CGI Aircraft Systems & Instruments 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which flight instrument is powered by the pitot-static system?
- Attitude indicator
- Heading indicator
- Airspeed indicator (Correct answer)
- Turn coordinator
Correct answer: Airspeed indicator
The airspeed indicator uses the difference between pitot (ram) pressure and static pressure to display indicated airspeed.
Question 2: What does the VSI (Vertical Speed Indicator) display?
- True airspeed relative to the ground
- Rate of change of altitude in feet per minute (Correct answer)
- Indicated altitude corrected for temperature
- Vertical component of the aircraft's ground speed
Correct answer: Rate of change of altitude in feet per minute
The VSI measures the rate of change in static pressure to display climb or descent rate in feet per minute.
Question 3: Which gyroscopic instrument is MOST susceptible to precession error?
- Attitude indicator
- Heading indicator (Correct answer)
- Turn coordinator
- VSI
Correct answer: Heading indicator
The heading indicator (directional gyro) is most susceptible to precession and must be periodically realigned with the magnetic compass.
Question 4: What is the purpose of the carburetor heat system?
- Increase engine power during takeoff
- Prevent or eliminate carburetor ice by routing warm air to the carburetor (Correct answer)
- Cool the engine during high-power operations
- Improve mixture distribution to cylinders
Correct answer: Prevent or eliminate carburetor ice by routing warm air to the carburetor
Carburetor heat routes warm air from around the exhaust manifold into the carburetor to melt ice or prevent its formation.
Question 5: What does a 'rich' mixture setting mean in a piston engine?
- More air than fuel in the mixture
- More fuel relative to stoichiometric air-fuel ratio (Correct answer)
- Leaner than best power mixture
- Maximum power with minimum fuel
Correct answer: More fuel relative to stoichiometric air-fuel ratio
A rich mixture contains more fuel than the chemically ideal ratio, which provides engine cooling but reduces fuel efficiency.
Question 6: The altimeter is set to the local altimeter setting. What does it then display?
- True altitude above sea level
- Pressure altitude
- Indicated altitude, which approximates MSL altitude in standard conditions (Correct answer)
- Density altitude corrected for temperature
Correct answer: Indicated altitude, which approximates MSL altitude in standard conditions
With the correct altimeter setting, the altimeter displays indicated altitude, which closely approximates MSL altitude under standard temperature conditions.
CGI Aircraft Systems & Instruments 1
Which flight instrument is powered by the pitot-static system?