Ace The Technical Pilot Interview Notes Flashcards
describe the effects of a jammed/degraded elevator ?
will result in a less effective elevator manouvrability
what is magnetic direction?
is the direction measured to magnetic north
page 89
what is the procedure for a two way comm failure ?
- continue your flight in accordance to flight plan or last assigned ATC lever
- plan to arrived at estimated ETA
- commence your descent within 10 min
page 306
What is a super stall ?
Also known as Deep Stall is mainly associated with rear engine, high T-tail swept wing aircraft.
As the plane is reaching the stall the turbulent airflow created by the wings flying at low speed is hitting the T-tail causing it to be ineffective cause it would need a clean airflow. As the nose pitches up the elevators are not working therefore the nose will keep rising no stop.
Page 29
explain humidity and relative humidity
- humidity is the amount of water vapour into a parcel of air
- relative humidity is the percentage of the content of water vapour into a parcel of air
page 227
what do you know about HF communications ?
- long distance communications
- HF use predictable sky wave (ionosphere)
- the higher the frequency the greater is the range
page 150
how is propeller noise controlled or reduced ?
- increase blades number
- reduce take off power
page 61
why on a short sector would you climb to FL330 ?
better SFC
page 282
if cumulus clouds were present in the morning what would you expect later ?
CB
page 230
why are flight level intervals increased to 2000ft above FL290 in non-RVSM airspace ?
because of increased altimeter error due to the even lower air density
page 277
Describe the drag curve of a jet aircraft?
-flatter drag curve
-not noticeable change of flying qualities other than a light lack of speed stability
-VIMD is higher because swept wing is more efficient against profile drag
Page 8
What wing design the delay the break up of airflow (stall)?
- wing slots
- lower angle of incidence
- greater Chamber for a particular wing section (wing tip)
Page 28
a derated take off will use less or more trip fuel and why ?
more trip fuel cause it will take longer to reach to optimum altitude
page 208
what provides the earth’s heat energy ?
the sun via solar radiation
the short wave radiation from the sun are absorbed by the ground heating it up (insulation). Energy is then re-radiated out from the ground as long wave, it is this radiations that heat up the lower atmosphere
page 221
what is Q Feel and where it is used ?
Q Feel which is a sophisticated computer based artificial feel used on aircraft with powered flight controls
page 49
How does weight affect an aircraft’s flight profile.
The heavier the plane the soon it would need to start its descent
Page 18
describe LSS
Local Speed of Sound
LSS = 38.94 sq root T
T in Kelvin = 273 + ºC
page 122
how is DME information used ?
VOR/DME
ILS
page 108
what is a TAF ?
Terminal Aerodrome Forecast
usually issued for 9 hours period and updated every 3 hours
page 270
is there a critical engine in a propeller aircraft ?
Yes, left, if the props both spin clockwise,
No if they spin anticlockwise
page 58
what is a mass balance?
it’s a mass weight that keeps the control surface into position and fights against the twisting moment caused by air loads.
page 48
what is wind velocity ?
speed at with wind moves expressed in knots
page 235
describe the errors of magnetic compass ?
- accelerations/deceleration errors
- turning errors
page 143
how high is the screen height for propeller and jet aircraft ?
jet 35ft (dry) 15ft (wet) prop 50ft
jet aircraft are to heavy to make prop height with same distance so needed to be lowered
page 186
what is wind ?
is the horizontal movement of air
page 234
how does weight effect V1 speed ?
if the field length is limiting the greater the weight the lower is V1.
if the field length is not limiting the greater the weight the higher is V1
page 190
how are the different type of fog formed ?
- radiation fog = the ground loses heat that condenses
conditions: cloudless night, light wind, moist air - advection fog = warm and moist air flows over a cold surface (from water to land at night, or Sea Smoke in the reverse condition)
- frontal fog = warm occludent front
page 231
describe the difference between net and gross flight path performance ?
- the gross performance is the average performance that a fleet of aircraft should achieve.
- the net performance is the gross performance diminished to allow for various contingency
page 203
what is the lowest usable FL ?
it has to be at least 500ft over the absolute minimum altitude
page 277
What is differential GPS ?
it’s a more accurate GPS
page 96
what is the purpose of retractable landing gear ?
reduce drag improves performance
page 166
what is a hinge/horn balance ?
hinge balance sets the hinge line back into the control surface thus reducing the center of pressure to hinge line harm.
horn balance is a protruding control surface that produces a balancing force in the opposite direction of the main lift reducing hinge moment.
page 47
what is nose wheel shimmy ?
is the left and right jerking of the front wheel due to the flexibility of tire sidewalls
page 166
what is the recovery technique for windshear ?
- power
- pitch
to regain flight path
how does a crosswind effect the critical engine ?
we prefer a crosswind to come from the side of the critical engine or failed engine to help restore the force on the fuselage and fight against the yaw moment caused by the failed engine
page 60
what is the thermal equator ?
is the position of the maximum thermal temperature around the earth’s surface
summer = moves toward the pole due to the greater heating experienced at higher latitude
the thermal equator is more coincidental to the actual equator over the sea than over land
page 266
what is TCAS ?
Traffic Collision Avoidance System.
provide traffic information and manoeuvres guidance if the path between two planes is conflicting
page 152
what are the inputs of GPWS ?
- RoD
- radio altimeter
- flap and gear position
- ILS GS
- approach minima
- throttle position
page 154
why is a fan engine flat rated ?
to give the widest possible range of operation keeping within its define structural limits
page 69
what does alternate red and white edge centreline lights on a runway indicate ?
US 600m to the end of the runway
UK 900 to the end of the runway
page 315
What are Fowler flaps?
They are three slotted trailing edge flaps
Page 40
what is mist and fog ?
parcels of low level suspend water droplets in contact with the ground
page 231
who has the right of way between a landing aircraft and an aircraft on the ground ?
the landing aircraft
page 309
what is the definition of GRADU is a forecast ?
gradual change to a different weather
page 272
what distance along the runway is the runway touch down aiming point ?
