Should I choose Austro Control exams?
Now that the UK has left EASA we are frequently being asked by students which exams they should sit.
The problems are caused by:
- The EASA rule which says you must sit all your theory exams with the same Authority
- The UK has now left EASA
- The EASA statement that UK CAA exam passes will not be recognised meaning you will need to sit EASA exams if you are looking to achieve an EASA licence
The UK CAA does not recognise EASA exams that are passed after 31st December 2020 for the issue of a UK licence. If you are aiming for a UK-issued licence you will need to sit your exams with the UK CAA.
EASA has said they will not recognise UK CAA licences nor allow an easy conversion route, instead applying standard rules for converting ICAO licences.
Read more about Brexit-related exam decisions on this page of our website.
Qualified Military Pilots:
The CAA has said that if you are a qualified military pilot relying on exemptions, you will need to sit your examinations with the UK CAA, and you are also required to do your flight tests with an ATO that holds a UK CAA approval.
Bristol Groundschool Austro Control exam dates
We are pleased to confirm the Austro Control EASA exam sitting dates at the BGS premises in Clevedon on the dates below.
We have a list of nearby accommodations on our website.
Austro Control exams are open to non-BGS students 6 weeks before the exams, until that time they are only bookable by BGS students.
2026
July 20th – 22nd inclusive – Bookings Closed
August 24th – 26th inclusive
September 21st – 23rd inclusive
October 19th – 21st inclusive
November 23rd – 25th inclusive
December 9th – 11th inclusive
To see availability for these dates, visit the booking page below.
A guide for sitting EASA exams with BGS
Book exams with Austro Control
Knowledge skills and attitudes (100-KSA) is a compulsory subject introduced as a compulsory module for CPL/ATPL students. There is no associated EASA exam, your ATO is required to sign you off for this module prior to booking your final Austro Control examination. The new Austro Control booking form incorporates a KSA section to be signed by your ATO.
1. Download the relevant application:
ATPL (A) Conversion Application
2. a) ATPL A, ATPL & CPL H Application – Complete pages 1 and 2 of the form electronically (not by hand) and then electronically sign or print and sign Part 2. (Please note – if you have not studied with Bristol Groundschool, you will also need your ATO to complete and sign Parts 4 and 5).
b) ATPL A Conversion Application – Complete pages 1 and 2 of the form electronically (not by hand) and then email directly to Austro Control with the last pages of your logbook – [email protected] Austro will then check that you meet the requirements and send you confirmation.
3. A completed form is required for each exam sitting, selecting the exams that you wish to sit.
4. Please note -Incorrectly completed or late submission of forms will result in cancelled exams.
5. Email completed forms to [email protected] Please specify the month and venue you wish to sit the exams. If this is your first sitting please include a copy of your ID.
6. Proceed to the booking page below if you wish to sit your exams at Bristol Groundschool. Students planning to sit at an alternative venue need to contact the venue directly to book their exams.
Bristol Groundschool students are given priority when booking Austro Control exams, the You will receive a booking confirmation on booking your exams with us.
Please note a new application is required for each exam sitting. This does not apply to Conversion applications.
Please note that with effect from 1st June 2024, the new EASA ECQB2024 will be in use by Austro Control. For more information on ECQB2024 and its implementation, please refer to the EASA website outlining the amendment and additions of syllabus learning objectives: European Central Question Bank (ECQB) | EASA (europa.eu)
Book your exam at Bristol Groundschool
Once you’ve completed the form you can make a booking via this page
Please do not make any bookings until you have sent us your form.
How much do the exams cost?
Costs & Terms
The fees are £90 per exam. Bookings, changes and cancellations must be made a minimum of 7 working days before the start of the exam week. That is Wednesday before 17:00 a week and a half prior to the start of the exam week.
Exam date changes
Any changes to exams booked within 7 working days of the start of the exam week will incur an administration fee of £15 per exam. I.e. After 17:00 (UTC) on the Tuesday, 8 working days before the start of the exam week.
Exam Cancellations
Any exam cancellations within 7 working days before the start of the exam week are non-refundable. Any changes of exam sessions after the cut-off point will incur a fee of £50 per exam.
No refunds will be paid for any exam(s) not attended, for any reason.
All bank charges for payments made from overseas bank accounts are to be paid by the candidate.
In summary:
Exams are taken on iPads provided at the exam centre with the results available immediately after the exam. They are also sent by email the following week to the candidate from Austro Control.
Questions are drawn from the whole of ECQB 2026*
There are no ‘quadrant’ style questions
Annexes are viewable on-screen and printed if the question requires it
Results are available instantly
There is no charge for appeals
Retakes in the same sitting are not allowed
The Austro Control exams will be offered at BGS normally once a month.
* ECQB 2026 is the current EASA question bank.
Examination Conduct
All examinations are conducted in a secure and invigilated environment. You will be requested to provide your previously nominated original identification to verify your eligibility to sit, and be required to sign an attendance register before being seated.
We encourage you to arrive 30 minutes before your examination to ensure that you avoid any traffic issues and are able to find a parking space. A verbal briefing will be delivered to all candidates by the Invigilator. Only permitted or supplied materials will be available for use.
There are strict rules about what you can take into an exam. You will be supplied with the following items:
Rough working paper
Printed annexes
Depending on the specific exam you are taking, you may be allowed to bring the following approved items:
- Clear plastic ruler
- Approved calculators (the approved models are Casio FX 83/85/300 series; Sharp EL-W531/531 series; Citizen SR-260 series; Texas Instruments TI-30X/XB/XS)
- Approved flight computers – CRP-1; CRP-5/CR-3/CR-6; ARC-2; E6B:
- Jeppesen General Student Pilot Route Manual – GSPRM
- Protractor / plotter
- Compass and dividers (without case)
- Fine tip marker
- The use of CAP documents is permitted in the following subjects:
- ATPL and CPL – 031,032,033,034
- IR/EIR/CBIR – 031,032,033,034
- Please note the pages of the CAP documents must not be marked in any way and there must be no notes in the CAP documents.
You are not allowed to bring the following prohibited items into the exam:
- Pencil case
- Mobile phone
- Watch
- Recording or communication equipment/devices
- Students are not allowed to use digital flight computers (e.g. ASA CX-3) in ECQB-based exams.
For more information on examination conduct for Austro Control examinations, please refer to their website: Austro Control GmbH – Examination
Frequently asked questions
UK Military Pilots
The CAA say any UK military pilots relying on exemptions need to do their ATPL exams with them and their flight tests etc at ATOs with UK CAA approvals
Can I swap if I’ve already started with UK CAA?
No, EASA stopped recognising UK CAA exam results after the 31st of December 2020.
Is the process the same for conversion students?
There is a bespoke form for conversion students who meet the required experience to be exempt from approved training. You can find this form in the section above ‘book exams with Austro Control’.
