Mauritius DCA CPL Theory flashcards

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

VFR cloud distance minima

In controlled airspace at VFR, keep 1500 m horizontally and 300 m vertically from cloud, with 5 km flight visibility; national rules may differ in lower airspace classes.

CPL total flight hours

ICAO Annex 1 baseline for a CPL is 200 total hours, including 100 hours as pilot-in-command, with instrument and cross-country components per national implementation.

Overtaking rule of the air

An aircraft overtaking another must pass on the right, keeping clear of the other aircraft until well past and clear of it.

Certificate of airworthiness

Document confirming the aircraft meets its type design and is safe for flight within stated limitations; operations must comply with it and the flight manual.

Four-stroke engine cycle

Induction, compression, combustion and exhaust, completed in two crankshaft revolutions; the spark occurs before top dead centre to allow complete combustion.

Detonation versus pre-ignition

Detonation is explosive uncontrolled burning after spark; pre-ignition is ignition before the spark. Both cause high cylinder head temperature and possible piston damage.

Constant-speed propeller governor

Governor senses RPM and adjusts oil pressure to change blade angle, holding the selected RPM as airspeed and power change.

Static port blockage effect

If the static port blocks, the airspeed indicator behaves like an altimeter: it reads high in climb and low in descent, while the altimeter freezes.

Density altitude

Pressure altitude corrected for non-standard temperature; high values reduce engine power, propeller thrust and lift, increasing take-off and landing distances.

Va manoeuvring speed

Maximum speed at which full control deflection will not exceed the design load factor; below it the aircraft stalls before structural damage occurs.

Crosswind component formula

Crosswind = wind speed × sin of the angle between wind and runway; headwind = wind speed × cos of that angle.

Rate of climb relation

Rate of climb equals excess power divided by weight; it falls with altitude until the service ceiling, where it is 100 ft per minute.

Time of useful consciousness

Period before hypoxia incapacitates; roughly 20 to 30 minutes at FL180 and far shorter above FL350 without supplemental oxygen.

Somatogravic illusion

During acceleration, especially in low visibility, the pilot feels a false pitch-up and may push forward; trust the instruments, not body sensations.

Night vision adaptation

Rods in the peripheral retina provide night vision and need about 30 minutes dark adaptation; bright light and carbon monoxide destroy it.

Hyperventilation treatment

Slow controlled breathing and reassurance; if hypoxia cannot be excluded, use supplemental oxygen and descend, since symptoms overlap with hypoxia.

QNH versus QFE

QNH set on the altimeter subscale gives altitude above mean sea level; QFE gives height above the aerodrome reference point.

Cloud base estimate

For convective cloud, base in feet is approximately the temperature-dewpoint spread in Celsius multiplied by 400.

Carburettor icing conditions

Possible at outside temperatures between about 0 and 30 degrees Celsius with high humidity; apply carburettor heat when icing is suspected.

Mountain wave signs

Lenticular clouds, rotor clouds, strong lee-side downdraughts and turbulence indicate mountain wave; expect severe turbulence and wind shear.

Great circle versus rhumb line

A great circle is the shortest route between two points; a rhumb line crosses meridians at a constant angle and plots as a straight line on Mercator charts.

Variation and deviation

Variation is the angle between true and magnetic north at a location; deviation is the aircraft-specific compass error, applied after variation.

One minute of latitude

One minute of latitude equals one nautical mile; one minute of longitude equals one nautical mile multiplied by the cosine of the latitude.

Wind correction angle

The angle between heading and desired track needed to counter drift; it depends on wind speed and the angle between wind and track.

Engine failure after take-off

Maintain control, pitch for best glide speed, select a landing area ahead, and attempt restart only if height and time allow.

Wake turbulence avoidance

Take off before the preceding aircraft's rotation point and land after its touchdown point; stay above and upwind of its flight path.

Emergency squawk codes

7700 for general emergency, 7600 for radio failure and 7500 for unlawful interference; select and confirm with ATC where possible.

Load factor and stall speed

Load factor is 1 divided by cosine of bank angle; stall speed rises with the square root of load factor, so 60 degrees bank raises it 41 percent.

Critical angle of attack

The angle at which airflow separates and lift drops; the stall occurs at this angle regardless of speed, weight or bank.

Induced drag relation

Induced drag coefficient equals lift coefficient squared divided by pi times aspect ratio times span efficiency; it falls as speed increases.

MAYDAY distress call

Said three times, followed by callsign, nature of distress, position, altitude and intentions; used when immediate danger threatens the aircraft.

VOR radial interpretation

The CDI centres when the OBS is set to the desired radial; the TO/FROM flag shows whether that radial leads to or from the station.