GCAA PPL Theory Exam flashcards

32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.

VFR minimum visibility

In ICAO airspace at and above 3,050 m AMSL, VFR flight requires 8 km flight visibility; below that level it requires 5 km, with cloud separation of 1,500 m horizontally and 300 m vertically.

Right-of-way converging

When two aircraft converge at the same level, the aircraft on the right has the right of way; the other must give way and avoid passing over, under, or in front of it.

VFR fuel reserve

For VFR aeroplane flights, plan enough fuel to reach the destination plus a reserve of 30 minutes by day or 45 minutes by night at normal cruising altitude.

Semicircular cruising levels

For VFR above 3,000 ft, magnetic tracks 000–179° use odd thousands plus 500 ft; tracks 180–359° use even thousands plus 500 ft.

Four-stroke cycle

The piston engine cycle has induction, compression, combustion (power), and exhaust strokes; one complete cycle takes two crankshaft revolutions and four piston strokes.

Carburettor icing conditions

Carburettor icing is most likely at ambient temperatures between about 0°C and 10°C with high humidity; it can occur in clear air and causes RPM loss.

Altimeter subscale setting

Set QNH to read elevation above mean sea level on the ground; QFE reads height above the reference point; QNE uses 1013.25 hPa for flight levels.

Density altitude

Density altitude is pressure altitude corrected for temperature; it rises about 120 ft per °C above ISA and increases takeoff and landing distances while reducing climb performance.

Crosswind component

Crosswind component equals wind speed multiplied by the sine of the angle between wind direction and runway heading; headwind component uses the cosine.

Centre of gravity calculation

Total moment equals weight multiplied by arm; divide total moment by total weight to get CG position, which must lie inside the certified envelope for all loads.

Best angle of climb

Vx gives the greatest height gain for horizontal distance and is used to clear obstacles; Vy gives the greatest height gain per unit time.

Hypoxia symptoms

Hypoxia causes euphoria, headache, impaired judgement, and visual changes; use supplemental oxygen above 10,000 ft and descend if symptoms occur.

Spatial disorientation

Spatial disorientation is a false perception of aircraft attitude, often from vestibular illusions; trust the instruments and avoid sudden head movements in cloud.

Night vision

Night vision relies on rod cells, which are poor at detail and colour; use off-centre viewing and allow about 30 minutes for dark adaptation.

ISA sea-level values

International Standard Atmosphere at sea level has 15°C, 1013.25 hPa, and density 1.225 kg/m³; temperature decreases 2°C per 1,000 ft to the tropopause.

Unstable air indicators

Unstable air produces cumuliform clouds, showers, turbulence, and good visibility between showers; stable air produces stratiform cloud, haze, and steady precipitation.

Cold front passage

A cold front moves quickly and brings cumulonimbus cloud, heavy showers, thunderstorms, wind shifts, and a temperature drop after passage.

QNH versus QFE

QNH is the altimeter setting that makes the instrument read elevation above mean sea level; QFE makes it read height above the aerodrome reference point.

Magnetic variation conversion

To convert true to magnetic, subtract easterly variation and add westerly variation; do the opposite when converting magnetic to true.

One-in-sixty rule

A 1° tracking error places the aircraft about 1 nautical mile off track after 60 nautical miles; use it to estimate heading corrections.

Track and heading

Track is the path over the ground; heading is the direction the aircraft nose points; the difference is drift, corrected by the wind correction angle.

VOR radial

A VOR radial is a magnetic bearing from the station; the CDI centres when the selected radial matches the aircraft's position line, with TO/FROM indicating direction.

Engine failure after takeoff

Lower the nose to maintain the published glide speed, select a landing area, avoid sharp turns, and complete the engine failure checklist only if time permits.

Wake turbulence avoidance

Stay above and upwind of a larger aircraft's flight path; on takeoff rotate after the preceding aircraft's rotation point and land before its touchdown point.

Sterile cockpit

Below 10,000 ft or during critical phases, pilots must avoid non-essential conversation and tasks to maintain attention on flying and navigation.

Lift formula

Lift equals lift coefficient times half the air density times velocity squared times wing area; it increases with angle of attack up to the critical angle.

Stall critical angle

A wing stalls at the critical angle of attack, typically about 15°, regardless of speed, weight, or altitude; stall speed rises with weight and load factor.

Induced drag

Induced drag results from lift production and decreases as speed increases; parasite drag increases with the square of speed, so total drag is lowest at L/D maximum.

Load factor in level turn

In a level turn, load factor equals 1 divided by the cosine of the bank angle; stall speed increases by the square root of the load factor.

MAYDAY distress call

MAYDAY is spoken three times to signal grave and imminent danger; it has priority over all other transmissions and should include position, nature of distress, and intentions.

Transponder emergency codes

Squawk 7700 for a general emergency, 7600 for radio failure, and 7500 for unlawful interference; set the code and notify ATC as soon as possible.

Phonetic alphabet digits

ICAO digits include tree for three, fife for five, and niner for nine; pronounce each digit separately in frequencies, headings, and altitudes.