ATPL instrumentation 022: practice questions and syllabus

What the syllabus covers

The topics of the EASA syllabus for this subject, with what each one lists.

1. 022 01Sensors and instruments

   pressure gauges, temperature, fuel gauges and flow meters, tachometer, thrust, torque meter, engine vibration, time measurement.

2. 022 02Measurement of air-data parameters

   pressure, temperature, angle of attack, altimeter, vertical speed indicator, airspeed indicator, Machmeter, air data computer (ADC).

3. 022 03Magnetism: compass and flux valve

   Earth's and aircraft magnetic fields, direct-reading magnetic compass, flux valve.

4. 022 04Gyroscopic instruments

   gyroscope principles, turn indicator, attitude indicator, directional gyroscope, remote-reading compass, AHRS.

5. 022 05Inertial navigation

   basic principles, alignment and operation.

6. 022 06Aeroplane: automatic flight control

   autopilot, flight director, flight mode annunciator (FMA), autoland.

7. 022 08Trims, yaw damper, flight-envelope protection

   trim systems, yaw damper, flight-envelope protection.

8. 022 09Autothrust

   automatic thrust control system.

9. 022 10Communication systems

   voice communication, data link, FANS.

10. 022 11Flight management system (FMS/FMGS)

    design, databases, operation and limitations, human–machine interface (CDU).

11. 022 12Alerting and proximity systems

    flight warnings, stall warning and protection, overspeed, take-off warning, altitude alert, radio altimeter, GPWS, ACAS/TCAS.

12. 022 13Integrated instruments and electronic displays

    electronic displays, integrated mechanical instruments, EFIS, engine parameters and crew alerting, EFB, HUD and synthetic vision.

13. 022 14Maintenance, monitoring and recording systems

    CVR and FDR recorders, maintenance and monitoring systems.

14. 022 15Digital circuits and computers

    digital circuits and computers.

Source: EASA, Easy Access Rules for Aircrew (AMC to Part-FCL)

The illustrated course

To understand before you answer: 14 chapters and 142 key points, 119 of them with a diagram or an illustration. The first chapter, « Pressures, temperatures and sensors », is free to read.

1. Pressures, temperatures and sensors
2. Airspeed indicator, speeds and machmeter
3. Altimeter, vertical speed indicator and air data computer
4. Gyroscopes and gyroscopic instruments
5. Magnetic compass and gyromagnetic compass
6. INS and IRS inertial systems
7. Autopilot and flight director
8. Radio altimeter, automatic landing and autothrottle
9. Warnings and flight envelope protections
10. GPWS, EGPWS and TCAS
11. Flight Management System (FMS)
12. Integrated instruments, EFIS, ECAM and EICAS
13. Engine and fuel instruments
14. Recorders, data links and onboard computing

ATPL instrumentation course: contents and chapter 1

3 questions to practise

Taken from the site's English bank and checked one by one. Read the question, choose your answer, then open the explanation. Like every explanation on the site, they may contain errors.

1. Question 1 · 022 03 Magnetism: compass and flux valve

   In the Southern hemisphere, during deceleration following a landing in a Westerly direction, the magnetic compass will indicate :

   • Aan apparent turn to the South.
   • Bno apparent turn.
   • Can apparent turn to the North.
   • Da heading fluctuating about 270°.
   Show the answer+

   Answer: C. an apparent turn to the North.

   In the southern hemisphere, decelerating on a westerly heading causes an apparent turn toward the north (acceleration error reversed vs. northern hemisphere).

2. Question 2 · 022 12 Alerting and proximity systems

   The Ground Proximity Warning System (GPWS) generates the following sound signal or signals when the aircraft is sinking after a take-off or a go-around :

   • ADON'T SINK repetitive only
   • BWHOOP WHOOP PULL UP repetitive only
   • CDON'T SINK followed by WHOOP WHOOP PULL UP if the sink rate overshoots a second level
   • DDON'T SINK always followed by WHOOP WHOOP PULL UP
   Show the answer+

   Answer: A. DON'T SINK repetitive only

   During a sink after take-off/go-around, GPWS issues a repetitive 'DON'T SINK' aural warning.

3. Question 3 · 022 02 Measurement of air-data parameters

   Calibrated Airspeed (CAS) differs from Indicated Airspeed (IAS) due to correction for:

   • Atemperature only
   • Bair density only
   • Ccompressibility effects only
   • Dinstrument and position (installation) error
   Show the answer+

   Answer: D. instrument and position (installation) error

   CAS = IAS corrected for instrument and position error; further correction for compressibility gives EAS, and for density gives TAS.

7 more free questions, no sign-up: Free ATPL instrumentation questions

How to approach this subject

Learn how the speeds relate: climbing at constant CAS, Mach number and TAS increase; the speed of sound equals TAS / Mach. A two-axis autopilot controls roll and pitch. For the automatic systems (autopilot, autothrust, FMS), know what each one controls and what it does not.

How ForAllPilots trains you

• Series of 20 or 30 questions

  New questions, mistakes to review or a mix of both, with the answer and its explanation straight away.

• Flashcards

  Question on the front, explained answer on the back, filtered by subject, to learn without a timer.

• Timed mock exam

  100 questions in 150 minutes, drawn from the whole ATPL bank: a training format, not a copy of an official paper.

• AI instructor, optional

  From €4.99 a month on top of the Private pilot or PRO offer: it quizzes you in writing and explains your mistakes. A beta tool, it does not replace an approved instructor.

ATPL access comes with the PRO offer (which also includes Private pilot): €19.99 a month, cancel anytime, or €129 once with the Exam Pass (18 months of access, nothing renews). Prices include all taxes.