Instrument Comprehension Flashcards

On a three-pointer altimeter, the shortest needle points to 1, the medium needle points to 5, and the longest needle points to 3. What altitude is indicated?

Answer: 1,530 feet

On a three-pointer altimeter, the shortest needle reads thousands (1,000), the medium needle reads hundreds (500), and the longest needle reads tens (30), giving a total of 1,530 feet.

An aircraft is heading 090 degrees and makes a 90-degree left turn. What is the new heading?

Answer: 000 degrees (360)

Starting at 090 degrees (east) and turning left 90 degrees subtracts 90 degrees, resulting in 000/360 degrees (north).

During a standard rate turn, how long does it take to complete a full 360-degree turn?

Answer: 2 minutes

A standard rate turn is 3 degrees per second, so 360 degrees divided by 3 degrees/second equals 120 seconds, or 2 minutes.

In the Northern Hemisphere, a magnetic compass will do which of the following when turning toward north?

Answer: Lag behind the actual heading

Due to magnetic dip in the Northern Hemisphere, the compass lags when turning toward north, requiring the pilot to stop the turn before the compass reaches the north indication.

If the attitude indicator shows the miniature aircraft below the horizon bar with wings level, what is the aircraft doing?

Answer: Flying in a nose-low (descending) attitude

When the miniature aircraft on the attitude indicator is below the horizon bar with wings level, the aircraft is in a nose-low, descending pitch attitude.

Which instrument is used to determine the rate of altitude change rather than the actual current altitude?

Answer: Vertical speed indicator (VSI)

The vertical speed indicator (VSI) shows the rate of altitude change in feet per minute, while the altimeter shows the current altitude.

An aircraft climbs from 6,500 feet to 8,200 feet. How many feet did the aircraft ascend?

Answer: 1,700 feet

8,200 minus 6,500 equals 1,700 feet of altitude gained.