ANAC Aerodesport Pilot Theoretical Exam (Piloto Aerodesportivo - CPA) key terms

Airspace of defined dimensions within which air traffic control service is provided to flights in accordance with airspace classification, so pilots need clearance or prior authorisation before entering and must comply with ATC instructions.

An authorisation issued by an air traffic controller for a flight to proceed under specified conditions, which the pilot must read back, follow and remain within unless a revised clearance is obtained.

A lettered system (A to G) that defines the services provided, the separation applied and the operating requirements inside a given volume of airspace, including whether VFR flight is permitted.

An authorisation allowing a flight to operate under visual flight rules inside a control zone when weather is below normal VFR minima, subject to controller clearance and specified ground visibility and cloud clearance conditions.

The lowest in-flight horizontal visibility a pilot may legally accept while flying under visual flight rules, which varies with airspace class, altitude and whether the flight is above or below specified levels.

Weather conditions in which visibility and distance from cloud equal or exceed the prescribed minimum values, allowing a pilot to operate under visual flight rules and to see and avoid other traffic.

The obligation of a pilot to repeat back safety-related parts of an ATC instruction, such as route clearances, runway assignments, altitude or heading instructions, so the controller can verify correct reception.

A radio transmission giving the aircraft identification, position, time, altitude and next reporting point, used where surveillance coverage is absent or where procedures require the pilot to report progress along the route.

Specified information about an intended flight submitted to air traffic services, covering identification, aircraft type, route, level, speed and endurance, used for alerting services and for coordinating the flight.

Controlled airspace extending upwards from the surface around an aerodrome, within which departing and arriving traffic is subject to air traffic control clearances and special local procedures.

The designated radio frequency, 121.5 MHz in civil aviation, monitored for distress and urgency communications, on which a pilot in difficulty may attempt to establish contact with any station.

The spoken signal 'MAYDAY', repeated three times, used to announce that an aircraft is threatened by serious or imminent danger and requires immediate assistance from any station receiving it.

The spoken signal 'PAN PAN', repeated three times, used to report a condition concerning the safety of an aircraft or person aboard that does not yet require immediate distress assistance.

The point at which the total weight of the aircraft is considered to act; it must stay within a certified forward and aft range for the aircraft to remain controllable in all normal flight conditions.

The horizontal distance from a reference datum to a point where a mass is located, multiplied by that mass to give the moment used when calculating the aircraft's loaded center of gravity position.

The mass of a standard aircraft including structure, powerplant, required equipment, unusable fuel and full operating fluids, but excluding crew, passengers, baggage and usable fuel.

The difference between maximum take-off mass and basic empty mass, representing everything the aircraft may carry: crew, passengers, baggage, usable fuel and any optional equipment added later.

The highest mass at which the aircraft is certified to begin the take-off run, determined by structural strength, climb performance and brake energy limits, and reduced further by density altitude and runway conditions.

Pressure altitude corrected for non-standard temperature, expressing the altitude the aircraft 'feels' aerodynamically; high values reduce engine power, propeller thrust and wing lift, lengthening take-off runs.

The measured ground distance needed from the start of the take-off roll until the aircraft reaches a defined height, affected by mass, wind, slope, surface condition and density altitude.

The portion of the wind velocity acting directly along the runway axis against the aircraft's take-off or landing direction, shortening ground roll and improving climb gradient compared with still air.

The part of the wind velocity acting perpendicular to the runway centreline, which must not exceed the aircraft's demonstrated limit and which demands a wing-down or crab technique on landing.

The altitude indicated when the altimeter subscale is set to the standard datum of 1013.25 hPa, used for flight levels and performance calculations rather than for terrain clearance.

The pressure value dialled into the altimeter subscale, such as local QNH or standard pressure, so that the instrument displays altitude above a chosen reference rather than a raw pressure reading.

The altitude above an aerodrome at or below which aircraft fly with reference to local pressure settings and above which they set standard pressure and express their vertical position as flight levels.

The lowest flight level available for use above the transition altitude, chosen so that adequate vertical separation exists between aircraft using standard pressure and those using local pressure settings.

