CASA Exam Study Guides

Short, sourced explainers for the topics candidates search for most. Each one links back to the full subject guide and to practice questions.

• How to Read a METAR (Australian Aviation Weather Report)
  Decode an Australian METAR field by field: report type, wind, visibility and CAVOK, weather, cloud amounts and height, temperature and dew point, and the QNH. Worked example included.
• How to Read a GAF (Graphical Area Forecast)
  Understand the Australian Graphical Area Forecast: the chart panel and area boxes, cloud and weather in feet AMSL, freezing level, icing and turbulence boxes, and how the GAF pairs with the Grid Point Wind and Temperature chart.
• CASA KDR Explained: the Knowledge Deficiency Report
  What a CASA Knowledge Deficiency Report (KDR) is, when CASA issues one after a Part 61 exam, how it maps to the MOS Schedule 3 syllabus, and what a candidate and instructor must do about it before the flight test.
• VFR Navigation and the 1-in-60 Rule
  The 1-in-60 rule for VFR dead-reckoning navigation: the track error angle and closing angle method for regaining track, plus its use for descent gradients. Worked example.
• The CASA Remote Pilot Licence (RePL) Theory Explained
  What the CASA Remote Pilot Licence (RePL) is, the knowledge units in the Part 101 Manual of Standards, and the licence conditions on controlled airspace, visual line of sight and flying more than one drone.
• CASA Part 141 Compliance & SharePoint Integration for Flight Schools
  Discover how flight training organisations can automate student progression tracking and CASA Part 141/142 compliance using Aero Academic's plug-and-play Microsoft 365 SharePoint integration.
• How to Use an E6B Flight Computer (Whizz Wheel Slide Rule & Wind Face)
  How to use the E6B flight computer, the "whizz wheel" (or whiz wheel) circular slide rule, for CASA and FAA pilot exams: speed, distance, fuel burn, density altitude, wind triangle, crosswind and the 1-in-60 rule, with worked scenarios and FAQ.
• What is ERSA? The En Route Supplement Australia explained
  ERSA is Airservices Australia’s aerodrome directory. See what it holds, how an entry is laid out, how it differs from AIP and DAP, and how to use it for flight planning.
• ERSA abbreviations and symbols: a plain-English decoder
  Decode the codes in an ERSA aerodrome entry: classification, hours, runway data, lighting, PAPI, PAL, CTAF, AFRU and navaids, with a worked reading example.
• ERSA vs AIP vs DAP vs NOTAM: which publication do you use?
  ERSA, AIP, DAP, DAH, AIP Supplements, AIC and NOTAM each answer a different question. See how they fit together, how AIRAC dates work and which to check first.
• ERSA walkthrough: reading the Perth (YPPH) and Jandakot (YPJT) entries
  A block-by-block reading of the Perth and Jandakot ERSA entries, comparing a large airport with a busy training aerodrome, and the habits that prevent mistakes.
• CASR Part 61 Manual of Standards (MOS) explained
  How the Part 61 Manual of Standards fits CASR Part 61: what each schedule does, unit codes versus exam codes, and how to find the knowledge you are examined on.
• MOS Schedule 3 by subject: what each CPL knowledge unit covers
  The seven CPL theory subjects mapped to their Part 61 MOS Schedule 3 units, with the element headings each unit lists, so you can study from the syllabus.
• RePL requirements, exam rules and pathway: the Part 101 MOS explained
  What the Part 101 MOS says about the RePL theory exam: 85% pass mark, closed book, resit rules, duration, knowledge units by category, KDRs and the course.
• RePL vs ReOC in Australia: Commercial Drone Licensing Explained
  Detailed comparison between CASA Remote Pilot Licence (RePL) and Operator Certificate (ReOC): costs, rules, Chief Remote Pilot role, and commercial limits.
• CASA CPL Exam Resit Rules & KDR Remediation Guide
  Complete guide to CASA Part 61 PEXO exam resit rules: 30-day waiting periods, attempt limits, Knowledge Deficiency Report (KDR) debriefing, and study strategy.
• Density altitude and aircraft performance: how to calculate it and why it matters
  What density altitude is, how to get it from QNH and temperature, hot and cold worked examples, and how it changes take-off, climb, power and hover performance.
• How to become a pilot in Australia: the RPL, PPL and CPL pathway
  The steps to an Australian pilot licence: ARN, medical, English proficiency, school type, theory exams and flight test, with minimum ages and PPL and CPL hours.

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