Aviation Glossary: Airplane and Airline FAQ

abort—To terminate a preplanned maneuver, usually refer ring to takeoff.

affirmative—Yes.

aileron—A movable flight control surface hinged to the trailing edge of the wing, used to control the bank (or roll) of the airplane.

AIRMET—Airman’s Meteorological Information. In-flight weather advisories issued to amend the area forecast. Less severe than SIGMETS.

Air Traffic Control—Branch of Federal Aviation Administration responsible for regulating air traffic. airspeed—The speed of the aircraft relative to the surrounding air mass. May be different than ground speed.

airway—A corridor in the sky defined by radio navigation aids.

altitude—The height above sea level (MSL), or the height above ground level (AGL).

altimeter—Pressure-sensing instrument that reads height above sea level (MSL).

angle of attack—The angle between the oncoming air and the direction of flight.

approach control—Air Traffic Control facility responsible for separation and sequencing of approaching traffic in the terminal area.

ATIS—Automatic Terminal Information Service. Continuous loop recording of the weather at an airport.

autopilot—A gyroscope-controlled device which, when “programmed” by the pilots, can keep an aircraft in a predetermined flight path.

bleed air—Air “bled” from the engines for cabin air- conditioning, pressurization, and other services.

block to block time—Time shown in airline timetables. Total time from departure to destination airport, including estimated ground time.

braking action—The slipperiness of the runway, as re ported to Air Traffic Control, either by a ground crew or pilot after landing.

captain—The pilot in command. Ultimately responsible for the safety of the flight.

cardinal altitudes—Odd or even thousand-foot altitudes, from the ground up to 45,000 feet.

Category I, II, III—An ILS approach procedure and its designated minimum visibility, and decision height requirements. Typically CAT I is 200-foot AGL decision height and RVR minimum of 1800 feet. CAT II is 100-foot D.H. and 1200 foot RVR. CAT III is 50-foot alert height and 300 to 700 foot RVR.

ceiling—When more than 50 percent of the sky is obscured by clouds, the distance between the ground and the base of the clouds.

clean—Describing the aircraft with all the extendable surfaces, flaps, slats, and gear in the retracted position.

clear air turbulence (CAT)—Turbulence encountered in the air where no clouds are present.

clearance limit—The fix, point, or location beyond which further Air Traffic Control clearance is needed in order to go.

cockpit—The flight deck where the pilots fly the air plane.

compass—A directional instrument graduated in 360 degrees that aligns itself with magnetic north. compressor—A device that increases the density of the engine intake air.

conflict alert—An automatic function of the Air Traffic Control Radar computers that warns of an existing or pending violation of minimum specified separation requirements.

co-pilot—The pilot who is next in command after the captain. Also called first officer.

crosswind—A wind not parallel with the runway direction or path of the aircraft.

decision height—The height at which a decision must be made to continue the approach or execute a go-around. departure control—Air Traffic Control facility responsible for separation and sequencing of departing traffic in the terminal area.

dew point—The temperature at which the air will be saturated with moisture.

dihedral—The slight upward angle of the wings, designed for added stability.

distance measuring equipment—Equipment used to mea sure the nautical mile distance from a ground-based navigational aid.

drag—The air’s resistance to moving objects.

elevator—The horizontal flight-control surface on the tail that controls the climb and descent of the plane. expect departure clearance—When there are delays in progress on the ground, this is the expected takeoff time; also called the “wheels up” time.

expect further clearance—When there are delays in the air, such as holding, the time this delay is expected to end.

expedite—Used by Air Traffic Control when prompt compliance is required.

first officer—The co-pilot, the next in command after the captain.

final approach—The aircraft is aligned with the runway for landing.

flameout—Unintended loss of combustion in a turbine engine, resulting in a loss of power.

flaps—The movable trailing edge portion of the wing which, when extended, increases both the lift and drag of the wing.

flight deck—The cockpit.

flight engineer—The third pilot responsible for the operation of the side-facing engineer’s panel. Also called the second officer.

flight level—A level of constant atmospheric pressure. Flight levels are flown above 18,000 feet in the United States.

flight plan—Specified information related to the intended flight filed with Air Traffic Control.

flight time—The actual time of the flight from takeoff to landing.

flight recorder—The general term for the “black box” usually painted a bright color. It records pertinent flight information that can be used in accident investigations. flow control—Adjustment of traffic to ensure most effective utilization of airspace.

g force—Gravity forces that give the feeling of increased or decreased weight.

gate-hold—Procedure for holding aircraft at the gate, while waiting for takeoff sequence from Air Traffic Control glidepath—The electronic or visual vertical guidance beam the airplane follows when approaching to land. go-around—Discontinuing the approach to land. Also called a missed approach.

Greenwich Mean Time—The time in Greenwich, England, used as the standard for Coordinated Universal Time. Standardizes time for aircraft flying across multiple local time zones.

ground speed—The speed of the aircraft relative to the surface of the earth. Will be faster or slower than the true airspeed depending on whether there is a tailwind or headwind.

handoff—The transfer of radar identification from one air traffic controller to another.

high-speed taxiway—Runway turnoff designed for exits up to 60 knots, to reduce runway occupancy time. holding—A predetermined maneuver, usually an oval, that keeps an aircraft in a specified airspace while waiting for further clearance.

