IRF Knowledge Test Flashcards
What is a way point when used for IFR flight?
A predetermined geographical position used for an RNAV route or an RNAV instrument approach.
What is TAS?
True airspeed is Calibrated Airspeed corrected for altitude and non-standard temperature. Because air density decreases with an increase in altitude, an aircraft has to be flown faster at higher altitudes to cause the same pressure difference between pitot impact pressure and static pressure. Therefore, for a given CAS, TAS increases as altitude increases; or for a given TAS, CAS decreases as altitude increases.
Why is it important to have the correct altimeter setting?
It allows the altimeter to read true altitude at field elevation
The miniature airplane on the turn coordinator will indicate
Rate of roll and rate of turn
During normal coordinated turns, what error due to precession should you observe when rolling out to straight-and-level flight from a 180 degree steep turn to the right?
The mini aircraft would show a slight turn indication to the left.
A jet stream is defined as a wind of
50 knots or greater
Under which condition does advection fog usually form?
Moist air moving over colder ground or water
Which is a characteristic of low level wind shear as it relates to frontal activity?
With a warm front, the most critical period is before the front passes the airport
Under what meteorological condition does the pilot have to assume the existence of wind shear?
Either a wind shift or a wind speed gradient at any level in the atmosphere
Frontal waves normally form on
slow moving cold fronts or stationary fronts
What are the four families of clouds?
High, middle, low and those with extensive vertical development
Which precipitation type normally indicates freezing rain at higher altitudes?
Ice pellets
The presence of wet snow at your flight altitude indicates the freezing level is
above you
A common type of ground or surface based temperature inversion is that which is produced by
ground radiation on clear, cool nights when the wind is light
Which feature is associated with the tropopause?
Abrupt change in temperature lapse rate
A pilot planning to depart at 1100Z on an IFR flight is particularly concerned about the hazard of icing. What sources reflect the most accurate information on icing conditions (current and forecast) at the time of departure?
PIREP’s, AIRMET’s and SIGMET’s
What was the location of the aircraft at the time of this PIREP?
UA/OV OKC 063064/TM 1522/FL080/TP C172/TA -04/WV 245040/TB LGT/RM IN CLR.
64 nautical miles on the 63 degree radial from Oklahoma City VOR
What is the meaning of a bracket(]) plotted to the right of the station circle on a weather depiction chart?
The station is an automated observation location
What important information is provided by the Radar Summary Chart that is not shown on other weather charts?
Lines and cells of hazardous thunderstorms
What conclusion(s) can be drawn from a 500 mili-bar Constant Pressure Chart for a planned flight at FL 180?
Observed temperature, wind, and temperature/dew point spread along the proposed route can be approximated.
What weather conditions are predicted within an area whose coverage is identified as ISOL?
less than 4/8th coverage of cumulonimbus clouds
-Isolated CBs can only be depicted when they are embedded (EMBD) in clouds or concealed by haze.
What weather conditions are predicted within an area whose coverage is identified as OCNL?
4/8 to 6/8 coverage of cumulonimbus clouds
-can be depicted with or without embedded EMBD
What weather conditions are predicted within an area whose coverage is identified as FRQ?
more than 6/8 coverage of cumulonimbus clouds
What information is provided by a Convective Outlook (AC)?
It defines areas of slight, moderate, and high risk of severe and general thunderstorm activity
While airborne, what is the maximum permissible variation between the two indicated bearings when checking one VOR system against the other?
4 degrees between the two indicated bearings to a VOR
What distance is displayed by the DME indicator?
Slant range distance in NM
Where does the DME indicator have the greatest error between ground distance to the VORTAC and displayed distance?
High altitudes close to the VORTAC
What is the meaning of a single coded identification received only once approximately every 30 seconds from a VORTAC?
The DME component is operative and the VOR component is inoperative.
Which DME indication should you receive when you are directly over a VORTAC site at approximately 6,000 feet AGL?
1
When installed with the ILS and specified in the approach procedures, DME may be used
in lieu of the OM
How should a pilot determine when the DME at an airport is inoperative?
The airborne DME may appear normal, but there will be no code tone.
What is the difference between an SDF and an LDA facility?
The SDF course width is either 6 or 12 degrees while the LDA course width is approximately 5 degrees.
What is the difference between a Localizer Type Directional Aid (LDA) and the ILS localizer?
The LDA is not aligned with the runway.
How wide is an SDF course?
Either 6 or 12 degrees
Which range facility associated with the ILS is identified by the last two letters of the localizer identification group?
