IATRA · original practice questions
ATPL Written Exam (IATRA) Practice Questions
Eleven practice questions for the airline transport pilot written, written for this page in the style of the IATRA: crew instructions and briefings, RVSM levels, oxygen, airspeed limits, turbo-jet IFR fuel, the V1 decision, right of way in an emergency, the CAT III exception to the approach ban, and the monitoring pilot's call at the DH. Choose an answer, then open it to see why, with the regulation it comes from.
- Written for this pageOriginal practice questions in the style of the IATRA. None is a Transport Canada exam question, and any chart or report shown is invented for practice.
- Explained from the sourceEach explanation names the CARs section or TC AIM paragraph it relies on, quoted word for word where it is quoted.
The real IATRA is 50 questions; see the IATRA exam guide for its format and pass mark.
- Question 1 of 11Human Factors & CRM — Crew Instructions
Before a crew member acts as a crew member on board, what must the pilot-in-command ensure they have been instructed in?
Answer and explanation
Answer
1Their duties, and the location and use of the exits and emergency equipment
Explanation
The pilot-in-command shall ensure that each crew member has been instructed with respect to "the duties that the crew member is to perform" and "the location and use of all of the normal and emergency exits and of all of the emergency equipment that is carried on board the aircraft" (CARs 602.87).
The other options
- 2Only the location of the emergency exits; the rest is covered in recurrent trainingDuties are part of the instruction too (CARs 602.87(a)), and recurrent training does not replace it.
- 3Only their duties; equipment is each crew member's concernThe exits and the emergency equipment are part of it (CARs 602.87(b)).
- 4Nothing, where both pilots hold the type ratingA type rating does not replace the instruction CARs 602.87 requires.
- Question 2 of 11Air Law — Passenger Briefings
In a pressurized aeroplane that will be flown above FL 250, when must passengers be briefed on the oxygen equipment?
Answer and explanation
Answer
2Before the aircraft reaches FL 250
Explanation
"In the case of a pressurized aircraft that is to be operated at an altitude above FL 250, before the aircraft reaches FL 250", passengers are briefed on the location and means of operation of the oxygen equipment (CARs 602.89(2)(b)). The pre-take-off briefing covers oxygen equipment only where the aircraft is unpressurized and the flight may need it (602.89(1)(e)).
The other options
- 1After reaching FL 250, if the cabin altitude risesThe briefing comes before FL 250, so passengers know the equipment before they could need it.
- 3Only if a passenger asks about itCARs 602.89(2)(b) requires it, whether or not anyone asks.
- 4Only in the pre-take-off briefingThe pre-take-off oxygen item is for unpressurized aircraft (CARs 602.89(1)(e)). The pressurized briefing has its own deadline.
- Question 3 of 11Navigation — RVSM
You cruise at FL350 on a track of 090° in RVSM airspace; an RVSM-approved aircraft cruises at FL360 on a reciprocal track. What vertical separation does the table to CARs 602.34 give between those levels, and over what band?
Answer and explanation
Answer
31,000 ft, between FL290 and FL410
Explanation
The table to CARs 602.34 marks its RVSM columns with 1,000 ft separation between FL290 and FL410. Eastbound (000° to 179°) the RVSM levels are FL290, 310, 330, 350, 370, 390, 410; westbound (180° to 359°) FL300, 320, 340, 360, 380, 400. FL350 eastbound and FL360 westbound are adjacent RVSM levels.
The other options
- 12,000 ft, between FL290 and FL4102,000 ft is the separation in the non-RVSM columns of the table. In RVSM it is 1,000 ft.
- 21,000 ft, between FL180 and FL600The RVSM band in the table is FL290 to FL410, not FL180 to FL600.
- 4500 ft, between FL290 and FL410No level in the table is 500 ft from the next.
- Question 4 of 11Air Law — Oxygen
An unpressurized aeroplane will spend 90 minutes between 11,000 and 12,000 ft ASL cabin-pressure-altitude. Who must use supplemental oxygen?
Answer and explanation
Answer
4Each crew member, for the part over 30 minutes
Explanation
Above 10,000 ft ASL but not exceeding 13,000 ft, "each crew member shall wear an oxygen mask and use supplemental oxygen for any part of the flight at those altitudes that is more than 30 minutes in duration" (CARs 605.32(1)). Above 13,000 ft it is every person on board, for the whole time (605.32(2)).
