ANAC Flight Engineer Theoretical Exam (Mecânico de Voo) cheat sheet

Reciprocating engine four-stroke cycle: intake, compression, power, exhaust - one power stroke per cylinder per two crankshaft revolutions.

Turbine engine sections in order: intake, compressor, combustion chamber, turbine, exhaust; compressor raises pressure, turbine extracts energy to drive it.

Fuel/air mixture ratio by mass: chemically correct is about 15:1 for gasoline; rich mixtures cool combustion, lean mixtures raise exhaust gas temperature.

Constant-speed propeller: governor adjusts blade angle to hold selected RPM; oil pressure to the hub typically drives blade angle toward fine pitch.

Hydraulic system basics: pressure = force/area; a smaller piston moves farther under the same pressure-volume of fluid.

Electrical: aircraft DC systems commonly 28 V; battery capacity in ampere-hours; alternator/generator output regulated by voltage regulator.

Pressurization: cabin differential pressure limited by structural design; cabin altitude and rate of change controlled by outflow valve.

Ice protection: pneumatic de-ice boots for airframe, thermal anti-ice for engine intakes and propellers; carburetor heat prevents induction icing.

V speeds: V1 decision speed, VR rotation, V2 takeoff safety speed, VMO/MMO maximum operating speed, VLE/VLO gear limits.

Takeoff segments: first segment to 35 ft, second segment climb to 400 ft with one engine inoperative (twin), then acceleration and final segments.

Stall speed varies with square root of load factor: VS at n g equals VS(1g) times sqrt(n).

Holding pattern: standard turns are right turns; inbound leg timing 1 minute at or below 14,000 ft, 1.5 minutes above.

Fuel planning reserves typically include taxi, trip, contingency, alternate and final reserve; final reserve often 30 minutes holding.

Descent planning rule of thumb: 3 nautical miles per 1,000 ft of altitude to lose at idle descent; add distance for deceleration.

Go-around decision: apply takeoff/go-around thrust, establish positive climb, retract drag devices in sequence, follow missed approach procedure.

Weight and balance formula: moment = weight × arm; center of gravity = total moment / total weight.

Maximum takeoff weight is limited by the lowest of structural, runway, climb, obstacle and tire/brake limits.

Density altitude rises with altitude, temperature and humidity; higher density altitude increases takeoff distance and reduces climb performance.

Standard atmosphere at sea level: 15 °C, 1013.25 hPa (29.92 inHg); temperature lapse rate 1.98 °C per 1,000 ft in the troposphere.

Load factor in a level turn: n = 1 / cos(bank angle); at 60° bank, n = 2.

Forward CG increases stall speed and pitch-down tendency; aft CG reduces static stability and can reduce stall recovery margin.

Runway slope and wind: headwind decreases ground roll; a 1 percent uphill slope increases takeoff distance approximately 10 percent.

Scheduled maintenance categories commonly include line checks, A checks, C checks and D/heavy checks at increasing intervals.

Pre-flight inspection covers control surfaces, fluid levels, tires, lights and obvious damage; discrepancies are recorded before release.

Torque values must be applied with calibrated tools; safetying methods include lockwire, cotter pins and self-locking nuts.

Corrosion types: surface, galvanic, pitting, intergranular and stress corrosion; galvanic requires dissimilar metals and an electrolyte.

NDT methods: visual, dye penetrant, magnetic particle, eddy current, ultrasonic and radiographic - each suited to different defect types.

Maintenance release requires certified personnel, completed task cards and a record entry referencing the work performed.

Composite damage assessment distinguishes delamination, disbond and impact damage; repair per approved structural repair manual.

Airworthiness certificate is issued when the aircraft conforms to its approved type design and is in a condition for safe operation.

Certificate of registration identifies owner and marks; it does not by itself establish airworthiness.

Journey/logbook records: airframe, engine and propeller hours, maintenance actions, inspections and component serial numbers.

Airworthiness Directives are mandatory; compliance must be recorded with method, date and reference to the AD.

Service Bulletins are manufacturer recommendations, not automatically mandatory unless made so by the authority.

Life-limited parts must be tracked by cycles or hours; traceability requires records from manufacture through installation.

Mass and balance report and equipment list must reflect the current configuration of the aircraft.

RBAC is the Brazilian Civil Aviation Regulation series issued by ANAC; RBAC 121 covers airline operations, RBAC 135 commuter/on-demand.

Flight crew duty and rest limits are defined by regulation; cumulative duty and minimum rest periods must be tracked in records.

Crew member qualifications: valid licenses, type ratings where required, recent experience and recurrent training checks.

Operational control: the pilot in command has final authority for the safety of the flight.

Minimum equipment list (MEL) allows dispatch with specified inoperative items under stated conditions and repair intervals.

Fuel requirements must include taxi, trip, contingency, alternate and final reserve per applicable RBAC.

