RPL & PPL aeroplane theory · Australia
Practise for the Recreational and Private Pilot Licence aeroplane theory exams. Pick an answer and see why it is right, why each other option is wrong, and the line from the regulation or handbook it is based on.
Not affiliated with or endorsed by CASA (the Civil Aviation Safety Authority). Practice questions are original, written from public documents.
On approach to a controlled aerodrome you see red flashes directed at your aeroplane from the tower. What does this signal mean?
Correct
Why A is correct. Red flashes directed at an aircraft in flight mean the aerodrome is unsafe and the pilot must not land.
Source
“Red flashes — in flight: Aerodrome unsafe — do not land; on the ground at an aerodrome: Taxi clear of landing area in use”
Two exams
Topics follow the aeronautical knowledge standards in Schedule 3 of the Part 61 Manual of Standards. The PPL exam also covers the RPL units, so the PPL set includes every RPL question.
383 practice questions
Covering 53 of the 57 knowledge topics in the Manual of Standards, across 5 units:
Practice exam 40 questions · 2 hours · 70% to pass
604 practice questions
Covering 95 of the 108 knowledge topics in the Manual of Standards, across 12 units: the 5 RPL units, plus these 7:
Practice exam 60 questions · 3 hours 30 minutes · 70% to pass
CASA does not publish the number of questions in each exam, so these counts are our own.
To pass the exam, you must pass all of its parts within 2 years.
“(2) However, a person is taken to have passed an aeronautical knowledge examination only if the person passes all parts of the examination within a period of 2 years.”
If you fail the exam (or a part of it) 3 times, you must wait 3 months from the third attempt before you try again.
“(3) If on 3 occasions a person attempts, but fails to pass, an aeronautical knowledge examination, or a part of an examination, the person is not permitted to attempt the examination or part again within 3 months beginning on the day the person attempts the examination or part for the third time.”
After 4 failed attempts, you cannot try again until CASA is satisfied that you have completed appropriate training.
“(4) If on 4 occasions a person attempts, but fails to pass, an aeronautical knowledge examination, or a part of an examination, the person is not permitted to attempt the examination or part again until CASA is satisfied that the person has completed appropriate training.”
Rules can change. Check with CASA or your flight school before you book an exam. Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998 (legislation.gov.au)
How it works
Practise by licence, by unit or by topic, or build your own quiz of 10, 20 or 50 questions.
After each answer, see why it is right, why each other option is wrong, and the quoted source with its regulation, section or page.
40 questions in 2 hours for the RPL, 60 in 3 hours 30 minutes for the PPL. No feedback until you submit, then review every answer.
Try a question
Three questions exactly as the app shows them. Choose an answer to see the explanation and its source.
No question in this app is a CASA exam question. The real exam may differ.
A white cross is displayed next to the wind direction indicator at an aerodrome. What does it mean?
Why D is correct. A white cross displayed adjacent to the aerodrome wind direction indicator means the aerodrome is completely inoperative.
Why A is wrong. A white double cross by the wind indicator shows gliding operations.
Why B is wrong. A horizontal white dumb-bell means use only hard-surface movement areas.
Why C is wrong. A single white cross by the wind indicator closes the whole aerodrome, not part of it.
Source
“White cross — Where displayed: 1. Adjacent to an aerodrome wind direction indicator. Meaning: 1. The aerodrome is completely inoperative.”
Under CASR Part 91, for how long before a flight begins must a crew member not have consumed any alcohol?
Why B is correct. CASR 91.520 makes it an offence for a crew member to carry out a duty if they consumed alcohol in the 8 hours ending when the flight begins. They must also be under the permitted alcohol level when carrying out the duty.
Why A is wrong. Too short; Part 91 sets 8 hours ending when the flight begins.
Why C is wrong. Part 91 sets 8 hours, though being more conservative is still sensible.
Why D is wrong. Part 91 sets 8 hours; 24 hours is not the regulatory period.
