Commercial Pilot Licence Aeroplane (CPAER) cheat sheet

Night is the period between the end of evening civil twilight and the beginning of morning civil twilight.

No crew member may act within 8 hours after consuming alcohol, while impaired, or with blood alcohol above 0.08%.

Emergency squawk codes: 7700 general emergency, 7600 radio failure, 7500 unlawful interference.

Converging aircraft of the same category: the aircraft on the right has right of way; head-on both turn right; the overtaking aircraft keeps clear.

Over a built-up area, minimum altitude is 1,000 ft above the highest obstacle within 2,000 ft; elsewhere keep 500 ft from persons and property.

Day VFR fuel reserve for aeroplanes is 30 minutes at normal cruising speed; night VFR reserve is 45 minutes.

The pilot-in-command is responsible for the operation and safety of the aircraft and may deviate from regulations to the extent necessary in an emergency.

Class C airspace requires an ATC clearance; both VFR and IFR flights need the clearance before entry.

Pressure altitude = indicated altitude + (29.92 inHg − altimeter setting) × 1,000 ft; standard pressure is used above 18,000 ft in Canada.

Density altitude ≈ pressure altitude + 120 × (OAT − ISA temperature), where ISA temperature = 15°C − 2°C per 1,000 ft.

True to magnetic: true ± variation = magnetic; magnetic ± deviation = compass. Subtract east variation when converting true to magnetic.

1 nautical mile = 1.852 km; 1 knot = 1 nm/h; time en route = distance ÷ groundspeed.

The 60-to-1 rule: a 1° angle subtends about 1 nm at 60 nm; use it to estimate wind correction and off-track error.

WCA ≈ (wind speed ÷ TAS) × 60 × sin(wind angle); apply it toward the wind to maintain track.

VOR radials are magnetic bearings from the station; CDI centered with FROM means the aircraft is on that radial.

A great-circle route is the shortest distance between two points; a rhumb line maintains a constant true track.

Altimeter high-to-low look out below; low-to-high look out for sky.

ISA sea level: 15°C and 29.92 inHg; temperature lapse rate is about 1.98°C per 1,000 ft up to 36,089 ft.

Convective cloud base (ft AGL) ≈ 400 × (surface temperature − dew point in °C).

Northern Hemisphere cyclones rotate counterclockwise and converge; anticyclones rotate clockwise and diverge.

Dry adiabatic lapse rate ≈ 3°C/1,000 ft; saturated adiabatic ≈ 1.5°C/1,000 ft; standard environmental ≈ 2°C/1,000 ft.

Radiation fog forms under clear skies and light winds; advection fog forms when warm moist air moves over a colder surface.

Freezing rain indicates a warm layer aloft above a subfreezing surface layer.

The mature thunderstorm stage contains strong updrafts and downdrafts and is the most hazardous stage.

A high-to-low altimeter change makes true altitude lower than indicated; low-to-high makes true altitude higher.

As temperature-dew point spread decreases toward zero, relative humidity rises and cloud, fog, or precipitation becomes more likely.

Load factor n = lift ÷ weight; in a level turn n = 1 ÷ cos(bank angle).

Stall speed increases with load factor: Vs(new) = Vs × √n.

Moment = weight × arm; CG = total moment ÷ total weight.

Vx is best angle of climb; Vy is best rate of climb; Vx increases with altitude and meets Vy at the absolute ceiling.

Forward CG increases longitudinal stability but reduces climb performance and increases stall speed; aft CG reduces stability.

Increasing density altitude increases takeoff distance, reduces climb rate, and reduces engine power.

Adverse yaw is yaw opposite the turn from aileron drag; coordinate with rudder.

P-factor is asymmetric thrust at high angle of attack; the descending blade produces more thrust and yaws the aircraft.

Wake turbulence is strongest behind heavy, slow, clean aircraft; avoid by flying above and upwind and allowing time for dissipation.