EASA ATPL: All Subjects Explained (What to Expect)

April 22, 20264 min readby SkyStudy Team

Overview of the EASA ATPL Subjects

The EASA ATPL theoretical knowledge syllabus is split into the subject areas below. Each examined paper has its own question count and a minimum pass mark of 75%. Under the current ECQB, VFR and IFR Communications are examined together as a single Communications paper, and KSA is assessed through scenario-based questions rather than a separate sitting. Here's exactly what to expect from each one.

010 - Air Law

Questions: ~44 | Difficulty: Medium

Covers international aviation law (ICAO Annex 1-18), EU regulation, EASA, CAA rules, ATC, and airspace classification. Heavily regulatory - requires memorisation of specific numbers, categories, and limits.

Key focus areas: SERA, EASA Part-FCL, medical requirements, airspace classes A-G, ATC services.

021 - Airframe & Systems, Electrics, Powerplant, Emergency Equipment

Questions: ~80 | Difficulty: Hard

The largest and most technical subject. Covers hydraulics, pneumatics, pressurisation, flight controls, engines (piston and turbine), fuel systems, electrical systems, and emergency equipment.

Key focus areas: Turbofan engine components, hydraulic circuit design, pressurisation control, fire detection/suppression.

022 - Instrumentation

Questions: ~60 | Difficulty: Hard

Covers every instrument in the cockpit: pitot-static, gyroscopic, magnetic compass, ADC, EFIS, TCAS, GPWS, weather radar, and FMS.

Key focus areas: Instrument errors (position, density, compressibility), gyro precession, compass deviation/variation, TCAS resolution advisories.

031 - Mass & Balance

Questions: ~25 | Difficulty: Medium

All calculation-based. You'll compute centre of gravity, check limits, and use load and trim sheets. Requires solid arithmetic under time pressure.

Key focus areas: CG calculations, LAF (load and trim), payload vs. fuel tradeoffs, envelope limits.

032 - Performance

Questions: ~50 | Difficulty: Hard

Performance covers take-off, climb, cruise, descent, landing, and balanced field length calculations. Requires reading performance charts accurately under time pressure.

Key focus areas: V-speeds, obstacle clearance, climb gradients, density altitude effects, landing distance factors.

033 - Flight Planning & Monitoring

Questions: ~43 | Difficulty: Hard

The most calculation-heavy subject. Covers ICAO flight plans, fuel planning, alternate requirements, PNR, PSR, and enroute calculations.

Key focus areas: ICAO flight plan form, fuel reserves, critical point, PNR, track error corrections.

040 - Human Performance & Limitations

Questions: ~48 | Difficulty: Medium

Covers physiology (hypoxia, spatial disorientation, vision), psychology (stress, fatigue, CRM), and pharmacology. More conceptual than calculative.

Key focus areas: Hypoxia types, time of useful consciousness, spatial disorientation illusions, stress/CRM models.

050 - Meteorology

Questions: ~84 | Difficulty: Hard

The largest subject by question count. Covers atmosphere, cloud types, weather systems, icing, thunderstorms, METAR/TAF, and turbulence.

Key focus areas: ICAO standard atmosphere, frontal systems, icing types, TAF/METAR codes, wind shear.

061 - General Navigation

Questions: ~60 | Difficulty: Very Hard

Covers chart projections, great circle vs. rhumb line, time zones, dead reckoning, and enroute navigation. Requires strong mental maths.

Key focus areas: Mercator vs. Lambert, convergency, variation/deviation, ETA calculations, wind triangles.

062 - Radio Navigation

Questions: ~66 | Difficulty: Hard

Covers VOR, DME, NDB/ADF, ILS, GPS/GNSS, radar, and SELCAL. Requires understanding of radio wave propagation and navaid errors.

Key focus areas: VOR radials, DME slant range, ILS glideslope/localiser, GPS RAIM, RNAV.

071 - Operational Procedures

Questions: ~45 | Difficulty: Medium

Covers ICAO procedures, NOTAMs, AIP, emergency procedures, special operations (RVSM, MNPS, ETOPS), and dangerous goods.

Key focus areas: ETOPS, RVSM, ATC emergency procedures, dangerous goods classification, NOTAM reading.

081 - Principles of Flight

Questions: ~44 | Difficulty: Medium-Hard

Covers aerodynamics: lift/drag, wing design, high-lift devices, stability, control surfaces, and high-speed aerodynamics.

Key focus areas: Bernoulli vs. Newtonian lift, CL/CD curves, Dutch roll, Mach effects, swept wing aerodynamics.

090 - Communications (VFR + IFR)

Questions: ~34 | Difficulty: Easy-Medium

Covers standard phraseology, ICAO communication procedures, emergency communications, and SELCAL.

Key focus areas: Standard callsigns, readability scale, emergency squawk codes, distress/urgency procedures.

100 - Knowledge, Skills and Attitudes (KSA)

Format: Scenario-based competency assessment | Difficulty: Applied

KSA (Area 100) is the competency strand EASA added to keep theory tied to real flight-deck judgement: threat and error management, workload and decision-making, and applying knowledge across subjects rather than reciting it. It is tested through scenario-style questions woven into the syllabus, not pure recall.

Key focus areas: Threat and error management, aeronautical decision-making, applying theory to operational scenarios, cross-subject reasoning.

How to Tackle the Full Set

The optimal order for most students:

1. Start with Air Law (010) - establishes regulatory framework early
2. Human Performance (040) - quick win, boosts confidence
3. Meteorology (050) - heavy but foundational for navigation
4. General Navigation (061) - build maths skills early
5. Remaining subjects - in order of exam date

The key is to start SRS (spaced repetition) reviews from the first subject and never stop - even when you move on to new material.

When you are ready to practise, the ATPL question bank covers every subject above with per-subject question counts, explanations, and timed mock exams.