Questions tagged [aircraft-systems]
The essential systems found on most aircraft, including power plants, fuel systems, electrical systems, and flight instruments.
357
questions
2
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1answer
125 views
Does the Ground Proximity Warning System (GPWS) see through clouds?
Or can it only detect terrain on a clear day or night? I’m mostly asking because of PIA268
I know GPWS is much more reliable in todays time, and I’m unsure if the accident flight even had a GPWS ...
0
votes
0answers
136 views
Does an Airbus FAP display any indication of a full waste tank?
I have doubt about controls on FAP regarding Waste Tank.
I understand when crew person clicks on Input On button, FAP displays the quantity of Water and Waste tank.
But what happens when Waste Tank ...
22
votes
2answers
5k views
How do pilots know that the switch/knob they just switched on/off actually did what it's supposed to do?
With the plethora of switches/knobs/buttons etc present in airplane cockpits, how can pilots be really sure that a button they just pushed (either to enable/disable some electronic system or move some ...
1
vote
0answers
195 views
How efficient would it be to have a plane with the cockpit in the back?
Would it be efficient to have a passenger planes cockpit move to the back of the plane, rather than the front? What I have in mind is cameras on the fuselage and nosecone that connects to the cockpit ...
3
votes
1answer
96 views
Why will windshear inop illuminate after landing in an MD-83?
Why will windshear inop illuminate on the annunciator panel after landing or before starting taxi in a McDonnell Douglas MD-83?
0
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3answers
85 views
How to identify different pipes / hoses on aircraft engines?
When looking at an aircraft engine (without any cowlings) is there an easy way of identifying what pipes are for fuel, air, oil, hydraulics etc..? Maybe certain fluid pipes are different size ...
8
votes
3answers
354 views
How does the engine wash improve engine performance?
According to maintenance manual, we usually carry out engine wash (CFM56) with pure water as scheduled task. Pure water is injected into the engine from the LP compressor inlet while the engine is ...
1
vote
2answers
95 views
Maximum Flaps extended speed Vfe for full or partial flaps?
I fly Piper Archer/Warriors and the POH states "Maximum Flaps Extended Speed (VFE) – Do not exceed this speed with the flaps extended." I try not to but I occasionally may exceed Vfe with one notch ...
8
votes
1answer
3k views
Does the Antonov An-225 have an Auxiliary Power Unit (APU)?
Most APUs are installed in the rear, see the above image of an Airbus A380 as an example. On the An-225, no APU exhaust is visible at the rear of the aircraft.
So does the An-225 have an APU, and if ...
2
votes
0answers
31 views
In aircraft air conditioning systems what are the differences between the air cycle machine system and the displacement blower type system?
I have seen reference to both these different air conditioning systems but can't understand what the key differences are and where each system would likely be found.. I.e is one system preferable over ...
5
votes
1answer
201 views
Is a stall warning Horn required to fly?
I need an answer in reference to 23.207. I looked there and couldn't say 100% if it was a yes or a no.
Thank you for all your time.
cheers
3
votes
1answer
142 views
Do aircraft need special modifications for polar routes?
Does an aircraft need special modification for polar routes?
4
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2answers
252 views
What happens when auto-pilot fails over the ocean?
Let’s assume the current location puts the aircraft 2 hours from the nearest airport, but the destination is 2 1/2 hours away.
Would the pilots hand fly the rest of the way?
Are they allowed to fly ...
0
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1answer
65 views
What is the difference between staged and unstaged fuel manifolds? [closed]
Also, I would like to know the difference between pilot, primary and secondary fuel flow.
3
votes
1answer
97 views
Why do some airplanes have a vertical rudder hinge while some others are canted?
I was thinking that canted rudder hinges are used for modern aircraft while the vertical ones are used for old slow airplanes. But it seems that I was wrong since the SST Tupelov Tu-144 and the ...
2
votes
1answer
478 views
What is this “stick” on top of Cessna 152's wing, and how does it work? [duplicate]
What is this device? What is it for? Seems that some variants have only one, while some others have two.
Added: As some have two, so what are they? The answers and comments have not explained which ...
1
vote
1answer
55 views
Where can Cirrus Aircraft VisionJet Oleo Struts Material and Dimension Specifications be found? [closed]
I am looking to get hold of Cirrus Aircraft VisionJet Oleo Struts Material and Dimension Specifications. Can anyone point me to or share where I can obtain these details. So far, I have been able to ...
