Student Information
Welcome
Thank you for choosing Bristol Groundschool, the UK & Europe’s
leading EASA ATPL distance learning specialist, for this next
exciting stage of your aviation training.
Contents
1.
2.
3.
4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.
11. 12. 13. Loading and activating ATPdigital
iPad App
What do I need to get started?
What else will I need?
Setting the start and end dates of your modules
Maths and physics
Lesson format
Modules and exams - ATPL(A) and ATPL(H)/IR
Progress tests, practise and exam questions
Content updating and sending results
FREE Question bank, BGS Online
Student forum, ATPforum
Technical support
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For Bristol Groundschool students only
14.
15.
16.
Revision courses
Accelerator weekends
Booking your exams
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17.
Contact us
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1. Downloading and activating ATPdigital
There are different versions of ATPdigital for PCs and for Macs. Your licence entitles you
to install ATPdigital on two computers. If you want to use a mix of PCs and MACs email:
[email protected]
• The hardware requirements are a 2GHz or faster processor, 2Gb of RAM and 10Gb
of available hard disk space.
• Internet access to activate the program for the first time and whenever you wish to synchronise your results, or download updates.
• Flash Player. Most computers have this already, if not it can be downloaded free of charge from www.adobe.com
• For a PC you will need Windows Vista or later and for a MAC you will need Mac OS X version 10.5 or later.
Please follow the details in the attached email to download your software and follow
the on screen instructions.
If you experience any problems when loading your software please visit our
website: www.bristol.gs/support
* ATPdigital presents the study tasks and progress tests to you in a sequence of lessons, the software
also enables you to do practise exam questions. Your progress through the lessons is recorded and sent
through to us.
2. iPad App
Once you have activated your software on your PC or Mac you can download an iPad
version from the Apple App Store. When you open the app, you will be asked to enter
your username and password; use the same details you entered on your PC or Mac.
On the ‘Dashboard’ you will see, in the bottom right corner of the screen, buttons for
‘Sync now’ and ‘Update content’. Get into the habit of updating the iPad content at the
beginning of a session and synchronising before you finish. The PC and Mac versions
synchronise automatically when you are connected to the internet.
If you need help with using your iPad app, in the first instance go to
www.bristol.gs/support; there is a self‑diagnosis tool there for the iPad and a fault
reporting form you can complete.
Note, the iPad app will run on all iPad versions, but updates are not available for 1st
generation iPads.
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3. What do I need to get started?
The training materials you need will depend on the course you are studying and
whether you have purchased a complete course or just one module. As a minimum,
you will need the following:
• If your course includes the subjects Flight Planning and Flight Monitoring; and/or General Navigation, a Jeppesen Student Pilot Route Manual containing charts and plates used in these two subjects
• If your course contains the subjects Mass and Balance; Performance; and/or Flight Planning, hard copies of the appropriate UK CAA publications containing planning data and graphs (these are referred to as the ‘CAPs’)
You may also have received the hard copy course manuals in ring binders. A full ATPL
course consists of 13 subjects which fit into 7 ring binders. Check what you have
received and, if anything is missing, contact your course provider as soon as possible.
4. What else will I need?
• An EASA approved calculator **
• A mechanical navigation computer (that gives solutions for airspeeds over 300 KT) We recommend the Airtours or Pooleys CRP-5
• A fine tip marker (non-permanent) for use on your nav computer
• Some drawing tools, including a pair of compasses
• A protractor
• A ruler
These can be used in all the exams and should be brought to your revision weeks.
You can purchase any of these items at www.bristol.gs/shop
** Approved calculators. The approved models are: Casio FX 83/85/300 series; Sharp EL-W531; Citizen
SR-260; Texas Instruments TI-30XS. Source www.caa.co.uk
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5. Setting the start/end dates of your modules
ATPdigital opens on the Home page. This shows the number of modules on the course
you have purchased. Unless these are already set by your school, you can adjust the
start and end dates of each module by selecting Module 1, 2 or 3 as appropriate. Then
use the calendars to define the start and end date, this will determine the target dates
for the lessons and progress tests in the course.
