make sure that you inform yourself on everything before taking your IREX book and materials to the exam.
When it comes to answering the questions, there might be some irrelevant information that will mislead you into thinking that you know the answer but as you read on, you’ll see that that’s not the question being asked. For this reason, read the question first and then you can freely disregard the information that’s irrelevant. In this way, you won’t be distracted and you can give your best answer.
Air Transport Pilot License (ATPL) Exam
Air Transport Pilot License is for those who want to conduct private and commercial pilot operations. In order to do this, you must be at least 21 years old and have completed the training and passed the exams. The theory includes different subjects, such as navigation, meteorology, air law, aerodynamics, and others. You can take a course or you can learn by yourself, just like with the irex theory exam. The ATPL exam includes seven exams that need to be passed in a period of two years. To be successful, the best thing you can do is organise your study time. There’s a lot of information that needs to be retained, so time management is crucial. Use any free time you have to study, whether that be in the morning, after work, or on the weekends. Take breaks so you can study longer and reward yourself after successfully completing a few chapters.
Recreational Pilot License (RPL) Exam
Recreational Pilot License consists of three exams: RPL for aeroplane, RPL for helicopter, and RPL navigation exam. The first two last for two hours, while the navigation exam lasts an hour and a half. To pass, you’ll need not less than 70%. There are many available books for the RPL exam and you can choose your method of studying. Use any available resources, talk to friends that you’re training with, and search the internet for any question that you might have because you don’t want any gaps in your knowledge. You need to understand your materials so you can effectively use them during the exam. You’ll be able to find your way around the book faster and not waste precious time.
Private Pilot License (PPL) Exam
There are the PPL aeroplane and the PPL helicopter exams. Just like with the others, you need 70% to pass. The exams are longer and last three and a half hours. To prepare, you can purchase different courses that will give you the necessary knowledge and it may be easier to study this way because you’ll have guidelines. Before you start studying, you can take an online practice test to see where you’re at. In this way, you’ll have an idea of what you know and what you need to learn. You can take realistic mock exams that can help you pass on your first attempt. If you pass your exams in one attempt, you’ll save money and time. Most importantly, don’t rush when studying because you want to become a competent pilot, not just obtain a license.
Commercial Pilot License (CPL) Exam
A Commercial Pilot License is necessary for professional flying. It’s a seven-subject part exam that can be different in some regards depending on whether it’s for aeroplanes or helicopters. All the subjects should be passed during a prescribed period of time, which is true for most of the other multi-part exams as well. If you pass some of the exams but not others, you’ll have to repass them until all of them are passed within the required period. In order not to lose additional time and money, you want to make sure that you do everything to prepare yourself the best you can. It’s an extensive examination so it requires a lot of preparation. Don’t distract yourself and set realistic study goals that you can easily accomplish.