Questions tagged [aircraft-systems]
The essential systems found on most aircraft, including power plants, fuel systems, electrical systems, and flight instruments.
464
questions
7
votes
1
answer
482
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-...
- 72.8k
3
votes
1
answer
2k
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
1
answer
2k
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 ...
- 745
-5
votes
2
answers
2k
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 ...
- 839
7
votes
2
answers
1k
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 ...
- 36k
4
votes
1
answer
1k
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 ...
- 745
6
votes
1
answer
572
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 ...
- 61
3
votes
1
answer
592
views
Why does the A320 IR2 MEL OPS procedure suggest to switch to ADR3?
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?
- 31
6
votes
2
answers
2k
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?
- 18.9k
3
votes
2
answers
782
views
What is the difference between the flight control systems of different F-16 models?
It is mentioned that the F-16 A/B variants had an analog flight control system (FCS), while the C/D versions introduced a digital FCS starting from block 40.
Can somebody elaborate on the differences ...
- 443
1
vote
1
answer
192
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 ...
4
votes
1
answer
532
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 ...
1
vote
0
answers
270
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 ...
- 21
22
votes
2
answers
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 ...
- 621
1
vote
0
answers
248
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 ...
- 119
3
votes
1
answer
157
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?
- 31
0
votes
3
answers
2k
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 ...
- 608
8
votes
3
answers
1k
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 ...
- 745
1
vote
2
answers
1k
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 ...
- 341
10
votes
1
answer
6k
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 ...
- 4,411
2
votes
0
answers
45
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 ...
- 608
6
votes
2
answers
4k
views
Is a stall warning horn required to fly?
I need an answer in reference to 14 CFR 23.207. I looked there and couldn't say 100% if it was a yes or a no.
- 73
3
votes
1
answer
182
views
Do aircraft need special modifications for polar routes?
Does an aircraft need special modification for polar routes?
- 519
4
votes
2
answers
491
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
1
answer
368
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.
- 33
5
votes
1
answer
355
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 ...
- 4,411
2
votes
1
answer
2k
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 ...
- 4,411
1
vote
1
answer
82
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 ...
- 11
3
votes
1
answer
521
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
2
answers
277
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 ...
- 4,411
5
votes
1
answer
3k
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 ...
- 8,761
15
votes
3
answers
4k
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, ...
- 6,725
6
votes
1
answer
755
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
- 190
10
votes
1
answer
618
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 ...
- 203
3
votes
1
answer
998
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 ...
- 31
1
vote
2
answers
216
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
- 119
6
votes
1
answer
5k
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
1
answer
272
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 ...
- 3,957
2
votes
1
answer
1k
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 ...
- 8,761
7
votes
3
answers
5k
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 ...
- 3,957
8
votes
1
answer
1k
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 (...
- 56.2k
4
votes
2
answers
665
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 ...
- 8,761
2
votes
0
answers
1k
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 ...
- 8,761
1
vote
2
answers
4k
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 ...
- 8,761
0
votes
3
answers
226
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 ...
- 11
3
votes
1
answer
2k
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 ...
- 31
1
vote
1
answer
2k
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
2
answers
893
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.
- 29
0
votes
2
answers
200
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 ...
- 13
13
votes
4
answers
965
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 ...
- 1,348