300m on a 3º glide, marker board markers
page 215
what produces the ignition on a piston engine ?
spark plugs connected to magnetos
page 53
what is the definition of BECMG is a forecast ?
it indicates a permanent change in the forecast which will start to happen during the specified period
page 271
who has right of way on the ground ?
same as sky
planes taking off and landing have right of way
page 308
what indications should you loo for if windshear is expected ?
look for airspeed, temperature and lift trend
page 319
what are the hazards associated with flying in a region of volcanic ash ?
engine flame out, because the engine is getting starved of air
due to =
- ash built up on fan and compressor blades which upsets the airflow through the engine
- ash deprive the combustion chamber of the air required
page 326
what fuels are used commonly for jet aircraft ?
Jet A1 and Jet A
difference is A1 freezes at - 50ºC, A at - 40ºC
page 82
What are Kruger flaps?
They are leading edge flaps that increase chamber therefore increase lift
Page 39
how is RVR reported ?
- touchdown zone
- midpoint
- stop end
whenever it is detected to be less then 1500m
midpoint and stop end are only mention if they are either less then:
- touchdown point, or
- 800m, or
- 400m
page 279
how is 0ft represented by the rising runway on the EADI ?
by the rising rwy symbol reaching the base of the aircraft symbol
page 148
What is spiral stability and instability ?
Spiral stability is the tendency of an aircraft to return into level flight on its on from a turn on release of ailerons.
Spiral instability is the opposite usually found with planes with large fin where the fin will jump into action creating a side slip which will steep the turn until the point of spiral dive.
Page 32
what does EFIS stand ?
Electronic Flight Instrument System
page 147
what is SALR ?
Saturated Adiabatic Lapse Rate = 1.5ºC x 1000ft
it commences at a height where a parcel of air temperature is reduced to its dew point temperature. above this point it will start to condense into liquid form ex.cloud
page 227
what are the disadvantages of a IVSI ?
is that the balance weight is also effected by acceleration in a turn
page 133
what is magnetic variation ?
is the difference between true direction and magnetic direction
page 89
Describe the characteristics of critical Mach number ?
what happens when Mcrit is reached ?
- Initial Mach buffet due to shock wave
- Increase in drag
- Mach Tuck
- Possible loss of control
Page 23
how does an INS/IRS work ?
the INS determines the initial position an give an up to date position as the aircraft accelerates in the horizontal plane on a great circle track.
component:
- accelerometer
- gyroscopes
- position computer
page 93
what is the critical point ?
distance to CP = distance x GS HOME
——————————-
GS OUT + GS HOME
page 213
what is the relationship between VMCG and V1 ?
V1 cannot be less than VMCG
page 195
what rate of turn should you use in an holding patter ?
rate 1
page 296
Define the two major type of drag?
Induced drag: as speed increases induce drag decreases As speed decreases induce drag increases Parasite drag -form drag -interference drag -skin friction Page 6
what are the ASI errors ?
- instrument error
- pressure error
- density error
- compressibility error
- manoeuvre error
- blocked pitot static system
page 128
how does the variation of air density due to temperature effects an aircraft’s performance ?
aircraft performance decreases
page 119
what does a constant relative bearing of another aircraft at the same altitude mean ?
collison risk
page 307
how are HF communications effected at night (or winter) ?
at night the ionosphere rises compared to the day therefore you need a lower frequency to reach the same receiver distance. Typically half then daytime.
page 151
what can you do if an aircraft is limited by a distant obstacle in the third departure profile segment ?
- extend V2 climb profile technique
- reduce take off weight
- climbing turns to avoid the obstacles
page 206
how does ground effect affect landing distance ?
increases landing distance
page 287
why are thunderstorm an hazard to aviation ?
- severe windshear
- severe turbulence
- severe icing
- airframe structural damage
- reduced visibility
- lightning strikes
- radio comm and nav interference
page 234
what is a thermal wind and how is it generated ?
are generated by a difference in temperature between two columns of air over large areas and great upper heights
page 237
what is departure ?
departure = change in longitude(min) x cos latitude
page 90
what are the lines that run from pole to pole on the earth called?
meridians of longitude
page 90
what is VMU speed ?
minimum unstick speed at which is possible to get airborne all engine operative
page 189
what is the definition of wind gust factor ?
how much wind speed change you can expect in varying wind conditions.
calculation:
a wind gusting from 15 to 25 with a mean of 20 kt will have a gust factor of : 0.5
25-15 = 10
10/20 = 0.5
page 259
what is AGC on weather radar ?
Automatic Gain Control.
it lowers the strength of the signal so that the closer target don’t look the brightest given false indication
page 113
what precautions should be taken before and during after refuelling ?
- establish a safe refuelling zone
- earth the aircraft
page 174
what is the Fohn wind effect ?
it’s when air cools as is rising over high ground, where it will lose the moist content, form a cloud with precipitation and come on the other side warm and dry
Fohn wind is the dry warm wind that blows on the lee side
page 242
what is latent heat ?
is the heat energy absorbed or released when water changes from one state to another
page 222
what is the final approach fix FAF ?
denotes the start of the final approach segment
page 300
what is VRA/MRA ? (VB)
VRA = rough air speed or (VB) turbulence penetration speed
page 208
What is lift?
Lift is the force caused by the movement of an aerofoil into a airflow (page 3)
how is the height of a cloud base determined ?
cloud base height(ft) = surface temp - dew point
————————————- x 1000
3º(DALR)
when the surrounding temperature is the same as or warmer than the temperature inside the cloud, then the air in the cloud will become stable and stop rising. limiting the height of the cloud top.
page 228
what happens to your CAS or IAS and TAS if you fly at constant CAS into a warmer area?
IAS CAS stay the same
TAS increases
page 124
what does it mean if you have a port wind in the NH ?
that you are flying towards a low pressure system
page 281
what is an increased V2 ?
is a technique to improve and aircraft climb gradient.
more speed egual more lift
page 206
what happens to your TAS if you climb at a constant CAS, IAS ?
