PSA senior cadet interview prep

What docs does an aircraft need

A - airworthiness (never expires)

R - Registration (7years)

R - Radio operating license (if international)

O - Operating hand book (aircraft specific)

W - Weight and balance (aircraft specific)

RVR

runway visual range - horizontal distance you can see down a runway

IFR required equipment 

ATOMATOFLAMES + FLAPS:

G - generator/alternator

R - radio (two way, nav)

A - altimeter (sensitive)

B - ball (inclinometer)

C - clock (integrated, hr, min, sec)

A - attitude ind

R - rate of turn gyro (turn cord)

D - directional gyro (heading ind)

What is a MEL

A minimum equipment list - an FAA approved list of equipment the aircraft can fly without

IFR fuel requirements

destination, to the furthest alternate 45 minutes at normal cruise

taxiway lighting

• Taxiway Edge Lights - Steady blue lights outlining the edges of taxiways

• Taxiway Centerline Lights - Steady green lights installed along the centerline of the taxiway

• Clearance Bar Lights - Three in-pavement steady-burning yellow lights

• Runway Guard Lights - Pair of elevated flashing yellow lights on either side of the taxiway, or a row of in-pavement yellow lights across the entire taxiway at the runway holding position marking

• Stop Bar Lights - A row of red, unidirectional, steady-burning in-pavement lights across the taxiway at the runway holding position, and elevated steady-burning red lights on each side

• Taxiway Centerline Lead-on Lights - Provide visual guidance for entering the runway, alternating yellow and green Bidirectional (1 side emits light for the lead-on function the other for the lead-off)
  

Alternate rule

When do you need an alternate, if the conditions are worse than:

• 1 hr before and after eta:

• 2,000 ft ceilings 

• 3 sm vis

Approach mins:

• Precision - 600ft ceilings, 2 sm

• Non-precision - 800ft ceilings, 2 sm

way points

fly over - Fly−over waypoints are used when the aircraft must overfly the waypoint prior to starting a turn to the new course.

fly by - Fly-by waypoint allows the aircraft to turn before reaching the waypoint for a smoother, more efficient flight path

What makes an ILS system

• Guidance information

  • Localizer (LOC) : provides lateral guidance

  • Glideslope (GS) : provides vertical guidance

• Range information

  • Marker beacon

  • Outer Marker (4-7miles from airport to intercept GP) = low-pitched tone, continuous dashes, two dots per second, blue light

  • Middle Marker (3500’ from landing threshold / 200’ above TDZE) = intermediate tone, two dashes or six dots per second and amber light

  • Inner Marker (Between MM and runway threshold - DH) = has a pattern of a series of dots in frequency of 6 dots per second, white light

  • DME

• Visual information

  • Approach lights

  • Touchdown and centerline lights

  • Runway lights

Localizer frequency & identifier

You can see it up on the top of the approach plate it will say LOC followed by a frequency 

If it has DME capability it will say LOC/DME or if a TACAN channel is listed 

runway lighting 

• Runway End Identifier Lights (REIL) - Installed to provide rapid/positive identification of the approach end of a runway, sit next to threshold, flashing lights

• Runway Edge Light Systems (HIRL, MIRL, LIRL) - Outline the edges of runways during dark / restricted visibility conditions

  • Runway edge lights – White

  • Instrument runways – Yellow for the last 2,000,’ or half the runway, whichever is shorter

  • Lights marking the end of the runway – Red / Green

• Runway Centerline Lighting System (RCLS - installed on some precision runways to facilitate landing under adverse conditions

  • White lights alternate with red for 2,000’, and the last 1,000’ all lights are red

• Touchdown Zone Lights (TDZL) - On some precision runways to indicate the touchdown zone in low visibility conditions, white

approach lighting 

• ALSF (Approach Light System with Sequenced Flashing Lights): A high-intensity system used for precision approaches. ALSF-1 is for ILS Category I, while ALSF-2 is for Categories II and III.

• SSALR (Simplified Short Approach Lighting System with Runway Alignment Indicator Lights): A simplified version that can be used during instrument approaches to provide alignment guidance.

• MALSR (Medium Intensity Approach Light System with Runway Alignment Indicator Lights): A medium-intensity system that provides alignment, height perception, and roll guidance.

