Worst flight test questions ever?
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Worst flight test questions ever?
There are some really dumb flight test questions which continue to be asked at flight test after flight test. Ill get the ball rolling with the classic...
"whats the difference between an A and B notam?"
Does anyone know of any good reasons why we need to know the answer to this (other than the obvious need to pass the flight test!)?
"whats the difference between an A and B notam?"
Does anyone know of any good reasons why we need to know the answer to this (other than the obvious need to pass the flight test!)?
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I got asked this at a BFR for a PPL.
No knowlege is useless but I thought there were a few more relevant things to ask. Like anything about weather would be more useful.
I don't think anyone has died due to not knowing about a and b notams, but more than a few have died due to not knowing enough about met.
No knowlege is useless but I thought there were a few more relevant things to ask. Like anything about weather would be more useful.
I don't think anyone has died due to not knowing about a and b notams, but more than a few have died due to not knowing enough about met.
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Actually what you have stated is not a question at all, just a statement... and as statements go, id say it was not a dumb one. Met is useful! Wow, whomever conducted your BFR is a real einstein! And ill tell you what dies everytime we have to learn more useless knowledge... precious minutes of our lives hunting through the vol 1 for more answers to time wasting questions!
Last edited by NeedMoreHFMnemonics; 25th Aug 2007 at 10:23.
Checking your CAO knowledge:
"Bloggs, what is the diameter of the small end of a windsock?"
or
"Bloggs, you reckon you're hot on maths, what is the volumetric capacity of a cone marker?".
"Bloggs, what is the diameter of the small end of a windsock?"
or
"Bloggs, you reckon you're hot on maths, what is the volumetric capacity of a cone marker?".
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"Bloggs, you reckon you're hot on maths, what is the volumetric capacity of a cone marker?".
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How about "What is the tip speed of your a/c's propeller"?
Possibly the most useless piece of trivia I have ever encountered.
Possibly the most useless piece of trivia I have ever encountered.
The volume of a cone marker is approximately 1/3 of the height multiplied by the area of the base (approx 3.14159 x radius squared )
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The volume of a cone marker is approximately 1/3 of the height multiplied by the area of the base (approx 3.14159 x radius squared )
Had a very well known FOI, (later ATO), for checks many years ago, and his forte was in asking for rule-of-thumb or guesstimates for such questions as:
1. what does each 5 kts of tailwind do to your landing or takeoff distance ?
2. what does flying at 45% power instead of 65% do for your endurance ?
3. what does each 1000 ft elevation add to your take-off distance ?
4. if your tyres are leaving obvious tracks in the surface - what % extra distance will be required for take-off ?
I reckon it's a sign of experience and common sense for a testing officer to ask this sort of stuff because the student is going to learn from it.
happy days,
1. what does each 5 kts of tailwind do to your landing or takeoff distance ?
2. what does flying at 45% power instead of 65% do for your endurance ?
3. what does each 1000 ft elevation add to your take-off distance ?
4. if your tyres are leaving obvious tracks in the surface - what % extra distance will be required for take-off ?
I reckon it's a sign of experience and common sense for a testing officer to ask this sort of stuff because the student is going to learn from it.
happy days,
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Wiz
Dude........... why would you even retain that stuff in your memory??..........
Reminds me of an ex co-worker who claimed that remembering figures such as BEW's, MAUW's etc was dangerous because it uses up too much valuable memory. Maybe he just needed a RAM, or CPU upgrade.
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hehe 
, No worry's Dude. I seem to remember something back in the hazy days of training about MAUW, MTOW and the like.
I think I have reached a level that is about saturation level. I have to forget something to be able to put new info in.
as for all that maths stuff you retained.............do you use it often?, or is it something you can discard later for a space to put new useful stuff? (like where the best bourbon/cigars are at). 
, No worry's Dude. I seem to remember something back in the hazy days of training about MAUW, MTOW and the like. I think I have reached a level that is about saturation level. I have to forget something to be able to put new info in.
as for all that maths stuff you retained.............do you use it often?, or is it something you can discard later for a space to put new useful stuff? (like where the best bourbon/cigars are at).
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"Show me the forces acting on a glider in the climb..."
or
"What are the forces acting on a golf ball in flight?"
The day I start flying a
ing golf ball will be the day I'll figure that out...
or
"What are the forces acting on a golf ball in flight?"
The day I start flying a
ing golf ball will be the day I'll figure that out...
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PA 39,
That wouldn't happen to be a certain DG from Western Australian fame would it?? Never forget the burn marks in the carpet of the 172 and the tobacco all over cockpit!
That wouldn't happen to be a certain DG from Western Australian fame would it?? Never forget the burn marks in the carpet of the 172 and the tobacco all over cockpit!