Aircraft General Knowledge: airframe, systems, powerplant, equipment, instruments
Airframe and structures
The airframe is semi-monocoque: skin carries shear, stringers and frames stiffen it, wing spars carry bending. Know load paths, the meaning of fail-safe and damage-tolerant design, and where fatigue-critical areas (window corners, spar caps, pressurisation cycles) are inspected.
Systems
Hydraulics powers flight controls, gear, brakes and flaps; know reservoirs, pumps, accumulators, relief valves and the effect of a lost system on dispatch. Pneumatics supplies engine bleed for air conditioning, pressurisation and anti-icing - bleed valves, precoolers and pack valves. Electrical: AC generators (IDG), TRUs, batteries, bus ties, and what remains on battery power alone. Fuel: boost pumps, crossfeed, jettison, imbalance limits. Ice protection: thermal anti-ice (bleed), pneumatic de-icing boots, or electrical.
Powerplant
Turbofan parameters: N1 (fan, thrust), N2 (core), EGT, EPR, fuel flow. FADEC controls start, acceleration and limits. Know start malfunctions: hot start (EGT limit exceeded), hung start (stagnant N2), wet start (no light-off), and the meaning of self-sustaining speed.
Emergency equipment and instruments
Fire detection loops, extinguisher bottles and discharge routing; slides, rafts, ELT, life jackets, PBE. Pitot-static instruments all use the static source; blockage or leak affects the altimeter, VSI and ASI. Gyros: rigidity in space versus precession - attitude and heading references rely on rigidity, the turn indicator on precession.
Traps and rule of thumb
Questions mix up which parameter is displayed where, confuse an outflow valve with a safety relief valve, and assume the RAT powers everything. Rule: cabin pressure is controlled by the outflow valve - if it fails open the cabin climbs; the relief valve only protects against overpressure.