TAS will increase
page 124
what causes surface turbulence ?
caused by surface wind being blown over and around surface obstacle
page 254
what is the landing distance available LDA ?
is the distance available for landing.
50ft above the surface of the runway threshold height
page 215
describe the effects of a failure/reduction in elevator feels ?
whenever the feel is reduced great care must be exercised in its use. slow and smooth movements
page 46
What are the effects of extending flaps in flight?
Mainly increase lift and create a nose up pitching pitching moment
Page 40
what is the difference between maximum range cruise (MRC) and long range cruise (LRC) ?
MRC = maximum milage is obtained LRC = is a speed slightly higher than MRC and requires a speed reduction and weight decreases due to fuel burn
page 210
what restriction does the propeller design have ?
blade length due to:
- ground and fuselage clearance
- blade tip speed
blade chord size due to:
- increase in chord size will reduce aspect ration
- increase in chord size will increase twisting moment
page 56
what are fusible tire plugs ?
they are in the tubeless wheel hub and they melt under hight temperature to allow the tire plug to be blown out by the tire air pressure, to prevent to much pressure to built in the tire and let the air leak away.
avoids the tire from bursting
page 167
how is aircraft cabin pressure measured ?
by differential pressure which is the difference between outside and inside pressure
page 170
What is the lift formula?
L= 1/2rho v2 S CL
what is Vr speed ?
rotation speed or unstick speed to achieve V2 at screen height.
even with engine failure Vr cannot be less than 1.05VMCA or 1.1 VMU
page 192
What is angle of attack?
The angle between the chord line and the airflow (page 3)
Describe the CoG range ?
Is the furthest toward and aft position where the CoG acts and where the tailplane can help the aircraft to be longitudinally stable
Page 13
what does HUGS stand for ?
head up guidance display (EADI)
page 149
describe the following turn and slip indicaton
if the ball is to the left use left rudder
if the ball is to the right use right rudder
Skid = too much rudder or too little bank Slip = too little rudder or too much bank
page 140
what are PAPI lights/
Precision Approach Path Indicator similar to VASI
page 314
when can you disconnect and reconnect a CSD unit ?
can be disconnected at any time but reconnection can only be done on the ground
age 180
why is a turbo prop aircraft better suited for short regional operations ?
- has a better short field capability
- doesn’t need to fly as high for SFC
- smaller pax capacity for short route
page 58
what component make up a typical EFIS ?
- cathode ray tube
- EFIS control panel
- symbol generators
- E-ADI
- E-HSI
page 147
describe the electrically driven AH ?
same principal as a air driven AH but it can spin faster and is more accurate because more rigid, and turning and accelerations errors are minimised
page 138
when and where is the jet/gas turbine engine (bypass) at it’s most efficient and why ?
at high as possible and at high rpm speeds
page 69
How is spoilers blow back prevented ?
Follow speed limits
Page 39
what is a tab surface and what can it be used for ?
is a small hinged surface found on a primary flight control, it can be used for:
- trimming
- control balance
- servo operation
page 46
what are the LNAV and VNAV FMC functions ?
LNAV guides the aircraft into lateral navigation, is available from take off.
VNAV guides the aircraft into vertical navigation including climbing and descending.
page 158
Describe CoG.
Is the point where weight acts
Page 12
what is an Ohm a measure of ?
unit of electrical resistance
page 176
describe a typical approach lighting arrangement for an ILS ?
page 311
what is a great circle track ?
is the shortest distance between to point
page 91
where do you find microbursts ?
are found underneath cumulonimbus clouds and thunderstorms
page 256
what is a multiplex auto land system ?
it’s an auto pilots landing system that comprises of two or more independent autopilots that work together
part 161
what factors determine the loading of an aircraft ?
weight and balance
page 184
what is the geostrophic wind ?
wind parallel to the isobars with a low pressure system to its left. it’s found at 2000ft and above. is created when the pressure gradient force and the coriolis forced are in balance
is straight W to E
page 236
what are trip-free circuit breakers ?
they cannot be pushed back in to complete the circuit after tripping
page 177
what it the greatest contamination of fuel ?
water
page 172
what is a conversion angle ?
is the angle of difference between a great circle and a rhumb line
page 92
what are the advantages of a IVSI ?
more reliable due to immediate display
page 133
what is DA or MDA ?
DA = the wheel hight at which a go around must be initiated if decided not to land MDA = minimum descent altitude
page 277
what is the emergency distance available/ ASDA ?
TORA + stopway available
page 187
what do you need to see to continue at the MDH for a non precision approach ?
at least one of the following
page 312
should you report any hazardous flight conditions ?
yes, the PIC would do so
page 316
what is chart scale ?
ratio of chart distance to earth distance
page 92
why do you need to calculate the actual height of a pressure altitude ?
any difference from 1013 will give a difference between the pressure altitude and the actual altitude
page 117
how does a VSI work ?
expresses the rate of change in static pressure as a rate of descent or climb
page 132
can you detect CAT ?
is one of the hardest forms of turbulence to detect.
CAT is a form of windshear therefore needs to look out for situations that create windshear.
a large rapid fluctuation in TAT (+-10ºC) is a good indication of CAT
page 260
what is the difference between Celsius and Fahrenheit ?
Celsius: is based on the freezing and boiling temperature of water at 0ºC and 100ºC
Fahrenheit: same but 32ºF and 212ºF
page 224
describe Mach number ?
Mn = TAS/LSS
Mn becomes the speed reference at high altitudes passing 26000ft
page 122
what is a deicing system ?
a system where ice is allowed to built up on a surface and then removed (ex.pneumatic leading edge boots)
page 174
how does an artificial feel work ?
the simplest form is a Spring Box or otherwise a Q Feel which is a sophisticated computer based artificial feel
page 48
how does temperature effects LSS ?
as temperature decreases LSS decreases
page 122
what are the different types of depression ?
- frontal
- thermal
- tropical storm
- orographic
page 244
what are the different types of fog ?
