Electronic InstrumentationNavigation — Instrumentation — DGCA CPL practice questions

All 12 questions — Electronic Instrumentation

Navigation — Instrumentation · DGCA CPL. The correct option is marked on each.

1. Q1. With an Engine Indicating and Crew Alerting System:

   • A.the secondary display will show continuously the engine primary instruments
   • B.the primary display unit will continuously show the engine primary instruments such as N1, N2, N3 and maybe oil pressure
   • C.the primary engine display will continuously show the engine primary instruments such as N1, EGT and maybe EPR✓
   • D.the primary engine instruments are N1, EGT and EPR and are on the primary and secondary display units

   Why: In EICAS, the upper (primary) display unit shows N1, EGT, and possibly EPR continuously in Operational Mode. The lower (secondary) DU normally remains blank and is selected as needed. See Section 3 . — Upper DU = N1 + EGT + EPR (if fitted) + alerts = continuous. Lower DU = N2, fuel flow, oil, vibration, status = selected as required. This is the core EICAS architecture to memorise.

2. Q2. The electronic engine display system with three automatic modes is:

   • A.the Electronic Centralized Aircraft Monitor, with the fourth mode manual✓
   • B.the Electronic Centralized Aircraft Monitor, with the fourth mode flight phase related or manual
   • C.the Engine Indicating and Crew Alerting System, with the fourth mode manual
   • D.the Engine Indicating and Crew Alerting System, with the fourth mode a manual cross-over from the Electronic Centralized Aircraft Monitor System

   Why: ECAM has four modes: three automatic (Flight Phase-related, Advisory/Status, Failure-related) and one manual (Aircraft System Display). EICAS has three modes total (Operational, Status, Maintenance) — not four. See Section 10 . — ECAM = 4 modes (3 auto + 1 manual). EICAS = 3 modes (Operational + Status + Maintenance). This is a frequently tested distinction.

3. Q3. The display modes for the Engine Indicating and Crew Alerting System are:

   • A.operational, status and maintenance of which status and maintenance are automatic
   • B.flight phase related, advisory and failure related
   • C.operational, status and maintenance✓
   • D.operational, flight phase related and status

   Why: EICAS has exactly three modes: (1) Operational, (2) Status, and (3) Maintenance. Modes (1) and (2) are selected by the flight crew on the display select panel. Maintenance mode is selected on the maintenance panel for ground staff. See Section 4 . — EICAS: Operational / Status / Maintenance. ECAM: Flight Phase-related / Advisory-Status / Failure-related / Manual. Don't mix these up — they're a favourite exam crossover trap.

4. Q4. With an Engine Indicating and Crew Alerting System lower display unit failure:

   • A.a compact message will only appear on the upper display unit✓
   • B.a compact message will only appear on the central display unit
   • C.a compact message will appear both on the upper display unit and the captain's Electronic Flight Instrument System
   • D.a compact message will appear on the upper display unit when the status button is pressed on the control panel

   Why: When the lower DU fails while displaying secondary information, an amber alert appears on the upper DU and the secondary info is transferred to the upper DU in "compact format." This compact display can be removed by pressing the ENGINE switch. The STATUS switch is inhibited while the lower DU is failed. See Section 7 . — Key facts: compact format → upper DU; STATUS button → inhibited; removal of compact format → press ENGINE switch. Three distinct facts, all examinable.

5. Q5. With an Electronic Centralized Aircraft Monitoring type of system:

   • A.the display units have two control panels and with any system failure the control will be from the port control box only
   • B.the left display unit shows warning and corrective action in a check list format✓
   • C.the two display units are only fitted side by side
   • D.the left display unit shows the synoptic format and the right or lower unit shows the corrective format

   Why: In ECAM, the left-hand display unit is dedicated to showing warnings and corrective action in sequenced check-list format. The right-hand unit shows the associated synoptic/pictorial format. See Section 9 . — ECAM Left = Checklist/Corrective action. ECAM Right = Synoptic diagram. The most common mistake is reversing left and right. Use: Left = Language (text/checklist); Right = Picture (synoptic).

6. Q6. The Engine Indicating and Crew Alerting System alert messages are shown on the upper display unit in three forms:

   • A.Level 'C' are warnings that require immediate corrective action
   • B.Level 'A' are cautions that require immediate crew awareness and possible action
   • C.Level 'B' are advisories requiring crew awareness
   • D.and these messages appear on the top left of the upper display unit✓

   Why: "The messages appear on the top line at the left of the display screen." This is the only true statement among the options. Level A = Warnings (red, immediate action). Level B = Cautions (amber, immediate awareness + future action). Level C = Advisories (amber, indented, awareness only). See Section 6 . — A = Warning = Red = Immediate action. B = Caution = Amber = Immediate awareness + future action. C = Advisory = Amber indented = Awareness only. Top-left of upper DU. All three: A comes first (most urgent), C last (least urgent, indented).

