Technical Questions

Question 1

How fast do you have to fly from HNL-SYD to never see the sun set?

Answer 1

1000
The earth spins at 1,000 mph west to east. So traveling 1,000 mph east to west would leave the sun in the same position in the sky.

Question 2

When do VOR’s switch from magnetic to true north.

Answer 2

82N

Question 3

Descending into LGA, pass the final approach fix and braking reported nil captain won’t go missed, what do you do?

Answer 3

State clearly that the runway is not suitable for landing…against regulation and take aircraft if necessary

Question 4

What would you do if you turned off the runway onto a closed taxiway?

Answer 4

Stop, notify atc and coordinate the best course of action for getting back onto the correct taxiway with atc and my crew. Fill out asap and make use of threat and error management.

Question 5

The Captain wants to land on a short runway and the performance numbers say unable, what will you do?

Answer 5

Slowly escalate. Hey capt, showing the landing distance assessment is going to allow us to land. Hey capt, maybe we can try this runway/ this field instead, the overnight there is awesome and let’s get dinner. Hey capt, this is making me uncomfortable. Hey capt, I’ll calling ATC/DX with our intentions- this is clearly dangerous…

Question 6

Memory Items for an RA

Answer 6

A320 Autopilot and FD off

Question 7

Can you tell me a memory item of the plane you currently fly?

Emerg. Descent

Answer 7

Emergency Descent

Cabin Crew          NOTIFY
FSTN Belts.          ON
Thrust Levers.      IDLE
Speed Brakes.      Open
Airspeed.              MAX 250 kias
Landing Gear.       Down
Descent.               Initiate
Altitude.                MEA or 10,000ft
                              Whichever is higher

Question 8

What happens if the weather drops below minimums outside the FAF?

Answer 8

You may not continue the approach under Part 121. You go missed.

Question 9

What happens if the weather drops below minimums inside the FAF?

Answer 9

You may continue the approach. You may land if you meet the required flight visibility by minimums.

Question 10

What is the difference between transition level and transition altitude?

Answer 10

Level= set local alt in descend. Transition= set standard on climb.

Question 11

What is the max flap extension altitude for your current plane?

Answer 11

FL 200

Question 12

What is the definition of Flight Into Known Icing?

Answer 12

Temperature below freezing and visible moisture

Question 13

How far from the US coastline is 250kt restriction below 10,000’ valid?

Answer 13

12nm

Question 14

If you’re on a departure and a controller gives you “climb maintain FL190” do you have to comply with the previous published crossing altitudes? What about the previous airspeed restrictions?

Answer 14

No longer required to comply with Altitude restrictions, however, must comply with speeds till advised

Question 15

What is a dihedral?

Answer 15

upward angle of an aircraft’s wing, from the wing root to the wing tip

the angle between an aircraft supporting surface (such as a wing) and a horizontal transverse line.

Question 16

Can you explain a dutch roll?

Answer 16

a series of out-of-phase turns, when the aircraft rolls in one direction and yaws in the other.

Dutch roll is a type of aircraft motion, consisting of an out-of-phase combination of “tail-wagging” and rocking from side to side.

Question 17

What are RVSM altitude airspace?

Answer 17

FL 290-FL410. Reduced Vertical Separation Minima

Question 18

What altitude is used for fuel burn to your alternate?

Answer 18

45 minutes at normal cruising speed. Altitude will very based on planning, location and ATC. Minimum would have to be MSA to clear all terrain

Question 19

What part of the approach plate is the final segment?

Answer 19

FAF to the MAP

Question 20

Where is the touchdown zone on a runway?

Answer 20

First 3000 ft

Question 21

Where do the numbers come from that are on a holdover chart?

Answer 21

Appendix B: Testing Labs in the FAA holdover times guidelines manual.

Question 22

Look at approach chart - ATC leaves you high and fast. What can you do to get slow and low?

Answer 22

Ask for relief, or slow down then go down drop the flaps. I would shallow my descent rate to get below Vfe and drop the flaps one or two notches and steepen up my descent rate. That will slow the plane down and help it lose altitude fast, as long as I was stable by 1000 ft

Question 23

What does the maltese cross on the approach plate mean?

Answer 23

Final Approach Fix for a non-precision approach - it may or may not coincide with the GS intercept

Question 24

Where is the FAF on an ILS?

