ANAC Private Pilot Helicopter (PPH) (ANAC) flashcards

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

Private pilot licence privilege

A PPH holder may fly without remuneration, carrying passengers only if current and holding a valid medical certificate; commercial transport of passengers or cargo is not permitted.

Certificate of airworthiness

Document confirming the aircraft meets its approved type design and is maintained per the approved programme; flight without a valid certificate is prohibited except under specific authorization.

Pilot recency requirement

A pilot may not carry passengers unless recent takeoffs, landings, and required training were completed within the period set by RBAC, verified from the logbook.

Alcohol and flight duty

Any blood alcohol content above the regulatory limit, or impairment by psychoactive substances, bars acting as crew; rest and bottle-to-throttle intervals apply before flight.

Swashplate function

A non-rotating and rotating assembly that transfers control inputs to blade pitch: the cyclic tilts the disc, while the collective changes pitch on all blades simultaneously.

Freewheeling unit

A sprag clutch in the drive train that disengages the engine from the rotor when rotor RPM exceeds engine RPM, allowing autorotation after power loss.

Semi-rigid rotor system

A two-blade teetering rotor with a single flapping hinge and no lead-lag hinges; coning and undersling handle flapping and Coriolis effects.

Anti-torque system

A tail rotor or NOTAR device that produces thrust to counter main rotor torque; loss of authority causes uncontrolled yaw and requires collective reduction and autorotation.

Density altitude effect

Altitude corrected for temperature and humidity; high density altitude reduces engine power and rotor efficiency, increasing takeoff, landing, and hover distances.

Centre of gravity limits

The forward and aft boundaries within which the loaded helicopter's CG must remain; exceeding them degrades controllability and may make the aircraft unsafe to fly.

Hover ceiling OGE

The highest density altitude at which a hover out of ground effect is possible at a given mass; above it, a running takeoff or landing is required.

Fuel reserve requirement

The minimum fuel that must remain at destination as specified by RBAC for the flight; it is added to trip fuel and contingency during planning.

Height-velocity diagram

A chart showing combinations of height and airspeed from which a safe autorotative landing is unlikely; pilots avoid prolonged flight in the shaded avoid region.

Hypoxia recognition

At altitude, reduced oxygen causes euphoria, headache, impaired judgement, and poor night vision; supplemental oxygen is used above the regulatory altitude.

Spatial disorientation

A mismatch between vestibular sensations and actual aircraft motion, especially without visual reference; the reliable countermeasure is instrument cross-check and a disciplined scan.

Carbon monoxide hazard

An odourless gas from engine exhaust that can enter the cabin through the heater; headache and drowsiness in flight require shutting off cabin heat and ventilating.

IM SAFE checklist

A pre-flight self-assessment covering Illness, Medication, Stress, Alcohol, Fatigue, and Emotion; any positive item should prompt postponing or cancelling the flight.

QNH versus QFE

QNH is the altimeter setting giving elevation above mean sea level; QFE gives height above the aerodrome reference point when the aircraft is on the ground.

Temperature dew point spread

The difference between temperature and dew point; a small spread means air close to saturation and a high likelihood of fog, low cloud, or reduced visibility.

Low-level wind shear

A rapid change in wind speed or direction over a short distance, often near buildings, ridges, or fronts; it can cause sudden loss of airspeed and altitude close to the ground.

Carburettor icing conditions

Icing can form at outside air temperatures well above freezing due to cooling in the venturi; carburettor heat is applied preventively when conditions favour ice.

METAR and TAF

METAR reports observed aerodrome weather; TAF forecasts it for a stated period; both give wind, visibility, cloud, temperature, dew point, and pressure.

Magnetic variation rule

The angular difference between true and magnetic north; converting true to magnetic, east variation is subtracted and west variation is added (east is least, west is best).

Wind triangle

The relationship among true airspeed, wind velocity, and groundspeed; it yields the wind correction angle and the groundspeed used for time and fuel calculations.

Dead reckoning navigation

Calculating position from a known starting point using heading, airspeed, time, and wind; it is cross-checked with pilotage or radio navigation fixes.

VOR radial interpretation

A magnetic bearing from the station; the CDI centres when the OBS is set to the aircraft's bearing to or from the station, with TO/FROM indicating direction.

Autorotation entry procedure

On engine failure, lower collective to maintain rotor RPM, establish the recommended autorotation speed, select a landing area, and cushion touchdown with collective.

MAYDAY distress call

Spoken three times, followed by station addressed, callsign, nature of distress, position, altitude, and intentions; used when immediate danger requires assistance.

Tail rotor failure actions

Lower collective to reduce torque and yaw, maintain forward speed above translational lift, and perform a running landing rather than a hover.

Hover check purpose

Before takeoff, a brief hover confirms controllability, engine and rotor parameters, absence of unusual vibration, and adequate power margin for the planned departure.

Translational lift

As forward speed increases, the rotor encounters undisturbed air and induced flow decreases, improving efficiency and reducing the power required to maintain flight.

Dissymmetry of lift

The advancing blade has higher relative airflow and lift than the retreating blade; flapping and cyclic feathering equalize lift across the disc.

Retreating blade stall

At high speed, high mass, or high density altitude, the retreating blade exceeds its critical angle; vibration and pitch-up require reducing speed and load.

Settling with power recovery

Vortex ring state in a low-airspeed powered descent is corrected by increasing forward airspeed and reducing collective to regain clean airflow through the rotor.