- radiation fog
- advection fog
- frontal fog
page 231
what is specific fuel consumption ?
fuel flow / engine thrust
the ratio of how much fuel you burn compared to engine thrust
page 62
what are the two quantities known as weather minima ?
- DA or MDA
- RVR
page 277
why is the left engine the critical engine on a multi engine propeller aircraft ?
due to:
- slipstream effect
- asymmetric blade effect
page 59
what is VMCA speed ?
minimum control speed when airborne after engine failure
page 192
what happens to engine pressure ratio on take off roll?
the initial decreasing is caused by:
- engine lag to throttle input
- P7 (exhaust) is lower than P2 (inlet) because before the flow into the engine gets steady, at the initial stage, P2 will always read more than P7
page 78
what is air pressure ?
the weight of a column of air or the gravity of air molecule
page 116
What causes Dutch Roll?
Swept wings
When a yaw is induced the adverse action is for the aircraft to roll. As the aircraft rolls the outside wing is producing more speed and therefore more lift to a point where it stalls. This cause a wing drop and an adverse yaw towards the dropped wing at this stage the new outer wing is producing more speed and more lift to a point where now it stalls and the aircraft will yaw towards it. This can continue endlessly.
Page 30
how would you fly an approach if you suspect windshear ?
- increase approach speed to compensate for loss of energy
page 319
what is a VOLMET ?
is a continuous broadcast on a VHF/HF frequency that includes:
- actual weather report
- landing forecast (trend)
- a SIGMET (if any)
page 270
What is the effect of weight on rate of descent?
If weight increases rate of descent increases (page 2)
what is the advantages of a servo assisted altimeter ?
reduce
- instrument error
- lag error
page 132
what is a ACAS ?
a European Airborne Collision Avoidance System
page 153
How do you correct spoilers blow back ?
Reduce speed
Page 39
describe the effects of the air loads on a control surface and how this effects are managed ?
hinge moment of air load force = lift force(air load) x arm
lift force experienced depends on
- airspeed
- angle of deflection
page 46
how do you calculate glide slope is an approach is only given as a gradient ?
GSº = gradient% x 0.57
page 298
how is an INS/IRS better than a GPS especially for navigation information ?
INS/IRS is the only truly onboard self contained system and suffers fewer errors than the GPS
page 97
what it the best CoG position with a reduced or failed elevator feel system?
forward, to reduce the weight over the elevator feel system, since it need gentle movements, the lighter the better
page 46
what are the requirements of a nose wheel ?
- carry the aircraft weight
- mean of towing
- withstand shear loads
- castoring
- self-centering
- steering
- anti shimmy
what is a typical landing gear layout ?
tricycle
page 165
what are tropical revolving storm ?
TRS are deep, intense depression found in equatorial regions around the ITCZ
cyclones = indian and pacific ocean hurricanes = Caribbean typhoons = china sea
TRS take they energy from water vapour.
Water has to be at least 27ºC which happens after a long hot summer. That’s why they don’t form over cold sea and die out when over cold sea or land.
TRS do not form at the equator because the Coriolis effect is Zero, so they form 5º to 20º of latitude.
page 267
what errors do a VOR experience ?
- equipment errors (max 5º error)
- site error (signal reflection on near object)
- propagation error (scalloping effect)
page 103
how can you disconnect an auto throttle system and what indications are there ?
- the pilot can over read the AT by moving the thrust levers
- AT disengaged switch on thrust lever
- AT disengaged switch on MCP
- AT disengages automatically after touch down and in abnormal situations
page 163
what is the required action for a jammed/degraded elevator ?
if the elevator is jammed than it’s unusable.
if the elevator control is degraded that it could be assessed if can still be safely used.
actions:
- move CoG aft
- plane a long final
- use low flap settings
page 45
what is windshear ?
is any variation of wind speed and/or wind direction from place to place including updraught and downdraught
page 254
what is a variable pitch propeller and why is it used ?
it’s a propeller that can change the blade AoA use to its optimum settings in order to maintain propeller efficiency and aircraft thrust over a wide range of aircraft speed
page 57
What’s is Mach number?
Mn = TAS/LSS
LSS = 38.94 sq root of T
T in Kelvin = 273 + Celcius degrees
Page 23
how does windshear affects an aircraft ?
- affects the lift capability
- the dynamic speed is reduced
- downdraft increases aircraft weight
- runway overshoot or undershoot
during an approach for landing:
- if HW increases, performance increases, will Overshoot
- if HW decreases, performance decreases, will Undershoot
page 255
what is the standard holding pattern direction ?
right head
page 292
at what height would you expect the rising runway symbol on an EADI to become active ?
usually 200ft radio altimeter but may vary
page 148
what are the CAT I, II,III ILS ICAO RVR approach limits ?
CAT I = at least 550m touch down or vis 800m
CAT II = at least 300m touch down, 150m midpoint
CAT IIIa = at least 200m touch down, 150m midpoint
CAT IIIb = at least 50m touch down
CAT IIIc = at least 50 m touch down, 0m midpoint
page 298
How does a forward CoG increase stall speed and why.
Weight is a factor affecting stall speed, if weight increases stall speed increases
Page 16
how does aircraft weight affects take off performance ?
if weight increases take off performance decreases
page 197
what is typically displayed on a EADI ?
(think of glass cockpit, is the digital AH)
page 148
how to calculate the stall speed ?
Stall Speed = [2Weight / (Clmax1.225*WingArea)]
what is rate 1,2,3 turn ?
rate 1 = 180º per min
rate 2 = 360º per min
rate 3 = 540º per min
page 280
what is a tear drop and when is it used ?
180º turn to intercept opposite radial
page 303
how long can you not flying after scuba diving ?
12 hrs with compressed air
24 hrs with compressed air below 30ft
page 322
what advantages does AC has over DC ?
