Advanced aerodynamics, air carrier operations, and crew coordination concepts tested on the FAA Airline Transport Pilot written exam.
38 cards · basic cards · AI-written, checked twice. Edit anything.
- Define aspect ratio and its effect on induced drag.
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Aspect ratio is wingspan divided by average chord; higher aspect ratio reduces induced drag- What is critical angle of attack and what happens if exceeded?
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The angle at which airflow separates from the wing surface, causing a stall if exceeded- How does center of gravity position affect aircraft stability?
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Forward CG improves pitch stability but increases control force; aft CG improves handling but reduces stability- What is ground effect and when is it most significant?
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Reduced induced drag when flying within one wing span of the ground surface, most significant during landing and takeoff- Define Dutch roll and what causes it.
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A combined oscillation of yaw and roll that occurs when damping in yaw is insufficient relative to roll momentum- What is Mach buffet and when does it occur?
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Airframe vibration caused by shock-induced flow separation at high subsonic or transonic speeds- How do winglets improve aircraft performance?
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Winglets reduce induced drag by disrupting wing tip vortices, improving fuel efficiency and climb performance- What is angle of incidence and how does it differ from angle of attack?
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Angle of incidence is the fixed angle between the wing chord and fuselage; angle of attack is the angle between the chord and relative wind- Define load factor and its relationship to stall speed.
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Load factor is the ratio of lift to weight; stall speed increases with the square root of load factor- What is the primary purpose of a stabilizer in aircraft design?
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To provide longitudinal and lateral stability, returning the aircraft to its original attitude after a disturbance- How do trim systems affect aircraft control?
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Trim systems adjust control surfaces to reduce pilot workload by maintaining neutral control forces in steady flight- What is a phugoid oscillation?
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A long-period, lightly-damped oscillation in pitch with changes in altitude and airspeed but roughly constant flight path- How does density altitude affect aircraft performance?
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Higher density altitude reduces engine power and aerodynamic lift, increasing takeoff distance and reducing climb performance- What is the difference between true airspeed and equivalent airspeed?
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True airspeed is actual speed through the air; equivalent airspeed accounts for air density and compressibility effects- Define ceiling as used in aircraft performance.
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The maximum altitude at which an aircraft can maintain level flight, typically defined as the altitude where climb rate reaches 100 feet per minute
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