Oman CAA PPL Theory Exam flashcards

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

QNH altimeter setting

The pressure setting that makes an altimeter read elevation above mean sea level when on the ground at the reference point, giving altitude above MSL in flight.

Transition altitude

The altitude above which pilots set the altimeter to standard pressure 1013.25 hPa and use flight levels instead of altitudes, as published in the State AIP.

Semi-circular rule

Flight levels are selected by magnetic track: 000-179 degrees use odd thousands, 180-359 use even thousands, keeping opposite-direction traffic separated by 1,000 feet.

Right-of-way converging

When two aircraft of the same category converge at similar altitude, the aircraft on the right has right-of-way and the other must give way.

Best angle of climb

Vx, the speed giving the greatest height gain per unit horizontal distance, used to clear obstacles; it decreases with headwind and increases with altitude.

Density altitude formula

Pressure altitude plus 120 times the difference between actual temperature and ISA temperature at that pressure altitude, in degrees Celsius, giving the altitude for performance charts.

Load factor in turns

In a level turn the load factor equals one divided by the cosine of the bank angle; at 60 degrees bank it is 2 and stall speed rises by about 41 percent.

Induced drag

Drag caused by lift generation and wingtip vortices; it decreases as airspeed increases and is largest at high angle of attack and low speed.

Critical angle of attack

The angle at which airflow separates from the wing and lift decreases abruptly; exceeding it causes a stall regardless of airspeed or attitude.

Time of useful consciousness

The period after loss of oxygen at altitude during which a pilot can still act effectively, about 30 to 60 seconds at FL 350 and longer at lower levels.

Somatogravic illusion

A false sensation of climbing during rapid acceleration, or of descending during deceleration, caused by otolith displacement; trust the attitude indicator.

Hyperventilation treatment

Slow the breathing rate or rebreathe into a bag to raise carbon dioxide levels; if hypoxia is possible, give oxygen first and treat as hypoxia.

Carburettor icing range

Most likely with ambient temperatures between about minus 7 and plus 21 degrees Celsius and relative humidity above 50 percent; apply carburettor heat before reducing power.

Detonation

Uncontrolled explosive combustion of the fuel-air mixture after spark ignition, causing high cylinder pressure and temperature; prevented by correct mixture, fuel grade, and power settings.

Magneto drop limit

The maximum permissible RPM drop when running on one magneto, typically 150 RPM, with a maximum difference between magnetos of about 50 RPM.

1 in 60 rule

A track error of one nautical mile over 60 nautical miles corresponds to one degree; used to estimate drift and heading corrections mentally.

Variation and deviation

Variation is the angle between true and magnetic north shown on charts; deviation is the aircraft compass error shown on the compass correction card.

VOR radial

A magnetic bearing from the station; the CDI centres when the selected course matches the radial, and the TO/FROM flag shows whether the station lies ahead or behind.

QDM

The magnetic bearing from the aircraft to the station, calculated as relative bearing from the ADF plus aircraft magnetic heading.

ISA conditions

Sea-level temperature 15 degrees Celsius, pressure 1013.25 hPa, and a lapse rate of 1.98 degrees Celsius per 1,000 feet up to the tropopause at 36,090 feet.

Radiation fog

Fog forming on clear, calm nights when the surface cools and the air reaches its dew point; it often forms in valleys and disperses after sunrise.

Clear ice

Dense, hard ice formed by large supercooled droplets at temperatures between 0 and minus 10 degrees Celsius; it is heavy and difficult to remove.

Thunderstorm mature stage

The stage with both updrafts and downdrafts, heaviest precipitation, lightning, hail, and severe turbulence; avoid cumulonimbus by at least 20 nautical miles.

MAYDAY call

Distress signal repeated three times, giving station called, callsign, nature of emergency, position, altitude, heading, and intentions; it has absolute priority.

Standard read-back items

Clearances, runway assignments, hold-short instructions, altimeter settings, and frequency changes must be read back exactly as issued by ATC.

Squawk 7600

The transponder code selected to indicate radio communication failure, alerting ATC that the aircraft cannot transmit or receive.

Wake turbulence avoidance

Take off before the preceding aircraft's rotation point, land after its touchdown point, and stay upwind and above its flight path to avoid wingtip vortices.

Engine failure after take-off

Lower the nose to maintain best glide speed, select a landing area ahead within gliding range, attempt restart per checklist, and turn back only if altitude allows.

Standard rate turn

A turn of 3 degrees per second, completing 360 degrees in two minutes; the turn coordinator marks this rate for use in instrument and procedural flying.

Heading indicator drift

The directional gyro drifts due to earth rotation and friction, so it must be realigned with the magnetic compass every 10 to 15 minutes in level flight.

CAS to TAS

Calibrated airspeed corrected for air density; true airspeed increases about 2 percent per 1,000 feet of altitude at a constant calibrated airspeed.

Phonetic alphabet

Words used to spell letters clearly on the radio, from Alpha and Bravo through Yankee and Zulu, standardised by ICAO for all aviation communications.