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Aircraft Instruments Flashcards

1
Q

Describe the four-stroke cycle of a piston engine:

A

Intake - air and vaporised fuel is drawn in
Compression - compressed and ignited
Combustion - combust driving piston down
Exhaust - gases expelled

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2
Q

List the parts of a propeller:

A 
Tip
Trailing edge
Leading edge
Root
Hub
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3
Q

What are the advantages of a piston engine?

A 
Protected
Easy to maintain
Rapid change in rpm
Cheap
Common in training
Short take off and landing runs
Slow approach speeds
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4
Q

What are the disadvantages of a piston engine?

A 
Less economical
More fuel wieght
Wear and tear from engine vibration
Expensive fuel
Low ceiling
Noisy
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5
Q

How do jet engines work?

A

Air flows in, is compressed, combusted and passes through the turbine upon expulsion.
This discharge is a fast moving jet of fluid that generated thrust.

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6
Q

List the types of turbojet:

A

Turbofan
Turboshaft
Ramjet

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7
Q

What are the advantages of a jet engine?

A 
Low vibration and noise
Higher cruise ceiling
Better performance
Lighter
Cheaper fuel
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8
Q

What are the disadvantages of a jet engine?

A

Set up cost
Delay in engine take up
Higher temperature and pressure stresses
High approach speeds and manoeuvre limitations at low levels.

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9
Q

What is a turboprop engine?

A

A turbojet engine with a propeller attached to the turbine.

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10
Q

What are the advantages and disadvantages of a turboprop engine?

A 
Advantages:
Quieter
Efficient for commuter trips, e.i. Short field performance.
Disadvantages:
Low cruise level
Expensive to manufacturer
High frontal area - more drag.
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11
Q

What is an attitude indicator?

A

A gyroscopic instrument that indicates the pitch and angle of bank.
Allows for horizon reference in the absence of.

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12
Q

How is power supplied to gyros?

A

Electric motor or suction pump to create airflow.

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13
Q

What intervals does an AI measure in?

A

5 degree pitch intervals

10,20,30 and 45 degree bank marks.

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14
Q

How does an airspeed indicator work?

A

Airflows in to a pitot tube, where dynamic pressure is measured by removing static pressure from the static vent.

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15
Q

Hwo does an altimeter work?

A

Senses static pressure from static vent, located on side of the fuselage, which is used to measure the difference from the datum pressure and display the relative altitude.

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16
Q

How does a vertical speed indicator work?

A

Measures the rate of change of static pressure, which is displayed as feet per minute.

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17
Q

How does a turn and slip indicator?

A

Gyro measures rate of turn at rate 1,2,3 at 3, 6,12 degrees per second.
Inclinometer measures balance.

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18
Q

How does a direction indicator work?

A

Gyroscope that measures compass points via the aircraft’s horizontal plane.
Must be aligned with compass.

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19
Q

List flight instruments and their acronyms:

A

Radio magnetic indicator - RMI
Horizontal Situation Indicator - HSI
Attitude Indicator - AI
Electronic Flight Information System - EFIS
Primary Flight Display - PFD
Multifunction Display - MFD
Engine Information Crew Alerting System - EICAS

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20
Q

How is direction finding carried out?

A

ADF obtains bearings from NDB.
RMI displays the magnetic bearing from the aircraft.
Can be used for non-precision approach.
RMI can work with any two NDB or VORS

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21
Q

What does a DME indicator display?

A

Distance in nautical miles, ground speed in knots, time to station.
Establishing its range to the ground control.

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22
Q

How is ILS indicated on board?

A

Glidepath set, needle will indicate that flight is above or below.
Localiser set, needle will indicate that flight is port or starboard of.

23
Q

What is a MLS?

A

Microwave landing system.

Functions similar to ILS using HSI wiich enables straight and curved approaches.

24
Q

What onboard systems are used in En-route navigation?

A

INS
GPS
RNAV

25
How is En-route navigation processed?
Navigation aid fed into flight management system, crew input route data, flight director or autopilot navigate.
26
What are the factors affecting aircraft during take-off?
Runway conditions Wind Air density Aircraft weight
27
What are the factors affecting aircraft during climb?
``` Aircraft weight Altitude Wind Temperature Air density ```
28
What are the factors affecting an aircraft during cruise?
``` Aircraft weight Speed Altitude Wind Temperature ```
29
What are the factors affecting aircraft during descent and initial approach?
Aircraft weight Speed and rates of descent Aircraft configuration Wind
30
What factors affect aircraft during final approach and landing?
``` Aircraft configuration Weight Wind Air density Runway conditions ```
31
At what FL is fuel burnt less?
Higher FL
32
What ecological factors affect aircraft performance?
Fuel Jettisoning | Noise abatement Procedures
33
How can environmental impact be reduced?
More continuous climb and descent Direct routing Reducing holding Cruising at higher FL
34
What are the pros and cons of analogue instruments?
``` Pros: Easy to read Rapid changes are easily detected Trends are easily noticed Better situational awareness during rapid changes Cons: Innaccurate Minor changes are difficult to detect Mechanical error ```
35
What are the pros and cons of digital instruments?
Pros: Accuracy Minor fluctuations easily detected Cons: Poor situational awareness during rapid changes Some displays are difficult to read in bright light
36
What information is displayed on engine instruments?
Fuel quantity, flow, pressure and temperature Oil quantity, pressure and temperature Engine power and limitations Electrical power
37
What might be indicated if fuel is lower than expected?
Blocked fuel line Fuel leak Imminent fuel starvation
38
What is engine pressure ratio?
The ratio of pressure difference between the front and the rear of the engine. Should be highest at the rear.
39
What is the limiting factor of a gas turbine engine? | What are it's limits?
Exhaust gas temperature No lower limits Mac upper limit 800°C above which the turbine melts
40
What other services are driven by the engine?
Electical Hydraulic Cabin pressurisation and air conditioning
41
How is aircraft electical power generated and what happens if it fails?
Generator or alternator | If fails reduces electrical services, might rely on battery power
42
What Hydraulic back ups are there?
Hand operated pump Ram Air Turbine (RAT) Nitrogen Blow Down Canister
43
What is EGPWS?
Enhaced Ground Proximity Warning System | Audible warning system that gives instructions to avoid terrain.
44
What are the disadvantages of EFIS?
Over reliance on leading to sudden increase in workload
45
What information is fed into EFIS?
``` Air data computer Flight management system Flight director Inertial Navigation system Weather radar Lightning sensors ```
46
What might cause an powerplant malfunction ?
Engine Failure/fire Propeller damage Foreign object debree/birdstrike Poor inspection/maintenance procedure
47
What are the affects of powerplant malfunction?
Asymmetric flight Climb performance hindered Drift-down Crew workload increased
48
What effect will a Hydraulic maltunction have?
Unable to use control surfaces Can't deploy landing gear Brakes non operational
49
What are SOP?
Standard operating procedures | Standard steps that flight crew will follow to safely and effectively carry out operations.
50
Why do aircraft fly specified routes?
Noise restrictions Airspace restrictions Safe and orderly flow of traffic
51
By what figure do aircraft try and maintain their speed to?
Designated Mach No.
52
``` What affect does high altitude have on: Stability Turn rate and radius Speed range Climb/descent performance ```
Stability is reduced. Turn rate is reduced and radios increased. Speed range decreases with altitude. Climb performance reduced Descent performance reduced by overspeed.
53
How is top descent point calculated?
Height loss x 3.3 = distance in nm

Basic (16 decks)

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