AVweb Quiz #166: Working the Angles

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Dec. 5, 2011

Interactive Quiz #166:
Working The Angles

The shortest distance between two points sometimes involves more than a straight line. Whether VFR or IFR, aviation is loaded with angles, and without bending too many rules, see how you can work the answers to this quiz.

INSTRUCTIONS: Answer the questions as best you can, then click on the "Score my quiz answers" button to see your score and read the explanations. If you don't like your score the first time around, you can change some of your answers and resubmit. To get the most out of this quiz, we suggest you keep trying until you get a perfect score.

NOTE: When more than one answer is true, only the most complete, correct answer will be scored as correct. The answers are assumed to apply within the United States unless otherwise noted.

1. Air traffic controllers are always working the angles -- angling for better days off or to avoid midnight shifts and management. But to the approach controller, there's no more critical angle than the vector to intercept the final approach course. If a radar target is vectored to intercept a final approach course less than two miles from the approach gate, the intercept angle should not exceed how many degrees? (Note: The "approach gate" is an ATC aiming point usually located one mile outside the final approach fix.)
a. 10
b. 20
c. 30
d. 40

2. That intercept angle mentioned in the previous question: Is it based on the radar target's track across the radar scope or on the aircraft's heading as shown on the aircraft compass or heading indicator?
a. Track
b. Heading

3. VFR or IFR, almost any pilot can ask ATC for a practice instrument approach with vectors to the final approach course. Most approach controllers are experts at sliding your Mooney onto the localizer at just the right angle, but every now and then a sequence goes to pot, and the controller must vector someone across the final. In the event of a vector across the final approach course, the controller is required to:
a. Inform the pilot of the reason.
b. Stop departures.
c. Assign speed restrictions.
d. Apologize.

4. The phrase "opposite direction" means another aircraft is headed your way, perhaps spinner-to-spinner. But let's be more specific. According to the Pilot/Controller Glossary, "opposite direction" means that two aircraft are following the same or parallel tracks in reciprocal directions, or their tracks intersect at an angle for more than (_____) degrees. (Fill in the blank and feel free to draw on your cocktail napkin to figure this out. Just don't blame us if you spill beer on your laptop.)
a. 45
b. 90
c. 135
d. 180

5. When flying an ILS (Instrument Landing System) approach, the pilot gets lateral guidance from the localizer and vertical guidance along the glideslope. What is the glideslope's normal (there are exceptions) glide-path projection angle?
a. 2.5 degrees
b. 3 degrees
c. 4.5 degrees
d. 6 degrees

6. Let's see how many non-pilot air traffic controllers can fill in the blanks from this Airplane Flying Handbook statement (no prompting from pilots, please): "Best (_____) of climb (V_X) is performed at an airspeed that will produce the most altitude gain in a given (_____).
a. rate, time
b. angle, time
c. rate, distance
d. angle, distance

7. OK, flatlanders (myself included), let's see what you know about mountain waves. According to the AIM, when wind blows across a ridge at an angle of not less than 30 degrees and at 15 knots or better, a mountain wave is possible. Usually, operating on the upwind side you'll experience lift, while encountering strong downdrafts and turbulence on the downwind side. Complete this AIM statement: "When approaching a mountain ridge from the downwind side, it is recommended that the ridge be approached at approximately a (_____)-degree angle to the horizontal direction of the ridge
a. 30
b. 45
c. 60
d. 90

8. According to the Pilots Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge (PHAK), a propeller's (_____) is "the distance a propeller would travel in one revolution if it were turning in a solid." (Please fill in that annoying blank so we can all get on to question #9.)
a. Pitch
b. Hub
c. AOA
d. Angle

9. One method to achieving lateral stability is to attach the wings so they angle up slightly, forming a shallow V. This rigging is called dihedral. What term defines a downward slant from root to tip of an aircraft's wing or horizontal tail surface (inverted V)?
a. Anhedral
b. Anhydrous
c. Antithesis
d. Auntyem

10. Fill in the blank portion of this statement ripped from the Pilots Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge: "At a given airspeed, the rate at which an aircraft turns depends upon the magnitude of the horizontal component of lift ... the horizontal component of lift is proportional to the angle of (_____) ..." (See the graphic below.)

a. Attack
b. Bank
c. Thrust (thrust line)
d. Incidence

11. Not a question but, instead, here are the results of Brainteaser Quiz #165's survey. Our newly formed General Aviation Party (G.A.P's motto: "Don't taxi on me!") asked: "What certificated GA pilot (preferably living, but that's not a deal breaker) should be the next president of the United States? In the event of a tie, a spot-landing contest will be held in a 1946 Aeronca Champ on Pennsylvania Avenue. Loser becomes president. Rule: Anyone currently holding elected office, having held elected office or running for office is not eligible."
a. Select this answer, and then on the answers page you'll have the opportunity to look at the results of the feedback request.

If you enjoyed taking this interactive quiz and would like to see more like it, go to the AVweb Brainteaser page. And if you thought it was unfair, confusing, or a waste of time, we'd like you to tell us that, too. And if you have an idea for a subject that you think would make a good future Brainteaser quiz, be sure to let us know.

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Interactive Quiz #166:Working The Angles

Interactive Quiz #166:
Working The Angles