2
votes
1answer
291 views
Why couldn’t Boeing just use the stab trim system to do MCAS job?
If I’m incorrect in the question, please correct me. From what I’ve read and gathered the stab trim system essentially did the same before hand? It relies on AoA? And if so, did the computer for that ...
1
vote
2answers
177 views
Why did this old Japan Nakajima J1N airplane use a Yagi rather than a parabolic antenna?
Picture source.
As per my understanding, a Yagi antenna is a directional antenna with limited gain, which it broadcasts or receives the microwave signal to and from the front side. It can only ...
2
votes
1answer
213 views
How does a flux gate compass system work?
I have heard of gyroscopes and AHRS being used for heading indication, but I haven't heard of a flux gate compass system until recently.
What are the principles of its operation and what types of ...
15
votes
3answers
2k views
What does “synoptic” mean in avionics?
I came across a mention of a display of "graphical aircraft system synoptics" on this page. I think in context that it means "status display" or "summary page"- the page that shows flap position, ...
6
votes
1answer
306 views
Why does the B737NG need electrical power for aircraft towing?
I have read the AMM for towing and one of the mentioned steps is to supply electrical power. Is it because you need power to turn on the hydraulics in order to pressurize your brakes?
For B737NG
10
votes
1answer
246 views
Which commercial aircraft can fly Micro-SLOP procedures?
"Strategic Lateral Offset Procedures (SLOP) are approved procedures
that allow aircraft to fly on a parallel track to the right of the
centre line relative to the direction of flight to mitigate ...
3
votes
1answer
134 views
What type of jack is the flight interphone on transport category aircraft?
Recently became an A&P and part of my job is to be on the ground communicating to the pilots during push backs. Started shopping for a headset and have seen various ones with different adapters ...
1
vote
2answers
133 views
What is the future for auto-pilots? [closed]
What is going to change with auto-pilots on commercial aircraft in the next decade or so? Will airlines allow an auto-pilot to control an aircraft when it lands and takes off? Will we start using
5
votes
1answer
3k views
What's inside the packs? (Airbus a320)
I have some questions about ATA 21, how packs works?... I mean, what's inside them?, what are their mechanims? And How the warm air becomes into cold air?. (On a airbus A320)
I'm starting my major at ...
0
votes
1answer
116 views
How exactly are checklists shared between the pilots?
Plane startups are shared between the crew
But how exactly? Does the captain do the startup and then ask the copilot if everything is correct? How exactly does it work? Is it aircraft specific or ...
2
votes
1answer
132 views
Why is the alternate static pressure lower than the standard static vent pressure regardless of the venturi effect on both?
I understand that the higher relative airspeed around the body of an aircraft in comparison to the air within the cabin causes the cabin to experience a lower pressure.
However, I was just thinking ...
1
vote
0answers
90 views
TACtical Air Navigation - Bearing Information
In the TACAN system , how does a change in bearing , would translate to a change in the time (or frequency) domain.
I'll try to elaborate:
I'm aware , of the TACAN operation in general.
let's say ...
7
votes
3answers
4k views
How strong someone should be in order to fly without “power steering”?
Planes these days use fly by wire systems while older ones had a mix of hydraulics with electronic assistance like the MD-11 (And maybe 737-800?).
But what would happen if you lost the electronic ...
5
votes
1answer
324 views
Sukhoi Superjet 100 avionics
The Sukhoi Superjet 100 features flight control system with characteristics copied from Airbus. Side-sticks, same control laws. But does it actually use any of the hardware or software from Airbus (...
3
votes
2answers
213 views
Why does only one hydraulic intake line from the reservoir have a filter on the Arrow II?
This is a portion of an Arrow II landing gear hydraulic system diagram.
I noticed that there are two intake check valves, one located on each side of the pump, that would allow flow from the ...
2
votes
0answers
199 views
What is the difference between a pressure switch, high-pressure control, and low-pressure control in a landing gear hydraulic system?
This is an Arrow II landing gear diagram.
In the diagram, the high and low pressure controls look like check valves. The pressure switch is unclear.
What are these three items, and what purpose ...