• ODALS (Omnidirectional Approach Lighting System): Consists of seven flashing lights that can be seen from any direction, making it useful for non-precision approaches.

• VASI (Visual Approach Slope Indicator): A system of lights that provides visual descent guidance to indicate if the aircraft is too high, too low, or on the correct path

when can you go below minimums?

91.175 

Operation below DA/DH or MDA: Except under special provisions (see § 91.176 for EFVS operations), a pilot may not continue an approach below the authorized MDA, or descend below the authorized DA/DH, unless:

• the aircraft is in a position from which a descent to land on the intended runway can be made at a normal rate using normal maneuvers;

• flight visibility is at least the minimum prescribed for that approach;

• one of the required runway‐environment visual references is distinctly visible and identifiable (e.g., threshold, runway lights, visual glideslope indicator, etc.)

  • The approach light system, except that the pilot may not descend below 100 feet above the touchdown zone elevation using the approach lights as a reference unless the red terminating bars or the red side row bars are also distinctly visible and identifiable

holds

standards 

• turns to the right

• the inboud leg will always be towards the fix/navaid

• normal - 1 min legs

• gps - 4nm legs

entries

• direct 

• parallel 

• teardrop

hold speeds

• 6000 ft - 200kts

• 6001ft - 14,000 - 230kts

• 14,001 - 250kts 

What considerations should you have in a hold

Fuel, Time, and whether it’s better to divert or to hold fuel-wise

If you divert, go to an alternate with American Eagle services

how can you ID a missed approach 

with DME / TIMED / Marker beacons

take off alternate 121

if your minimums at your takeoff destination are below you a take off alternate and it needs to be within an hour

below a 200ft celling

what are some considerations when taxing

hot spots, hold short positions, other airplanes, getting checklist done

What is the difference between climb/descend and maintain or climb/descend via

climb/descend and maintain; cleared laterally, not vertically, follow their instructions 

climb/descend via; cleared laterally and vertically to the top altitude or lowest altitude

• airspeed restrictions will always be applicable with both, unless ATC modifies 

multi system

what is the final approach fix for a precision vs non perscision

precision - glide slope intercept

non perscicion - the malteese cross

Going below minimums 121.651

If the reported weather drops below landing minimums before you pass the FAF, you may NOT continue the approach You must go missed / discontinue the approach.

If the weather was at or above minimums when you passed the FAF, and then drops below minimums after the FAF,
You may continue the approach to DA/MDA and attempt a landing.

departure procedures 

• Simplify clearance delivery procedures

• reduce frequency congestion

• ensure obstacle clearance 

• help control airport traffic flow

• from the terminal to en route structure 

• textual or graphical

climb gradients

Adhere to the terps ensures the climb meets obstacle clearance

must make sure your aircraft is capable

FPNM = (FPM/GS) x 60

FPM = (GS/60) x FPNM

TERPS & TPP

US Standard Terminal Instrument Procedures - provides design criteria for procedures

terminal procedures publication - the published procedures

Standard Instrument departure SID

• reduces pilot controller workload

• expedites traffic flow

• obstacle clearances

• textual or graphical

• this departure terminates at the fix or navaid in the enroute structure and a altitude where atc can give radar services

• ATC can issue SIDs pilot can request no sid in remarks

• name includes abbreviated name, number, name of transition/fix 

• starts with departure than transition ex MOLEN8.ENI

pilot navigation SID

pilot navigates along specific route with minimal communication

• typically includes initial headings, altitudes, transition and departure routes

vector SID

an area where controllers typically provide radar service

• vectors start after takeoff and continue to assigned route or fix in the chart

• typically includes initial headings, altitudes, loss com procedures, fixes

RNAV SID

airplane must meet certain equipment and performance standards

• RNAV is included in the procedure name

• can be solely pilot navigation or a mix of vectors as well

• Has fly by and fly over way points

minimum safe sector altitude MSA

• provides 1,000 ft obstacle clearance for non/mountainous areas

• 25 nm radius around a defined point

Minimum off route altitude MORA

a grid which provides 1,000 ft obstacle clearance (2,000 mountainous) above the highest terrain or man made structure 

obstacle departure procedure

created when the required climb gradient or takeoff minimums is higher than standard for obstacle clearance