- simpler
- better power to weight ratio
- voltage can be converted to higher or lower value (transformer)
- dc can be obtain via a rectifier
- more reliable
page 179
explain Bernoulli’s theorem
if the kinetic energy is increased the pressure/temperature energy drops proportionally and vice versa so as to keep the total energy constant
page 51
how is visibility reported ?
from:
- meteo reports
- RVR
page 265
why is fuel measured in terms of mass(weight) rather than its volume ?
for mass and balance calculation where mass(weight) is needed. plus volume is effected by temperature
page 174
what is the aviation definition of altitude ?
distance above QNH or altitude above mean sea level
page 115
What is elevator reversal?
At high speed the air loads over the elevator can be so strong to cause a twisting moment that can push the elevator back to neutral or opposite position cause a reverse of aircraft’s pitch attitude
Page 36
what are the GPWS modes order of priority ?
page 155
describe a runaway stabiliser condition and required action ?
it's when the brakes te hold the stabiliser into a certain position don't work anymore. required action: - hold control column firmly - disengage the autopilot - cut stab trim out - hold trim wheel
page 45
what is the purpose of engine relight boundaries ?
is to ensure the correct proportion of air is delivered to the engine combustion chamber
approved relight envelope against height
page 79
what are VASI lights ?
Visual Approach Slope Indicator
can be 2 or 3 light bars on the side of the runway that give an indication of your position on the glide path
page 314
what is density altitude ?
is the pressure altitude corrected for temperature
page 118
describe the diurnal variation of the surface wind
by day = the day surface wind is stronger therefore it loses less speed and backs only slightly
by night = the night surface wind is weaker and loses more speed and backs significantly
page 239
What causes/are wing tip vortices?
Are caused by the high pressure under the wing trying to reach the low pressure over the wing, the two pressure mix at the trailing edge and wing tip and cause vortices
Page 10
what do you know about air data computers (ADC) ?
modern aircraft feed their static and pitot line into an ADC and this data calculates can be feed to other systems like
- AP
- FDS
- FMS
- GPWS
page 134
Describe how you would optimise the lift design of a swept wing?
Add lift devices
Page 20
giving a temperature deviation from ISA of 36ºC the pressure altimeter will over read, under read or remain constant and why ?
the altimeter will over read because the deviation is colder than ISA
page 132
what type of extinguisher should be used for electrical and flammable fires normally found in the cockpit ?
BCF is a liquified gas agent that vaporises on deployment
page 172
Describe (component) arm?
Is the distance between the datum and where the weight component of something acts
Page 12
what errors does a Mach Meter suffer from ?
- instrument error
- pressure error (position or configuration error)
- blocked pitot static system
page 129
what factors effect the range of VHF communications ?
- transmission power
- frequency
- height
- obstructions
- fading
page 150
what are chimed tires ?
has a special sidewall construction that diverts the runway water to the side reducing the amount of water getting thrown into the engine
page 167
how does an INS/IRS find true north ?
it’s aligned to true north via gyroscopes
page 93
describe the remote indicating compass ?
is a combination of DG and Magnetic Compass in a single instrument
page 143
describe a typical breaking system ?
most use hydraulic fluid pressure to move friction brakes pads
page 167
describe a typical FMS ?
the main section of the FMS is the FMC which is a dual system using dual FMC, and two CDU (control display units)
page 157
what is VCMG speed ?
minimum control speed on the ground
VMCG need to be lower than V1 to ensure directional control of the aircraft after the critical engine has failed, once a decision has been made to reject the take off before the latest decision speed is reached
page 189
what is visual black hole effect ?
when the runway is the darkness and gives the illusion of begin higher
page 332
what is VNO speed ?
is the normal operation speed
page 209
what are the ICAO aircraft category weight definitions ?
H 136000kg
M 7000kg 136000kg
L below 7000kg
page 288
what is a SPECI ?
report issued whenever a critical meteorological conditions exist
page 269
Describe stability at high altitudes?
Stability is reduced at high altitudes in term of dynamic stability mainly because aerodynamic damping(restoring moment) decreases with altitude
Page 34
Whenever in-flight maneuvers result in rotation of an aircraft about or near its center of gravity, a restoring moment is created by the changed relative airflow. This restoring moment opposes the control demands, and it arrests maneuvers as and when the control demands cease. The effectiveness of the restoring moment (known as aerodynamic damping) is dependent on the dynamic pressure (i.e., indicated air speed). As altitude increases, true air speed increases for the given equivalent air speed, resulting in decreased aerodynamic forces. Thus, at higher altitudes the pilot must apply greater opposite control movements to arrest rotation.
why does a powered control surface needs a artificial feel system ?
cause they do not feed back to the pilot any sensory information
page 48
what colour container is BCF stored in ?
red
page 172
what is MLS ?
Microwave Landing System, is more accurate then ILS
page 105
why and when should a pilot use 100% oxygen on demand ?
in case a life support reasons
loss of decompression
page 171
can a maximum take off weight aircraft use a reduce take off thrust ?
yes, but needs a longer runway
page 77
what are the wind gust correction applied to the approach speed ?
ex. Vref 120kt, HW 20ktG28kt
120 + 10 (1/2 stable wind) + 8(gust value)=138kt
at the MCC course was:
120 + 5 + 14(1/2 gust factor) = 139
page 286
what is a secondary cell battery ?
is a battery that can be recharged
page 178
what does it mean if a take off weight is limited by an obstacle in the second segment ?
it means that the weight has to be reduce to clean an obstacle in the second segment being able to fly at V2
page 205
what is frontal activity ?
is the interaction of at least 2 air masses
page 249
describe TAT
is the total air pressure
TAT is higher than OAT whenever there is a airflow into the temperature probe (heating error)
page 224
For are the 4 reasons for a variable incidence tailplane stabiliser especially on jet aircrafts ?
- provide balance force for large centre of gravity range
- provide a balancing force for a large speed range
- to cope with large speed changes
- to reduce elevator trim drag to a minimum
Page 43
how do antiskid system work ?
once it sense the wheel is not rotating it releases brakes pressure
page 170
describe a veering and backing wind ?
veering = clockwise change (souther hemisphere) backing = anticlockwise change (northern hemisphere)
page 235
what is the compression ratio of a gas turbine engine ?
is the difference between the Inlet and Outlet part of either a:
- individual compressor stage, or
- the complete compression section of the engine
page 65
How do you prevent span wise flow?
