Aircraft Systems, Instruments and Equipment practice questions

Answer: D) Aneroid wafers

• AIncorrect. That is a radar altimeter.
• BIncorrect. Gyros sense attitude.
• CIncorrect. This is the compass.
• DCorrect. Sealed aneroid wafers expand and contract with pressure changes.

Answer: B) The data is invalid

• AIncorrect. It indicates failure.
• BCorrect. A red X means the system has failed or its data is invalid.
• CIncorrect. This is not the meaning.
• DIncorrect. This is not the meaning.

Answer: B) Cold air makes baro-VNAV paths lower than charted

• AIncorrect. Temperature doesn't disable GPS.
• BCorrect. Very cold temperatures reduce obstacle clearance.
• CIncorrect. The issue is path accuracy.
• DIncorrect. Baro-VNAV doesn't use a localizer.

Answer: B) To verify the pilot can quickly regain control if the autopilot or trim malfunctions

The autopilot preflight check in the POH/AFM supplement tests every disengage method. That ensures the pilot can quickly take manual control if the autopilot or electric trim malfunctions.

• AIncorrect. Glideslope coupling cannot be tested in a ground check. The disconnect test is about getting control back from the autopilot, not about how well it tracks.
• BCorrect. The preflight check confirms that every disengage method (control-wheel button, mode panel switch, trim switch, etc.) works. That way the pilot can take over at once if there is a malfunction or a trim runaway.
• CIncorrect. AHRS alignment happens on its own after power-up. Testing the autopilot disconnect plays no part in it.
• DIncorrect. The altimeter/static system inspection under 14 CFR 91.411 is maintenance work. It has nothing to do with a pilot's preflight check of the autopilot disconnect.

Answer: D) Altimeter and VSI

• AIncorrect. These are independent.
• BIncorrect. Airspeed also uses pitot pressure.
• CIncorrect. These are gyroscopic.
• DCorrect. Both rely on static pressure alone.

Answer: C) An aircraft without ADS-B Out that is outside radar coverage does not appear

An ADS-B In display shows aircraft with ADS-B Out, plus TIS-B targets, which need a transponder and radar coverage. An aircraft with neither is not displayed, so pilots must keep scanning outside.

• AIncorrect. ADS-B traffic information is advisory. In visual conditions the pilot is still responsible for seeing and avoiding other aircraft.
• BIncorrect. To be a TIS-B target, an aircraft must have a transponder and be within radar coverage. Some ground stations do not provide TIS-B at all.
• CCorrect. An aircraft without ADS-B Out can appear only as a TIS-B target, and TIS-B requires radar surveillance. ADS-R relays only ADS-B broadcasts, so that aircraft is not displayed.
• DIncorrect. ADS-R is a ground-station service, so it works only within range of an ADS-B ground station.

Answer: C) An altimeter or encoder error

• AIncorrect. The code doesn't affect altitude reporting.
• BIncorrect. A large difference indicates an error.
• CCorrect. The pilot should check the altimeter setting.
• DIncorrect. Heading doesn't affect altitude reporting.

Answer: B) The pitch and bank attitude needed to capture and track the selected guidance

Flight director command bars show computed pitch and roll commands, which is the attitude needed to follow the selected lateral and vertical modes. When hand-flying, the pilot keeps the airplane symbol on the bars.

• AIncorrect. The attitude indicator's airplane symbol and horizon line show current attitude. The command bars show the attitude the pilot should fly, which may differ from the current attitude.
• BCorrect. The flight director computes pitch and roll commands from the selected modes. The pilot keeps the airplane symbol aligned with the command bars to follow the localizer and glideslope.
• CIncorrect. The CDI/HSI and glideslope indicator show how far the airplane is off course and glidepath. The command bars show the attitude needed to correct that displacement, not the displacement itself.
• DIncorrect. That describes the airspeed trend vector on the airspeed tape. It is not a flight director function.

Answer: A) 24 calendar months

• ACorrect. 14 CFR 91.411 requires tests every 24 calendar months.
• BIncorrect. The interval is 24 months.
• CIncorrect. That is the VOR check.
• DIncorrect. The interval is calendar-based.

Answer: B) Normal sensing

• AIncorrect. That happens with a conventional CDI.
• BCorrect. Setting the front course on an HSI gives normal sensing on the back course.
• CIncorrect. The needle still works.
• DIncorrect. Back courses lack glideslope.