General Knowledge 2

Question 1

What is buffet threshold?

Answer 1

The point at which buffet, either high speed or low speed, is felt first

Question 2

What handling characteristics come from a forward C of G?

Answer 2

Higher stability
Higher stick forces required
Larger stick movements required
Heavier and less responsive handling

Question 3

What is the tailstrike limit on an A319?

Answer 3

13.9

Question 4

What is the tailstrike limit on an A320?

Answer 4

11.7

Question 5

What happens to thrust when autothrust engaged and the thrust levels are moved into the MCT detent?

Answer 5

When thrust levers move beyond the climb detent, thrust becomes manual and is controlled by thrust lever angle, so moving to MCT would give MCT thrust. A/THR would appear in blue, and would reactivate once thrust lever went at or below climb detent.

Question 6

Where does ADR1 receive its information? And ADR2? And ADR3?

Answer 6

ADR 1 from Captain side AOA probe, TAT probe, Pitot probe, Static ports.

ADR 2 as above, but from the FO side.

ADR3 from standby AOA, standby pitot, standby static port and CAPTAINS TAT probe

Question 7

How is ADIRU information sent to the displays, and which displays is it sent to?

Answer 7

Information sent to 3 DMCs (Display Management Computers), which is then sent to the EIS.

Question 8

Where does DMC 3 send its information?

Answer 8

DMC 3 is standby and can send information to any DU

Question 9

What happens if a DMC fails?

Answer 9

DUs controlled by that DMC will display invalid data message.

FWC will generate ECAM message to use the EIS DMC switcher.

FWC does not monitor DU status, so if a DU fails, there will be no ECAM message.

Question 10

What do you do if the ADR part of the ADIRU fails?

How about the IR part?

Answer 10

ADR - Rotate the AIR DATA selector as appropriate

IR - Rotate the ATT HDG selector as appropriate

Question 11

What is the minimum angle of descent speed?

Answer 11

Green dot

Question 12

What is the optimum single engine ROC speed?

Answer 12

Green dot

Question 13

What is computed in the IRs

Answer 13

GAAFHAT - think Inertial Reference via ring lazer gyros and accelerometers, so it’s mostly to do with aircraft movement relative to itself

Groundspeed
Attitude
Aircraft Position
Flight Path Vector
Heading
Acceleration
Track

Question 14

What is the formula for finding out the height of a cloud using the weather radar?

Answer 14

Height=Distance (nm) x tilt x 100

Height is the difference between the radar top altitude and the aircraft altitude

Distance is distance between aircraft and storm cell

Tilt is the tilt setting when the storm cell disappears

An example is if there was a cell 40nm away, at a tilt of 1, then 40 x 1 x 100 = storm cell 4000ft below aircraft

Question 15

After an engine start, what parameters should you look for on ECAM?

Answer 15

N1 under 20%
EGT under 400
N2 under 60%
Fuel flow under 300kg/h
Grey background on N2 disappears

(2, 4, 6, 3)

Question 16

What is the required altimeter accuracy?

Answer 16

PFD - QNH within 25 ft of airfield elevation, and within 20ft of each other

ISIS within 100ft of airfield elevation
Within 60ft of PFDs

STBY ALT within 300ft of airfield elevation

Question 17

How do you disconnect autothrust?

Answer 17

Match donuts, then press A/THR disconnect on the thrust lever twice.

Question 18

What would cause a lower optimum altitude in the MCDU PROG page?

Answer 18

Gross weight increases,
CI increases,
OAT increases,
Favourable winds exist at lower levels

Question 19

What possibe factors affect the maximum altitude?

Answer 19

It it the lowest of:
Maximum Certified Altitude (structural) - Determined during certification, and is a fixed value

Buffet or manoeuvre limited altitude - Altitude at which a specific manoeuvre margin exists prior to buffet onset (1.3g or 40 degrees AoB)

Thrust limited altitude - Altitude at which sufficient thrust is available to provide a specific minimum rate of climb (eg. 300ft/min)

Question 20

If flying at, or close to, the maximum operating altitude, and in a thrust-limited conditon, what do you need to be careful of?

Answer 20

An increase in temperature will reduce the maximum operating altitude, so it may be impossible to maintain speed and would require a descent

Question 21

Are controls more, or less, sensitive at higher altitudes? Why?

Answer 21

More sensitive, because there is less aerodynamic damping.

As a guide, at 290kts CAS at 5000ft, a control input to gain a rate of climb of 500ft/min would generate a climb of 900ft/min if at 35000ft

Question 22

Does the stall speed increase in a turn?

Answer 22

Yes

Question 23

What are the signs of a stall?

Answer 23

Buffeting, 
Lack of pitch authority,
Lack of roll control,
Inability to arrest a rate of descent,
Continuous stall warning

Question 24

Why does engine anti-ice reduce the available engine thrust?

Answer 24

Because they rely on engine bleed air to provide protection. It also increases fuel consumption

Question 25

What should you do if speed decreases below green dot in the cruise?

Answer 25

Reduce bank angle,
Select MCT,
Request descent, and use V/S until speed recovers
Continue using automation

Question 26

What is the max landing weight of an A320 CEO?

Answer 26

66.0t

Question 27

What is the max landing weight of an A320 NEO?

Answer 27

66.3t

Question 28

Does wingtip clearance guarantee tail clearance in a turn?

Answer 28

Yes, except on the A321

Question 29

When is the tailstrike pitch limit indicator active?

Answer 29

Below 400ft RA

Question 30

Can an A321 complete a 180 degree turn on a 30m runway?

Answer 30

No