Fences and vortex generators which direct the airflow perpendicular to the upper wing leading edge
Page 11
why is the propeller blade twisted ?
to maintain a constant AoA
page 56
what steps can be taken to safeguard against water contamination ?
- water drain in fuel tanks
- fuel heater (heat the fuel and evaporate water)
- atmosphere exclusion in the fuel tanks
page 172
what is the main influence on mach number ?
if LSS decreases Mn increases
page 123
what is a SIGMET ?
report that advises of significant weather conditions
page 269
what are the ICAO final approach separation minima ?
H-H 4nm H-M 5nm H-L 6nm M-H 3nm M-M 3nm M-L 5nm L-H 3nm L-M 3nm L-L 3nm
page 289
what actions should you take to prevent or remove carburator/throttle icing ?
carburator heat on
page 325
what do you know about CAT II and III procedures ?
they are low visibility procedures
page 299
describe a typical aircraft fire detection and protection system ?
- overheat and fire detection loop
- fault monitoring system
- fire extinguishers and fire circuits
- testing facility
- toilet/cargo smoke detectors
page 83
What are winglets and how do they work?
Are little fences on the wing tip that help reduce drag and increase fuel consumption by preventing the mixing of the bottom and upper wing airflow
Page 11
what is MABH ?
minimum approach break off height, is the lowest height of the wheels above the ground where if a go around was initiated wheels will not touch the ground
page 300
Describe how you would design a high speed aircraft wing?
Thin, minimal chamber, swept wings
Page 19
what are the common types of aviation forecast ?
- Area Forecast
- TAF and Trend
- Special Forecast
page 270
how does humidity affects landing performance ?
high humidity decrease air density therefore reduces aircraft performance and increases LDR
218
how is tire creep detected ?
is detected by a mark that is coincidental on the tire and wheel hub, if it moves so that it doesn’t match up anymore tire creep is happening
page 167
when would you expect carburator icing in a piston engine ?
carby icing = -10º to +30º with a high humidity or visible moisture in the air
throttle icing = +10º to +15º with a relative humidity greater than 40%
page 325
describe an ILS and how it works ?
is the most accurate precision approach landing system
it’s made off two beacons which guide the aircraft to land
the first one is provided by the Localiser which gives left and right on track guidance.
the second one is the Glide Slope which gives up and down on track guidance.
GS extends to 8º left and right and can be captured at 10 nm.
ILS uses 100 to 150 MHz frequency
GS uses 329 to 335 MHz frequency
page 104
can you obtain ground reverse/braking thrust from propellers ?
Yes
ex. Cessna Caravan
page 61
what is temperature ?
temperature is measure of molecule agitation in a substance
page 223
describe tire speed limits
restrict the aircraft maximum take off weight to protect tires from blowing out on take off roll
page 203
What produces the maximum glide range?
Best lift drag ratio, flying at minimum drag speed VIMD (page 2)
what do you know about servo assisted altimeters ?
is more accurate because it doesn’t rely on the mechanical but it’s electrically conducted bar arrangement
page 132
what are the advantages of a pneumatic system over a hydraulic system ?
- air weights less then fluid
- there is an free endless supply of it
page 165
what inflight weather report can you access ?
- flight info services or ATC
- VOLMET
- ATIS
page 269
what are the ICAO ISA conditions at sea level ?
15ºC, QNH 1013, ELP 2º x 1000ft
page 115
what are the FMS’s three sources of input data?
- stored database
- pilot inputs
- other aircraft system
page 157
describe an engine hung start, its causes, indications and actions ?
it happens when the engine ignites but it doesn’t reach its self sustaining rpms due to the insufficient airflow to supply the combustion.
causes:
- low air density (high elevation, hot condition)
- inefficient compression
- low starter rpms
indications:
- EGT above normal
- engine rpms below normal
actions:
- close fuel lever
- motor the engine
to have a successful start in hot and high conditions you need supply more air not more fuel
page 74
what are METARS ?
a snapshot of conditions at the time, compiled every 30 min
they include =
- w/v
- vis
- precipitation
- cloud
- temperature
- dew point
- pressure (QNH)
page 268
what are the disadvantages of an INS ?
errors that do not increase:
- shuler loop
- north alignment
errors that increase:
- incorrect position input (will cause velocity and position error)
- north alignment
Inherent system errors:
- no allowance for distance being greater at height than on the ground (not very large)
- doesn’t make allowance for the earth not being a real sphere
page 94
what is an EFIS ?
is fully integrated computer base digital nav system
page 147
What is Dutch Roll ?
It’s yaw and roll together. It’s a oscillatory instability associated with swept wings.
Page 30
what is the combustion cycle of an piston engine ?
- induction
- compression
- combustion
- exhaustion
page 52
what are the various ETOPS category ?
from 60 to 180 min
page 274
how is range increased when flying into a head wind ?
we want to spend less time as possible into wind and that is why speed in increased. with increased speed to spend less time into wind, the less time we are effected by the wind the more Range we gain.
page 210
What is the aileron and how does it work?
Page 35
what is the runway stopway ?
it’s an area at the end of the runway used for an aircraft to stop in case of rejected take off
page 187
how does wind affect landing performance ?
HW = reduces LDR TW = increases LDR
page 218
What is anhedral ?
Is the downward inclination of the wings to decrease lateral stability ex.antonov Russian plane (page 3)
why gas turbine engine have auto igniters ?
they work by sensing a particular value of incidence of the aircraft and ignite to make sure the engine doesn’t stall in case of turbulent airflow
page 81
describe windshear warning ?
the GPWS will generate the windshear warning.
are active from the ground level to a height of 1500ft.
they require immediate go around at full thrust
page 156
what speed stability difference are there between a jet aircraft and a prop driven aircraft
the jet has poorer stability then prop plane
page 87
what is FADEC ?
full authority digital engine control
page 81
what is an ADS-B ?
