ERAU Ground Knowledge Flashcards
What is the process for determining if you can operate w/ inoperative equipment?
“4321”
- 4 things to check: Type certificate data sheet, kinds of operations list, comprehensive equipment list, and 91.205
- 3 things to do: deactivate, placard inop, record
- 2 people: owner/operator and maintenance
- 1 decision: by PIC
When do you need to turn the NAV light on?
- sunset
When can you log night time?
- after evening civil twilight
When can you log night landings?
- 1 hour after sunset
What causes thermals?
- sun heating the ground and the ground heating the air above it
- small plumes of warm air begin to rise, spinning around randomly and eventually bumping into each other
- found in areas with large areas of dark ground
What altitude does surface friction begin at?
- 3,000 ft
What is a cruise clearance?
- allows you to climb/descend w/in a block of airspace between the assigned top altitude and MEA at pilot’s discretion
- once you declare vacating, you cannot return to top altitude
- clears you for the approach at destination airport
What does “descend via” mean?
- descend to meet all crossing restrictions, follow lateral route, and meet speed limits
What does “cleared for” mean?
- maintain last assigned altitude, follow lateral route, and meet speed limits
How do you calculate fuel on board?
- (fuel remaining/cruise fuel burn rate) + est. time enroute
What is declination?
- difference between magnetic north and true north
What are the weather conditions required for the ILS critical area to become active?
- ceiling below 800 ft, and less than 2 SM visibility
How close to the VOR should you slow to your holding speed?
- 3 minutes
Explain the “high key” point and the “low key” point.
- high key point = over first 1/3 of landing spot where pilot begins turn and descent
- low key point = abeam end of landing spot
Why are 3 gallons unusable?
- fuel tank pick-up location
- water is heavier than fuel so it settles at the bottom and can’t go into engine
Do you need a clearance to fly an ODP?
- no
When performing a VCOA, how close to the airport do you need to remain?
- 2 NM
How close to the VOR does the cone of confusion begin?
- around 0.5 NM
When does reverse sensing occur on a VOR?
- AHRS failure, when you are flying to a VOR w/ a from indication (old VOR), or when you are flying from a VOR w/ a to indication (old VOR)
What is the zone of ambiguity on a VOR?
- 90 degrees offset from a VOR and the radial that 90 degrees to is dialed in
- VOR won’t know if you are TO or FROM
How does a VOR produce radials?
- 2 antennas emitting the same frequency
- 1 antenna is stationary (reference phase), while the other antenna rotates (variable phase)
- aircraft measures the phase shift between the frequencies
How can you find VOR ground checkpoints?
- chart supplement and they marked on the airport
What is a diverse departure?
- when an aircraft can depart in any direction and remain clear of obstacles
Why do departure procedures use FPNM instead of FPM?
- groundspeed changes your climb gradient
What is known icing?
- observed
What are the components of an ILS?
- guidance (localizer, glide slope)
- range (marker beacon, DME)
- visual (approach/runway lighting)
If you get an LOI annunciator while shooting an RNAV approach, can you fly the published missed?
- no, you should report “loss of navigation to ATC”
What is WAAS and how does it work?
- Wide area augmentation system
- improves the accuracy and integrity of GPS signals (3M of accuracy 95% of the time)
- Step 1: GPS satellites are monitored by WAAS ground station for corrections
- Step 2: 2 master stations collect data from reference stations to create GPS correction message
- Step 3: Correction message is sent to geostationary satellite
- Step 4: Corrected message is broadcast from geostationary satellite to WAAS capable aircraft