TBAS Instrument Comprehension 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: On a standard airspeed indicator, the yellow arc represents which speed range?
- Normal operating range for all conditions
- Caution range — smooth air only (Correct answer)
- Flap operating speed range
- Never-exceed speed zone
Correct answer: Caution range — smooth air only
The yellow arc is the caution range, meaning the aircraft should only be operated within it during smooth (non-turbulent) air conditions.
Question 2: When the miniature aircraft symbol on an attitude indicator appears above the artificial horizon bar with wings level, the aircraft is in what attitude?
- Level flight
- Left bank
- Nose-high (climbing) attitude (Correct answer)
- Nose-low (descending) attitude
Correct answer: Nose-high (climbing) attitude
The position of the miniature aircraft above the horizon bar on an attitude indicator indicates a nose-high or climbing pitch attitude.
Question 3: A heading indicator displaying '270' means the aircraft is flying in which direction?
- North
- East
- South
- West (Correct answer)
Correct answer: West
On a heading indicator, 270 degrees corresponds to due west, following standard compass rose conventions.
Question 4: The red radial line on an airspeed indicator marks which critical speed?
- Best glide speed (Vg)
- Never-exceed speed (Vne) (Correct answer)
- Maximum flap extension speed (Vfe)
- Maneuvering speed (Va)
Correct answer: Never-exceed speed (Vne)
The single red radial line (redline) on an airspeed indicator marks the never-exceed speed (Vne), which must never be exceeded in any flight condition.
Question 5: When the vertical speed indicator (VSI) needle points to the +2 mark, what is the aircraft's rate of climb?
- 200 feet per minute
- 20 feet per minute
- 2,000 feet per minute (Correct answer)
- 20,000 feet per minute
Correct answer: 2,000 feet per minute
The VSI is calibrated in thousands of feet per minute, so the +2 mark indicates a climb rate of 2,000 feet per minute.
Question 6: A turn coordinator showing the miniature aircraft symbol banked to the right indicates the aircraft is:
- Climbing
- Descending
- In a right turn (Correct answer)
- In a left turn
Correct answer: In a right turn
The turn coordinator's miniature aircraft symbol banks in the same direction as the actual turn, so banking right indicates the aircraft is turning right.
Question 7: Which color arc on the airspeed indicator represents the safe flap-operating speed range?
- Green arc
- Yellow arc
- White arc (Correct answer)
- Red arc
Correct answer: White arc
The white arc on an airspeed indicator represents the flap operating speed range, from power-off stall speed with flaps extended (Vso) to maximum flap extension speed (Vfe).
TBAS Instrument Comprehension 1
On a standard airspeed indicator, the yellow arc represents which speed range?