• you can fly and ODP without a clearance as long as no other departure has been assigned

• Jeppersen places textual ODP in the airport information charts

diverse vector area DVA

In a radar environment, ATC can take responsibility for obstacle clearance by vectoring aircraft before the minimum vectoring altitude

• no specific ground track, climb gradient denoted if higher than standard

• Jeppersen places textual DVA in airport informatin charts

take off 91.175

• weather conditions must be higher, or at takeoff minimums for that airport if none is published

• for 1-2 engines 1SM

• for 3 or more ½ sm

• can be lower if authorized by opspecs, and you have the required equipment and visuals

arrival charts 

• provide transition between enroute structure to busy terminal areas 

• simplifies clearance delivery procedures 

• expected action for pilots and controllers 

standard terminal arrival STAR

• simplifies clearance delivery procedures

• Typically ends at a fix where an instrument or visual approach 

• starts at one point where all the transitions converge also is what the arrival is named after

• Atc can issue a STAR you can request no star

• starts with transition, then the name of arrival, ex, LAX.HUBRD1

a transition

one of several routes that bring traffic from different directions to a point where the star begins

transition route vs routing 

transition route - dashed line

routing - solid black line 

RNAV STAR

airplane must meet certain equipment and performance standards

• RNAV is included in the procedure name

• Has fly by and fly over way points

instrument approach procedure IAP

precision approach PA

provides vertical and lateral guidance with specific standards for integrity and accuracy

approach with vertical guidance APV

provides vertical and lateral guidance

nonpercision approach NPA

provides only lateral guidance, vertical descent has to be calculated

initial approach segment IAF

aligns aircraft with approach course

intermediate approach segment IF

potions aircraft for final descent

final approach segment FAF/FAP

descent down to a point where if you have 91.175 you can continue approach to landing

da vs mda

decision altitude - alt at upon reaching you either continue or go missed

minimum decision altitude - alt upon reaching that you can maintain until MAP or continue  

missed approach segment

route from missed approach point where you can attempt again or divert

missed approach point

the point at which you go missed

• can be identified as a fix, navaid, dme or an elapsed time

terminal arrival area TAA

provides transition from enroute structure to terminal area for RNAV equipped aircraft

• provides obstruction clearance as long as ur at or above published minimum alt

feeder route

provide a link between a enroute fix or navaid to the initial approach fix 

course reversal

• procedure turn - can be completed in any way as long as your on the right side and within the specified distance

• hold/teardrop - must be done that way

• none - no procedure turn is authorized

visual descent point

a point from which if you are visual you can descend below you MDA

descent/timing conversion table

provides time and distance and recommend descent from the FAF to the MAP based on GS

inoperative components

typically raise minimums can be found on the jep plate

• if multiple components are out you choose the highest minimum required by a single component

airport reference point

center of all usable runways, it where the gps takes you

RNAV approaches

• require gps equipment

• tso 129 & 196 provide lateral navigation (raim)

• tso 145 & 146 provide lateal and vertical navigation (waas)

• utilizes gps generated points (fly by fly over)

ILS approaches

• provides course gs and distance

• CATI - standard ILS approach must be instrument rated and have equipment

• CATII - gets you to a DH of not less than 100ft about TDZ and RVR of 1,200ft

• CATIII - has 3 separate categories

• IIIa - 700ft rvr

• IIIb - 150 rvr

• IIIc - no rvr

• CATII & III require special equipment and certification

prop system

When the rpm setting is set:

airplane's nose is raised / under speed conditions:

• airspeed and rpm go down due to increasing drag

• so to counteract fly weight goes into an underspeed condition

• moves the pilot valve down allowing oil flow into prop hub

• more oil

• decreases blade angle - closer to windmilling - low aoa

• pilot valve will return to nuetral when condiiton is fixed

airplane nose lowered / overspeed condition:

• airspeed and rpm increase due to decreasing drag

• fly weights go into overspeed condition

• moves the pilot valve up allowing oil to return to engine

• less oil

• Increases blade angle - closer to feather - high aoa

• pilot valve will return to nuetral when condition is fixed