Long post. Did this exam today. People yet to sit this exam might find this useful. Usual CASA tricks. Got a few questions that soaked up way too much time. I'd love your feedback on some of these questions that I got wrong:

1. You’re operating a charter flight as pilot in command of an flight that requires the removal of the door. Which of the following applies to the removal and subsequent use of the aircraft without a door.

You can remove the door because:

a) It is an item of maintenance that can be carried out by the pilot
b) the operations manual permits operations without a door
c) only in the presence of a LAME

I chose (a) as per Schedule 8. I interprreted the question as what over-riding regulation allows you to even touch the door in the first place as a pilots entitled to do under this regulation, but it seems they want the sub regulation Schedule 8 5(b) that mentiones operations manual approval?

2. Arrival of your aircraft at this aerodrome is 0045Z.

TTF 012300Z 350/24G35 8000 SCT 005 SCT 1500
FM0100 340/20 5000 BKN1300

As a minimum this flight would require:

a) alternate
b) 30 minutes holding fuel
c) alternate or 30 minutes holding fuel
d) no alternate

I went no alternate as TTF has 3 hour validity so ignore anything that falls outside this window?

3. The GAF reports a BKN cloud base at 5000ft. Your flight plan track is 235deg magnetic and the lowest terrain along the route is 2000ft. The highest altitude would you plan to cruise at to maintain VMC and terrain clearance?

a) A035
b) no suitable level for this flight
c) A045
d) A075

I chose (b) due the regulation CAR 173 (1). In hindsight subreg 2 underneath that talks about in flight beneath 5000ft the pilot must ensure *where practicable* to cruise appropriate to magnetic track subject to contrary atc instruction. My thoughts were that you cannot *plan* to do so at the planning stage but only once in flight if it is impracticable to cruise as per track - as atc instruction implies that you're airborne?


4. You're established on base at a non-controlled aerodrome. Another aircraft, further away and higher than you is established inbound to the aerodrome. You must:

a) continue your approach as the other aircraft MUST give way
b) broadcast your intentions and you will be first in sequence to land
c) give way to the other aircraft

I chose b) as ENR1.1-87 par 10.9.7.1 says pilots on base should broadcast intentions. Furthermore. CA1662 b = aircraft that elect to do a straight in approach must give way to traffic established in the circuit pattern. (But, is this a straight in approach?)

5. RESTRICTED AREA XXX is active: (it was was an R3 Area advisable by notam Military non-flying airspace)
a) by notam
b) always
c) without a clearance

I chose a, and was wrong.How does one interpret this question when you have an R3 area with a stated time of inavailblity or notam? Is the question asking *when* we may plan through this area?

6. The final authority on whether a departing aircraft carries more fuel that specified in your company operations manual lies with
a) PIC
b)AOC holder
c)CASA
D) ATC

Only ref I could find for pilot in command powers mentioned nothing about determinations of fuel, so I went with CASA.

7. You a flying through a lane of entry after departing a class D aerodrome. You should squawk?:
a) 3000
b)1200
c) 2000
d) a code assigned by ATC

Hi I’m sitting mine tomorrow. Thank you for your questions. Would you recommend that the extracts is good enough for reference?

Just by reading through your questions. PIC will have that last say as anything above the minimum but nothing below the minimums.

The word inbound on that question indicates that the aircraft might be on the IFR approach or ENR 1.1 87 sub 10.9.7.1 C states that traffic on Base should give way

Transponder on ENR 1.6-8

VFR altitude west even +500 for VFR ENR 1.7-9

You will need an alternate because it falls within the FM period

Thanks for your response Dave, and good luck tomorrow.
Yes the extract was sufficient, I found having strategically placed dividers saved a lot of time.
Cheers

A couple of comments -

(a) door off operations require a relevant permission via a Flight Manual (POH) Supplement. The answer sought will be the Ops Manual wherein the POH permission will be given the company operational OK for company aircraft. The OM should also provide guidance on any protocols required to be followed by the company.

(b) re fuel load, while the pilot might have to explain his/her decision to the CP, at the end of the day, he/she has the authority to make the call.

CAAP 234-1(2) has some relevant words.
CAAP 215-1(3) considers operational control. Pretty relevant and important to the question.
CASA 29/18 (www.legislation.gov.au/Details/F2018L00644) imposes joint pilot/operator responsibilities
CAR (1988) 234 imposes relevant requirements

Basically, the pilot must observe regulatory and operator minimum requirements, unless emergency conditions dictate some other recovery plan, but retains the prerogative to exceed those minimum requirements.

I’m actually waiting for the others to turn up

How many questions do they give and would you have enough time to complete them?