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ANAC Commercial Pilot Airplane (PCA) study materials
ANAC Commercial Pilot Airplane (PCA) study resources

ANAC Commercial Pilot Airplane (PCA): Principles of Flight

ANAC Commercial Pilot Airplane (PCA) · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.

All guide sections

Principles of Flight

Aerodynamics

Understand lift generation, angle of attack (AoA), stall, load factor, stability, and control. Know the four forces and how they interact.

Key concepts

  • Lift = ½ ρ V² S CL; CL depends on AoA and configuration.
  • Stall: critical AoA, not a specific speed; stall speed increases with weight and load factor (Vs ∝ √n).
  • Load factor: n = L/W; increases in turns and pull-ups.
  • Stability: longitudinal (pitch), lateral (roll), directional (yaw).
  • Control: aileron, elevator, rudder; adverse yaw; P-factor.
  • Drag: induced (AoA-dependent) vs parasite (speed-dependent); L/D max at best glide.

Traps

  • Believing a stall is a speed - it is an angle of attack.
  • Forgetting load factor increases stall speed (√n).
  • Mixing induced vs parasite drag curves.
  • Confusing static vs dynamic stability.

Worked example / rule of thumb

Stall speed at 1 g = 50 kt. At 2 g, Vs = 50 × √2 ≈ 70.7 kt. Rule of thumb: load factor doubles in a 60° bank level turn (n = 1/cos 60° = 2).

Best glide = L/D max; induced drag = parasite drag at that point.

Communications

Radiotelephony

Know standard phraseology, call signs, readback requirements, distress/urgency (MAYDAY/PAN-PAN), and emergency frequencies (121.5 MHz). Understand VHF vs HF, PTT discipline, and position reporting.

Key concepts

  • Distress (MAYDAY): grave and imminent danger; urgency (PAN-PAN): urgent but not immediate danger.
  • Readback: clearances, runway, altitude, heading, frequency must be read back.
  • Call signs: aircraft registration or flight number; use consistently.
  • Emergency frequency: 121.5 MHz (VHF); 243.0 MHz (UHF military).
  • Phraseology: "Wilco", "Roger", "Affirm", "Negative", "Standby", "Say again".
  • Lost comms: squawk 7600; unlawful interference: 7500; emergency: 7700.

Traps

  • Confusing MAYDAY and PAN-PAN.
  • Forgetting to read back runway/altitude/heading clearances.
  • Mixing squawk codes (7500/7600/7700).
  • Using non-standard phraseology under stress.

Worked example / rule of thumb

Squawk codes: 7500 = hijack, 7600 = radio failure, 7700 = emergency. Rule of thumb: "75 taken, 76 can't hear, 77 need help."

Always read back safety-critical clearances in full.