7. Q7. The electronic engine display system will have:

   • A.one primary and one secondary display unit for an EICAS and a change over selector to change to the ECAM mode if necessary
   • B.two display units for ECAM and three display units for EICAS
   • C.either EICAS or ECAM but not both✓
   • D.an interconnect to the EFIS symbol generators in an emergency

   Why: An aircraft is equipped with either EICAS or ECAM — these are competing system concepts from Boeing and Airbus respectively. No aircraft uses both systems simultaneously. The text confirms these are two distinct system philosophies on different aircraft types. See Section 1 . — Boeing = EICAS. Airbus = ECAM. An aircraft has one or the other, never both. This seems obvious but the examiner tests it as a distractor.

8. Q8. The Electronic Centralized Aircraft Monitor (ECAM) type of system shows a:

   • A.checklist format on the left display panel and schematic form always automatically on the right display unit
   • B.checklist format on the left display unit and the right, or lower display unit, a diagram or synoptic format✓
   • C.synoptic format on the left display unit and a warning and corrective action display on the right or lower display unit
   • D.continuous primary engine display on the primary display unit

   Why: ECAM: Left DU = checklist/corrective action in check-list format. Right DU = associated synoptic/pictorial/diagram format. The "or lower display unit" wording acknowledges that some compact installations may have vertical rather than side-by-side layout. See Section 9 . — For ECAM: Left = List (checklist/text). Right = Picture (synoptic/diagram). Memorise this left-right assignment — it is tested multiple times across the question bank.

9. Q9. The electronic display system that has three automatic modes plus one manual is the:

   • A.Electronic Management and Control Section
   • B.Electronic Indication and Fail Safe system
   • C.Electronic Indication and Crew Alert system
   • D.Electronic Centralized Aircraft Monitor✓

   Why: ECAM has four display modes: three automatic (Flight Phase-related, Advisory/Status, Failure-related) and one manual (Aircraft System Display). EICAS has only three modes. The question describes ECAM's 3+1 mode structure. See Section 10 . — 3 auto + 1 manual = ECAM. 3 total = EICAS. This is the most direct way to remember the mode count difference.

10. Q10. A boxed message shown as an electronic engine display system fault is one that:

    • A.affects other sub-systems and is used in the Engine Indicating and Crew Alerting System
    • B.does not affect any other system
    • C.does not affect any other system and is used in the Engine Indicating and Aircraft Monitor system
    • D.affects other sub-systems and is used in the Electronic Centralized Aircraft Monitor type of system✓

    Why: In ECAM, when a failure affects other sub-systems beyond the primary failure system, the title of the sub-system is shown boxed . A single-system failure is shown with the title underlined (not boxed). This convention is specific to ECAM. See Section 10 . — ECAM display conventions: Underlined title = single system fault. Boxed title = fault affects sub-systems. These visual conventions communicate the scope of the failure at a glance.

11. Q11. An engine fire indication on an electronic engine display is shown:

    • A.on the primary display panel in red✓
    • B.on the secondary display panel in amber
    • C.on both the Electronic Flight Instrument System and Engine Indicating and Crew Alerting System secondary panels
    • D.only on the Flight Management Computer primary panel

    Why: Engine fire is a Level A Warning — the highest urgency. Level A warnings are displayed in red on the upper (primary) display unit of EICAS. Red is used for "Warning messages, maximum operating limit marks." See Section 6 . — Engine fire = Warning = Level A = Red = Upper DU. The source also notes master warning lights and aural warning (fire bell) are also activated. All three: red message + master warning lights + fire bell.

12. Q12. An engine electronic system which in normal conditions of flight shows only the primary engine instruments is:

    • A.an EICAS system with EPR, EGT and N2 shown on the primary instruments
    • B.an ECAM system with the primary engine instruments displayed on the lower screen
    • C.an EICAS system with the primary engine instruments displayed on the primary screen, the secondary screen being blank✓
    • D.an ECAM system with the primary engine instruments displayed on the primary screen, the left screen being blank

    Why: In EICAS Operational Mode, only the upper DU presents information; the lower DU remains blank until selected to display secondary parameters. Primary instruments (N1, EGT, possibly EPR) are shown continuously on the upper (primary) DU. N2 is a secondary parameter, not a primary instrument in EICAS. See Section 4 . — EICAS Operational Mode: Upper DU = N1 + EGT + EPR (if applicable) = continuous. Lower DU = blank (selected on demand). This "lower blank" is characteristic of EICAS and is a key operational feature to remember.