Commercial Plane Quiz
Questions: 16 · 10 minutes
1. What is the main purpose of ETOPS rules in commercial aviation?
To govern qualifying aircraft and operators on routes that may be far from suitable diversion airports
To specify how quickly passengers must board a twin-engine aircraft
To set identical maximum cruising speeds for all twin-engine jets
To determine how many cabin classes an extended flight may offer
2. Despite being informally called “black boxes,” what color are commercial-aircraft flight recorders typically painted to aid recovery?
Bright orange
Matte black
Reflective silver
The airline's main livery color
3. Visible frost is found on an aircraft's wings before departure. What is the appropriate operational response?
Compensate by using a higher cruising altitude
Leave it in place because airflow during the takeoff roll will remove it safely
Extend the spoilers so the frost cannot affect lift
Remove the contamination through approved deicing procedures before takeoff
4. What is the main purpose of the upturned winglets seen on many commercial aircraft?
To direct engine noise upward during takeoff
To pressurize fuel tanks as altitude increases
To reduce induced drag associated with wingtip vortices
To replace the ailerons during gentle turns
5. A flight crew needs to indicate a general emergency using the aircraft's transponder. Which standard code is used?
7600
7700
7500
7000
6. In poor visibility, which ground-based system can provide an equipped aircraft with precise runway alignment and descent guidance?
Traffic Collision Avoidance System
Automatic Direction Finder
Instrument Landing System
Airborne weather radar
7. A jet is parked at the gate with its main engines shut down. Which unit can supply electrical power and compressed air, including air used for engine starting?
The thrust reverser
The weather radar
The horizontal stabilizer
The auxiliary power unit
8. While cruising, a flight crew receives a TCAS resolution advisory instructing them to climb because of conflicting traffic. What is the intended response?
Follow the resolution advisory and notify air traffic control
Make an immediate horizontal turn instead of changing altitude
Maintain the current path until the other aircraft is visible
Disable the alert because air traffic control already tracks both aircraft
9. An airline is selecting an aircraft for relatively short regional flights where cruise-speed advantage is limited and fuel efficiency at lower speeds is important. Which type is especially well suited?
A four-engine intercontinental jet
A large long-haul wide-body jet
A regional turboprop
A high-speed business jet
10. Immediately after touchdown, panels called spoilers rise on top of the wings. What do they help the aircraft do?
Reduce lift and add drag, helping place weight on the wheels and slow down
Reverse the rotational direction of the engines
Steer along the runway without using the landing gear
Generate extra lift so the aircraft settles gently
11. During approach, pilots extend the wing flaps. What is their primary aerodynamic effect?
They decrease both lift and drag to sharpen the descent
They increase lift and drag, allowing a slower approach
They increase thrust without changing the wing's lift
They reduce drag so the aircraft can approach faster
12. A long white trail forms behind a high-altitude airliner in cold, humid conditions. What primarily creates this contrail?
Fuel being routinely released to reduce landing weight
Static electricity discharging from the wings
Sunlight reflecting from invisible radar signals
Water vapor condensing and freezing into ice crystals
13. Which cabin layout most commonly distinguishes a wide-body commercial jet from a narrow-body jet?
Passenger seating located ahead of the wings only
An upper deck extending along the entire fuselage
Two passenger aisles rather than one
A cockpit positioned on a separate lower deck
14. A smaller aircraft is scheduled to depart shortly after a heavy jet from the same runway. Why may additional spacing be required?
The heavy jet may temporarily disrupt airport radio frequencies
Its tires may leave the runway surface unusually warm
Its landing lights can interfere with the following crew's vision
Its wake vortices can create hazardous rolling airflow behind it
15. An airline needs an aircraft for a dense intercontinental route with high passenger and cargo demand. Which category is generally the best fit?
A small regional turboprop
A long-haul wide-body jet
A light business jet
A single-engine commuter aircraft
16. Why is the passenger cabin of a commercial jet pressurized during high-altitude cruise?
To make the fuselage rigid enough to support the wings
To maintain a breathable cabin environment despite the thin outside air
To eliminate aerodynamic drag around the cabin windows
To prevent aviation fuel from becoming solid