Your progress (in red) will be graphed against your target (in blue). If you wish to
redefine the start and end dates at any time you can do so (unless you are enrolled on a
class by your school).
6. Maths and physics
We recommend you work though the maths and physics module on the ‘My course’
page before commencing the rest of your course. If you feel confident about your
maths and physics ability, you may go straight to the progress tests. If you pass these
(≥ 75%) then the associated lessons will be marked as complete and you may move on.
If you fail, you will need to do the lessons and pass the lesson quizzes before being able
to re-sit the progress test(s). If you would prefer, you may study the lessons anyway
before attempting the progress test(s).
Note, not all syllabi contain the maths and physics module.
7. Lesson format
At the end of most lessons you are presented with a multi-choice quiz which tests
your understanding of the lesson. You must complete the lesson quiz 100% correctly
to record the lesson as complete. Each time the quiz is taken, the answer sequence is
randomised.
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8. Modules and exams - ATPL(A) and ATPL(H)/IR
This is the breakdown of subjects and modules for the basic Bristol Groundschool
course and exams set by the UK CAA. Your arrangements may be different; check with
your school.
Subject
Exam duration
No. of questions
Module 1
Instrumentation
1:30
60
General Navigation
2:00
60
Meteorology
2:00
84
Human Performance
1:00
48
Radio Navigation
1:30
66
Aircraft General Knowledge
2:00
80
Aviation Law
1:00
44
Flight Planning
2:00
43
VFR Communications
1:30
24
IFR Communications
1:30
24
Mass and Balance
1:00
25
Operational Procedures
1:15 (A)
1:00 (H)/IR
45 (A)
38 (H)/IR
Principles of Flight
1:00
44
Performance
1:00
35
Module 2
Module 3
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9. Progress tests, practise and exam questions
Multi-choice progress tests are inserted after each topic; topics may comprise of several
lessons.
Progress tests are more difficult than the lesson quizzes and longer, often containing
up to 60 questions. The pass rate is lower, at 75%. You may take the progress tests
as many times as you wish to perfect your scores and consolidate your learning. The
answers are randomised each time and the system records both your initial and most
recent test scores.
In addition to the quiz and progress test questions, you can access a built-in database
of exam questions that is designed to match the EASA post NPA-25 CQB as closely as
possible. The options are either to search for a topic, to take a timed exam, to take an
untimed exam or to practise questions. When exams are requested they are generated
so that they contain the correct proportions of content from each syllabus objective.
The software allows you to start working through the questions and then return to the
subject later to look at either, the questions you have yet to attempt, those you got
wrong, or all the questions again.
ATPdigital will display the lessons by subject from the ‘My course’ page, to make
revision easier once you have completed them.
10. Content updating and sending results
It is important to connect to the Internet on a regular basis throughout your study. By
connecting to the Internet software and data updates will automatically take place. At the
same time the results of any of your recent activity are uploaded to the main database
where your course provider will assess your progress from the lesson and test results.
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11. FREE Question bank - BGS Online
As part of your course you get free access, for 12 months, to our industry leading
examination practice website, BGS Online (www.bgsonline.eu). ATPdigital also contains
the same database of questions under the ‘exams’ function which can be used offline
with less functionality.
• Visit www.bgsonline.eu and log-on using the same username and password you used to activate your copy of ATPdigital.
• Go to your ’user profile’ and check ‘Available exam’ shows the course you are studying. If it is incorrect you have the option to alter this on this screen.
IF YOU ARE A HELICOPTER PILOT BE CAREFUL YOU SELECT THE CORRECT LICENCE; ATPL(H)/IR AND ATPL(H) ARE NOT THE SAME THING.
• Your free subscription period will expire 12 months after you activate ATPdigital. However, you may renew it once for up to 12 months at a 50% discount on the usual subscription costs.
The best way to use BGS Online is to study your course first then, when you are
preparing for your exams, practice papers on the BGS Online website. There are far too
many questions for you to attempt to learn by remembering the questions, you really
do need to have a sound understanding of the subject, which you can only gain by
studying it.