A navigation method in which the aircraft's present position is calculated from a previously known position by applying heading, true airspeed, elapsed time and forecast wind, without external position fixes.

The angular difference at a given place between true north and magnetic north, shown on aeronautical charts and applied when converting true courses from charts into magnetic headings for the compass.

The error of a particular magnetic compass caused by the aircraft's own magnetic fields and electrical equipment, recorded on a calibration card and applied when converting magnetic heading to compass heading.

The direction the aircraft nose points, measured in degrees clockwise from true north, obtained from the planned true course after correcting for wind drift and before applying magnetic variation.

The vector relationship between true airspeed, wind velocity and resulting ground speed and drift, used to compute the heading and time needed to follow a desired track between two points.

The specific angle between the wing chord and the relative airflow at which airflow separates and lift reaches its maximum, beyond which further increasing the angle reduces lift and increases drag.

The acute angle between the wing chord line and the direction of the oncoming relative airflow, which determines the lift produced and which the pilot controls mainly with pitch attitude.

The drag component created as a by-product of generating lift, caused by airflow around the wingtips; it is largest at high angles of attack and low speed and decreases as speed increases.

The ratio of total lift to aircraft weight, equal to one in steady level flight and increasing in turns or pull-ups; a higher value raises the speed at which the wing stalls.

A condition in which body tissues receive insufficient oxygen, producing symptoms such as impaired judgement, euphoria, headache and reduced vision that the affected pilot often does not recognise.

Abnormally rapid or deep breathing that washes carbon dioxide out of the blood, causing dizziness, tingling and cramps that can mimic hypoxia and are relieved by slowing and controlling the breathing rate.

A mistaken perception of the aircraft's attitude or motion relative to the earth, arising when the inner ear is fooled by acceleration or by the absence of visual references, and resolved by trusting the instruments.

A false sensation of pitching up during strong forward acceleration, or of pitching down during deceleration, which may tempt a pilot to push or pull the control column incorrectly just after take-off.

The equivalent pressure altitude inside the occupied part of the aircraft, which in unpressurised light aircraft equals the flight altitude and governs the risk of hypoxia as height increases.

The prescribed pattern of legs flown by aircraft around an aerodrome for departure and arrival, with defined join, downwind, base and final segments that keep traffic orderly and predictable.

The last segment of the circuit or instrument procedure, aligned with the runway centreline and leading to touchdown, during which the pilot stabilises speed, glidepath and drift correction.

A decision to abandon the landing and climb away, taken when the approach is unstable, the runway is obstructed or wind conditions are unacceptable, followed by full power, pitch for climb and a circuit rejoin.

The minimum horizontal and vertical distance from cloud that a visual flight rules pilot must maintain, set by airspace class and altitude so that other traffic can be seen and avoided in time.

Weather conditions in which visibility or distance from cloud is below the values required for visual flight, so that flight must be conducted under instrument flight rules by suitably rated pilots.

Ice forming in the carburettor venturi when fuel vaporisation and pressure drop cool the mixture below freezing, causing rough running or power loss that is countered by applying carburettor heat early.

A control that routes warm air from around the exhaust into the induction system to melt or prevent ice, usually causing a slight power drop and rich mixture that the pilot must anticipate.

The cockpit control that adjusts the fuel-to-air ratio delivered to the engine, leaned as altitude increases to restore power and economy and enriched for high power settings or cooling.

A pitot-static instrument that displays the difference between total pressure from the forward-facing pitot tube and static pressure, calibrated to show indicated airspeed for the pilot.

The network of a forward-facing pitot tube and static ports that supplies pressure to the airspeed indicator, altimeter and vertical speed indicator, whose blockage causes serious instrument errors.

An obstruction of the pitot head, often by ice or insects, that leaves the airspeed indicator acting like an altimeter: it reads higher in a climb and lower in a descent regardless of actual speed.

A sensing element, often part of an electronic or remote compass system, that measures the direction of the earth's magnetic field so the heading can be displayed without a conventional swinging needle.