Notecards - Miscellaneous Flashcards
What are all the types of spatial disorientation (Vestibular System Illusions)? (ICEFLAGS)
I: Inversion
C: Coriolis
E: Elevator
F: False Horizon
L: Leans
A: Auto Kinesis
G: Graveyard Spin/Spiral
S: Somatogravic
Vestibular System Illusion:
-The Leans
If entering a turn too slowly to stimulate the motion sensing system in the inner ear, and abrupt correction of a banked attitude can create the illusion of banking in the opposite direction.
The disoriented pilot will roll the aircraft back into its original attitude, or if level flight is maintained, will feel compelled to lean in the perceived vertical plane until this illusion subsides.
Vestibular System Illusion:
-Coriolis
Occurs when the pilot has been turning long enough for the fluid in the ear to move at the same speed as the canal, which is then followed by an abrupt head movement.
A movement of the head in a different plane, such as looking at something in a different part of the flight deck or grabbing a chart, may set the fluid moving and create the illusion of turning or accelerating on an entirely different axis.
The disoriented pilot may maneuver the aircraft into a dangerous attitude in an attempt to correct the aircraft’s perceived attitude.
Pilots must develop an instrument cross check or scan that involves minimum head movement. Always avoid abrupt head movements especially at night or in instrument conditions while making prolonged constant rate turns.
Vestibular System Illusion
Somatogravic
A rapid acceleration, like experienced during takeoff, stimulates the otolith organs in the same way as tilting the head backward.
This action creates the illusion of having a nose-up attitude, especially in situations without good visual references.
The disoriented pilot may push the aircraft into a nose low or dive attitude.
It should be noted that a rapid deceleration will have a similar affect, but in the opposite manner.
Vestibular System Illusion
Inversion
An abrupt change from climb to straight and level will make the pilot feel like he is tumbling backward.
The disoriented pilot will push the nose forward low and possibly intensify the illusion.
Vestibular System Illusion
Elevator
An abrupt upward vertical acceleration, like when in an updraft, can stimulate the otolith organs to create the illusion to being in a climb.
The disoriented pilot may push the aircraft into a nose low attitude.
The abrupt downward vertical acceleration, usually in a downdraft, has the opposite effect.
The disoriented pilot will pull the aircraft into a nose up attitude.
Night Illusions
False Horizon
Dark nights tend to eliminate reference to a visual horizon.
The disoriented pilot will align with a perceived horizon. Could be lights that look like stars or other reference features.
At night pilots need to rely less on outside references and more on flight and navigation instruments.
Night Illusions
Autokinesis
Caused by staring at a single point of light against a dark background for more than a few seconds. After a few moments, the light appears to move on its own.
Maintaining a proper scan as well as focus on objects at varying distances.
Landing Illusions
Runway Width
A narrower than usual runway can create an illusion the aircraft is higher than it actually is, especially when runway length and width is comparable.
A wider than usual runway can have the opposite effect, with the risk of leveling out high and landing hard or overshooting the runway.
Landing Illusions
Runway Slope
An up sloping runway (or upsloping terrain features) can create an illusion the aircraft is at a higher altitude than it actually is
Causing the pilot to fly a lower approach
A down sloping runway (or terrain features) can create the illusion the aircraft is lower than it actually is.
Causing the pilot to make a higher approach
Landing Illusions
Featureless Terrain
Lack of horizon or surface reference is common on overwater flight, at night, or in low visibility conditions.
An absence of surrounding ground features, such as overwater approach, darkened area, or terrain made featureless by snow, can create an illusion the aircraft is at a higher altitude than it is.
Landing Illusions
Ground Lighting
Light along a straight path, such as a road, can be mistaken for a runway.
Landing Illusions
Aircraft Lighting
When the landing light illuminates the runway, just as with ground lighting illusions, it makes the lighted area higher than the non-lighted area.
As a result, pilots may fly a higher than normal approach.
Atmospheric Illusions
Water Refraction
Rain on the windscreen can create an illusion of being at a higher altitude due to the horizon appearing lower than it is.
Can cause a lower approach to be made than desired.
Atmospheric Illusions
Haze
Haze can create an illusion of being farther from the runway.
As a result, the pilot will tend to be low on the approach.
Prior to takeoff the altimeter should be set to which altimeter setting?
The current local altimeter setting, if available or the departure airport elevation.
In Millibars Ex. 29.92
In the northern hemisphere, a magnetic compass will normally indicate initially a turn towards the west if?
A right turn is entered from a north heading.
under which condition will true altitude be lower than indicated altitude?
In colder than standard air temperature
What does the red line on an airspeed indicator represent?
The never exceed airspeed.
Under what condition is pressure altitude and density altitude the same value?
At standard day conditions
15/59 degrees
29.92(sea level)
How do variations in temperature affect the altimeter?
Pressure levels are affected.
Raised on warm days. Warm air is less dense and exerts less pressure, which can cause an altimeter to read a higher altitude than actual (bad for performance).
Lowered on cold days. Cold air is more dense and exerts more pressure, which can cause the altimeter to read a lower altitude than actual (good for performance).
If a flight is made from an area of low pressure (Hot) into an area of high pressure (Cold) without the altimeter setting being adjusted, the altimeter will indicate?
Lower than the indicated altitude.
What are the instruments that make up the Six Pack?
Air speed indicator
Attitude indicator
Altimeter
Turn coordinator
Heading indicator
Vertical speed indicator
Which instrument will become inoperative if the pitot tube becomes inoperative.
The airspeed indicator.
The pitot tube provides impact pressure for only the airspeed indicator.
Which V speed represents maneuvering speed?
V(A)
Which color identifies the normal flap operating range on an airspeed indicator?
The white arc
After takeoff which airspeed would a pilot use to gain the most altitude in a given period of time?
V(Y)
The speed that provides the best rate of climb and maximum altitude gain in the least amount of time.
What is the V speed that represents the best angle of climb?
V(X)
At which altitude will the altimeter be set to 29.92, when climbing to cruising flight level?
FL180
18,000
What is density altitude?
Pressure altitude corrected for nonstandard temperature.
What is pressure altitude?
Height above a standard datum plane. (Takeoff point/Aircraft position above Sea Level).
Or
The altitude indicated when the barometric scale is set to 29.92.
During flight when are the indications given from the magnetic compass accurate?
During straight and level unaccelerated flight
V(S0) is defined as what?
The stalling speed
or the minimum steady flight speed in landing configuration.
If the pitot system and static vents were to be clogged which instruments would be clogged?
Airspeed Indicator
Altimeter
Vertical speed indicator
Which V-speed represents maximum flap extended speed.
V(FE)
V(NO) is defined as?
Normal operating range also known as the maximum structural cruising speed.
Which condition would cause a lower altitude than true altitude?
Air temperature warmer than standard.
Altimeter setting is the value to which the barometric pressure scale of the altimeter is set so the altimeter indicates?
True altitude at field elevation.
What is field elevation?
The officially designated elevation of an airport above mean sea level.
What is True Altitude?
The vertical distance of an aircraft above mean sea level.