Automated Dependant Surveillance Broadcast similar to TCAS
page 153
what is VMO/MMO ?
is the maximum operating speed
page 209
how does a basic CSD work ?
consist of an engine driven hydraulic pump that drives a hydraulic motor which itself drives the alternator
page 180
when are you not permitted to take off from a wet runway ?
- if the antiskid is not operative
- if standing water is too much
- type restrictions
page 200
how do you engage an auto throttle system ?
is engaged by a master switch on the MCP
page 163
what is climb gradient ?
change in height divided by horizontal distance travelled
page 204
how do you time a holding pattern ?
up to 14000ft = 1 minute outbound
above 14000ft = 1 1/2 minute outbound
what is aquaplaning ?
is the phenomenon of tyres skating (not rotating) over the runway surface over a thin film of water
page 321
what are the two main types of anti icing fluids used for deicing on the ground ?
type I fluid = they provide limited protection
type II fluid = better hold over time
hold over time depends upon =
- type of snow
- wet or dry snow
- airframe temperature
- OAT
- amount of precipitation
page 323
what is the purpose of cockpit window heating ?
to reinforce the windshield and prevent it from braking in case of bird strike
page 175
what is the wind direction around a high pressure system ?
clockwise in NH
anticlockwise SH
page 247
describe how a mach meter works ?
measures the airspeed relative to the speed of sound.
It’s a combined ASI and Altimeter.
Mn = dynamic pressure/static pressure
page 128
describe GPS
it’s Global Positioning System.
- it’s made of 24 satellites but only 21 are operative at one time.
- 6 orbital planes (each one is 3-4 satellites)
- each orbital plane is 55º to equator
- 4 satellites will always be in line of sight at any position of the earth
n1 e n2 establish LAT and LONG
n3 confirm the FIX
n4 altitude info
the GPS receiver uses the time delay between transmission and reception to calculate its distance to the satellite
page 95
What are the effects of compressibility?
- airspeed indicator shows and over-read error
- shock wave / drag
Page 25
what is the aviation definition of flight lever ?
pressure lever above standard QNH 1013
page 115
describe secondary (surveillance) radar and how it works /
works on the respondent-reply signal principal
page 110
How do flaps affect take off ground run?
The right a degree of flaps will improve lift and reduce the take off run
Page 41
describe the characteristics and weather common to a passage of a warm front
as the warm front approaches:
- lowering cloud base
- poor vis
- pressure drops
as the front passes:
- temperature rises
- pressure stops falling or rises
- low level stratus
- wind veers
- good vis
page 250
what are the indications of thermal expansion and use of the fire bottle on the side of the aircraft fuselage ?
separate disks, one for extinguishment release and one to indicate use
page 83
what are the IFR flight levels ?
0º to 179º is odd
181º to 359º is even
up to FL290 is 1000ft difference the it becomes 2000ft
RVSM start from FL290 and keep the 1000ft
page 276
describe an engine hot start and its causes, indications, and actions ?
it starts as a normal start but then the EGT rises above max limits
causes:
- overfueling
- air intake/exhaust blocked
- tailwind causing compressor to run backward
- seized engine
actions:
- close fuel lever
- motor the engine
page 75
Describe the change in the centre of pressure as an aircraft speed increases past the critical Mach number ?
As speed increases above Mach critical number the shockwave created will get bigger and move backwards and backward. The highest lift is in front of the shock wave so the CoP will move with it. As the CoP moves rearward it will lift the tail and pitch the nose down causing Mach Tuck
Page 23
what does HUD stand for ?
head up display (EADI)
page 149
how does the wind affects the position of the critical point ?
the critical point moves into wind
page 214
What is CL?
Is made of angle of attack and chamber (page 4)
what are the general EFIS color coding?
green = active or selected white = present situation and scale magenta = command infos cyan = nonactive red = warning yellow = caution black = off
page 149
what is the most most practical way to eliminate a fire ?
remove its oxygen supply
page 172
what procedures would you adopt when flying in a region of volcanic ash ?
- 180º turn
- if in it select high bleed system on
- APU on if necessary to help the engine to restart
page 326
what are active(automatic) controls?
an active control is a control surface that moves automatically
page 49
what is compression ration in a piston engine ?
total volume / clearance volume
page 52
Describe the effects of a stuck stabiliser.
Is degraded longitudinal balancing ability which is due to the employment of the less powerful elevator in providing this longitudinal balancing force
Page 43
What happens to the stall speed at very high altitudes and why ?
The stall speed increases
Because of:
- Mach number compressibility effect over the wing
- compressibility error on the IAS
Page 28
describe the SRA non precision approach ?
a radar controller can provide tracking guidance and height information down to final approach
radar knows lateral position not vertical position
page 301
what is dew and how is it formed ?
is a water cover over the ground that is formed when:
- cloudless night
- moist air
- light winds
page 232
what guaranteed altitude/height would you be able to achieve at MTOW WAT limited conditions with one engine inoperative ?
the circuit height
page 201
what elements are required for a fire ?
- oxygen
- combustible material (ex.fuel)
- ignition source (ex.heat)
page 172
what are the recommended adjustments to HW and TW component when calculating the take off and landing field performance ?
not more than 50% of report HW
not less than 150% of reported TW
should be used to calculate take off and landing performance
page 200
how do you control an aquaplane ?
antiskid system that releases brakes if it senses a skid
page 322
what is ELR ?
Environmental Lapse Rate = 2ºC x 1000ft
page 226
What is negative g force ?
Above 1 g
why does a jet aircraft climb as high as possible ?
because that is where they operate the best .
high rpm speed due to low air density
- minimum cruise airframe drag
- best engine SFC
page 70
how does an automatic brake system decelerates an aircraft ?
the control the amount of break pressure by controlling the metering valve .
usually monitors the reverse thrust and applies the autobrakes and a combined system
page 168
what are the normal route operating performance limitations for an aircraft ?
