SIFT Aviation Instruments and Cockpit Familiarization 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the purpose of the magnetic compass in the cockpit?
- To indicate the aircraft's rate of turn
- To provide a direct reading of magnetic heading without electrical power (Correct answer)
- To sense changes in atmospheric pressure for altitude
- To measure the aircraft's bank angle
Correct answer: To provide a direct reading of magnetic heading without electrical power
The magnetic compass is a self-contained, non-electrical instrument that directly detects the Earth's magnetic field to give the pilot a magnetic heading reference.
Question 2: During a turn to the north in the Northern Hemisphere, a magnetic compass will typically:
- Read accurately throughout the turn
- Overshoot — indicate past north before settling (Correct answer)
- Undershoot — stop short of north before settling
- Remain fixed at the original heading
Correct answer: Overshoot — indicate past north before settling
Due to compass dip and northerly turning error in the Northern Hemisphere, the compass overshoots when rolling out of a turn to north, requiring the pilot to roll out early.
Question 3: Which instrument would a pilot check first to identify spatial disorientation (vestibular illusion) in IMC?
- Magnetic compass
- Attitude indicator (Correct answer)
- Airspeed indicator
- Engine manifold pressure gauge
Correct answer: Attitude indicator
The attitude indicator provides an immediate, reliable picture of pitch and bank and is the primary reference to correct spatial disorientation since human senses are unreliable in clouds.
Question 4: An airspeed indicator marked with a yellow arc indicates:
- Normal operating range (caution speed)
- Caution range — smooth air operations only (Correct answer)
- Flap operating range
- Never-exceed speed zone
Correct answer: Caution range — smooth air operations only
The yellow arc on an airspeed indicator represents the caution range where flight should be conducted only in smooth air, between Vno (maximum structural cruising speed) and Vne (never-exceed speed).
Question 5: What does a red radial line on an airspeed indicator represent?
- Maximum flap-extended speed (Vfe)
- Best rate of climb speed (Vy)
- Never-exceed speed (Vne) (Correct answer)
- Stall speed in landing configuration
Correct answer: Never-exceed speed (Vne)
The red radial line marks Vne (never-exceed speed); exceeding this airspeed risks structural failure of the airframe.
Question 6: The vertical speed indicator (VSI) shows a pilot:
- Current altitude above mean sea level
- Rate of climb or descent in feet per minute (Correct answer)
- Airspeed in the vertical axis only
- Distance to the nearest terrain
Correct answer: Rate of climb or descent in feet per minute
The VSI measures the rate of change in static pressure and displays the aircraft's rate of climb or descent, typically in hundreds of feet per minute.
Question 7: If a pitot tube becomes blocked (e.g., by ice), which instrument is most directly affected?
- Altimeter
- Attitude indicator
- Airspeed indicator (Correct answer)
- Magnetic compass
Correct answer: Airspeed indicator
The airspeed indicator depends on pitot (ram) air pressure; a blocked pitot tube removes this input, causing the airspeed to read incorrectly or freeze.
SIFT Aviation Instruments and Cockpit Familiarization 2
What is the purpose of the magnetic compass in the cockpit?