Occurrence reporting: accidents and serious incidents must be notified to the investigating authority promptly.

ISA sea-level pressure 1013.25 hPa; altimeter set to standard pressure above transition altitude.

QNH gives altitude above mean sea level; QFE gives height above a reference point; QNE is standard setting used at flight levels.

Cloud families: cirrus (high), altocumulus (middle), stratus and cumulus (low); cumulonimbus indicates convective hazard.

Thunderstorm life cycle: cumulus, mature, dissipating; mature stage contains hail, severe turbulence, icing and lightning.

Icing risk greatest in stratiform clouds between 0 °C and −20 °C with supercooled droplets; freezing rain is severe.

Wind shear and microburst: sudden change in wind speed/direction; go-around is the safe response to encountered shear.

METAR is routine observation, TAF is forecast; SPECI is special observation issued on significant change.

Great circle is the shortest path on a sphere; rhumb line maintains constant track but is longer except along meridians/equator.

Heading = track ± wind correction angle; track is the intended path over ground.

1 in 60 rule: a 1° error over 60 nm produces about 1 nm off track.

VOR provides radial (magnetic bearing from station); DME gives slant range distance; TACAN combines both.

ILS categories: CAT I decision height 200 ft, CAT II 100 ft, CAT III progressively lower with autoland capability.

GNSS position accuracy depends on satellite geometry (HDOP/VDOP) and integrity monitoring (RAIM).

Time zone and UTC conversion: local time = UTC + offset; flight planning uses UTC throughout.

Hypoxia symptoms: euphoria, impaired judgment, cyanosis, headache; time of useful consciousness falls rapidly above 25,000 ft.

Spatial disorientation: somatogravic illusion causes false pitch sensation during acceleration; trust instruments, not sensations.

Fatigue degrades vigilance and reaction time; circadian low typically occurs in early morning hours.

Stress and workload: performance degrades when workload exceeds capacity; prioritization and delegation reduce overload.

Vision: night vision relies on rods, which are poor at detail and color but sensitive to dim light.

Decompression sickness risk from pressure changes; avoid flying soon after diving per applicable guidance.

Hearing: noise-induced loss is cumulative; headsets and hearing protection reduce exposure.

CRM core skills: communication, situational awareness, leadership, teamwork, decision-making and workload management.

Assertiveness and graded assertiveness: crew must speak up when safety is at risk; hierarchy must not suppress dissent.

Sterile cockpit: no non-essential activity during taxi, takeoff and landing phases.

Threat and error management: identify threats, trap errors early and mitigate undesired aircraft states.

Briefings set expectations: departure, approach and emergency briefings align crew on roles and callouts.

Safety management system: hazard identification, risk assessment, reporting culture and continuous improvement.

Just culture: encourages reporting of errors while distinguishing reckless behavior from honest mistakes.

Phonetic alphabet: Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, Delta, Echo, Foxtrot, Golf, Hotel, India, Juliett, Kilo, Lima, Mike, November, Oscar, Papa, Quebec, Romeo, Sierra, Tango, Uniform, Victor, Whiskey, X-ray, Yankee, Zulu.

Readback required for clearances, runway assignments, hold short instructions and altimeter settings.

VHF frequencies: 118.000–136.975 MHz; emergency frequency 121.5 MHz.

Mayday is distress (immediate danger), Pan-Pan is urgency; both repeated three times for clarity.

Squawk codes: 7700 emergency, 7600 radio failure, 7500 unlawful interference.

Position reporting uses waypoint, time, altitude/flight level and next position with ETA.

Standard phraseology reduces ambiguity; use ICAO standard terms rather than plain language where defined.

Pitot-static instruments: airspeed indicator, altimeter, vertical speed indicator; pitot blockage affects airspeed indication.

Altimeter setting changes: 1 hPa change equals about 27 ft at low altitude; set QNH before approach.

Gyroscopic instruments: attitude indicator and heading indicator use rigidity in space and precession.

Attitude indicator shows pitch and roll relative to horizon; failure modes include tumble and caging.

EFIS displays primary flight data and navigation data; redundancy and reversion modes must be known.

TCAS provides traffic alerts and resolution advisories; respond promptly to RA commands.

EGPWS/TAWS provides terrain warnings; escape maneuver is maximum performance climb.

ICAO Annex 1: Personnel Licensing; Annex 2: Rules of the Air; Annex 6: Operation of Aircraft; Annex 8: Airworthiness.

Annex 11 covers Air Traffic Services; Annex 14 covers Aerodromes; Annex 17 covers Security.

Chicago Convention 1944 established ICAO and the principle of national sovereignty over airspace.

Pilot in command is responsible for the operation and safety of the aircraft.

Documents typically carried: certificate of registration, airworthiness certificate, crew licenses and journey log.

SARPs are Standards and Recommended Practices; states implement through national regulations such as RBAC.

Accident investigation follows Annex 13; the objective is prevention, not assigning blame.