1
vote
2answers
654 views
What is the purpose of the shuttle valve in a Piper Arrow's landing gear system?
This is the PA-28R-201 landing gear hydraulic system diagram.
I am wondering how this shuttle valve functions. Research I have done indicates that a shuttle valve blocks one attachment to the valve ...
0
votes
3answers
98 views
How does thrust relate to horsepower on turbocharged engines?
Could someone please help me understand the difference between horsepower and thrust on turbocharged engines? I believe I have a good understanding regarding the purpose and operation of a ...
3
votes
1answer
527 views
How can the landing gear of an A320 be lowered in the event of a simultaneous hydraulic and electrical failure?
What is the process for lowering the landing gear of an A320 when the hydraulic and electrical systems are not operational? What happens to the aircraft when you lower the landing gear with ...
1
vote
1answer
249 views
Robinson R22/44/66 Headset Plug For Bose A20 Headset
What type of headset connector plug is used on R22/44/66 Helicopters?
Is Bose A20 Headset a good one to be used on helicopter?
-1
votes
2answers
229 views
How are aircraft brakes applied? [duplicate]
I read somewhere that when both rudder paddles are pushed simultaneously it produces a braking effect. Is this true?
If yes, please provide a detailed description of the above mentioned system.
0
votes
0answers
54 views
Transponder code at gate [duplicate]
Why do you have to select 2000 on the transponder first, prior to selecting the unit off? Is this an ATC consideration?
0
votes
2answers
172 views
Why is the rotor system of an aircraft and the rotor system of a helicopter different? [closed]
Both aircraft with propeller(variable pitch) and helicopter rotor system can change pitch.
Of course, for helicopter, there is not only collective pitch control but also cyclic control.
The aircraft ...
12
votes
4answers
680 views
Why would Boeing's MCAS be preferable to a modified Feel and Centering Unit?
According to some sources, the purpose of MCAS on Boeing's 737 MAX variants is to increase the back-force needed to further raise the nose when flying manually at high angles of attack, in order to ...
4
votes
1answer
633 views
Why do Airbus and Boeing have different approaches to bleed air systems? [closed]
Reading Wikipedia and other questions like this, made me curious as to why Boeing uses bleedless architecture for its B787, while Airbus thinks differently for its A350 XWB (and Rolls-Royce thinks the ...
4
votes
2answers
490 views
What is an example of a system like MCAS?
The related question "Is it common for automated control systems to use non-redundant sensors?" does not ask about a specific example, nor are specific examples provided in the answer.
The criteria ...
1
vote
1answer
338 views
Where exactly are the heating elements in the PA-28-180's pitot mast?
I am flying a PA-28-180 but have been unable to find where inside the pitot mast the heating elements would be.
I would like to know this to verify my assumption it does not work in the airplane I am ...
1
vote
2answers
274 views
Why are fuel pump switches separate?
Since engines are run only when the fuel pumps are on and vice versa , why are there separate switches for this? Why can't it be automated ?
1
vote
1answer
124 views
How does a circulation control helicopter work
This essay describes that this helicopter uses circulation control of the rotor for cyclic and collective control, but not how circulation control works.
https://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs....
4
votes
3answers
2k views
Is the Boeing 737 MAX 8 MCAS exceptional in operating when autopilot is off?
To the uneducated reader it seems strange the Boeing 737 MAX 8 MCAS system only operates when autopilot is off. I understand the reasoning behind why it was implemented to operate when autopilot is ...
-1
votes
1answer
231 views
What are the “certain” flying scenarios in which the Boeing MCAS is supposed to assist pilots? [closed]
Boeing bulletin issued last November said
"MCAS provides automatic nose-down inputs to assist pilots in certain
manual, flaps-up flying scenarios, especially at slow airspeeds and
high AOA."
...
47
votes
3answers
25k views
What is the technique or procedure to disable/disengage the MCAS on Boeing 737 Max 8 & 9 Aircraft? [closed]
With regard to the recent crashes involving the Boeing 737 Max 8 aircraft, where according to preliminary reports, it appears to be related to the MCAS, which is a safety system that pushes the nose ...
0
votes
2answers
99 views
Pitot tube pressure question
I have this question is the pressure measured in the entry of the pitot tube the same when the plane is flying headwind or turning a 360 degree turn while maintaining the same indicated airspeed?
