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Private Pilot Licence · Subject 6, AC61-3

PPL Navigation mock exam.

Navigation is the paper where people run out of time. Twenty-five questions in 70 minutes sounds generous until half of them need the flight computer, a chart measurement or a time-zone conversion. Our paper matches that shape and is drawn from 220 questions written to Subject 6 of AC61-3.

Every numerical question comes back with the working in the de-brief, so a wrong answer shows you the step you skipped rather than just the right number.

Questions25
Time70min
Pass mark70%
Question bank220
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What the paper covers

Subject 6 topic by topic.

The syllabus areas below are the ones the CAA lists for Navigation, and every question in the bank carries the code of the item it tests.

  • The form of the earth, latitude, longitude, great circles and rhumb lines
  • Direction: true, magnetic and compass; variation and deviation
  • Units of distance, speed and their conversions
  • Time: UTC, NZST and NZDT, sunrise, sunset and daylight
  • Visual Navigation Charts: projection, scale, symbols and measuring
  • The magnetic compass and its errors
  • The triangle of velocities: heading, groundspeed and drift
  • The flight computer for speed, distance, time and fuel
  • The 1-in-60 rule and track corrections
  • Flight planning, fuel planning and legal reserves
  • En route procedures, lost procedures and diversions
  • Take-off and landing performance, density altitude and GNSS basics
Where the marks go

What catches people in Navigation.

  1. Which scale to measure distance on. Use the latitude scale at the same latitude as the leg, never the longitude scale.
  2. East is least. Variation and deviation applied the wrong way round is the most common lost mark in the paper.
  3. Time-zone arithmetic across midnight and across the NZDT change. Write the date next to every time.
  4. Reading a take-off chart with the wrong wind component or slope correction. The question always states the conditions; use all of them.
From the bank

Sample Navigation questions.

Four questions as they appear in a paper, with the answer and the reasoning you get in the de-brief. Options are shuffled in the real thing.

PPL · Syllabus 6.18.4Sample 1 / 4

The exact local time of Sunrise and Sunset at any specific location is primarily determined by:

  1. ALongitude and the Equation of Time only
  2. BLatitude, Longitude, and the declination of the sun
  3. CAltitude above sea level and atmospheric refraction
  4. DThe phases of the moon and tidal forces
Show the answer and why
Latitude, Longitude, and the declination of the sun

Latitude determines the total length of daylight (seasonality). Longitude determines when the sun crosses the local meridian (local time). Declination determines the sun's seasonal position relative to the equator.

PPL · Syllabus 6.22.4Sample 2 / 4

Which specific map projection is most commonly utilized for Visual Navigation Charts (VNCs) in New Zealand?

  1. AMercator Projection
  2. BPolar Stereographic Projection
  3. CGnomonic Projection
  4. DLambert Conformal Conic Projection
Show the answer and why
Lambert Conformal Conic Projection

The Lambert Conformal Conic projection is ideal for mid-latitude VFR navigation because it preserves a near-constant distance scale, and a straight line drawn on it closely approximates a Great Circle route.

PPL · Syllabus 6.6.6Sample 3 / 4

When physically measuring a distance on a standard Visual Navigation Chart (VNC), a pilot must strictly use:

  1. AThe Longitude scale (Parallels) printed at the top and bottom of the chart
  2. BA standard metric centimeter ruler to calculate grid distance
  3. CThe generic scale printed in the map's corner legend only
  4. DThe Latitude scale (Meridians) running vertically on the side of the chart
Show the answer and why
The Latitude scale (Meridians) running vertically on the side of the chart

Because 1 minute of Latitude equals 1 Nautical Mile everywhere on Earth, the vertical Latitude scale is the only accurate tool for measuring distance. The Longitude scale physically shrinks towards the poles.

PPL · Syllabus 6.32.2Sample 4 / 4

Aerodynamically, attempting a takeoff with a significant tailwind component directly causes:

  1. AA massive reduction in the required takeoff roll distance
  2. BA greatly improved and steeper climb gradient
  3. CAbsolutely no effect on the aircraft's physical performance
  4. DThe takeoff distance required to increase significantly
Show the answer and why
The takeoff distance required to increase significantly

A wing requires airspeed to generate lift. With a tailwind, the aircraft must accelerate to a much higher physical Groundspeed just to reach the required Indicated Airspeed for lift-off, burning up massive amounts of runway.

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Navigation questions

Asked about this exam.

Straight answers. If yours is not here, email support and a person replies.

Our paper is 25 questions in 70 minutes, matched to the Aspeq sitting, with a 70% pass mark.

Yes, and you should practise with the same ones you will take into the exam. Our numerical questions are written to be solved on a circular flight computer or an electronic one.

The questions reference Visual Navigation Charts and NZ aeronautical information as the syllabus requires. Where a question needs a chart measurement it states the values so it can be solved without the chart in front of you.

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