NAVIGATION Flashcards
What are the 3 occasions when the ALIGN light will flash?
- ALIGN fault
- No present position entry after 10min
- Difference between position at shutdown and
entered position exceeds 1 degree of latitude or
longitude - If the aircraft moves during alignment (windy day)
When does the ON BAT light illuminate?
Comes on amber when one or more IRs is supplied only by the A/C battery. It also comes on for a few seconds at the beginning of the alignment, but not for a fast realignment.
What should NOT be tested during APU start?
Compass, because of the location of the APU power on contractor in the cockpit the APU start sequence may disturb the compass reading.
When the ILS is tuned on an RMP, what information is NOT available?
When the flight crew uses an RMP to tune an ILS/DME, the PFDs do not display the DME distance.
What IR information may be available if the IR Rotary Selectors are set to ATT?
- IR mode supplying only attitude and heading
information, if the system loses its ability to
navigate. - The heading must be entered through the CDU
keyboard and has to be reset frequently (10min).
If both FMGS fail, how are navaids tuned?
- RMP in the NAV backup mode, the crew can select
radio communication systems as normal - Setting on RMP to NAV backup mode removes
navaids tuning from both FMGCs.
Which NAV AIDS can be tuned from RMP1 & RMP2 and RMP3?
CAPT RMP: VOR1, ADF1
F/O RMP: VOR2, ADF2
Either RMP: both ILS
RMP3: not used for navaids tuning
Apart from the EWD, where are TCAS failures displayed?
Flag on PFD and ND.
What causes the pressure setting to pulse on the PFD?
When the selection made by the pilot is not correct. STD not selected above transition altitude in climb or STD still selected in approach below transition level or 2500’ radio height if transition level is not available.
When is Radio Altimeter data displayed?
- Lower than 2500 ft
- Green DH+100 ft < RA < dh +100 ft
If no DHs has been entered, or if both FMGC fail,
the radio height appears:
Green: 400 ft < RA < 2500 ft
Amber: when RA is less or equal to 400 ft
In the PLAN mode (ECP) what CANNOT be displayed on the ND?
Weather radar picture
When does CHECK ATT appears on the PFD, and what should you do?
- Both PFDs display “check ATT” if there is a
discrepancy of at least 5 degrees between the
attitude valves, pitch and/or roll. - Crosscheck the three systems; switch the faulty
side to number 3, on the switching panel.
How long does an IRS alignment take?
Completed alignment: 10 mins
Fast alignment: 30 sec
How is a rapid alignment done and when?
- Turn off the 3 ADIRS then turn them back on within
5 seconds - When a full alignment is not needed
What is the first thing you do if there is a NAV ACCUR DOWNGRADE message?
Compare raw data from tuned navaids with FM computed data on ND or PROG.
How can LAT/LONG be adjusted on the MCDU?
Slewing or overwriting, and then press the align IRS prompt. (INIT page)
Why are the wind heading and arrow different?
Wind Heading is displayed in true while the arrow displays in magnetic.
What does ADIRU 2 power?
FO PFD, ND and lower ECAM
What does GPS PRIMARY mean?
GP-IRS position is accurate and used by FMS
What are the inputs for ADIRU 2?
FO angle of attack
FO Total air temperature
FO pitot and static systems
Uses 3 ADMs
How long does a fast realignment take and how do you accomplish that?
30 seconds, Switch all ADIRS knobs to NAV - OFF - NAV for less than 5 seconds
What are the inputs for ADIRU 3?
STBY probes and CAPT TAT
When is the only time the aircraft is navigated by a ground aid?
When APPR is pressed for an ILS approach or LOC is pressed for a LOC approach
What are the inputs for ADIRU 1?
CAPT angle of attack
CAPT Total air temperature
CAPT pitot and static systems
Uses 3 ADMs
How is MIX IRS re-calibrated in-flight?
While in flight using MIX IRS position, FMS re-calculates position based on DME/DME or VOR/DME and applies the BIAS to the FMS position. The MIX IRS position is never changed only the FMS position.
When GPS is lost how is position information calculated?
After alignment, the 3 independent IRs calculate present position. The FMS then take the average as the MIX IRS position.
What are the different partitions of the ADIRUs
(ADR) Air Data Reference :-Pitot/Static info
(IR) Inertial Reference:-Gyro type info (attitude and heading)-position
How does ADIRS calculate present position (PPOS)?
Calculate hybrid position using GPS and IRS positions
IRS position only if GPS fails
Radio Navigation from Internal NAV Database
What systems use the ADIRS data?
(EIS) Electronic Instrument System
FMS
Engine computers
Flight Control computers
Warning Computers
What does ADIRU 1 power?
