Aviation Instruments and Cockpit Familiarization Flashcards
7 cards from real SIFT practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Aviation Instruments and Cockpit Familiarization flashcards as text
What does 'VFR' stand for in aviation?
Answer: Visual Flight Rules
VFR (Visual Flight Rules) refers to the set of regulations under which a pilot operates an aircraft in weather conditions clear enough to allow the pilot to see and avoid obstacles and other traffic.
The annunciator panel in a military aircraft cockpit is primarily used to:
Answer: Alert the crew to abnormal system conditions with warning lights
The annunciator panel is a series of warning, caution, and advisory lights that alert pilots to abnormal or critical conditions in various aircraft systems.
In a standard cockpit, the throttle (or collective in helicopters) primarily controls:
Answer: Engine power and thrust (or lift in helicopters)
The throttle (or collective in helicopters) controls engine power output and, in rotary-wing aircraft, the collective changes the pitch of all rotor blades simultaneously to control lift.
What is the function of the altimeter setting (Kollsman window) on an altimeter?
Answer: To correct the altimeter for local barometric pressure so it reads accurate elevation
The Kollsman window allows the pilot to dial in the current local altimeter setting (barometric pressure), which corrects the altimeter to accurately display true altitude above mean sea level.
Which gyroscopic instrument relies on rigidity in space (not precession) to function correctly?
Answer: Both heading indicator and attitude indicator
Both the heading indicator and attitude indicator rely on gyroscopic rigidity in space — the gyro maintains its orientation while the aircraft moves around it — whereas the turn coordinator uses precession.
What is 'density altitude' and why is it important to a pilot?
Answer: Pressure altitude corrected for non-standard temperature, indicating aircraft performance potential
Density altitude is pressure altitude adjusted for temperature; high density altitude (hot, high, humid conditions) means thinner air, reducing engine power, rotor/propeller efficiency, and aerodynamic lift.
On an Army helicopter cockpit instrument panel, the torquemeter is used to:
Answer: Indicate the power being produced by the engine as a percentage of available torque
The torquemeter measures and displays engine torque output as a percentage of the maximum allowable torque, helping pilots manage power and avoid over-torquing the drivetrain.