ANAC Commercial Pilot Airplane (PCA) flashcards

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

Critical angle of attack

The angle of attack at which the wing stalls; it is a fixed value for a given wing and is reached regardless of airspeed, weight, or attitude, though stall speed changes.

Load factor in level turn

For a level turn, load factor n equals 1 divided by the cosine of the bank angle. At 60 degrees bank, n is 2 and stall speed rises about 41 percent.

Induced drag

Drag caused by lift production, greatest at high angle of attack and low speed; it decreases as speed increases. Total drag is minimum at the best lift-to-drag ratio speed.

Ground effect

Reduction in induced drag and increase in lift when flying within about one wingspan of the surface, caused by restricted airflow around the wing; it can cause floating during landing.

Magnetic variation

The angular difference between true north and magnetic north at a location. Magnetic heading equals true heading minus easterly variation or plus westerly variation; deviation is a separate compass error.

1 in 60 rule

A one-nautical-mile off-track error after 60 nautical miles flown corresponds to one degree of heading error. Used to compute correction angles and track errors.

VOR radial

A magnetic bearing measured from the VOR station outward. With the CDI centered, the selected course and TO/FROM flag identify the radial being tracked.

ADF relative bearing

The angle between the aircraft's nose and the direction to the NDB station. Magnetic bearing to the station equals magnetic heading plus relative bearing.

RAIM

Receiver Autonomous Integrity Monitoring: a GPS function that checks satellite signals for consistency and warns the pilot when position integrity cannot be assured for navigation.

Density altitude

Pressure altitude corrected for nonstandard temperature. It increases with high elevation, temperature, humidity, and low pressure, degrading takeoff, climb, and landing performance.

Best angle of climb Vx

The speed giving the greatest altitude gain per unit of horizontal distance. It increases with altitude and equals Vy near the absolute ceiling; used to clear obstacles.

Best rate of climb Vy

The speed giving the greatest altitude gain per unit of time. It is used for fastest climb to altitude and decreases with altitude until it meets Vx.

Service ceiling

The altitude at which the aircraft's maximum climb rate falls to 100 feet per minute. The absolute ceiling is the altitude where climb rate becomes zero.

Weight and balance moment

Moment equals weight multiplied by arm. Total moment is the sum of individual moments, and center of gravity equals total moment divided by total weight.

Weight shift formula

Moving a weight changes the center of gravity by the product of the weight moved and the distance moved, divided by the total aircraft weight.

Maximum zero-fuel weight

The maximum weight allowed excluding usable fuel. Exceeding it overstresses the wing root structure regardless of whether maximum takeoff weight is respected.

VFR fuel reserve Brazil

Under RBAC 91, VFR flights must carry a reserve of 30 minutes by day and 45 minutes by night, in addition to trip and contingency fuel.

Hypoxia time of useful consciousness

The period before incapacitation at altitude: about 3 to 5 minutes at 25,000 feet and 30 to 60 seconds at 35,000 feet without supplemental oxygen.

Somatogravic illusion

A false sensation during rapid acceleration that feels like a climb, prompting a pilot to pitch down. Trusting instruments prevents this spatial disorientation error.

Coriolis illusion

A tumbling sensation caused by moving the head during a sustained turn, when fluid in the semicircular canals is disturbed. Avoid rapid head movements under instrument flight.

Carbon monoxide poisoning

Odorless gas binding hemoglobin and reducing oxygen transport. Symptoms include headache and drowsiness; suspect it with cabin heat use and treat with fresh air and oxygen.

Standard atmosphere

Sea level pressure 1013.25 hPa, temperature 15 degrees Celsius, with a lapse rate of about 2 degrees Celsius per 1,000 feet up to the tropopause.

Altimeter high-to-low error

Flying from high pressure to low pressure without resetting the altimeter causes the aircraft to be lower than indicated; hot to cold air has a similar effect.

Microburst escape

On encountering a microburst, apply maximum power, pitch to maintain attitude and avoid the ground, and do not chase the glideslope; expect sudden airspeed loss.

Thunderstorm life cycle

Three stages: cumulus with updrafts, mature with both updrafts and downdrafts plus hail and lightning, and dissipating with downdrafts. Avoid cells by at least 20 nautical miles.

VFR cloud clearance minima

Below 3,050 meters in controlled airspace: 5 km visibility, 300 meters horizontal and 150 meters vertical from cloud. At or above 3,050 meters: 8 km visibility, 600 and 300 meters.

Pilot recency for passengers

To carry passengers, a pilot must have completed three takeoffs and three landings within the preceding 90 days in the same category, class, and type if required.

Right-of-way converging aircraft

When two aircraft converge at similar altitude, the one with the other on its right gives way. Head-on, both turn right; lower category number has priority.

Constant-speed propeller governor

The governor adjusts blade angle using engine oil pressure to maintain the selected RPM. Increasing blade angle to coarser pitch reduces RPM at constant power.

Blocked static port

The airspeed indicator behaves like an altimeter, the altimeter freezes, and the vertical speed indicator stops responding. Use the alternate static source if available.

Carburetor icing conditions

Ice forms most readily at 20 to 70 percent relative humidity and ambient temperatures roughly between minus 7 and plus 21 degrees Celsius. Carburetor heat enriches the mixture.

Go-around procedure

Apply full power, establish a positive climb, retract flaps in stages, and re-brief the approach. Never force a landing from an unstable approach.

Emergency transponder codes

Squawk 7700 for an emergency, 7600 for radio communication failure, and 7500 for unlawful interference. Distress calls use MAYDAY; urgency calls use PAN-PAN.

Readback requirement

Pilots must read back clearances, runway assignments, hold short instructions, altitude assignments, and frequency changes, including the aircraft call sign, to confirm understanding.