Source
“(i) the crew member consumes alcohol at any time during the period of 8 hours ending when the flight begins;”
The true track is 090° and the magnetic variation is 11°E. What is the magnetic track?
Why C is correct. Easterly variation is subtracted from a true direction to give the magnetic direction: 090° − 11° = 079°.
Why A is wrong. That adds easterly variation; easterly variation is subtracted.
Why B is wrong. That ignores the variation.
Why D is wrong. That subtracts twice the variation.
Source
“Remember, if variation is west, add; if east, subtract. One method for remembering whether to add or subtract variation is the phrase “east is least (subtract) and west is best (add).””
What's inside
Every question has 4 options. After you answer, you see why the correct one is right and why each of the other 3 is wrong, written for that question.
Rules are quoted from Australian legislation with the regulation or section number. Physical principles quote FAA handbooks by page; Australian law applies where they differ.
Timed, with no feedback until you submit. Flag questions, jump to any question and review every answer afterwards, then practise the ones you missed.
Questions you miss come back after 1, 3 and 7 days until you get them right on different days. Bookmark any question to see it again.
After 2 full practice exams, see Ready or Not yet for each exam, and your weakest topics. Based on your practice results in this app. It does not predict your exam result.
Set the date you plan to sit the exam to see the days left and a daily goal.
Australian English and units throughout: hPa, feet, knots, kilograms and litres, with Australian airspace and flight rules.
Privacy
Questions and explanations are built into the app, so you can study offline. Your answers, notes and results are never sent to us.
No sign-up and no login. The app never asks for your name or email address.
There are no third-party ads, and the advertising ID is not used. The app shows cards for our own other apps.
Counts of which screens and features are used (Google Analytics for Firebase). Your answers and notes are never sent. In the EEA and Switzerland the app asks first, and you can turn it off in Settings.
Reporting a problem with a question opens your own email app. Nothing is sent until you send it.
Sources & attribution
Questions, answers and references are based on these public documents:
In the explanations: 184 quotes from Australian legislation and 512 from FAA handbooks. Documents retrieved 13 November 2026.
Based on content from the Federal Register of Legislation at 13 November 2026. For the latest information on Australian Government legislation please go to https://www.legislation.gov.au. Licensed under CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
Federal Aviation Administration, public domain. Used only for physical principles (aerodynamics, engines, instruments, weather physics, human factors); Australian law applies where they differ.
All questions are original, written by us from the documents above.
FAQ
No. Not affiliated with or endorsed by CASA (the Civil Aviation Safety Authority). Practice questions are original, written from public documents. Answers and explanations are written by us from Australian legislation and public handbooks, not by CASA.
CASA does not publish exam questions. Every question here was written by us. Topics follow the aeronautical knowledge standards in Schedule 3 of the Part 61 Manual of Standards. Nothing in the app comes from a real exam: copying or passing on exam content is prohibited under regulations 298A and 298B of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1988.
Practice exams here have 40 questions in 2 hours for the RPL and 60 questions in 3 hours 30 minutes for the PPL, with 70% to pass, drawn from every topic area in proportion. CASA does not publish the number of questions in each exam, so these counts are our own.
Each quote is matched word for word against the document it cites, and every answer is confirmed by a separate, independent check before the question goes into the app. Mistakes are still possible and rules change, so you can report any question from the app. The current legislation, the AIP and CASA's own material are the authority.
Yes. Questions and explanations are built into the app. There is no account and no sign-in.
All features are open for the first 7 days. After that, practice, review and new practice exams need a plan: a monthly or yearly subscription, or a one-time Lifetime purchase. Your progress and past results stay available.
Your progress is stored only on the device you study on. It is not backed up or moved to a new phone. A plan you bought moves with your Apple Account or Google account: use Restore purchases.
iPhone and iPad with iOS 17 or later, and Android phones and tablets with Android 8.0 or later.
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