061 ATPL subject guide
General Navigation
General Navigation is one of the subjects that most often separates high scorers from struggling students. The concepts are manageable, but only if you build them layer by layer and keep the maths active.
Difficulty
Very Hard
What the paper tests
Conceptual navigation maths and chart interpretation
Why it matters
The paper blends geometry, chart logic, time, wind, and route-planning concepts that show up again in other ATPL subjects, especially Flight Planning.
Best next step
Use timed practice and spaced recall together so weak areas come back before they decay.
Key topics
- Chart projections, convergency, and route representation
- Wind triangles, track, heading, groundspeed, and ETA logic
- Great-circle and rhumb-line concepts plus position determination
How to study it
- Master the fundamental relationships first before trying to memorise advanced shortcuts.
- Keep mental maths and calculator workflow active with short daily drills.
- Link every navigation calculation to a picture, chart, or triangle so the numbers stay meaningful.
Common traps
- Jumping into long calculations without understanding what the variables represent.
- Confusing projection properties or the conditions where each route concept matters.
- Losing confidence and slowing down because the early algebra was not automated enough.
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Open subject guideFree tools for this subject
Practise what General Navigation tests, free and without an account.
Free tool
True Airspeed Calculator
The first mechanical step of most triangle-of-velocities problems: CAS to TAS from pressure altitude and temperature, like the CRP-5 but with the working shown.
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Wind Component Calculator
Drift and groundspeed come from the same wind split you practise here: sine for the crosswind, cosine for the head or tailwind.
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Aviation Unit Converter
Nautical miles, kilometres, metres and feet switch mid-question in GNav. Keep the factors honest and check your conversions in seconds.
Open the toolQuestion bank
Practice General Navigation questions
Exam-style 061 General Navigation questions with explanations, spaced repetition, and timed mock exams. Free to start.
Start practisingTurn General Navigation revision into actual practice.
SkyStudy combines ATPL practice questions, mock exams, spaced repetition, and progress tracking so subject knowledge turns into exam performance instead of staying as passive reading.
This page is general educational information for student pilots and may be out of date. Aviation rules, training requirements, costs, medical standards, and exam details change over time and vary by country, authority, and training organisation, so details here may no longer be current or may differ in your case. Always confirm the current details with your approved training organisation (ATO) and national aviation authority before relying on them. SkyStudy is an independent study aid, is not affiliated with EASA or any aviation authority, and does not guarantee any exam or licence outcome.
Last reviewed July 2026