ANAC Flight Engineer Theoretical Exam (Mecânico de Voo) flashcards

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

Density altitude

Pressure altitude corrected for non-standard temperature. Higher temperature or humidity raises density altitude, increasing takeoff distance and reducing climb performance.

Center of gravity formula

Total moment divided by total weight. Each item's moment is its weight multiplied by its arm, and the sum gives the aircraft CG position.

Load factor in turn

In a level turn, load factor equals one divided by the cosine of the bank angle. At 60 degrees bank the load factor is 2.

V1 decision speed

The speed at which a failure is recognized and the takeoff is either continued or rejected. It is chosen so the aircraft can stop or climb safely.

Standard atmosphere sea level

15 degrees Celsius, 1013.25 hectopascals and 1.225 kilograms per cubic meter. Temperature decreases about 1.98 degrees Celsius per 1,000 feet in the troposphere.

Three-to-one descent rule

Plan roughly three nautical miles of descent for every 1,000 feet of altitude to lose. The rule assumes an idle descent at typical descent speed.

Holding pattern timing

Standard holding uses right turns. Inbound legs are timed one minute at or below 14,000 feet and one and a half minutes above that altitude.

Constant-speed propeller governor

The governor compares selected RPM with actual RPM and adjusts oil pressure to change blade angle, holding the chosen engine speed.

Turbine engine sections

Air passes intake, compressor, combustion chamber, turbine and exhaust. The turbine drives the compressor, and remaining energy may drive a propeller or fan.

Cabin outflow valve

The outflow valve regulates how much air leaves the pressurized cabin, controlling cabin altitude and rate of change together with inflow.

Galvanic corrosion

Occurs when two dissimilar metals contact each other in the presence of an electrolyte. The less noble metal corrodes, so isolation and sealing are used.

Nondestructive testing methods

Visual, dye penetrant, magnetic particle, eddy current, ultrasonic and radiographic inspection. Each detects different defect types without damaging the structure.

Airworthiness Directive

A mandatory directive issued to correct an unsafe condition. Compliance must be accomplished within the stated time and recorded in the aircraft records.

Life-limited part tracking

Components with cycle or hour limits must be tracked from manufacture through installation. Records must show total time and cycles to prove remaining life.

Certificate of registration

A document identifying the aircraft and its registered owner and marks. It does not by itself certify that the aircraft is airworthy.

Minimum equipment list

An approved list allowing dispatch with specified items inoperative, provided stated conditions and repair intervals are met. It never overrides airworthiness limits.

Pilot in command authority

The pilot in command has final authority and responsibility for the aircraft and its safety during flight, including decisions about the operation.

RBAC 121 scope

Brazilian regulation governing airline operations with large aircraft. It covers crew qualification, duty limits, fuel planning, maintenance and operational control requirements.

QNH and QNE

QNH is the altimeter setting that shows altitude above mean sea level. QNE is the standard 1013.25 hectopascals used at and above transition altitude.

Thunderstorm mature stage

The stage with strong updrafts and downdrafts, heavy rain, hail, lightning and severe turbulence. It presents the greatest hazard to aircraft.

Supercooled water icing

Liquid droplets below freezing that freeze on impact with the airframe. Icing is most likely between zero and minus twenty degrees Celsius in cloud.

One-in-sixty rule

A one degree tracking error produces about one nautical mile of deviation over sixty nautical miles flown. It is used for quick navigation corrections.

Great circle route

The shortest path between two points on a sphere. Its track changes continuously, unlike a rhumb line of constant track.

ILS categories

Category I has a decision height near 200 feet, Category II near 100 feet, and Category III progressively lower with autoland capability required.

Time of useful consciousness

The period after loss of oxygen before performance degrades. It falls from minutes at high cabin altitudes to seconds above 25,000 feet.

Somatogravic illusion

A false sensation of pitching up during acceleration, or pitching down during deceleration, caused by linear acceleration stimulating the inner ear. Trust instruments.

Sterile cockpit rule

No non-essential conversation or activity during taxi, takeoff and landing. It protects attention during the highest-workload phases of flight.

Threat and error management

A framework where crews identify threats, trap errors before they propagate and mitigate any undesired aircraft state that results.

Emergency squawk codes

7700 signals a general emergency, 7600 signals radio failure and 7500 signals unlawful interference. They are set on the transponder.

Mayday and Pan-Pan

Mayday declares distress with immediate danger to the aircraft. Pan-Pan declares urgency without immediate danger. Each is repeated three times.

Pitot-static blockage

A blocked pitot tube causes unreliable airspeed indication, while a blocked static port affects airspeed, altitude and vertical speed indications.

ICAO Annex 13

Governs aircraft accident and incident investigation. Its objective is prevention of future accidents rather than assigning fault or blame.