Aviationexam

✈️ MACH TUCK

As an aircraft accelerates into the transonic range, shock waves form and move rearward across the wing.

The result?
The wing's center of pressure shifts aft, creating a nose-down pitching moment known as Mach tuck.

If speed continues to increase, elevator authority may become insufficient to counter the pitch-down tendency, potentially leading to a steep dive.

That's why high-speed aircraft use features such as:
✅ Mach trim systems
✅ All-moving stabilators
✅ Swept wings
✅ Careful Mach number limitations

Know the aerodynamics behind the phenomenon—not just the definition.

✈️ Lost Visual During a Circling Approach?
Here's What ICAO Says.

A circling approach starts as an instrument approach but finishes visually when a straight-in landing isn't possible. Sounds simple... until the runway disappears from sight. 👀🌫️´

So what happens if you lose visual reference while circling?
✅ Don't continue searching for the runway.
✅ Don't descend.
✅ Don't improvise your own escape path.

According to ICAO Doc 8168, you must:
🔹 Initiate a climbing turn toward the landing runway
🔹 Climb to at least the circling altitude (MDA/H) or higher
🔹 Stay within the protected circling area
🔹 Then intercept and fly the published missed approach procedure of the original instrument approach

In this example:
📍 ILS RWY 22 was flown
📍 Circling to land RWY 04
📍 Visual reference lost during circling
➡️ Execute a climbing turn toward RWY 04, then fly the missed approach for RWY 22.

💡 Key point: The missed approach belongs to the instrument approach you flew, not the runway you intended to land on.

This is one of those ATPL questions that catches students who remember the approach runway but forget what happens during the circling phase.
✈️ Would you have known which missed approach to fly?

✈️ Visual Ground Signals Quiz ✈️

Think you know your airfield signals? 👀

This ground signal means:
❓ Are aircraft required to use runways and taxiways for all movements?
❓ Or only for take-off and landing?

Drop your answer below before swiping 👉

💡 These signals may seem old-school, but they’re still part of the ATPL syllabus and can appear in exams when you least expect them.

⚠️ “DON’T SINK!”

One of the most critical warnings after takeoff or go-around.

GPWS triggers this alert when BOTH:
• Radio altitude decreases
• Barometric altitude decreases

Why both?
To avoid nuisance warnings caused by terrain or atmospheric pressure effects.
This mode protects crews during one of the highest-workload phases of flight:✈️ initial climb.