CAPT PFD, ND and upper ECAM
What does the IR (Inertial Reference) supply data to ?
Airspeed trend
Attitude Indicator and Beta Target (slip/skid)
Instant VSI
Heading
All ND info (except TAS )
G load meter
What functions does the ADR (Air Data) supply data to ?
Airspeed
Altitude
Backup VSI (amber boarder around VSI)
TAS
Total Air Temp (TAT) and Standard Air Temp (SAT)
What does the ADIRS system consist of?
3 separate but identical ADIRUs (Air Data and Inertial Reference Units)
What happens if the Capt’s LEFT EFIS screen fails?
PFD/ND XFR. If a PFDU fails, the system auto transfers the PFD image to the NDU.
What is meant by Independent, Primary, or Secondary failures?
Independent: affects an isolated system without degrading the others, e.g. a pump.
Primary: cost the aircraft the use of other systems, e.g. an engine.
Secondary: loss of systems result of a primary failure, e.g. hydraulics.
With one ECAM screen failed, how is an ADV message shown?
[ADV] shown on bottom half of screen
An advisory message appears on the upper part of the EWD
Associated key on the ECAM control panel lights up.
What causes the ENG SD to be Auto-called on T/O?
1st ENG T/O power.
What is the effect of pressing the T/O CONFIG button?
Test that triggers a warning if the aircraft is not in T/O config.
In single ECAM screen operation, how can a S.D. be displayed? And for how long?
Up to 3 min by pushing and holding the system page P/B (simulates button stuck), even holding longer, disappears after 3mins.
What do the various colors signify on the pushbutton switches on the overhead panel?
(Red, Amber, Green, Blue and White)
RED: immediate action
AMBER: be aware, but no immediate action
GREEN: normal
BLUE: normal operation of a system used temporarily
WHITE: abnormal P/B position, test or maintenance information.
How does the FMGC compute radio position?
IRS DME/DME.
Can you turn the ADR OFF and still have the IR?
Yes.
How many GPS receivers are installed?
The aircraft has two independent GPS receivers. Each GPS receiver is integrated in a modular avionic unit called MMR (Multi Mode Receiver) GPS 1 receiver in MMR1 and GPS 2 receiver in MMR2.
During a turnaround you notice that there is a residual ground speed on both ND’s. How do you correct this?
It is possible to carry out a rapid alignment by turning off all three ADIRS momentarily.
The weather radar image can be displayed on which modes of the ND?
All modes except PLAN.
How does the BACK UP NAV AID TUNING work?
If both FMGCs fail the flight crew can use the Radio Management Panels RMP 1 and 2 on the pedestal for back up tuning. The CAPT RMP controls VOR 1 and ADF 1 the F/O RMP controls VOR 2 and ADF 2.
How many parts does each ADIRU have?
Each ADIRU is divided in two parts either of which can work separately in case of failure in the other: The ADR part and the IR parts
With the DATA selector set to HDG the time remaining until the completed IRS alignment is displayed on the control display. How long does is normally take?
Approximately 10 minutes.
What kind of information is displayed on the Integrated Standby Instrument System (ISIS)?
Attitude
Airspeed and mach
Altitude
Barometric pressure
LS function and bugs.
When does the Predictive Windshear System (PWS) operate?
The PWS operates when the PWS switch is in AUTO position (even if the weather radar is OFF) and the aircraft is below 2300 feet AGL and ATC is switched to ON or AUTO or XPR or XPNDR position (depending on the ATC panel) and either engine is running.
What does the following selections mean:
IR 1(2)(3) Mode Rotary Selector
-OFF
-NAV
-ATT
OFF: The ADIRU 1(2)(3) is not energized. ADR and IR data are not available.
NAV: IR 1(2)(3) Supplies full inertial data to aircraft systems and operates in NAV mode
ATT: IR 1(2)(3) operates in ATT mode
IR 1(2)(3) only provides attitude and heading information
The navigation data are not available
The heading must be entered through the CDU keyboard and has to be reset frequently (about every 10 minutes).
What does the “ON BAT” light indicate on the ADIRS panel?
One or more ADIRUs is supplied only by the a/c battery.
It also comes on for a few sec at the beginning of the alignment, but not for a fast realignment.
Does Selected or Managed Guidance have priority?
Selected Guidance has priority
What do dashes in the FCU display windows along with the adjacent white dot indicate?
FMGS Managed Guidance is in use
How is Selected Guidance engage?
Pull the appropriate selector knob
What are the main components of the FMGS?
