EASA ATPL Operational Procedures (070): Syllabus, Topics & How to Pass
Everything you need to know about EASA ATPL subject 070 — the three syllabus areas, the exam format, the pass mark, and a study plan that works.
Operational Procedures (subject 070) is the EASA ATPL theory subject that ties the whole syllabus back to how a commercial flight is actually operated. Rather than a single scientific theme, it draws together the regulations, procedures and hazard-awareness that govern everyday airline operations — from an operator’s general responsibilities to the special procedures required in demanding environments.
The subject rewards knowing what to do and why the rule exists, not just memorising numbers. It covers the practical side of flying the line: operating minima, minimum-equipment thinking, the handling of hazards such as wake turbulence, windshear and contaminated runways, the carriage of dangerous goods, security, and the extra requirements that apply to specialised operations like low-visibility, ETOPS and steep-approach flying.
The 3 EASA ATPL Operational Procedures topic areas
The 070 syllabus is organised into three top-level topic areas. Together they take you from an operator's general requirements, through the special procedures and hazards of everyday operations, to the specialised operations that need additional approval.
- 1
General Requirements
The operator’s and crew’s general responsibilities: aerodrome operating minima, the Minimum Equipment List and Configuration Deviation List, standard operating procedures, noise-abatement and general operational rules that frame every commercial flight.
- 2
Special Operational Procedures and Hazards (General Aspects)
The hazards and mitigations that shape day-to-day operations — wake turbulence, windshear and microburst, contaminated and slippery runways, low-visibility considerations, the transport of dangerous goods, security, and fire/smoke handling.
- 3
Specialised Operations
Operations that need additional approval or capability: low-visibility operations (LVO), RVSM and performance-based navigation airspace, ETOPS/extended-range operations, steep and short-field approaches, and other operations requiring specific procedures and training.
The exam: format and pass mark
EASA ATPL Operational Procedures is examined as part of the Central Question Bank (ECQB). Questions are multiple choice — typically four options with one correct answer — and you need 75% to pass, the same threshold that applies to all 13 ATPL theory exams.
Because the subject is procedural and regulation-based, the exam tests whether you can apply the right procedure to a situation, not just recall a rule. Expect questions that place you in an operational scenario — a hazard, an equipment limitation or a specialised operation — and ask which requirement or procedure applies.
How to pass EASA ATPL Operational Procedures
Understand the reasoning behind each rule
Operational Procedures is regulation-heavy, but the exam favours understanding over rote recall. When you know why an operating minimum, an MEL entry or an ETOPS requirement exists, the specific figures and procedures become far easier to remember and to apply to scenario questions.
Group the hazards and their mitigations
Wake turbulence, windshear, contaminated runways and dangerous goods each have a recognisable pattern: what causes the hazard, how it affects the aircraft, and the standard procedure to avoid or manage it. Learning them as cause–effect–mitigation triples keeps the material organised under exam pressure.
Drill with ECQB-style questions
The exam is multiple choice in the EASA ECQB style — typically four options with one correct answer. Working through realistic questions trains you to spot distractors and to apply a procedure to a scenario rather than simply recall a definition.
Revise little and often
Although 070 has only three top-level areas, the detail underneath them is broad. Spaced, regular revision across General Requirements, Special Operational Procedures and Hazards, and Specialised Operations beats last-minute cramming and protects the 75% pass mark on exam day.
Practise Operational Procedures the EASA way
Drill ECQB-style Operational Procedures questions with instant explanations, and track your progress across all three topic areas.
The rules behind the exam
Every ATPL paper is scored under the same Part-FCL rules: a 75% pass mark, four attempts per subject, six sittings, an 18-month completion window, and seven years of theory validity. See each figure with its Part-FCL reference and EUR-Lex source.
Frequently asked questions
How many topics are in EASA ATPL Operational Procedures?
The 070 syllabus is organised into three official top-level topic areas: General Requirements; Special Operational Procedures and Hazards (General Aspects); and Specialised Operations.
What is the pass mark for EASA ATPL Operational Procedures?
The pass mark is 75% — the same threshold as all 13 EASA ATPL theory exams.
Is EASA ATPL Operational Procedures hard?
It is generally considered one of the more approachable ATPL subjects because it is procedural rather than mathematical, but it is broad and detail-rich. Steady, regular revision — and understanding the reasoning behind each procedure — makes it very manageable.
What question format is used in the Operational Procedures exam?
Questions follow the EASA ECQB style — multiple choice, typically four options with one correct answer.