The other options
- 1No one, since the aeroplane stays below 13,000 ftThe crew rule starts above 10,000 ft (CARs 605.32(1)).
- 2Every person on board, the whole timeEvery person on board is the rule above 13,000 ft (CARs 605.32(2)).
- 3The passengers only, above 10,000 ftThe rule between 10,000 and 13,000 ft is for the crew, not the passengers.
- Question 5 of 11Air Law — Airspeed
Descending through 2,800 ft AGL, 8 NM from a controlled aerodrome, with no ATC authorization, what is your maximum indicated airspeed?
Answer and explanation
Answer
1200 kt, unless the minimum safe airspeed is higher
Explanation
Below 3,000 ft AGL within 10 NM of a controlled aerodrome the limit is 200 kt "unless authorized to do so in an air traffic control clearance" (CARs 602.32(1)(b)), lower than the 250 kt below 10,000 ft ASL. "If the minimum safe airspeed for the flight configuration of an aircraft is greater", the aircraft is flown at that airspeed (602.32(3)).
The other options
- 2250 kt, the general limit below 10,000 ft ASL, applies250 kt applies too, but the 200 kt limit near the aerodrome is lower and governs.
- 3No limit applies during a descentCARs 602.32 applies in every phase of flight.
- 4200 kt, but only for IFR flightsCARs 602.32 applies to VFR and IFR alike.
- Question 6 of 11Flight Operations — Fuel
IFR in a turbo-jet aeroplane with an alternate in the flight plan. After landing at the alternate, how long must the fuel let you fly, before the allowances of CARs 602.88(5)?
Answer and explanation
Answer
230 minutes
Explanation
A turbo-jet-powered aeroplane with an alternate must be able "to fly to and execute an approach and a missed approach at the destination aerodrome, to fly to and land at the alternate aerodrome and then to fly for a period of 30 minutes" (CARs 602.88(4)(b)(i)). The allowances of 602.88(5), including a diversion after a loss of pressurization or an engine failure, come on top.
The other options
- 145 minutes45 minutes is the figure for a propeller-driven aeroplane (CARs 602.88(4)(a)).
- 320 minutes20 minutes is the VFR helicopter reserve (CARs 602.88(3)(b)).
- 460 minutesNo IFR fuel rule in CARs 602.88 uses 60 minutes.
- Question 7 of 11Aeronautics General Knowledge — Take-off Performance
The speeds in this question are illustrative teaching numbers for a generic jet, not any real aircraft's flight manual data.
V1 is 130 kt and VR is 135 kt. An engine fails at 120 kt on one take-off, and at 140 kt on another. What is the standard decision in each?
Answer and explanation
Answer
4Reject at 120 kt; continue at 140 kt
Explanation
TC AIM GEN 1.7 calls V1 the "Critical engine failure recognition speed". In certification it is tied to the pilot's "initiation of the first action" to stop the aeroplane in the accelerate-stop distance (Airworthiness Manual 525.107(a)(2)). So a failure before V1, at 120 kt, means stopping; after V1, at 140 kt (past VR too), the stop is no longer assured and the take-off is continued. The real speeds are your aircraft's flight manual figures.
The other options
- 1Continue the take-off in both casesBefore V1 the aeroplane can still stop on the runway, so the take-off is rejected.
- 2Reject the take-off in both casesAfter V1 the accelerate-stop distance is no longer assured, so the take-off is continued.
- 3Continue at 120 kt; reject at 140 ktIt is the other way round: reject below V1, continue above it.
Source
TC AIM (October 1, 2026) GEN 1.7; Airworthiness Manual Chapter 525, 525.107(a). Speeds illustrative only.
Taught in: IATRA › Advanced Aeronautics - Question 8 of 11Air Law — Right-of-Way
You have the right of way over a converging aircraft, and you become aware that it is in an emergency. What must you do?
Answer and explanation
Answer
3Give way to it, and act to avoid any risk of collision
Explanation
Whatever the other rules say, the pilot-in-command of an aircraft that has the right of way "shall, if there is any risk of collision, take such action as is necessary to avoid collision", and one who "is aware that another aircraft is in an emergency situation" shall give way to it (CARs 602.19(1)).
The other options
- 1Hold your course: the right of way is yoursThe right of way never removes the duty to avoid a collision, and an aircraft in an emergency is given way to (CARs 602.19(1)).
