Flight Instruments

Question 1

What does the airspeed indicator (ASI) measure?

Answer 1

Difference between ram air pressure in pitot tube and ambient pressure in static port.

Question 2

How does the altimeter function?

Uses an ____________ ____________ to compare air pressure in the _____________ port to a known local pressure set by the ____________.

Answer 2

Uses an aneroid barometer to compare air pressure in the static port to a known local pressure set by the pilot.

Question 3

Above what altitude is the altimeter set to standard 29.92” Hg?

Answer 3

Above 18,000 feet.

Question 4

What principle causes the altimeter to indicate higher than true altitude when flying from high to low pressure or temperature?

Answer 4

“High to low, look out below!”

Question 5

How does the vertical speed indicator (VSI) show rate of climb?

Answer 5

Using a calibrated leak within the unit’s pressure chambers.

Question 6

What is the primary cause of pitot-static system errors?

Answer 6

Blockages in the pitot tube or static port.

Question 7

What happens if the front of the pitot tube is blocked and the static port is clear?

Answer 7

ASI reads zero.

Question 8

What happens if both the front and drain holes of the pitot tube are blocked and the static port is clear?

Answer 8

ASI freezes in place.

Question 9

What happens if the pitot tube is clear but the static port is blocked?

Answer 9

ASI reads inaccurately (reads lower at higher altitudes, higher at lower altitudes).

Question 10

What are the two main principles of gyroscopic instruments?

Answer 10

Rigidity in space and precession.

Question 11

What does the attitude indicator (AI) show?

Answer 11

Bank and pitch.

Question 12

What error might the attitude indicator display during acceleration or deceleration?

Answer 12

May show a pitch up during acceleration and a pitch down during deceleration.

Question 13

What must be periodically done to the directional gyro (DG) due to precession?

Answer 13

Recalibrate it to the correct magnetic heading.

Question 14

What does the turn coordinator (TC) show?

Answer 14

Rate of turn and rate of roll.

Question 15

What is the standard rate turn indicated by the turn coordinator?

Answer 15

A full circle in 2 minutes (90° turn in 30 seconds).

Question 16

What error occurs in a magnetic compass due to electrical fields in the cockpit?

Answer 16

Deviation.

Question 17

How is magnetic variation corrected?

Answer 17

Subtract east variation from true heading to get magnetic heading; add west variation.

Question 18

What is the magnetic compass error when turning from a northern heading in the Northern Hemisphere?

Answer 18

Shows a lag (undershoot north, overshoot south - UNOS).

Question 19

What is the magnetic compass error during acceleration or deceleration?

Answer 19

Acceleration shows a turn to the north, deceleration shows a turn to the south (ANDS).

Question 20

What is the primary pitch instrument in straight and level flight?

Answer 20

Altimeter.

Question 21

What is the supporting pitch instrument in straight and level flight?

Answer 21

Attitude Indicator (AI), Vertical Speed Indicator (VSI).

Question 22

What is the primary bank instrument in straight and level flight?

Answer 22

Directional Gyro (DG).

Question 23

What is the supporting bank instrument in straight and level flight?

Answer 23

Attitude Indicator (AI), Turn Coordinator (TC).

Question 24

What is the primary power instrument in straight and level flight?

Answer 24

Airspeed Indicator (ASI), Tachometer (TACH).

Question 25

What instruments should be checked during an IFR taxi check?

Answer 25

Clock, ASI, AI, altimeter, VSI, DG, TC, compass.

Question 26

What does the Attitude Heading Reference System (AHRS) replace?

Answer 26

Attitude Indicator (AI), Directional Gyro (DG), Turn Coordinator (TC).

Question 27

What does the Air Data Computer (ADC) replace?

Answer 27

Airspeed Indicator (ASI), Altimeter, Vertical Speed Indicator (VSI).

Question 28

What is the function of the Flight Director (FD)?

Answer 28

Computes desired flight path and assists with turns, heading, course, pitch, and vertical speed for autopilot or hand flying.

Question 29

What information does the Primary Flight Display (PFD) show?

Answer 29

Graphically displays information typically found on traditional “big six” instruments.

Question 30

What does the Multi Function Display (MFD) show?

Answer 30

Moving maps, weather, system data, traffic, and other stored information.

Question 31

How do you compensate for a VSI that reads inaccurately during an IFR taxi check?

Answer 31

Note the difference and compensate while in flight.