ANAC Commercial Pilot Helicopter (PCH) flashcards

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

RBAC 135

Brazilian regulation governing commercial air transport operations, including helicopters carrying passengers or cargo for hire, setting operator certification, crew duty, and operational requirements.

VFR fuel reserve

Fuel that must remain after reaching the destination, allowing continued flight for a defined period; the required reserve is greater for night and IFR operations.

Airworthiness certificate

Document confirming the aircraft meets its approved type design and is maintained per the approved programme; it must be on board and valid for flight.

Fully articulated rotor

Rotor head in which each blade has separate flapping, lead-lag, and pitch change hinges, allowing individual blade motion and reducing vibration.

Semi-rigid rotor

Two-blade rotor system using a single teetering hinge that allows the disc to flap as a unit, with blade pitch controlled through the swashplate.

Swashplate

Mechanical assembly that converts non-rotating control inputs into rotating blade pitch changes; collective moves it vertically, cyclic tilts it.

Freewheel unit

One-way clutch in the transmission that lets the rotor turn without engine drive, enabling autorotation when engine power is lost.

Density altitude

Pressure altitude corrected for non-standard temperature; it determines engine power and rotor performance, with high values reducing lift and climb capability.

Centre of gravity

Point where the aircraft's total weight acts; computed as total moment divided by total weight and must stay within fore and aft limits for all flight phases.

Hover ceiling HIGE

Maximum density altitude at which the helicopter can hover in ground effect at a given weight, where the surface reduces downwash and power required.

Moment calculation

Weight multiplied by its arm from the reference datum; summing moments and dividing by total weight gives the loaded centre of gravity position.

Hypoxia

Insufficient oxygen reaching body tissues, causing degraded night vision, judgement, and coordination; symptoms worsen with altitude and are hard to self-detect.

Spatial disorientation

Mismatch between actual aircraft attitude and the pilot's perceived attitude, often triggered by acceleration or inadvertent flight into cloud; rely on instruments.

Black hole approach

Night illusion over featureless terrain where the lack of visual cues causes the pilot to fly a lower-than-normal approach path.

Carbon monoxide hazard

Odourless gas from exhaust or heater leaks that reduces oxygen carriage; causes headache and confusion, and is suspected when symptoms ease with fresh air.

QNH

Altimeter setting that makes the instrument indicate elevation above mean sea level at the reference point when the aircraft is on the ground.

Microburst

Small, intense downdraft producing a headwind then tailwind reversal near the surface, which can exceed helicopter performance and cause loss of control.

Carburettor icing

Ice forming in the carburettor due to fuel vaporisation cooling and moisture, occurring between roughly minus ten and plus twenty-five degrees Celsius.

Mountain wave

Oscillating airflow downwind of a ridge in strong winds, producing severe turbulence, downdrafts, and lee rotors hazardous to low-flying helicopters.

1-in-60 rule

Navigation rule stating that a one-degree track error produces about one nautical mile of offset after sixty nautical miles flown.

Magnetic variation

Angular difference between true north and magnetic north; applied to convert true heading to magnetic heading, with east variation subtracted.

VOR radial

Magnetic bearing from a VOR station; tracking a radial requires a wind correction angle because the aircraft drifts off the selected bearing.

Autorotation entry

Lower collective immediately to preserve rotor RPM, establish a glide speed, select a landing area, then flare and cushion with collective before touchdown.

Dynamic rollover

Rollover caused by a pivot point and lateral force; if a roll begins, lower collective immediately and stop lateral drift to regain control.

Translational lift

Increased rotor efficiency as forward airspeed reaches roughly fifteen to twenty-five knots, allowing the rotor to escape its own downwash.

Confined area recce

Low pass or high reconnaissance to assess wind, obstacles, surface, and go-around path before committing to an approach into a restricted landing site.

Dissymmetry of lift

Unequal lift between advancing and retreating blades caused by airspeed difference; flapping and cyclic feathering equalise lift across the disc.

Retreating blade stall

Stall of the retreating blade at high speed or high load, producing vibration and pitch-up; recovery requires reducing collective and airspeed.

Ground effect

Reduction in induced velocity when hovering near a surface, lowering power required; it is effectively lost at about one rotor diameter of height.

Coning

Upward bending of rotor blades in flight due to lift; increased collective increases coning and shortens effective blade radius, raising power required.

MAYDAY call

Distress transmission repeated three times, followed by station addressed, call sign, nature of distress, position, altitude, and intentions.

Radio failure code

Transponder code 7600 indicates communication failure; the pilot continues per published procedures and attempts contact on 121.5 MHz.