Aviation Glossary

5/15/2016 Aviation
Glossary
A EROFILES
AvSpeak
A Glossary of Aviation
Terms and Abbreviations
Aviation related terms and
definitions used in association with
civil flight obtained from the Code
of Federal Regulations, Federal
Aviation Regulations, and many
other sources (general
abbreviations and those specific to
Aerofiles can be found on our
Codes page). Cross references are
in CAPITAL letters.
ABSOLUTE ALTITUDE The
measureable height of an aircraft
above the actual terrain.
ABSOLUTE CEILING The maximum altitude above sea
level at which an aircraft can maintain level flight under
Standard Air conditions.
ACCELERATED STALL Any stall made to occur at other
than 1g.
ACCESSORY GROUP Mechanical and electrical units
mounted on an engine necessary for its operation, such as
starter, magnetos, fuel pumps, etc.
ADCOCK RANGE National lowfrequency radio navigation
system (c.1930c.1950) replaced by an omnirange (VOR)
system. It consisted of four segmented quadrants
broadcasting Morse Code "A" (dotdash) and "N" (dashdot)
signals in opposing quadrants so that pilots could orient their
position relative to a "beam" broadcasting a steady tone, and
a Morse Code station identifier. Using a "buildandfade"
technique, a pilot could (ideally) pinpoint his location by the
strength or weakness of a signal. Read about it here.
ADF Automatic Direction Finding via automated radio.
ADIABATIC LAPSE RATE The rate at which ascending air
cools and descending air warms, given that no heat is added
or taken away. The rate for dry air (DALR) is based on 5.4° F
per 1000' altitude (1° per 100 meters). Moist or saturated
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5/15/2016 Aviation Glossary
rates (SALR) vary with barometric pressures and
temperatures and must be adjusted for accuracy.
ADVERSE YAW Yaw generated when the ailerons are
used. The lifting wing generates more drag, causing an
airplane to yaw (turn) toward it.
AGL Above Ground Level, as a measurement of altitude
above a specific land mass, and differentiated from MSL.
AILERON The movable areas of a wingform that control or
affect the roll of an aircraft by working opposite one another
—upaileron on the right wing and downaileron on the left
wing. French: aileron small wing, diminutive of aile, from
Latin: ala, wing. The word "aisle" also derives from the same
root. (Above pic proves that birds invented ailerons long
before man did.)
AIR DEFENSE IDENTIFICATION ZONE (ADIZ) The area
of airspace over land or water, extending upward from the
surface, within which the ready identification, the location,
and the control of aircraft are required in the interest of
national security.
Domestic Air Defense Identification Zone An ADIZ
within the United States along an international boundary
of the United States.
Coastal Air Defense Identification Zone An ADIZ over
the coastal waters of the United States.
Distant Early Warning Identification Zone (DEWIZ)
An ADIZ over the coastal waters of the State of Alaska.
ADIZ locations and operating and flight plan requirements
for civil aircraft operations are specified in FAR Part 99.
AIRFOIL The shape of any flying surface, but principally a
wing, as seen in sideview ("crosssection"). Its
characteristics are Center of Pressure (CP), DRAG (CD),
LIFT (CL), LiftDrag Ratio (L/D), and Moment (CM).
AIR ROUTE TRAFFIC CONTROL CENTER (ARTCC) or
"CENTER" A facility established to provide air traffic
control service to aircraft operating on IFR flight plans within
controlled airspace and principally during the en route phase
of flight. When equipment capabilities and controller
workload permit, certain advisory/assistance services may
be provided to VFR aircraft.
AIR SPEED INDICATOR An instrument or device that
measures the air speed of an aircraft through an air mass,
but not its ground speed.
AIR TAXI An aircraft operator who conducts operations for
hire or compensation in accordance with FAR Part 135 in an
aircraft with 30 or fewer passenger seats and a payload
capacity of 7,500# or less. An air taxi operates on an on
demand basis and does not meet the "flight scheduled"
qualifications of a commuter.
AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL (ATC) A service operated by the
appropriate authority to promote the safe, orderly, and
expeditious flow of air traffic.
AIRPORT TRAFFIC CONTROL TOWER (ATCT) A
terminal facility that uses air/ground communications, visual
signaling, and other devices to provide ATC services to
aircraft operating in the vicinity of an airport or on the
movement area. Authorizes aircraft to land or takeoff at the
airport controlled by the tower or to transit the Class D
airspace area regardless of flight plan or weather conditions
(IFR or VFR). A tower may also provide approach control
services (radar or nonradar).