2 FMGCs- 2 MCDUs- 1 FCU- 2 FACs
What is the normal operational mode of the FMGS?
Dual mode, with one FMGS as master and the other FMGS as slave
What are the 3 modes of FMGC operation?
- Independent (MCDU scratchpad displays - INDEPENDENT OPERATION)
- Single (ND displays - SELECT OFFSIDE RNG/MODE)
- Dual (Normal)
What input does each FMGC use for position determination?
A hybrid IRS/GPS position
If the NAV key is selected on either RMP, can the FMGC still auto tun navaids?
NO. RMP now control the VOR/ILS receivers- NAV key on RMP 3 has no effect
- Normal radio communication is still available
What is the difference between the magenta and blue target airspeeds?
Magenta: Managed speed computed by the FMGC-
Blue: Selected speed on the FCU
What does it mean when the altitude digits change from green to amber?
The aircraft has descended below the MDA/DH entered into the FMGC
What is the difference between the large and small fonts utilized in the MCDU?
Large: Pilot entries and modifiable data
Small: Default/computed non-modifiable data
What do amber box prompts on the MCDU indicate?
An entry is mandatory
When would a Takeoff Shift be entered on the PERF TO page?
When takeoff begins at a runway intersection
What occurs when managed NAV mode is engaged and the aircraft flies into the flight plan discontinuity?
NAV mode will be lost and the HDG/TRK mode engages
When you turn the ADIRU mode selectors to NAV, what are you looking for on the panel?
Ensure that each ADIRU has the ability to revert to the batteries by observing the BAT light illuminating for several seconds.
What does a flashing white ALIGN light mean?
-No present position entered within 10
minutes of NAV selection.
-Difference of 1 Degree Lat/Long between
shutdown and entered position
-IR alignment fault
What does a flashing illumination of the amber IR “FAULT” light indicate?
Attitude and Heading may be recovered in ATT mode (you have lost the navigation portion)
What would be missing on the Captain’s PFD if IR 1 failed or was turned off?
Attitude and Navigation information.
What action would recover the attitude and navigation information on the CAPT screens?
Selecting CAPT 3 on the EIS switching panel ATT/HDG selector
When is Radio Height displayed on PFD?
Below 2500 ft AGL
What would a flashing amber ILS indicate on the bottom of the PFD?
Flashes amber when APPR mode is armed and the LS display is not selected
With the loss of ADR 1 what would be lost on the Captain’s PFD?
Airspeed and Altitude information
What is Green Dot speed?
Engine out operating speed in clean configuration- Appears when the aircraft is in the clean configuration- Corresponds to the best lift-to-drag ratio
How is Green Dot speed computed?
At or below 20,000 ft equal to 2 x weight in metric tons (2204.6 lbs) + 85- Above 20,000 ft add 1 kt for each 1000 ft (FCOM 3.04.10)
What information is provided by the “IR” units?
-Flight Path Vector
-Airplane Position
-Track
-Heading
-Attitude
-Acceleration
-Ground Speed
-Angular rates
What does a steady white ALIGN light indicate?
The respective IR is in the Align mode
What does it mean when the IR lights are extinguished?
Alignment has been completed
How do you fast align an IR?
Turn the IR mode selectors OFF momentarily (not more than 5 seconds) and then back on.
What does steady illumination of the amber IR “FAULT” light indicate?
The respective IR has a fault.
What does the amber ADR “FAULT” light indicate?
A fault is detected in the Air Data Reference portion.
Does turning the IR to OFF also turn off the ADR?
Yes
Can you turn the ADR OFF and still have the IR?
Yes
What information must be input when the IR is in ATT?
Input Heading on the IR panel every 10 minutes
What is the general idea behind Ground Speed Mini?
Protects against actual groundspeed dropping below this calculated groundspeed
What information does the ADR part of the ADIRU supply?
-Barometric altitude
-Airspeed
-Mach nr
-AOA
-Temperature
- Overspeed warnings
What 4 type of sensors supply information to the ADIRUs?
- Pitot probes (3)
- Static pressure probes (6)
- AOA sensors (3)
- TAT probes (2)
How many pitot probes does the A320 have?
3
How many Static pressure probes does the A320 have?
6
How many AOA sensors does the A320 have?
3
How many TAT probes does the A320 have?
2
How many Air Data Modules (ADMs) does the A320 have?
8
Which probes supplies ADIRU 1?
CAPT probes
Which probes supplies ADIRU 2?
F/O probes
Which probes supplies ADIRU 3?
STBY probes and CAPT TAT
What happens if the IR mode selector is set from NAV to ATT or from NAV to OFF during flight?
NAV mode is lost for the remainder of the flight
