Preflight Flashcards
When is an instrument rating required?
- Under IFR
- In weather conditions less than the minimum for VFR flight
- In class A airspace
- Under special VFR within any controlled airspace during night.
- When carrying passengers for hire on cross-country flights in excess of 50 nautical miles or at night.
What are the recency-of-experience requirements to be PIC of a flight under IFR?
- A flight review
- To carry passengers, 3 takeoffs and landing within the preceding 90 days in the same category, class and type of aircraft.
- Within 6 calendar months, performed and logged (under actual or simulated conditions): 6 instrument approaches, holding procedures and tasks, and intercepting and tracking courses by use of electronic navigational systems. (6-6-HIT)
If a pilot allows his currency to expire, what can be done to become current again?
As soon as currency expires, there is a 6 month grace period where the pilot can complete the required 6 approaches, etc. with a safety pilot on board. If the 6 month grace period expires, the pilot must get an instrument proficiency check by an authorized person.
Explain the difference between “current” and “proficient”.
Being “current” means that the pilot has accomplished the minimum FAA regulatory minimums in order to exercise the privileges of the certificate. It means that you are “legal” to fly, but doesn’t always mean you’re proficient or competent to safely fly. A “proficient” pilot is capable of conducting a flight with a high degree of competence, using a wide range of knowledge and skill. Being proficient is not about just being “legal”, but is about being smart and safe in terms of pilot experience and competence.
What are the required qualifications for a person to act as a “safety pilot”?
The safety pilot must:
- Possess at least a Private Pilot certificate with category and class ratings appropriate to the aircraft being flown.
- Posses an appropriate medical certificate.
- If the flight is to be conducted under IFR flight plan, the person acting as PIC of the flight must hold an instrument rating and be instrument current.
What conditions are necessary for a pilot to log instrument time?
A person may log instrument time only for that flight time when the person operates the aircraft solely by reference to instruments under actual or simulated instrument flight conditions.
When logging instrument time, what should be included in each logbook entry?
Each entry must include the location and type of each instrument approach accomplished and the name of the safety pilot, if required.
What is PAVE?
P : Pilot I - Illness M - Medication S - Stress A - Alcohol F - Fatigue E - Eating/Emotional Currency/Proficiency Personal Documents A : Aircraft Airworthiness Aircraft equipped for flight Inspections V : Environment Weather Hazards, type of terrain, airport/runways to be used, conditions E : External Pressures Meetings, people waiting at destination, desire to impress, desire to get there, etc.
What is WNKRAFT?
W - Weather N - NOTAMs K - Known ATC Delays R - Runway Lengths A - Alternates Available F - Fuel Requirements T - Takeoff/Landing Distances
What are the fuel requirements under IFR?
If NO alternate : Enough fuel to land at destination plus 45 minutes at cruise speed.
If alternate : Enough fuel to land at destination plus enough fuel to land at alternate plus 45 minutes at cruise speed.
What is RAIM?
Receiver Autonomous Integrity Monitoring. It is an extra satellite that monitors the other satellites and makes sure that they are producing a normal signal. If signal is really weak or lost from one of the main satellites, the RAIM satellite will send a signal down to your GPS, telling you so that you can use another means of navigation.
What are the instruments/equipment required for IFR operations?
All of the VFR equipment required plus:
G - Generator/Alternator
R - Rate of Turn Indicator (Turn Coordinator)
A - Altimeter (Adjustable for barometric pressure)
B - Ball (Slip-Skid Indicator)
C - Clock (Hours/Minutes/Seconds/Must be installed as eq)
A - Attitude Indicator
R - Radio/Navigation Equipment (Two-Way Radio)
D - Directional Gyro (Heading Indicator)
D - DME or RNAV (If at or above FL 240)
What are the required inspections?
A - Annual (Every 12 calendar months)
V - VOR (Every 30 days)
1 - 100 Hour (If used for compensation or hire)
A - Altimeter (Every 24 calendar months)
T - Transponder (Every 24 calendar months)
E - ELT (Functionality/Battery Every 12 calendar months)
S - Static System (24 calendar months)
During the preflight in an aircraft without an MEL, you notice that an instrument item is inoperative. Describe how you will determine if the aircraft is still airworthy.
- Is the inoperative equipment listed as as part of the VFR day type certification?
- Is the inoperative equipment required on the aircraft equipment list?
- Is the inoperative equipment required by 91.205?
- Is the inoperative equipment required by an AD?
If not, then I must deactivate and placard the inoperative equipment.
What documents are required on board the aircraft?
A - Airworthiness Certificate R - Registration (3 years) R - Radio License (If operating outside US) O : Operating Limitations (Found in POH) W : Weight and Balance (Found in POH)
When must a pilot file an IFR flight plan?
Prior to departure from within or prior to entering controlled airspace, the pilot must submit a complete flight plan an receive clearance from ATC if weather conditions are below VFR minimums. The pilot should file the flight plan at least 30 minutes prior to ETD.
When will ATC delete from the system a departure flight plan that has not been activated?
Usually 2 hours after ETD.
When can you cancel your IFR flight plan?
Any time the flight is operating in VFR conditions outside Class A airspace.
What are alternate airport requirements?
If from 1 hour before to 1 hour after ETA, the weather is forecasted at least 2,000’ ceilings and 3 SM visibility, you don’t need an alternate. If less than 2,000’ or 3SM, you must plan for an alternate. To plan your alternate, if your alternate has an IAP, the following criteria to be met is:
1. Precision approach procedure : at least 600’ ceilings and 2 SM.
2. Non-Precision approach procedure : at least 800’ ceilings and 2 SM.
If no IAP has been published, the ceiling and visibility minimums are those allowing descent from the MEA, approach, and landing under basic VFR.
What are preferred routes and where can they be found?
Preferred routes are those established between busier airports to increase system efficiency and capacity. Preferred routes are listed in the Chart Supplement U.S.
How does the airspeed indicator operate?
The airspeed indicator measures the difference between RAM pressure from the pitot head and atmospheric pressure from the static source.
What are the different types of aircraft speeds?
- Indicated Airspeed (IAS) - Shown on the dial of the instrument, uncorrected for instrument or system errors.
- Calibrated Airspeed (CAS) - IAS corrected for instrument and position errors during installation.
- True Airspeed (TAS) - CAS corrected for non-standard pressure and temperature.
How does the vertical-speed indicator work?
The VSI is a rate-of-pressure-change instrument that gives an indication of any deviation from a constant pressure level. Inside the VSI instrument case is an aneroid. Both the inside of the aneroid and the inside of the instrument case are vented to the static system. The case is vented through calibrated orifice that causes the pressure inside the case to change more slowly than the pressure inside the aneroid. Changing pressures inside the case and the aneroid compress and expand the aneroid, moving the pointer upward or downward indicating a climb, a descent, or level flight.
What are the limitations of the VSI?
It only shows trend. It is not accurate until the aircraft is stabilized.