ALCLAD Trademark name of Alcoa for highstrength sheet
aluminum clad with a layer (approximately 5.5% thickness
per side) of highpurity aluminum, popularly used in airplane
manufacture.
ALPHABET (PHONETIC) Devised for reasons of clarity in
aviation voice radio, this is the current NATO version in
global use:
ALFA BRAVO CHARLEY DELTA ECHO FOXTROT
GOLF
HOTEL INDIA JULIET KILO LIMA MIKE
NOVEMBER
OSCAR PAPA QUEBEC ROMEO SIERRA TANGO
UNIFORM VICTOR WHISKY XRAY YANKEE
ZULU
The original, from early in World War 2, was:
ABLE BAKER CHARLEY DOG EASY FOX
GEORGE
HOW ITEM JIG KING LOVE MIKE NAN
OBOE
PETER QUEEN ROGER SUGAR TARE UNCLE
VICTOR
WILLIAM XRAY YOKE ZEBRA
ALTIMETER An adjustable aneroidbarometric cockpit
instrument used to measure an aircraft's altitude.
AMPHIBIAN, AMPHIBION A SEAPLANE or FLOATPLANE
with retractable wheels for use on land, as well. The latter
spelling was used in the '20s and '30s but has since fallen
out of favor.
ANGLE OF ATTACK The acute angle at which a moving
airfoil meets the airstream.
ANGLE OF INCIDENCE The angle at which an airfoil is
normally fixed in relation to the longitudinal axis of an
aircraft.
ANHEDRAL The downward angle of a wing in relation to a
horizontal crosssection line; aka CATHEDRAL. See
DIHEDRAL.
APPROACH CONTROL see RADIO NAVIGATION
APRON The hardsurfaced or paved area around a hangar.
ARM In aircraft weight and balance, as well as load
distribution, it is the distance from the CENTER OF
GRAVITY (c/g) to some point. For computations, arms
measured forward from the c/g are positive (+n) and those
measured aft of the c/g are negtive (n).
ARSA see CONTROLLED AIRSPACE
ARTIFICIAL HORIZON A vacuumpowered panel
instrument that displays pitch and roll movements about the
lateral and longitudinal axes; aka Attitude Indicator.
ASPECT RATIO The ratio of the span to the chord of an
airfoil—a highaspect ratio wing has wide span and narrow
chord, and viceversa for a lowaspect ratio wing.
ATA see CONTROLLED AIRSPACE
ATC (1) Aircraft license as Approved Type Certificate, see
ATC; (2) AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL.
ATIS see AUTOMATIC TERMINAL INFORMATION
SERVICE
AUTOGYRO, AUTOGIRO An aircraft, often wingless, with
unpowered rotary airfoil blades that autorotate and serve as
wings as they move through the air when mounted on a
powered aircraft (or, in some cases, a glider). The latter
spelling is a trademark of the Autogiro Corporation.
AUTOROTATION Automatic rotation of rotary blades from
a helicopter in an unpowered glide or the forward movement
of an autogyro.
AUTOMATIC TERMINAL INFORMATION SERVICE (ATIS)
Continuous broadcast of recorded noncontrol information
in selected terminal areas, to improve controller
effectiveness and to relieve frequency congestion by
automating repetitive transmissions of essential but routine
information.
BALANCED CONTROL SURFACE A movable control
surface, as an aileron or rudder, having an added physical
extension or weights forward of the hingepoint to reduce
forces on a joystick or yoke. See ELEPHANT EARS (2).
BERNOULLI EFFECT or LAW or THEOREM Since the
pressure of a fluid is proportional to its velocity, airflow over
the upper surface of an airfoil causes suction [lift] because
the airstream has been speeded up in relation to positive
pressure of the airflow on the lower surface.
BLEED AIR Hot air at high pressure, usually from the
bypass section of a gas turbine engine, for deicing, heating,
and other uses.
BOUNDARYLAYER CONTROL The design or control of
slotted or perforated wings with suction methods to reduce
undesirable aerodynamic effects caused by the boundary
layer—that region adjacent to the boundary where shear
stresses dominate in the airflow over a wingform.
BUMPED COWLING An engine FAIRING, generally
circular, with welts or compound shapes in its surface to
accommodate cylinder heads.
CABANE STRUT Wing strut attached to the fuselage.
CALIBRATED AIRSPEED (CAS) The indicated airspeed of
an aircraft, corrected for position and instrument error. CAS
is equal to true airspeed in standard atmosphere at sea
level. Compare INDICATED AIRSPEED and TRUE
AIRSPEED.
