Environmental Hazards
What weather condition creates thick cloud cover and significantly reduces visibility for pilots?
Fog.
What is the term for a passenger who behaves aggressively or disrupts a flight?
Unruly passenger
What is the term for extreme tiredness that can negatively impact a pilot’s performance?
Fatigue
What is a runway incursion?
A runway incursion is when an unauthorized aircraft, vehicle, or person is on the runway, creating a collision risk.
What aircraft component generates thrust to move the plane forward?
The engine (or propeller for some aircraft).
How does icing on an aircraft’s wings affect its ability to fly?
Ice disrupts the smooth airflow over the wings, reducing lift and increasing drag, which can lead to a stall.
What was the main security failure that allowed the 9/11 terrorist attacks to occur?
The failure to detect and prevent box cutters and small knives from being brought onto aircraft, combined with weak cockpit security, allowed hijackers to seize control of the planes.
What does the abbreviation CRM stand for?
Crew Resource Management
What is wake turbulence, and how can it affect aircraft?
Wake turbulence is caused by vortices from a larger aircraft’s wingtips. It can disrupt smaller aircraft, causing sudden loss of control.
How does a bird strike endanger an aircraft?
A bird strike can damage the engines, cockpit windows, or wings, potentially leading to engine failure or loss of control.
Why is wind shear particularly dangerous during takeoff and landing?
Wind shear can cause sudden changes in airspeed and altitude, making it difficult for pilots to maintain control, especially when flying close to the ground.
How did the 2015 Germanwings Flight 9525 incident highlight vulnerabilities in aviation security?
The co-pilot intentionally crashed the aircraft after locking the captain out of the cockpit, exposing the risks of mental health issues among flight crew and the limitations of cockpit access control policies.
How can automation dependency lead to pilot error?
- loss of manual flying skills,
- inability to recognize automation failures
- struggle to react appropriately in emergencies
What role does fuel management play in preventing fuel exhaustion?
Proper fuel management ensures that pilots have enough fuel for the entire flight, including reserves for unexpected delays or diversions. Poor planning can lead to fuel exhaustion, forcing an emergency landing.
What is the pitot-static system, and why is it critical for safe flight?
The pitot-static system provides airspeed, altitude, and vertical speed information. If it fails, the pilots may lose essential flight data, leading to dangerous misjudgments.
What are the dangers of volcanic ash to an aircraft?
Volcanic ash can clog engines, damage windshields, erode surfaces, and contaminate aircraft systems, leading to potential engine failure.
What were the suspected causes behind the disappearance of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370, and why does it remain one of aviation’s greatest mysteries?
Theories range from pilot suicide and hijacking to mechanical failure or electrical fire. The lack of distress signals, sudden communication loss, and the aircraft’s deviation from its planned route make it difficult to determine the exact cause.
How does loss of situational awareness contribute to aviation accidents?
- misinterpretation of altitude, speed, or position,
- making incorrect decisions that could result in controlled flight into terrain or mid-air collisions
How does an improper weight and balance calculation affect flight performance?
Incorrect weight and balance can make an aircraft unstable, affecting control, stall speed, and takeoff/landing performance, potentially leading to loss of control.
What are the potential consequences of a cabin pressurization failure at cruising altitude?
Without cabin pressurization, passengers and crew can experience hypoxia (lack of oxygen), leading to confusion, unconsciousness, and even death if emergency oxygen isn’t used quickly.
How do microbursts differ from general turbulence, and what techniques can pilots use to avoid them?
Microbursts are intense downdrafts of air that can cause rapid altitude loss. Unlike general turbulence, they occur in small but powerful bursts. Pilots avoid them by detecting them with onboard weather radar and following air traffic control warnings.
How has the aviation industry adapted to prevent hijackings following the attempted shoe bombing on American Airlines Flight 63?
Security measures such as stricter passenger screening, shoe removal at security checkpoints, reinforced cockpit doors, and increased in-flight surveillance have been implemented to prevent similar attacks.
What are some psychological and physiological effects of fatigue on air traffic controllers, and how can these affect aviation safety? Name at least five.
- slowed reaction time, impaired decision-making, tunnel vision, communication errors, increasing the risk of misdirecting aircraft or failing to recognize a hazardous situation.
Define the following abbreviations:
CFIT
LOC-I
MAC
RE
RI
Controlled flight into terrain
Loss of control in-flight
Mid-air collision
Runway excursion
Runway incursion
How can a failure of the aircraft’s hydraulic system impact flight operations?
The hydraulic system controls key flight components like landing gear, brakes, and flight control surfaces. A failure could make the aircraft difficult or impossible to maneuver safely.