Basic instrument flight

Question 1

What are the 6 primary flight instruments?

Answer 1

Airspeed indicator, artificial horizon, altimeter, turn coordinator, directional indicator, vertical speed indicator.

Question 2

What do you do if you inadvertently enter a cloud?

Answer 2

Perform a 180 degree turn to return from the direction you entered the cloud.

Question 3

If turn coordinator/artificial horizon is not working how can you measure a rate 1 turn?

Answer 3

IAS/10 + 7 - angle of bank you should pitch for, for a rate 1 turn (for 1 min for 180 degrees)

Question 4

Describe the ‘leans’ illusion

Answer 4

A slow roll to the left followed by a sharp roll back to wings level.

Question 5

What is a somatogravic illusion

Answer 5

This type of illusion occurs when acceleration is mistaken for a pitch up, due to the fluid in the otolithic organ moving backwards, and as a result we pitch the nose down - check artificial horizon for this.

Question 6

Taxi checks

Answer 6

DI (aligned with compass), turn coordinator (black flag), artificial horizon.

Question 7

Which instruments are used in a climb?

Answer 7

Artificial horizon, airspeed indicator, Directional indicator.

Question 8

Which instruments are used during a descent?

Answer 8

Artificial horizon, directional indicator and vertical speed indicator.

Question 9

Which instruments are used during a turn?

Answer 9

Artificial horizon, altimeter, turn coordinator, directional indicator.

Question 10

Autokinetic illusion

Answer 10

Autokinesis is a visual illusion where a light can appear to move when stared at in the dark. It occurs most often on dark nights in areas with few visual cues (such as other lights or other illuminated objects or landmarks). This can be dangerous for pilots flying at night, as they may well mistake this apparent motion for movements of their aircraft making corrections with dangerous consequences.

Question 11

Graveyard spin illusion

Answer 11

A pilot in a prolonged coordinated, constant rate turn will have the illusion of not turning.
An observed loss of altitude during a coordinated constant-rate turn that has ceased stimulating the motion sensing system can create the illusion of being in a descent with the wings level.
During the recovery to level flight, the pilot will experience the sensation of turning in the opposite direction (leans).
The pilot may return the aircraft to its original turn and, in doing so, continue to lose altitude.
Instruments will likely indicate a descent at this point, causing the pilot to try to correct for the illusion of a level descent.
Pilot pulls back on yoke, tightening the spiral and increasing loss in altitude.