Instruments Flashcards
(20 cards)
What is the Basic T layout, and what instruments does it include?
The four primary essential instruments needed for safe flights
Airspeed Indicator
Attitude Indicator
Altimeter
Compass (Gyro-driven Directional Indicator)
What is the Six-Pack in aviation instrumentation?
The Basic T instruments +…
Turn Co-ordinator
Vertical Speed Indicator
How does the Airspeed Indicator work, and what are its limitations?
Airspeed Indicator works on the pitot-static system which measures the speed through dynamic and static air pressure.
The limitations are, it needs to be calibrated due to altitude, air density and temperature
Does Airspeed show TAS or IAS?
IAS
What is the Pitot Tube?
Measures air speed through dynamic pressure. Converts the pressure into knots (kts)
What is the Static Port?
Measure speed through static pressure
How does the Attitude Indicator (Artificial Horizon) work, and what are its limitations?
It uses a gyroscope to show pitch and roll (for orientation relative to the horizon)
Its limitations are, the due to gyroscopic precession, it may give false readings, especially when accelerating
How does the Altimeter work, and what limitations does it have?
It measures the altitude through the atmospheric pressure. It is calibrated with the local barometric pressure (QNH)
Its limitations are, it is affected by the weather and it requires calibration
When accelerating, what false reading would the Attitude Indicator show?
Nose up indication and bank to the right
When decelerating, what false reading would the Attitude Indicator show?
Nose down indication and bank to the left
What is the purpose of the Compass in an aircraft, and what corrections are needed?
Show the direction relative to magnetic north
Its requires correction for the deviation of the aircraft’s magnetic field
Its limitations are, errors occurs when turning, accelerating, magnetic variation
What information does the Turn Coordinator provide, and what assists this?
IT shows the rate and direction of turns
It is assisted be the Inclinometer (ball) which shows whether a turn is coordinated (ball centred) or un coordinated (off centred) to help the pilot maintain balanced flight when using their rudder
What does the “Coordinated Turn Indicator” show?
Whether the turn is coordinated. This is showed by a ball or inclinometer
What does the “Rate of Turn” Indicator show?
Rate at which the aircraft is turning, per second
What is a “Coordinated Turn”?
A turn is balanced and coordinated which is shown by the ball or inclinometer being centred
What is an “Uncoordinated Turn”?
A turn has either too much slip (insufficient rudder) or skid (excessive rudder)
What is the Directional Indicator (DI), and how does it work?
It uses a gyroscope to display the aircrafts current heading, in degrees. It also shows the principle of rigidity in space by showing a fixed orientation despite the aircrafts movement
What is an important difference between the DI and the magnetic compass?
The DI and compass move in opposite directions
What types of DI are there, and what are their differences?
Slaved Gyro: Aligns with a remote magnetic heading source, such as a fluxgate compass or inertial navigation system (INS)
Free Gyro: Aligns with the Earth’s magnetic heading (independently)
What is the Vertical Speed Indicator (VSI), how does it function, and what is its limitation?
Also known as the Rate of Climb Indicator (ROC) shows the rate of climb or descent
It functions by detecting the changes in the static pressure during ascends or descends, converting it to feet per minute
Its limitation is, it experiences lag as a result of the delay in pressure to get to the diaphragm or aneroid capsule
