Instruments & Systems

5 free sample questions of the 30 in this topic. The full set is in the app.

1. Question 1

   Which three pitot-static instruments operate on air pressure inputs, and which of them uses BOTH pitot and static pressure?

   • A.ASI, altimeter, VSI — all three use both pitot and static
   • B.ASI, altimeter, VSI — only the ASI uses both pitot and static
   • C.ASI, attitude indicator, altimeter — only the altimeter uses pitot
   • D.ASI, altimeter, turn coordinator — the ASI uses static only
   Show answer & explanation

   Answer: B. ASI, altimeter, VSI — only the ASI uses both pitot and static

   Per the IFH, the three pressure-operated IFR instruments are the ASI, sensitive altimeter, and VSI. All three receive static pressure; only the ASI also receives pitot (ram) pressure.

   Source: FAA Instrument Flying Handbook (FAA-H-8083-15B) — Ch 5, Pitot/Static Systems (p. 5-1 to 5-2)

2. Question 2

   If the pitot tube ram-pressure inlet AND the drain hole are both blocked, but the static system remains clear, how does the airspeed indicator behave during a climb?

   • A.Drops to zero
   • B.Reads an artificially high airspeed (acts like an altimeter — indicates higher as you climb)
   • C.Reads an artificially low airspeed
   • D.Freezes at the airspeed that existed at the moment of blockage
   Show answer & explanation

   Answer: B. Reads an artificially high airspeed (acts like an altimeter — indicates higher as you climb)

   With both the pitot ram inlet AND the drain hole blocked, the trapped pitot pressure does not change but static pressure decreases with altitude, making the differential grow — so the ASI behaves like an altimeter, reading higher in a climb and lower in a descent. (If only the ram hole is blocked but the drain is open, the ASI slowly drops to zero.)

   Source: FAA Instrument Flying Handbook (FAA-H-8083-15B) — Ch 5, Blocked Pitot System (p. 5-2)

3. Question 3

   While operating with a blocked static system above the altitude where the blockage occurred, the airspeed indicator will display:

   • A.An airspeed higher than actual
   • B.An airspeed lower than actual
   • C.The correct airspeed (only the altimeter is affected)
   • D.Zero
   Show answer & explanation

   Answer: B. An airspeed lower than actual

   When the static system is blocked, the trapped static pressure is higher than ambient at altitudes above the blockage, making the differential smaller and the ASI read lower than actual. Below the blockage altitude, the opposite happens — the ASI over-reads.

   Source: FAA Instrument Flying Handbook (FAA-H-8083-15B) — Ch 5, Blocked Static System (p. 5-2 to 5-3)

4. Question 4

   When using the alternate static source in an unpressurized aircraft, what indications should the pilot expect compared to the normal static source?

   • A.Altimeter lower, ASI lower, VSI momentary descent
   • B.Altimeter higher, ASI higher, VSI momentary climb
   • C.Altimeter unchanged, ASI higher, VSI unchanged
   • D.All instruments freeze
   Show answer & explanation

   Answer: B. Altimeter higher, ASI higher, VSI momentary climb

   Because flight-deck pressure is slightly lower than exterior static (venturi effect around the fuselage), switching to alternate static causes: altimeter reads slightly higher than actual, ASI reads higher than actual, and the VSI shows a momentary climb before stabilizing.

   Source: FAA Instrument Flying Handbook (FAA-H-8083-15B) — Ch 5, Alternate Static Source (p. 5-3)

5. Question 5

   If the static system is blocked, what does the VSI continuously indicate?

   • A.The last rate of climb or descent before blockage
   • B.A constant climb rate
   • C.A constant descent rate
   • D.Zero
   Show answer & explanation

   Answer: D. Zero

   A blocked static system traps static pressure, so the VSI sees no pressure differential change and indicates a continuous zero. The altimeter, by contrast, freezes at the altitude where the blockage occurred.

   Source: FAA Instrument Flying Handbook (FAA-H-8083-15B) — Ch 5, Blocked Static System (p. 5-2)

25 more Instruments & Systems questions are in the app, along with explanations and flashcards for every one.

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