Tips to pass the Airmen's Academic Exam
A quick overview of the Airmen's Academic Exam in Japan, covering what subjects are tested and how to best prepare for it.
You need to pass the Airmen's Academic Exam to fly legally in Japan.
If you already hold an ICAO license, you only need to take and pass the Aviation Law exam. The other subjects are waived.
The test is divided into 5 categories:
Air Navigation (空中航法, or Kuchu Koho) Covers how to determine your position, plan your route, and navigate safely to your destination.
Meteorology (気象, or Kisho) Covers weather phenomena that affect flight and how to read and interpret aviation weather charts.
Communication (無線通信, or Musen Tsushin) Covers radio communication rules, standard phraseology, and proper procedures for talking with ATC and other stations.
Aeronautical Engineering (航空工学, or Koku Kogaku) Covers aircraft systems — structures, engines, electrical systems, and the technical knowledge needed to understand how an aircraft works.
Aviation Law (法規, or Hoki) Covers the legal requirements for flight operations in Japan, including aviation regulations and operational rules.
Tips for passing the exam
Here are some practical strategies to help you pass:
Study past exams thoroughly Past exam questions are available on here, and navigate to section 3, 学科試験過去問題・解答. If you're only taking Aviation Law, look for the following:
These are English past exams for Commercial and Private airplane pilots. Many questions on the real test are very similar, so keep practicing until you can recall most of the answers without hesitation.