Navigation Equipment Flashcards
7 cards from real AET practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Navigation Equipment flashcards as text
When testing a VOR receiver, an approved VOR test facility (VOT) should produce what indication on a correctly functioning receiver?
Answer: 000° radial with TO flag and centered CDI
A VOT transmits the 360° radial omnidirectionally; a properly functioning receiver tuned to a VOT should show 000° (or 360°) with a TO flag and a centered CDI within ±4°.
What phenomenon causes GPS multipath errors?
Answer: Satellite signals arriving via reflected paths in addition to direct path
Multipath error occurs when GPS signals reflect off terrain, buildings, or aircraft structures and arrive at the antenna via indirect paths, corrupting the direct-signal measurement.
What does the term 'CDI sensitivity' refer to in area navigation (RNAV) operations?
Answer: The crosstrack distance represented by full-scale needle deflection
CDI sensitivity refers to the crosstrack distance (in nautical miles) that represents full-scale deflection; it scales from ±5 NM en route to ±0.3 NM during approach.
What is the primary advantage of a Ring Laser Gyroscope (RLG) over a conventional mechanical gyroscope in navigation systems?
Answer: No moving parts, resulting in higher reliability and faster startup
Ring Laser Gyroscopes have no moving parts, which eliminates wear and bearing friction, providing greater reliability, faster alignment, and longer service life than mechanical gyros.
During an ILS approach, a glideslope pointer above center on the ADI/flight director indicates the aircraft is:
Answer: Below the glideslope — fly up
A glideslope deviation pointer above center means the glideslope beam is above the aircraft, so the aircraft is below the glideslope and must climb (fly up) to intercept it.
What is the purpose of IRS (Inertial Reference System) alignment and why must it be performed stationary?
Answer: To establish a precise north reference and initial position before computing navigation
IRS alignment uses Earth's rotation sensed by the gyros to determine true north and must be done stationary because any movement during alignment introduces position and heading errors.
What is the significance of the 'cone of silence' associated with a VOR ground station?
Answer: A zone directly above the station where the signal is unreliable or absent
The cone of silence is the roughly conical area directly above a VOR station where the signal is extremely weak or absent due to the antenna's radiation pattern, causing unreliable bearing indications.