Aviation Information Flashcards
Cyclic Control (Helicopter)
Is the stick that controls a helicopters movement forward, backward, or sidewise. It also controls radio, intercom, and trim (Pitch, Roll, Hover).
The cyclic controls the rotor disk tilt versus the horizon, which directs the rotor disk thrust to enable the pilot to control the direction of travel of the helicopter.
Collective Control (Helicopter)
Used to change pitch angle of propeller blades. Makes the helicopter go up and down. Hovering occurs when lift and weight are equal.
The collective is used to make changes to the pitch angle of the main rotor blades and does this simultaneously, or collectively, as the name implies
Swashplate
Translates input from a helicopters flight controls into motion & pitch of main rotor blades, resulting in directional movement
Stabilizer Bar & Flybar
Help maintain a constant plane of rotation
Effective Translational Lift
Is the speed at which the rotor system realizes the benefits of horizontal airflow. This happens when the helicopter moves into undisturbed air & out of the downwash. This happens between 16 & 24 knots. “Improved efficiency that results from directional flight.”
Transverse Flow Effect
The difference in airflow between the fore & aft parts of the rotor disk is known as the transverse flow effect. This creates unequal drag in rotor disk and causes vibrations.
Dissymmetry of Lift
As a helicopter is moving forward there is more airflow on the advancing rotor blades vs the retreating blades. To compensate use flapping or cyclic feathering to compensate.
Translating Tendency
When a helicopter is hovering, it tends to drift to the right. Caused by lateral thrust of the tail rotor.
Tail Rotor
Pushes against the helicopters tail to counteract the torque of the propeller blade.
Ramjet Engine
A inlet, combustion Zone & a nozzle
Operations for landing an aircraft
Extend spoilers upward > Extend flaps > Lower landing gear > raise flaps
Maximum Zero Fuel Weight
Permissible weight of the aircraft, including all its contents, unusable fuel but not consumable fluids & usable fuel.
Manufactures Empty Weight (MEW)
Is the weight of the aircraft as it was built without everything.
Operating Empty Weight (OEW)
MEW + The Crew, Fluids (not useable fuel) & equipment necessary
Temperature Dewpoint Spread
Fog is likely to occur when the spread is within 5o and spread is decreasing.
Spoilers
Reduce Lift & Increase Drag
Airbrakes
Increase Drag & do not affect lift
Dihedral Wings
Angled upward and provide a stabilizing effect on the aircraft.
Thrust Horsepower Equation
Thrust x speed (in MPH) / 375
Flight Envelope
Limits of speed, Altitude & Angle of Attack to maintain a stable flight
Trim
Desired position of the aircraft
During a spin both wings are in a stalled condition
right wing is less stalled & continuing to produce a small amount of lift causing the rotation.
What causes altimeter setting to vary between airports?
Unequal heating of the earths surface
Minimum Obstacle clearance height in mountainous terrain
2000ft when no minimum altitude is recommended.
Types of BASI or VASIS - Visual Approach Slope Indicator (Stacked light bars)
-AT-VASIS: abbreviated T visual approach slope indicator system
-T-VASIS : Visual Approach Slope Indicator System which can be installed flush with the runway pavement surface to provide approach guidance to that runway. A T-VASIS installation will span a large area on each side of the runway centerline extending along it from just beyond the runway threshold for approximately 500 meters
-PAPI: precision approach path indicator (four lights in a single row, normally on the left side of the runway).
-APAPI: abbreviated precision approach path indicator
What is the difference between a LDA (Localizer Directional Aid) & an ILS (Instrument Landing System)?
o LDA course width is more precise.
o LDA is generated from a VOR facility.
o LDA does not have glideslope (A limited amount do but it’s rare).
o LDS is not aligned with the runway.
Electric Gyro Instruments Checklist
Inspect Heading & Attitude indicators are uncaged > Check fluid levels of turn/slip indicator & magnetic compass > Inspect outside mounted venturi > listen for unusual noises.
Coriolis Force
An internal force that acts on an object in motion, relative to a rotating frame of reference.
Gyroscopic Precession
deflection of a spinning object when a force is applied to this object. This action occurs approximately 90° later in the direction of rotation from the point where the force is applied.