Answer 24

Glide slope intercept

Question 25

What are the visibility requirements for an ILS with centerline lights out of service?

Answer 25

Look for TDZ/CL out on the approach plate. Watch for a note that reduces RVR to 1800 with Flight Director or Autopilot or HUD to DA.

Question 26

Where can you find the highest obstacle and MSA on SID?

Answer 26

MSA is shown on the departure plate around the route and highest obstacle is shown by a black bold arrow

Question 27

What is the maximum bank angle under normal law with maximum side stick deflection?

Answer 27

67degress

Question 28

What is the maximum pitch up angle when you pull on the side stick?

Answer 28

30 degrees

Question 29

What are the flight control laws?

Answer 29

Prevents exceeding VMO and MMO by introducing a pitch up load factor demand. The pilot can not override the pitch up command.

Question 30

How does a spin occur?

Answer 30

When one wing stalls more than the other.

Question 31

When would you declare minimum fuel?

Answer 31

Landing with 45 min or less fuel endurance

Question 32

What is VRef?

Answer 32

1.3 stall speed for a configuration

Question 33

What is coffin corner?

Answer 33

Too heavy for too high an altitude where you are close to both over speeding the a/c and stalling the a/c

Question 34

Walk me through some basic descent planning?

Answer 34

3 miles per 1000 ft of altitude you need to lose. GS X 5 = descent rate ft/min

Question 35

What is the difference between minimum fuel and emergency fuel?

Answer 35

Minimum fuel- does not give you priority, advises atc any delays may create an emergency and means you may land with less than the required 45 mins of ifr reserve. Emegency fuel- less than 30 min of flight time remaining, need to land now.

Question 36

Volcanic ash is reported at the airport of your arrival. It is night time, how would you know if you flew into a volcanic ash cloud? What would you do?

Answer 36

You would know by decrease in engine performance, smell and st. elmo’s fire. I said I would make 180 degree turn and advise ATC since that would be the quickest way out.

Question 37

Approach plate of an airport in Guatemala (I cant remember which one sorry). The approach had an arch, got asked multiple questions about the approach plate including: -Transition Altitude/Transition Level(they were different) - If left high what could we do to get down (wanted me to say hold over VOR on the field) - FAF on ILS -Maltese Cross - WX drops below mins before FAF what do you do? After FAF what do you do?

Answer 37

Wx drops below mins prior to faf, go around, after you may descend to DA.

Question 38

What threats are associated with VIRGA?

Answer 38

Downdrafts/ microbursts

Question 39

How long does a microburst last?

Answer 39

5-15 minutes

Question 40

Explain your current planes Windshear escape procedure

Answer 40

E145, Max thrust, A/P off, follow the flight director, no configuration changes until clear of windshear, then thrust as necessary, HDG, select an altitude and FLCH, A/P on

Windshear” (any pilot), G/A
AP off, TL max, G/A button, PF: “Max”, wings LVL, pitch up 20° or PLI (remain between FD [stable] and PLI [nervous])
Do not change config (only once terrain cleared and
above 1500ft/AGL or after WDSHEAR label disappears)
(reasons: Safer with LDG gear down when touching GND;
flaps retraction could lead to a stall)
PM monitors V/S and calls out if A/C is descending In W/S mode: No ASEL ALT will be captured “Positive” W/S. Pilot’s decision to continue or to G/A “Negative” W/S; downdrafts

Question 41

What do you need to in order to descend below MDA/DA?

Answer 41

91.175 runway environement in sight

Question 42

What are MALSR lights , or rabbit lights?

Answer 42

Medium Intensity Approach Lighting System with Runway Alignment Lights, helps us to ensure we are lined up properly with the runway.

Question 43

What is V1,V2, Vref, Vap?

Answer 43

V1 - Speed at which we continue the takeoff even if we have an emergency V2 - Climb speed that ensures sufficient aircraft control Vref - Reference speed for approaches, plan to cross threshold at 50’ and at Vref Vap - Approach speed (Vref with additives for wind, gusts, icing, etc.

Question 44

On the ILS DME-1 RWY01 into Guatamala City, how would you get down if you were high and fast, also what altitude would you climb to if you had to go around without comms?

Answer 44

Descend in the hold. Go around and climb to the highest altitude in the MSA, even if.you might be on the lower side of a sector.