THEORY
ATPL questions, answered and explained
The technical questions in pilot selections follow the ATPL syllabus. Prépa Cockpit helps you revise them as short multiple-choice sets, with a clear explanation for every answer and a reference to the EASA syllabus or the relevant regulation.
Subjects covered
- Aerodynamics
- Engines
- Jet & propeller
- Navigation
- Atmosphere & speeds
- Instruments & systems
- Performance
- Meteorology
- Operations
- Human factors
- Air law
- Phraseology & English
Each subject can be studied in short series, as a timed mock exam or with flashcards. The questions you get wrong come back more often, until you master them.
Six questions to test yourself
Aerodynamics
What gives the maximum glide distance?
- Fly at the best lift-to-drag angle
- Fly at stall speed plus 10 kt
- Fly at VNE to cover the distance faster
- Extend the flaps to the approach setting
Show the answer
Answer A: Fly at the best lift-to-drag angle.
The glide angle is smallest when the lift/drag ratio is at its maximum.
Meteorology
How is the atmosphere mainly heated?
- By the ground, itself heated by the sun
- Directly by the sun, in the upper layers
- By the ocean only, which stores the heat
- By wind friction against the surface
Show the answer
Answer A: By the ground, itself heated by the sun.
The air is barely heated directly: conduction, convection and terrestrial radiation do the rest.
Instruments & systems
Does a machmeter suffer from temperature or density errors?
- No, only instrument and position errors
- Yes, it suffers from both at once
- Only temperature error at altitude
- Only density error, like the airspeed indicator
Show the answer
Answer A: No, only instrument and position errors.
Mach is derived from a pressure ratio, with no need to know the temperature.
Performance
What is MZFW (Maximum Zero Fuel Weight)?
- The maximum mass without usable fuel
- The empty mass of the aircraft as built, with no equipment
- The maximum mass allowed for taxiing
- The maximum structural mass allowed for landing
Show the answer
Answer A: The maximum mass without usable fuel.
Beyond it, fuel in the wings no longer relieves enough bending at the wing root.
Navigation
True heading 090°, variation 5° West. What is the magnetic heading?
- 095°
- 085°
- 090°
- 100°
Show the answer
Answer A: 095°.
Variation West, magnetic best: add a westerly variation.
Air law
Which treaty created ICAO?
- The 1944 Chicago Convention
- The 1957 Treaty of Rome
- The 1929 Warsaw Convention
- The 1999 Montreal Convention
Show the answer
Answer A: The 1944 Chicago Convention.
ICAO was born from the Convention on International Civil Aviation, signed in Chicago in 1944.
How to revise effectively
- Do series of 20 questions rather than long sessions: regularity matters more than duration.
- Read the explanation even when you got it right: that's often where the interview question is hiding.
- Come back to your mistakes every day: spaced repetition makes knowledge stick.
- Finish with a timed mock exam to get into exam conditions.
Frequently asked questions
Do the questions follow the EASA syllabus?
Yes. The questions cover the subjects of the EASA ATPL syllabus (Part-FCL) and, where relevant, quote the rules from the EASA Easy Access Rules (Aircrew, Air Ops, SERA).
Is it useful for airline technical interviews?
Yes: technical interviews revisit ATPL basics (aerodynamics, systems, performance, meteorology). The explanations help you put together a clear spoken answer.
Can I revise offline?
Yes. The app installs on your home screen and keeps your answers in airplane mode; they are sent when you're back online.