Instrument Landing System (ILS)—A precision instrument approach that gives both electronic horizontal and vertical guidance to the runway.

instrument flight rules—The procedures the pilots must follow when flying without visual cues from the ground. international airport—An airport with Customs services available, so that nonstop service to an airport in another country can be authorized.

intersecting runways—Two or more runways that cross or meet somewhere along their length.

jet blast—High-speed wind created from the jet engine exhaust.

jet stream—Clearly defined streams of high-speed winds present at high altitudes.

knot—A speed of one nautical mile per hour, equal to 1.15 statute miles per hour, common in the United States.

landing minimums—The minimum visibility prescribed for landing while using an instrument approach.

landing roll—The distance from the point of touchdown to the point at which the aircraft can be stopped or taxied clear of the runway.

load factor—The percentage of seats filled on an airplane.

mach number—The ratio of true airspeed to the speed of sound (.82 is 82 percent of the speed of sound).

metering—A method of regulating the traffic flow into an airport, so as not to exceed the terminal area acceptance rate.

minimum descent altitude—The lowest altitude an airplane can descend on approach to land when no electronic glide slope is available.

missed approach—Discontinuing the approach to land. Also called go-around.

nautical mile—The unit of distance used in aerial navigation. Approximately 1.15 times a statute mile; typically used in the United States.

navaid—Navigational aid.

positive control area—Above 18,000 feet, where instrument flight rules must be followed regardless of the weather.

precipitation—All forms of water—rain, sleet, hail, and snow—that fall from the atmosphere and reach the surface.

preferred routes—Established routes between busier air ports to increase Air Traffic Control system efficiency and capacity.

radar contact—Terminology used by Air Traffic Control to inform an aircraft that positive radar identification has been made.

radio altimeter—Instrument that uses the reflection of radio waves to measure height above the surface. ramp area/apron—The defined area of the airport used for refueling, parking, maintenance, and the loading and un loading of passengers, mail, cargo.

recurrent training—Required pilot training and proficiency checks every six months.

release time—A departure time restriction used to separate traffic.

reverse thrust—The normal rearward thrust, directed for ward, used to slow an aircraft after landing. roger—I have received all of your last transmission.

rotate—To pull up the nose of the aircraft, followed shortly thereafter by the plane becoming airborne.

rudder—The vertical surface located on the tail used to control the left/right yaw of the aircraft. runway—The defined rectangular area used for takeoff and landings.

runway visual range—Visibility along a runway measured by electronic equipment.

second officer—The flight engineer, third pilot in command after the captain and first officer (co-pilot).

short approach—A shorter than normal final approach used to expedite traffic flow and reduce delays. sidestep maneuver—A visual maneuver accomplished by the pilot, lining up with one runway and landing on an adjacent parallel runway not more than 1200 feet to either side.

SIGMET—Significant meteorological information to warn pilots of potentially hazardous weather. slats—High lift devices that extend from the front edge of the wing that increase both lift and drag.

speed adjustment—Adjustment in airspeed to increase spacing between aircraft.

speed brakes—Movable panels on the top portion of the wing used to slow down, increase the descent rate, or both, by increasing aerodynamic drag.

spoilers—The same movable panels as the speed brakes, which can be raised a greater degree to “dump” excessive lift from the wing after landing.

stall—Loss of lift due to an excessive angle of attack, often caused by insufficient airspeed.

standard instrument departure—A preplanned Air Traffic Control departure procedure used by aircraft to navigate from departure airport to cruise portion of the flight.

standard terminal arrival route—A preplanned Air Traffic Control arrival procedure used to navigate from cruise portion of flight to the destination airport.

straight in—The entire approach to the runway is made within 30 degrees of the runway alignment.

stratosphere—The upper atmosphere “above the weather,” or troposphere.

taxi—The movement of the aircraft under its own power, on the ground.

taxiway—The designated “roadways” on which aircraft move.

terminal—A general term for an airport building used for passenger services.

terminal area—A general term describing the airspace around an airport. The terminal area encompasses approach and departure control.

threshold—The beginning of the runway.

touch and go—A training maneuver for practicing takeoff and landings. A landing and subsequent takeoff are made without stopping or exiting the runway.

touchdown zone—The first 3000 feet of the runway beginning at the threshold.

tower—Air Traffic Control communications facility located at an airport; usually the tallest structure with an unobstructed view of the entire airport.

traffic pattern—The prescribed airborne traffic flow at an airport, consisting of upwind, crosswind, downwind, base leg, and final approach.

trailing edge—The rear edge of the wing.

transmissometer—Electronic apparatus used to measure the runway visual range.

transponder—The airborne radar beacon used to make each aircraft’s radar “blip” distinct. turbulence—The irregular motion of the air.

vector—A change in direction issued by Air Traffic Control to provide navigational guidance.

very high frequency omni-range—A navigational aid pro viding left and right course information. visibility—The ability to see unlighted objects by day and prominent lighted objects at night measured in miles and/or feet.

visual approach—An Air Traffic Control approach clearance when the pilot can see either the airport or preceding landing aircraft throughout the entire approach. Radar coverage is still mandatory.

voice recorder—The “black box” that records the last 30 minutes of all cockpit communications, for use in accident investigations.

wake turbulence—General term for the disturbance of air caused by an aircraft, including wing-tip vortices.

windshear—A rapid change in the wind speed and/or direction over a short distance.

wing-tip vortices—The swirling of air behind the wing tips caused by the differential pressure on the top and bottom of the wing, with potential turbulence for aircraft following too closely.

yoke—The control column in the cockpit, used to move the flight controls and thus control the aircraft.

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