Where are changes in airspace published?
The federal registrar
Absolute Altitude
Known as AGL (above ground level), or the vertical distance above the ground.
True Altitude
Height above MSL (mean sea level)
Density Altitude
Pressure altitude corrected for nonstandard temperature.
Pressure Altitude
Indicated when an altimeter is set to 29.92 or once an aircraft enters FL180.
Ground Speed
True Airspeed corrected for wind
Calibrated Airspeed
IAS corrected for instrument & instillation errors. More deviations at low airspeed & high pitch attitudes.
True Airspeed
Speed of the aircraft in relation to the airmass it’s moving through. As you climb your TAS is higher than your IAS. This is because the air is less dense and fewer molecules are entering the pitot tube & decreasing IAS. Roughly 2% for every 1000ft.
Speed of Sound
761 mph, 666 knots, Mach 1 (Decreases with altitude, at FL30 speed will be 589 knots)
Supersonic Speed
Greater than Mach 1 (Mach 2 = 2x speed of sound)
Hypersonic Speed
Greater than Mach 5 (5x the speed of sound)
Taxiing
Strong quartering tailwinds = aileron down on the upwind
Parasite Drag
Is a type of aerodynamic drag that acts on any object when the object is moving through a fluid. Parasitic drag is a combination of form drag and skin friction drag.
Skin Friction Drag
Arises from the friction of the fluid against the “skin” of the object that is moving through it.
Interference Drag
Interference drag is generated when the airflow across one component of an aircraft is forced to mix with the airflow across an adjacent or proximal component.
Profile Drag
Also known as Parasite Drag
Induced Drag
lift and is produced by the passage of an airfoil (e.g. wing or tailplane) through the air.
Form Drag
Arises because of the shape of the object.
Fixed Pitch Propeller
the simplest of propeller designs and is associated with many light, piston engine aircraft.
Variable Pitch Propeller
is a type of propeller with blades that can be rotated around their long axis to change the blade pitch.
Constant Speed Propeller
is one where the pilot sets the desired engine speed (RPM), and the blade pitch is controlled automatically without the pilot’s intervention so that the rotational speed remains constant.
Aircraft Right of Way (Types of craft)
Balloons > Glider > Airship > Airplane > Rotorcraft
Aircraft Right of Way (Direction of flight)
o Head-on: Divert to the Right
o Converging: Aircraft to the right has right of way
Shallow Turn
Bank of up to 20 degrees
Partial Power Descent
Descent: 500fpm
Speed Limits
o Below 10,000ft = 250kts
o At or below 2,500ft within 4nm of Class C or D Airport: 200kts
o Below Class B in a VFR corridor: 200kts
Which aircraft component(s) affect roll?
ailerons and the spoilers
Which type of climb is made with the maximum power available?
a best rate of climb
This climb is used to clear obstacles in the flight path.
a best angle of climb
What type of helicopter design uses a ducted fan in place of a tail rotor to cancel
torque effect?
the NOTAR
coaxial rotor system
The coaxial rotor system cancels torque effect by using counterrotating
rotor heads.
the tandem rotor system
The tandem rotor system cancels torque effect
through the use of counter-rotating rotor heads.
When flying a helicopter, what response should be taken if the rpm is low and the
manifold pressure is high?
lower the collective pitch
What part of the aircraft structure supports the tail rotor?
the tail boom
If magnetic north is a positive 15-degree variation (west) from true north, to convert true north to magnetic north when flying eastbound, what is the adjustment a pilot must make to the magnetic compass?
add 15 degrees
“East is least, west is best.” The adjustment is a 15-degree west variation.
What item was developed to reduce compass reading errors?
a vertical card compass
Which instrument indicates if an aircraft is in a climb, in a descent, or in level
flight?
vertical speed indicator
The altitude measured AGL is called ______________.
Absolute altitude is measured above ground level (AGL)
Density altitude
pressure altitude modified for a nonstandard temperature
Pressure altitude
is an indicated altitude determined with a standard atmosphere level setting of
29.92 Hg.
True altitude
is measured from mean sea level (MSL).