- en route terrain clearance
- max range limit
- ETOPS (extended twin ops)
page 212
what is the definition of PROB ?
probability of weather change
page 272
what is the significance of the 40 to 100 kt calls during the take off ?
is used to check the requirements that must be established by certain speed called
page 189
what is an INS/IRS ?
Inertial Navigation System, it’s a navigation system, like an internal gps without external assistance.
Inertial Reference System, is a modern INS that work with the FMS and provides actual magnetic position and heading information with reference to the FMS required position and heading
page 92
describe the earth’s magnetic field ?
the earth act like a big magnet with north and south magnetic poles that are slightly offset from the geographic poles
page 142
what is specific heat capacity ?
is the capability to hold heat
page 222
how do you define propeller efficiency ?
propeller efficiency = prop thrust / engine bhp
page 56
what is a procedure turn and when is it used ?
45º/180º
80º/260º
page 302
describe brakes energy limits
restrict the aircraft maximum take off weight to protect brakes from being effective
page 203
What are the 4 flying qualities penalties experienced at very high altitude?
- Restricted operating speed range
- Reduced manoeuvrability
- Reduce aerodynamic damping
- Reduced stability
Page 34
what is a servo driven attitude indicator ADI (remote AH) ?
is used in modern aircraft to display attitude informations calculated by the IRS.
the system is free of errors
page 138
what is and ADF beat frequency oscillator (BFO) used for ?
BFO imposes a tone onto the carrier wave to make it audible to the pilot
page 101
what is the definition of CAVOK ?
- vis equal or greater then 10km
- no clouds below 5000ft or below the highest MSA, and no CB at any altitude
- no precipitations
“CAVOK does not mean clear blue sky”
page 272
what happens to Mn and CAS or IAS when climbing through an isothermal layer at a constant TAS?
isothermal layer is a layer of constant temperature
Mn depends on temperature therefore it will remain constant.
CAS and IAS will decrease
pag 125
What are the effects of raising flaps in flight?
Lift loss
Page 40
what do you need to see to continue at DH for a CAT II approach ?
less restrictive cause more precise then CAT I
- approach light centreline
- touch down zone light
- runway centre lights
- runway edge lights
page 313
what are the different ways of transferring heat energy into the atmosphere ?
- radiation
- conduction
- convection
page 222
where do you find windshear ?
low lever windshear = below 3000ft
- CAT
- frontal passage
- microburst
medium high lever windshear
- CAT in form of jetstreams
- frontal passage
page 254
Describe parallel Yaw Dampers?
They works in parallel with the pilot’s pedals. Their activity is reflected in the rudder bar activity because they move the pedals
Page 42
descrive the weight, altitude and temperature limits
they can all limit the aircraft weight
page 201
what is an holding procedures ?
awaiting procedure
page 292
what is screen height ?
is the minimum height to be achieved before the end of the clearway (should engine failure occur on take off)
page 186
how does the runway length, surface, slope affects take off performance ?
- length can restrict take off weight
- surface can increase or reduce the take off and landing distance per weight
- slope can increase or reduce the take off and landing distance per weight
page 200
what effect does windshear have during an approach for landing ?
during an approach for landing:
- if HW increases (or TW decreases)performance increases, aircraft will Overshoot
- if HW decreases (or TW increases) performance decreases, aircraft will Undershoot
page 319
describe the airflow between a low and a high pressure system
page 248
how does a battery create electrical energy ?
due to chemical action that separates the electrons from from atoms
page 178
what are the gyro flight instruments ?
- DG
- AH
- turn and slip indicator or coordinator
page 135
what is a DME arc procedure ?
a procedure following a DME arc distance
page 302
describe the Auto Throttle control system ?
are designed to control and maintain thrust and speed
page 162
What are the reason/effects of keeping the CoG inside its limits ?
Ensure
- Not too nose or tail heavy
- aircraft pitch control is not compromise
- minimum horizontal tailplane deflection
how are cloud types classified /
- cirriform or fibrous
- cumuliform
- stratiform
- nimbus
- cirro = high level clouds 16500ft to 20000ft
- alto = medium level clouds above 6500
- low level clouds below 6500
page 229
describe SAT
ambient static air temperature
page 224
how do you correct for a high sink rate on approach ?
increase thrust
page 285
on a color weather radar display, what colours represent the areas of greatest turbulence ?
thunderstorms appear as red colour, turbulence are associated with them
page 113
can you extend the outbound leg of an holding pattern as a base tunr ?
Yes
page 303
what is the purpose of a FMS ?
it’s to manage the aircraft performance and route navigation to achieve the optimum results
page 157
how does pressure altitude affects take off performance ?
high pressure altitude decrease take off performance
and vice versa
page 198
What is dihedral ?
Is the upward inclination of the wing to improve lateral stability ex.PA28 (page 3)
what are circuit breakers ?
they are thermal devices that open the circuit when they experience an overload
page 177
describe the purpose built ILS indicator ?
it’s an instrument that can show VOR or ILS depending on the frequency
page 145
how does the use of flaps affects aircraft performance ?
page 197
what is real wander of a gyroscope ?
occurs when the gyroscope’s spin axis moves away from its alignment in space
page 136
What is the best CoG position with a stuck stabiliser and why ?
is the AFT position.
Because it need to be tail heavy to improve elevator movements
page 43
why is it important to monitor pneumatic tire temperature prior to take off ?
an increase in temperature lead to an increase in tire pressure
page 169
how do you calculate the pressure altitude actual height ?
difference between actual QNH and standard QNH multiplied by 27 (27ft x 1 hpa), then add or subtract from starting altitude.
from high to low beware below
from low to high you-re up in the sjy
page 117
describe EAS
is the equivalent airspeed,
is CAS corrected for compresability error
page 121
describe the characteristics of a surface wind ?
at the surface the wind weakens in strength and backs in direction in the Northern H. and veers in the Southern H.
page 238
what is an adequate/suitable aerodrome, especially in regards to ETOPS diversion/alternate aerodrome ?
page 274