- 2Climb, since an aircraft in an emergency will usually descendNo rule tells you what the other aircraft will do. You give way and avoid it.
- 4Turn right, as in a head-on encounterTurning right is the head-on rule (CARs 602.19(5)). The emergency rule is to give way.
- Question 9 of 11IFR Operations — Approach Ban
In an aeroplane not operated under Part VII, you are flying a precision approach to CAT III minima. Before the FAF, the RVR is reported below the approach-ban minimum. Does CARs 602.129 require you to discontinue?
Answer and explanation
Answer
2No: CAT III precision approaches are an exception
Explanation
The ban's exceptions include that "the pilot-in-command of the aircraft is conducting a precision approach to CAT III minima" (CARs 602.129(4)(e)). The others are: passed the FAF inbound, a training flight with no landing intended and ATC told, a varying RVR, and ground visibility of at least 1/4 mile. A CAT III approach also needs the training and procedures of the Manual of All Weather Operations (CARs 602.128(4)).
The other options
- 1Yes: the ban applies to every approachCARs 602.129(4) lists exceptions, and CAT III is one of them.
- 3Yes, unless you have already passed the decision heightThe ban works before the FAF, long before any DH.
- 4No, but only if the RVR is varyingA varying RVR is a separate exception (602.129(4)(c)). CAT III is enough on its own.
- Question 10 of 11Navigation — RVSM
In RVSM airspace on a track of 270°, with no level assigned, is FL310 an appropriate cruising level?
Answer and explanation
Answer
1No: on 270° the RVSM levels are even, FL300 or FL320
Explanation
In the RVSM columns of the table to CARs 602.34, tracks 180° to 359° use FL300, 320, 340, 360, 380 and 400, and tracks 000° to 179° use FL290, 310, 330, 350, 370, 390 and 410. FL310 is an eastbound level; on 270° the level is FL300 or FL320, unless ATC assigns another (CARs 602.34(2)).
The other options
- 2Yes: FL310 is a westbound RVSM levelFL310 is in the eastbound (000° to 179°) column.
- 3Yes: any level is right in RVSM airspaceThe table applies in RVSM airspace too, unless ATC assigns a level.
- 4No: above FL290 the only levels are FL330, FL370 and FL410FL330, FL370 and FL410 are eastbound non-RVSM levels. In RVSM there are levels every 1,000 ft.
- Question 11 of 11Human Factors & CRM — Monitoring
A crew-judgment question: it applies crew coordination to the decision-height rule of CARs 602.128. No regulation is quoted for the call itself.
On an ILS, the pilot monitoring sees the aircraft reach the DH with no visual reference called, and the pilot flying keeps descending. What should the pilot monitoring do?
Answer and explanation
Answer
4Call it clearly at once, such as "Minimums, no contact, go around"
Explanation
Without the required visual reference, no pilot-in-command shall "continue the final approach descent below the decision height" on a CAT I or CAT II precision approach, and the missed approach is initiated at decision height (CARs 602.128(2)(a) and (3)(a)). A crew is instructed in its duties before flight (CARs 602.87); the monitoring pilot's is to catch exactly this, and say it in time for the go-around to be flown.
The other options
- 1Stay silent: the decision belongs to the pilot flyingSilence lets the aircraft go below the DH without the reference, which CARs 602.128(2)(a) forbids.
- 2Wait until the missed approach point, then mention it to the pilot flyingOn a precision approach the missed approach begins at the DH (CARs 602.128(3)(a)), not at a later point.
- 3Take control without saying anythingA silent takeover leaves the pilot flying not knowing who has control.
Source
CARs 602.128(2)(a) and (3)(a); CARs 602.87. Crew judgment, not a quoted CRM regulation.
Taught in: IATRA › IFR Operations
Keep practising
Checked 1 November 2026. CARs 602.19, 602.32, 602.34 and its table, 602.87, 602.88, 602.89, 602.128, 602.129 and 605.32 checked against SOR/96-433 as consolidated to 17 June 2026 (Justice Laws Website, current to 30 September 2026). TC AIM GEN 1.7 checked against TC AIM, October 1, 2026, and V1 against the Airworthiness Manual, Chapter 525 (525.107). Question 7's speeds are illustrative teaching numbers, not any aircraft's flight manual data. The questions, explanations and exhibits are TC Exam Prep's own. TC Exam Prep is independent and not affiliated with Transport Canada.