JCAA CPL Theory Exam flashcards

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

VMC minimum visibility below 10 000 ft

In ICAO Class C–G airspace below 10 000 ft AMSL, flight visibility must be at least 5 km, with 1500 m horizontal and 1000 ft vertical distance from cloud.

Semi-circular rule

IFR cruising levels are based on magnetic track: tracks 000–179° use odd flight levels, and tracks 180–359° use even flight levels, to keep opposite traffic separated.

Squawk 7700

The transponder code 7700 is selected to indicate a general emergency. ATC treats it as a priority and clears other traffic as required.

QNH versus QFE

QNH is the pressure reduced to mean sea level, so the altimeter reads altitude. QFE is the pressure at the aerodrome, so the altimeter reads height above the reference point.

Detonation

Detonation is explosive, uncontrolled combustion of the fuel-air mixture after normal ignition. It raises cylinder pressure and temperature sharply and can damage the engine.

Constant-speed propeller governor

The governor regulates oil pressure to the propeller hub to hold the selected RPM. If oil pressure is lost, the blades move to the pitch position designed for that engine.

Load factor in a turn

In a level turn the load factor equals 1 divided by the cosine of the bank angle. A 60-degree bank gives a load factor of 2.

Density altitude formula

Density altitude equals pressure altitude plus 120 times the difference between the actual outside air temperature and the ISA temperature for that altitude, in degrees Celsius.

Centre of gravity limits

The CG must remain between the forward and aft limits in the mass and balance schedule. An aft CG reduces longitudinal stability and can make the aircraft difficult to recover from a stall.

Final reserve fuel

The final reserve is fuel that must remain at landing. For VFR flights it is normally 30 minutes at holding speed at 1500 ft above the aerodrome.

Time of useful consciousness

At 25 000 ft, useful consciousness lasts about 3 to 5 minutes. At 35 000 ft it falls to about 30 to 60 seconds without supplemental oxygen.

Hyperventilation

Hyperventilation causes dizziness, tingling and visual disturbance from excessive breathing. Slowing the breathing rate relieves it, and cyanosis is absent, unlike in hypoxia.

Somatogravic illusion

A false sensation of pitch caused by linear acceleration. Sudden acceleration is felt as a nose-up attitude, and deceleration is felt as a nose-down attitude.

ISA sea-level values

The International Standard Atmosphere at sea level has a temperature of 15 °C and a pressure of 1013.25 hPa, with a lapse rate of about 2 °C per 1000 ft.

Clear ice

Clear ice forms when large supercooled droplets freeze slowly on impact, usually between 0 °C and −10 °C. It is heavy, hard and difficult to remove.

Cold front characteristics

A cold front moves at about 25 to 30 knots and has a steep slope. It produces a narrow band of heavy showers, thunderstorms and a marked wind shift.

1 in 60 rule

A lateral error of 1 nautical mile over 60 nautical miles flown equals 1 degree of track error. A 10-degree error over 60 nm gives 10 nm off track.

Magnetic variation

Variation is the angle between true north and magnetic north. Easterly variation is subtracted from true to give magnetic; westerly variation is added.

Compass acceleration error

In the northern hemisphere, acceleration causes the compass to indicate an apparent turn to the north, and deceleration causes an apparent turn to the south.

Wake turbulence avoidance

Vortices are strongest from heavy, clean and slow aircraft. Stay at least 5 nm behind a heavy aircraft on approach and take off before the preceding aircraft's rotation point.

Emergency descent procedure

Don oxygen masks, squawk 7700, transmit MAYDAY, descend at the published emergency speed, and level off at 10 000 ft or the minimum safe altitude.

Ditching technique

Approach into wind and parallel to the swell, with the lowest possible speed and a nose-up attitude. Inflate life jackets only after leaving the aircraft.

Critical angle of attack

The stall occurs at the critical angle of attack, about 15 to 18 degrees for most light aircraft. It is independent of speed, weight and aircraft attitude.

Induced drag

Induced drag is a by-product of lift and decreases as speed increases, proportional to 1/V squared. It is greatest at high angle of attack and low speed.

Manoeuvring speed VA

VA is the maximum speed at which full control deflection may be applied without exceeding the design load factor. It decreases as aircraft weight decreases.

Emergency frequency

121.5 MHz is the international VHF emergency frequency. It is monitored by ATC and used for distress and urgency communications.

Readability scale

The readability scale runs from 1 (unreadable) to 5 (perfectly readable). A report of 3 means readable but with difficulty.

Radio failure squawk

Pilots set transponder code 7600 to indicate radio failure. They then follow the published lost-communication procedures for the airspace and flight rules.

VOR radial

A radial is the magnetic bearing from the VOR station. The CDI shows the selected radial, and the TO/FROM indicator shows the direction relative to the station.

ILS glide path angle

The ILS glide path is normally set at 3 degrees, giving about 300 ft of height per nautical mile from the threshold. It is received on 329.15–335 MHz.

RAIM

Receiver autonomous integrity monitoring checks GNSS satellite signals for faults. Fault detection needs at least 5 satellites, and fault detection with exclusion needs 6.

DME slant range

DME measures slant range, not ground distance. The error is negligible at long range but significant when the aircraft is close to the station at high altitude.