ATPL general navigation 061: practice questions and syllabus

What the syllabus covers

The topics of the EASA syllabus for this subject, with what each one lists.

1. 061 01Basics of navigation

   the Earth, position, direction, distance, speed, triangle of velocities, dead reckoning, navigation in climb and descent.

2. 061 02VFR navigation

   ground features, visual navigation techniques.

3. 061 03Great circles and rhumb lines

   great circles, rhumb lines, the relation between them.

4. 061 04Charts

   chart requirements, projections, practical use.

5. 061 05Time

   local mean time (LMT), standard time, sunrise and sunset.

Source: EASA, Easy Access Rules for Aircrew (AMC to Part-FCL)

The illustrated course

To understand before you answer: 14 chapters and 119 key points, 119 of them with a diagram or an illustration. The first chapter, « The Earth, Coordinates and Distances », is free to read.

1. The Earth, Coordinates and Distances
2. Great Circle, Rhumb Line and Convergence
3. Time and the Sun
4. Earth Magnetism and the Compass
5. Headings, Tracks and Bearings
6. Charts: Properties, Scale and Symbols
7. The Mercator Projection
8. The Lambert conic projection
9. Polar stereographic and grid navigation
10. Speeds, altimetry and fuel
11. Wind and the velocity triangle
12. Dead reckoning and navigation monitoring
13. Climb, descent, ETP and PNR
14. Inertial Navigation and FMS

ATPL general navigation course: contents and chapter 1

2 questions to practise

Taken from the site's English bank and checked one by one. Read the question, choose your answer, then open the explanation. Like every explanation on the site, they may contain errors.

1. Question 1 · 061 01 Basics of navigation

   Given: true track is 348°, drift 17° left, variation 32° W, deviation 4°E. What is the compass heading?

   • A359°
   • B337°
   • C033°
   • D007°
   Show the answer+

   Answer: C. 033°

   True track 348° with 17° left drift gives a true heading of 005° (steer into the drift). Variation 32° W is added: magnetic heading 037°. Deviation 4° E is subtracted: compass heading 033°.

2. Question 2 · 061 03 Great circles and rhumb lines

   Given a change of longitude of 30° and a mean latitude of 55°, calculate the approximate conversion angle.

   • A12.3°
   • B15.0°
   • C6.2°
   • D18.5°
   Show the answer+

   Answer: A. 12.3°

   Conversion angle = ½ x change of longitude x sin mean latitude = ½ x 30° x sin 55° = 15 x 0.819 = about 12.3°. It is the angle between the great circle and the rhumb line at each end.

10 more free questions, no sign-up: Free ATPL general navigation questions

How to approach this subject

Do the calculations by hand, then with a non-programmable calculator: that is the equipment EASA allows in these exams (AMC1 ARA.FCL.300), together with the navigation slide rule, the protractor, compasses and dividers, and the ruler. Learn the chain of corrections (true track, variation, drift, deviation, compass heading) and the length of one degree of longitude at a given latitude: 60 × cos φ nautical miles.

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