Exam feedback - We would appreciate it very much if you would provide us with any
feedback on the questions, as soon as you come out of your exams. The quality of
BGS Online is dependent on the quality of feedback we get from our students who sit
their EASA exams each year. Please email [email protected]
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12. Student forum – ATPforum
The best place to post questions is on our forum (www.atpforum.eu). The forum also
includes exam feedback and comments from other students and links to web resources
on different sites. If you get stuck, tutors are available to help you on the forum.
13. Technical support
You are entitled to 12 months’ free e-mail technical support for ATPdigital from the date
of purchase, provided you register your application with us. We will also, at our own
discretion, provide telephone support for students who need it.
If you experience problems with ATPdigital please go to the ‘help’ tab on our website
where you will find an interactive ‘wizard’ and some FAQs. If you are unable to resolve
your issue on the website you’ll find a support form there. Complete this and we will
get back to you as soon as possible, within normal UK office hours. Alternatively you
can email our support team on [email protected] or phone on +44 (0)1275 345913.
It will help us to help you if you provide as much detail as possible and include
screenshots if you can.
“The questions set by CAA
would be next to impossible
without the BGS Online
question bank.”
Student feedback 2015
“The support I received before,
during and after my exams really
was of the highest order. The blend
of knowledge and experience
really made the whole process
manageable and even enjoyable.”
“The online question
bank is an excellent exam
preparation tool.”
Student feedback 2015
95% of students rate the
quality and efficiency of our
customer support as ‘very
good’ or ‘excellent’. Student feedback 2015
Adam R
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Bristol Groundschool students only
14. Revision courses
We hope you enjoy your course and we look forward to hearing from you when you are
ready to book your revision courses. You can do this by booking online through our
website - please visit https://www.bristol.gs/revision-courses
Each revision week module runs prior to the examination dates, we recommend you go
straight from the classroom into the exams, without a gap.
Please note that you must complete the CBT course, quizzes and progress tests before
attending the revision course.
If you call the office on +44(0)1275 340 444 our team will be able to tell you if there is
room on your selected course, booking two to three months in advance usually assures
you of a space.
100% of students rated the
overall quality of the revision
course as ‘very good’ or
‘excellent’. “The revision week at Bristol
helped me no end. I’m so happy,
I passed all my exams first time,
cheers.”
Student feedback 2015
Mike White
15. Accelerator weekends
To supplement the revision weeks and to enhance your understanding through
your training, we offer optional Accelerator Weekends every month. Three of these
are included free with the 3 module course. We anticipate that you would use two
days on each module. However, we recognise that different students want help with
different subjects so you can pick and mix ‘Accelerators’ to suit your needs and you may
purchase additional days if you desire.
These weekends provide face to face instruction, concentrating on specific subjects. A
good time to attend an Accelerator weekend would be about half-way through each
module. We recommend you use these weekends as a time to build your confidence in
a particular subject and to clear up those areas that you just don’t understand.
You can book your place through our online booking system, please visit
https://www.bristol.gs/revision-courses/#Accelerator
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16. Booking your exams (UK CAA)
Bristol Groundschool is an EASA examination centre, so you have the benefit of sitting
your exams with us, usually the week after completing your revision course, in a
comfortable and supportive environment.
If you are on an approved course, your school is required to certify that you have
completed all the study required. In practice, you should apply for the exams before
you have finished the distance learning phase so what actually happens is that we
look at your work to see that you have satisfactorily completed a significant amount of
the first module, sign you off, and then perform a final check that everything has been
completed before you come on our revision course.
When you are ready to book your exams, register with the CAA and book your exams
at least 72 hours before sitting your first one, although in practice the examinations are
booked up months in advance.
You can visit our website which will guide you through the exam booking process
www.bristol.gs/easa-exam-information
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17. Contact us
For technical support, please visit our website: www.bristol.gs/support
For all other enquires:
Email: [email protected]
Tel:
+44 (0)1275 340444
Bristol Groundschool
Windmill Road
Clevedon
Somerset
BS21 6UJ
United Kingdom
For further information please visit www.bristol.gs and select [our courses] from top
menu bar and then [course introduction].