Technical Interview 10 Flashcards
How would you explain to your neighbour what the difference is between a precision and a non-precision approach?
A precision approach uses both lateral (from left to right) and vertical guidance. A non-precision approach only uses lateral guidance.
What are the effects on the human body in case of depressurisation?
Hypoxia, a lack of oxygen to tissues of the body due to low partial pressure at altitude.
Symptoms are: blue lips, apparent personality change, impaired judgement, muscular impairment, short term memory loss, sensory loss, hyperventilation, unconsciousness.
What errors would cause an altimeter to malfunction?
Altimeter errors:
Instrument error
Pressure error
Time-lag error
Barometric error
What is RVSM?
Reduced Vertical Separation Minima (RVSM) is the reduction, from 2,000 feet to 1,000 feet, of the standard vertical separation required between aircraft flying between flight level 290 (29,000 ft) and flight level 410 (41,000 ft).
How does TCAS work?
The Traffic Collision Avoidance System was introduced in order to reduce the risk ofmid-air collisionsbetween aircraft.
TCAS is an aircraft system based onSecondary Surveillance Radar(SSR) transponder signals. TCAS interrogates the Mode C andMode Stransponders of nearby aircraft (‘intruders’) and from the replies tracks their altitude and range and issues alerts to the pilots. TCAS will not detect non-transponder-equipped aircraft and will not issue any resolution advice for traffic without altitude reporting transponder.
Two types of alert can be issued -**TA(Traffic Advisory) andRA**(Resolution Advisory).
TA is intended to assist the pilot in the visual identification of the conflicting aircraft and prepare the pilot for a potential RA.
If a risk of collision is established by TCAS, an RA will be generated. RAs tell the pilot the range of vertical speed at which the aircraft should be flown to avoid the threat aircraft. It is accompanied (acompanid) by an audible message indicating the intention of the RA. A “Clear of Conflict” message will be generated when the aircraft diverge (daiverch) horizontally.
Non-Threat Aircraft
White or cyan/blue open diamond shape
Within +- 2700 ft
Proximate Aircraft
White or cyan/blue solid (full) diamond shape
Within +- 1200 ft and 6 NM
Threat Aircraft - Traffic Advisory (TA)
Yellow or amber solid (full) circle
35-45 seconds from a collision
Threat Aircraft - Resolution Advisory (RA):
Red solid (full) square
20-30 seconds from a collision
What do you need to descend from MDA on a non-precision approach?
You will need to have a clearance, to be stable and stablish the required visual references.
How does an altimeter work and which errors can an altimeter experience?
When an aircraft climbs, the static pressure in the instrument case decreases, which allows the enclosed capsule to expand.
This in turn moves the needle on the instrument to indicate a corresponding altitude.
During descent, the opposite function applies.
Altimeter errors can originate and vary from:
Instrument
Pressure
Time-lag
Barometric
Density
Temperature
Blocked static port
What is EGPWS?
Enhanced Ground Proximity Warning System, provides a greater level of detection than GPWS.
EGPWS is capable of ‘looking ahead’ to identify potential risks on the aircraft flight path as it includes a terrain and obstacle database.
How does GPWS work?
The Ground Proximity Warning System (GPWS) generates advisory Alerts and mandatory response Warnings to the flight crew in respect of their proximity to terrain.
GPWS operates between 50 and 2450 feet actual height above the Earth’s surface.
The central processing unit, which receives inputs from the radio altimeter, mach meter, air data computer, glide path deviation, undercarriage and flap positions, and navigation system, determines if the aircraft is approaching terrain or an obstacle and generates either an alert or warning.
What is CRM?
Crew Resource Management (CRM) is the effective use of all available resources for flight crew personnel to assure a safe and efficient operation, reducing error, avoiding stress and increasing efficiency.
This includes improving communication, situational awareness, problem-solving, decision-making, and teamwork. CRM was developed in response to insights gained from flight data recorders and cockpit voice recorders, which revealed that many aircraft accidents were caused by crew members’ inability to respond appropriately to the situation. CRM training has been introduced by most airlines to improve crew skills and promote safer operations.
What charts/plates did you use at Oxford? What do you prefer and why?
Note: question was asked to a candidate who had an Oxford Aviation Academy background, make sure to be able to answer this question for your own background.
Aerad plates.
I prefer Jeppesen plates as I find them better readable than Aerad so I can get the information which I need faster.
You are at the end of the runway with the static ports blocked. What will be the reading on the altimeter after departure?
The elevation at which the airplane departed from the runway.
You are flying in a straight line on an airway when your company calls and requests you to return to base, what will you do first?
Inform ATC.
How does an airspeed indicator work and which errors can an airspeed indicator experience?
The airspeed indicator uses part of the aircraft’s pitot-static system to measure and compare the dynamic air pressure between air moving into the pitot tube and static air pressure measured in the case.
The ASI is calibrated to ISA at MSL and represents the dynamic pressure as indicated airspeed in knots per hour.
ASI errors can originate and vary from:
Instrument
Pressure
Density
Compressibility
Maneuver
Blocked pitot static system
You need to uplift four tonnes of fuel, how many litres would you ask for if the SG is 0.8?
5000 litres