Middle compass locator
Which range facility associated with the ILS can be identified by a two letter coded signal?
Compass locator
What substitution is permitted when an ILS component is inoperative?
A compass locator or precision radar may be substituted for the ILS outer or middle marker.
Approximately what height is the glide slope centerline at the MM of a typical ILS?
200 feet
During IFR en route and terminal operations using an approved GPS system for navigation, ground based navigational facilities
must be operational only if RAIM predicts an outage
The aircraft’s transponder fails during flight within Class D airspace. What response is required?
No deviation is required because a transponder is not required in Class D airspace.
What is the significance of an ATC clearance which reads “CRUISE SIX THOUSAND…”?
Climbs may be made to, or descents from, 6,000 feet at the pilot’s discretion
What is the recommended climb procedure when a nonradar departure control instructs a pilot to climb to the assigned altitude?
Maintain an optimum climb on the centerline of the airway without intermediate level-offs until 1,000 feet below assigned altitude, then 500 to 1500 feet per minute.
When on a VFR-on-Top clearance, the cruising altitude is based on
a) magnetic course
b) magnetic heading
c) true course
Magnetic course
A “CRUISE FOUR THOUSAND FEET” clearance would mean that the pilot is authorized to
Vacate 4,000 feet without notifying ATC
What is the recommended procedure for transitioning from VFR to IFR on a composite flight plan?
Prior to transitioning to IFR, contact the nearest FSS, close the VFR portion, and request ATC clearance.
For IFR planning purposes, what are the compulsory reporting points when using VOR/DME or VORTAC fixes to define a direct route not on established airways?
Fixes selected to define the route.
During a takeoff into IFR conditions with low ceilings, when should the pilot contact departure control?
When advised by the tower
When not in radar contact, you should always report
departing the FAF inbound
What action should you take if your No. 1 VOR receiver malfunctions while operating in controlled airspace under IFR? Your aircraft is equipped with two VOR receivers. The No. 1 receiver has VOR/Localizer/Glide Slope capability, and the No. 2 receiver has only VOR/Localizer capability.
Report the malfunction immediately to ATC
Unless otherwise specified on the chart, the minimum en route altitude along a jet route is
18,000 feet MSL
ATC instructs you to hold at 6,000 feet. What is the maximum indicated airspeed you may use?
200 knots
(Refer to figure 78) When flying from Billings (BIL) on V611, what does the ‘*6000’ indicate?
Minimum altitude which provides reception within 25 SM of the BIL VORTAC and obstacle clearance along the entire route segment.
What altitude may a pilot select upon receiving a VFR-on-Top clearance?
Any appropriate VFR altitude at or above the MEA in VFR weather conditions.
While being radar vectored, an approach clearance is received. The last assigned altitude should be maintained until
established on a segment of a published route or IAP.
Where does the DME indicator have the greatest error between ground distance to the VORTAC and displayed distance?
High altitudes close to the VORTAC.
To level off from a descent maintaining the descending airspeed, the pilot should lead the desired altitude by approximately
50 feet
What is the first fundamental skill in attitude instrument flying?
Instrument cross-check
In the event of a two-way radio communications failure while operating on an IFR clearance in VFR conditions the pilot should continue
the flight under VFR and land as soon as practical
If while in level flight, it becomes necessary to use an alternate source of static pressure vented inside the airplane, which of the following variations in instrument indications should the pilot expect?
The altimeter will read higher than normal, airspeed greater than normal, and the VSI will momentarily show a climb
The rate of turn at any airspeed is dependent upon
the horizontal lift component
While in IMC, a pilot often interprets acceleration or deceleration forces as a sensation of
climbing or descending
How can you obtain pressure altitude on flights below 18,000 feet?
Set your altimeter to 29.92” Hg.
If the OAT increases during a flight at constant power and at a constant indicated altitude, the true airspeed will
increase and true altitude will increase.
Why is it important to have the correct altimeter setting? it allows the altimeter to read
true altitude at field elevation.
What information does a Mach meter present?
The ratio of aircraft true airspeed to the speed of sound.
One characteristic that a properly functioning gyro depends upon for operation is the
resistance to deflection of the spinning wheel or disc.
What is the correct sequence in which to use the three skills used in instrument flying?
Cross-check, instrument interpretation, and aircraft control.
In straight and level instrument flight using primary-secondary instrument scanning technique, which instrument is primary for pitch?
Altimeter
For maintaining level flight at constant thrust, which instrument would be the least appropriate for determining the need for a pitch change?
Attitude indicator