Key Takeaways
- The Army Aviation Information Test gives you 40 questions in 30 minutes on aircraft knowledge, aerodynamics, helicopter concepts, and flight rules.
- You do not need pilot-level mastery, but you do need solid basic knowledge of aircraft parts, flight controls, and lift, drag, thrust, and weight.
- Because this section is knowledge-based, it is one of the easiest SIFT areas to improve with focused review.
- Army-focused aviation prep should include rotary-wing basics such as collective, cyclic, anti-torque pedals, and common helicopter flight effects.
- Strong aviation prep helps, but it should not crowd out math, reading, or spatial work.
Army Aviation Information Test
The Army Aviation Information Test (AAIT) gives you 40 questions in 30 minutes. Public Army FAQ material describes this section as covering aircraft parts, helicopter aerodynamics, and flight rules and regulations.
This is good news for disciplined candidates: unlike some of the speeded visual sections, aviation information is highly learnable.
Aircraft and Flight Basics
The Four Forces of Flight
| Force | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Lift | Upward force that opposes weight |
| Weight | Downward pull of gravity |
| Thrust | Forward force that moves the aircraft |
| Drag | Rearward force resisting motion through air |
Basic Fixed-Wing Control Surfaces
| Surface | Main Effect |
|---|---|
| Ailerons | Roll |
| Elevator | Pitch |
| Rudder | Yaw |
| Flaps | Increase lift and drag for takeoff/landing configurations |
Rotary-Wing Basics
Army aviation is heavily rotary-wing, so helicopter fundamentals matter.
| Control | Main Use |
|---|---|
| Collective | Changes overall rotor blade pitch and lift |
| Cyclic | Tilts the rotor disc and changes direction of flight |
| Anti-torque pedals | Control yaw and counter torque effects |
Rotorcraft Ideas Worth Knowing
- Increasing collective generally increases lift and power demand.
- Anti-torque pedals help maintain directional control.
- Rotor systems allow helicopters to hover, climb vertically, and maneuver differently from fixed-wing aircraft.
Instruments and Basic Knowledge
| Instrument | What It Indicates |
|---|---|
| Altimeter | Altitude |
| Airspeed indicator | Speed through the air |
| Attitude indicator | Aircraft pitch and bank attitude |
| Heading indicator | Direction of travel relative to heading reference |
| Vertical speed indicator | Rate of climb or descent |
Best Way To Study AAIT
- Learn aviation vocabulary first.
- Learn aircraft parts and what each one does.
- Learn the four forces of flight.
- Learn helicopter-specific controls and effects.
- Review basic rules and common-sense safety concepts.
Because this section is knowledge-driven, spaced repetition works very well. Ten focused review sessions usually beat one giant cram night.
Which flight control primarily affects roll in a fixed-wing aircraft?
What does the collective control in a helicopter primarily change?
Which of the following is one of the four forces of flight?