ICAA CPL Theory flashcards
ICAA CPL Theory · Build recall with a focused review session.
34 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.
- VFR minima Class C
- At or above 10,000 ft AMSL: 8 km flight visibility, 1,500 m horizontal and 1,000 ft vertical distance from cloud. Below 10,000 ft: 5 km visibility, clear of cloud and in sight of surface.
- Right-of-way rules
- Converging aircraft of same category: the one on the right has right-of-way. A lower aircraft gives way to a higher aircraft except when descending. An aircraft landing has right-of-way over one on the ground.
- Alcohol limit for pilots
- No pilot may act as a crew member with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.02% or greater, or within 8 hours of consuming alcohol, whichever is more restrictive.
- Four-stroke engine cycle
- Intake, compression, power, exhaust. The crankshaft completes two revolutions per cycle. Each cylinder fires once every two revolutions.
- Carburettor icing conditions
- Most likely at ambient temperatures between -5°C and +15°C with high relative humidity. Use carburettor heat to prevent or clear icing. Apply heat gradually to avoid engine roughness.
- Altimeter settings
- QNH gives altitude above mean sea level. QFE gives height above a reference datum (usually aerodrome). QNE (1013.2 hPa) gives flight level.
- Pitot tube blockage
- If the pitot tube is blocked, the airspeed indicator acts like an altimeter: it will indicate increasing airspeed in a climb and decreasing airspeed in a descent.
- Density altitude effects
- Density altitude increases with high elevation, high temperature, and high humidity. It degrades aircraft performance: longer take-off and landing distances, reduced climb rate.
- Fuel reserve VFR
- For VFR flights, reserve fuel is 30 minutes by day and 45 minutes by night, or as specified by the operator. It is the fuel required to fly to the destination and then for the reserve time.
- Crosswind component formula
- Crosswind component = wind speed × sin(wind angle). Headwind component = wind speed × cos(wind angle). Wind angle is the angle between wind direction and runway heading.
- Pressure altitude formula
- Pressure altitude = indicated altitude + (1013.2 − QNH) × 30 ft per hPa. It is the altitude when the altimeter is set to 1013.2 hPa.
- Hypoxia symptoms
- Euphoria, impaired judgement, blurred vision, cyanosis, and loss of consciousness. Time of useful consciousness decreases with altitude. Treat by descending and using supplemental oxygen.
- Hyperventilation treatment
- Slow the breathing rate and increase carbon dioxide intake by breathing into a bag or cupping hands. Symptoms include dizziness, tingling, and muscle spasms.
- Spatial disorientation
- Loss of orientation due to conflicting sensory inputs. Rely on flight instruments, not bodily sensations, when visual references are lost. Most dangerous during manoeuvres and in cloud.
- Carbon monoxide poisoning
- Caused by exhaust fumes entering the cabin. Symptoms: headache, drowsiness, confusion. Use cabin heat sparingly and ensure ventilation. Treat by turning off heat and opening vents.
- Standard atmosphere values
- Sea level pressure 1013.2 hPa, temperature 15°C, lapse rate 2°C per 1,000 ft up to 36,000 ft. Used for calibrating altimeters and performance charts.
- Cold front characteristics
- Brings rapid weather changes, thunderstorms, strong gusty winds, and a sharp temperature drop. The front slopes steeply and moves quickly. Visibility improves after passage.
- Icing risk temperatures
- Highest risk in stratiform clouds at temperatures between 0°C and -20°C. Clear ice forms in cumuliform clouds. Avoid icing conditions by changing altitude or route.
- Fog formation
- Radiation fog forms on clear calm nights when the ground cools the air to its dew point. Advection fog forms when warm moist air moves over a cold surface.
- Coriolis force
- Deflects wind to the left in the Southern Hemisphere. Surface friction reduces wind speed and causes it to cross isobars toward low pressure.
- True vs magnetic north
- True north points to the geographic North Pole. Magnetic north points to the magnetic pole. Variation is the angle between them; deviation is the error caused by the aircraft's magnetic fields.
- Wind correction angle
- WCA = arcsin( (wind speed / true airspeed) × sin(wind angle) ). It is the angle to steer to maintain a desired track. Positive for wind from the left, negative from the right.
- Groundspeed formula
- Groundspeed = true airspeed × cos(WCA) + wind speed × cos(wind angle). It is the actual speed over the ground, used for time and fuel calculations.
- 1-in-60 rule
- A 1° error in heading results in 1 nautical mile offset after 60 nautical miles. Used for quick drift corrections and estimating track errors.
- Engine failure after take-off
- Lower the nose to maintain airspeed, land ahead or within 30° of the nose. Do not attempt to turn back unless above safe turn-back altitude. Complete emergency checklist.
- Radio failure procedures
- Squawk 7600. Continue VFR and land at the nearest suitable aerodrome. For IFR, follow published lost communication procedures. Maintain last assigned speed and altitude for a specified time.
- Wake turbulence avoidance
- Avoid the flight path of larger aircraft. Stay above and upwind. Wait at least 2 minutes after a heavy aircraft departs before take-off or landing.
- Lift formula
- Lift = ½ ρ V² S CL. Lift increases with air density, speed squared, wing area, and lift coefficient. It equals weight in steady level flight.
- Induced and parasite drag
- Induced drag decreases with speed; parasite drag increases with speed squared. Total drag is minimum at the speed for best glide (best lift-to-drag ratio).
- Load factor in turns
- n = 1 / cos(bank angle). Stall speed increases with the square root of the load factor. At 60° bank, load factor is 2 and stall speed increases by 41%.
- Critical angle of attack
- The angle at which the wing stalls. It is independent of weight, speed, and bank angle. Exceeding it causes a stall; recovery is by reducing angle of attack.
- Transponder emergency codes
- 7700 for emergency, 7600 for radio failure, 7500 for unlawful interference. These codes alert air traffic control to the nature of the emergency.
- Distress and urgency calls
- Distress call: MAYDAY spoken three times. Urgency call: PAN-PAN spoken three times. Use distress for immediate danger; urgency for safety concerns without immediate danger.
- Standard readback items
- Read back clearances, runway instructions, altimeter settings, and headings. Use standard phraseology. If unsure, request clarification.