Questions tagged [aircraft-systems]
The essential systems found on most aircraft, including power plants, fuel systems, electrical systems, and flight instruments.
376
questions
4
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0answers
50 views
How can the fuel decrease evenly from both wing tanks when an A320 is running on APU only?
I stumbled over this sentence in a training material about fuel leak:
"If the fuel quantity symmetrically decrease in both wing tanks and the fuel quantity in the center tank decrease, the fuel leak ...
1
vote
2answers
221 views
How do slats actually work?
I want to know what is the difference between slats and flaps and the mechanism of the slats
This what I know and researched about flaps:
Flaps are a kind of high-lift device used to reduce the ...
0
votes
0answers
29 views
HEPA filters and Coronavirus [duplicate]
I've been told that the Corovirus size is around 100 nanometers. I know that the HEPA filters in the aircrafts, say A320 type, can eliminate up to 99,999% of all viruses and bacteria. Can they also ...
-1
votes
1answer
50 views
Where can I look for news regarding what's happening in aviation around the world? [closed]
Websites or magazines which keep me updated and where I can gain knowledge on what's happening around the world.
Apart from International Airport Review, I'm already on that.
Thanks
6
votes
1answer
184 views
Why is parking brake set OFF before jacking?
I have a question about the procedure to jack the aircraft for wheel replacement. According to the manual, it required to set the Parking brake OFF before starting jacking at the Main Landing Gear.
...
0
votes
1answer
88 views
What do left handed F-16 pilots do about the right side stick? [duplicate]
I was just watching a video about the Thunderbirds and Blue Angels doing their city fly overs and realized that the F-16 has a right hand side stick, which begs the question "what do left handed F-16 ...
10
votes
0answers
229 views
Why does the P-3 Orion use an engine driven compressor instead of bleed air for pressurization?
In another question, an answer mentions that the P-3 Orion uses a gearbox driven compressor for cabin pressurization, even though the aircraft uses T-56 turbine engines that supply bleed air in other ...
0
votes
2answers
103 views
Is rudder deflection sufficient to maintain directional control on the runway at high speed, or is nose wheel steering needed?
If a fighter jet veers off the runaway, is nosewheel steering needed to counter, or can directional control be maintained with the rudder deflection alone? Is there a chance that the rudder ...
7
votes
1answer
387 views
Was the March 2019 Rafale jet ejection incident investigated?
This is one of the wildest stories I’ve ever heard of. Then again, this is CNN’s disaster-a-minute-for-ratings kind of reporting.
https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/france-fighter-jet-ejection-scli-...
3
votes
1answer
221 views
What if one of the navigation lights failed to function on a certified aircraft?
What is the implication if one of the navigation lights failed to function, would it affect the airworthiness certificate of the aircraft?
11
votes
1answer
1k views
Why does Thrust Reverser need to be operative during the cargo door operation?
It is stated that when the Electric Pump push button is depressed, the electric pump is automatically running as long as the cargo door selector valve is set to either OPEN or CLOSE position.
During ...
0
votes
0answers
51 views
Why some airliners landing gear levers have “up” and “off” positions? [duplicate]
As I understand the difference between both is that "off" cuts the hydraulic pressure that retracts the gear, but why can't this be handled by the system itself and needs pilot intervention?
Are they ...
-5
votes
2answers
187 views
What is the maximum height for deploying a parachute? [closed]
i see a detachable plane cabin project .When an airplane crashes, the human toll is generally heavy. Based on this observation, Vladimir Tatarenko, a Ukrainian engineer who worked in particular for ...
7
votes
2answers
503 views
What is meant by a “pressure system” in FAR 91.205?
FAR 91.205 states:
§ 91.205 Powered civil aircraft with standard category U.S. airworthiness certificates: Instrument and equipment requirements.
(a) General. Except as provided in ...
4
votes
1answer
233 views
Why is engine #1 still used when taxiing with one engine?
According to the answer in this post Taxiing with one engine: Is engine #1 always used or do they switch? Engine #1 is used because it pressurizes the green HYD system which powers the Nose Wheel ...
5
votes
1answer
120 views
Can APU start in-flight using RAT or battery power?
Is it possible for a passenger jet to start its APU using power from the RAT? If so, are there plausible benefits to doing so (like supplying hydraulic pressure to the wheel brakes)? Do modern ...
0
votes
0answers
38 views
A320 IR2 MEL OPS Procedure
The A320 34-10-05B IR2 MEL OPS procedure additionally calls for Air Data switching to FO3.
When ADR 2 is working fine why replace its data on the FO PFD when only IR data is lost?
6
votes
2answers
301 views
Do helicopter rotors have anti-ice systems like propellers and wings?
Icing disrupts the aerodynamic qualities of wings and props, is there a similar danger with helicopter rotors? Are there de-icing systems to prevent this?
0
votes
1answer
94 views
What is the difference between the Flight Control Systems of different F16 models?
it is mentioned that the F16 A/B variants had an analog FCS, while the C/D version introduced a digital FCS starting from block 40.
Can somebody elaborate on the differences between them and point me ...
1
vote
1answer
91 views
How does MCAS communicate with other systems to know if the flaps are retracted or not?
How exactly does MCAS communicate with the flaps setting to know if the flaps have been retracted?
I just noticed on the preliminary report for ET302, the flaps were set at 5 degrees. It doesn’t say ...
3
votes
1answer
245 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
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0answers
152 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
202 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
100 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
votes
3answers
139 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
432 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
149 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
4k 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
34 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
351 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
155 views
Do aircraft need special modifications for polar routes?
Does an aircraft need special modification for polar routes?
4
votes
2answers
259 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
votes
1answer
80 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
117 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
558 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
57 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
315 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
200 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
349 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
356 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
301 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
164 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
142 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
126 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
212 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
94 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 ...
