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.
- 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?
- The angle at which airflow separates from the wing surface, causing a stall if exceeded
- How does center of gravity position affect aircraft stability?
- 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?
- 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.
- 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?
- Airframe vibration caused by shock-induced flow separation at high subsonic or transonic speeds
- How do winglets improve aircraft performance?
- 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?
- 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.
- 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?
- To provide longitudinal and lateral stability, returning the aircraft to its original attitude after a disturbance
- How do trim systems affect aircraft control?
- Trim systems adjust control surfaces to reduce pilot workload by maintaining neutral control forces in steady flight
- What is a phugoid oscillation?
- 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?
- 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?
- True airspeed is actual speed through the air; equivalent airspeed accounts for air density and compressibility effects
- Define ceiling as used in aircraft performance.
- The maximum altitude at which an aircraft can maintain level flight, typically defined as the altitude where climb rate reaches 100 feet per minute