CAMBER The convex or concave curvature of an airfoil.
CANARD An arrangement in which the horizontal stabilizer
and elevators of an aircraft are mounted in front of the main
wing(s).
CAT ClearAir Turbulence.
CATHEDRAL see ANHEDRAL
CAVU Ceiling and Visibility Unlimited; ideal flying weather.
CEILING (1) The heights above the earth's surface of the
lowest layer of clouds or obscuring phenomena that is
reported as "broken," "overcast," or "obscuration," and not
classified as "thin" or "partial". (2) The maximum height
above sea level in STANDARD AIR attainable by an aircraft
under given conditions—see ABSOLUTE CEILING,
SERVICE CEILING.
CENTER An Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC).
CENTER OF GRAVITY (c/g) The longitudinal and lateral
point in an aircraft where it is stable; the static balance point.
CERTIFICATED AIRPORT An airport operating under FAR
Part 139. The FAA issues airport operating certificates to all
airports serving scheduled or unscheduled air carrier aircraft
designed for more than 30 passenger seats. Certificated
airports must meet minimum safety standards in accordance
with FAR Part 139.
CHORD The measurable distance between the leading and
trailing edges of a wingform.
CLASS G AIRSPACE (Uncontrolled Airspace) Airspace
not designated as Class A, B, C, D or E CONTROLLED
AIRSPACE.
COAMING A padded, protective rim around an open
cockpit.
COLLECTIVE PITCH A cockpit control that changes the
PITCH of a helicopter's rotor blades; used in climbing or
descending.
COLLECTOR RING A circular duct on a radial engine into
which exhaust gases from its cylinders are safely
discharged.
COMMON TRAFFIC ADVISORY FREQUENCY (CTAF) A
frequency designed for the purpose of carrying out airport
advisory practices while operating to or from an airport
without an operating control tower. The CTAF may be a
UNICOM, Multicom, FSS, or tower frequency and is
identified in appropriate aeronautical publications.
COMMUTER An air carrier operator operating under 14
CFR 135 that carries passengers on at least five round trips
per week on at least one route between two or more points
according to its published flight schedules that specify the
times, day of the week, and places between which these
flights are performed. The aircraft that a commuter operates
has 30 or fewer passenger seats and a payload capability of
7,500# or less.
COMPASS COURSE A bearing as indicated by the
horizontal angle between the compass needle and the
centerline of the aircraft. A Compass Course is equal to a
True Course ± variation and deviation; also equal to a
Magnetic Course ± deviation.
COMPASS NORTH The North point at which a liquid
compass needle points, rather than Geographical, or True,
North. Compare MAGNETIC NORTH.
CONE OF SILENCE Click the Adcock page.
CONSTANTSPEED PROPELLER A hydraulically
controlled propeller that governs an engine at its optimum
speed by the blade pitch being increased or decreased
automatically.
CONTACT FLIGHT Navigation in which altitude and flight
path can be maintained by visual reference to the ground
and its landmarks. Similar to VFR.
CONTOUR FLIGHT Contact Flight in and around
mountainous areas following visual reference to the terrain's
countours.
CONTRAIL Trailing streak of condensed water vapor
created in the air by heat from an aircraft engine at high
altitudes; aka VAPOR TRAIL.
CONTROLLED AIRSPACE An airspace of defined
dimensions within which air traffic control service is provided
to IFR flights and to VFR flights in accordance with the
airspace classification. Controlled airspace is a generic term
that covers Class A, B, C, D, and E airspace. Controlled
airspace is also that airspace within which all aircraft
operators are subject to certain pilot qualifications, operating
rules, and equipment requirements in FAR Part 91. For IFR
operations in any class of controlled airspace, a pilot must
file an IFR flight plan and receive an appropriate ATC
clearance. Each B, C, and D airspace area designated for an
airport contains at least one primary airport around which the
airspace is designated (for specific designations and
descriptions of the airspace classes, refer to FAR Part 71).
Class A (formerly PCA Positive Control Area)
generally, that airspace from 18,000' mean sea level
(MSL) up to and including flight level (FL) 600 (60,000'
pressure altitude), including the airspace overlying the
waters within 12 nautical miles of the coast of the 48
contiguous States and Alaska. Unless otherwise
authorized, all persons must operate their aircraft
under IFR.
Class B (formerly TCA Terminal Control Area)
Generally, that airspace from the surface to 10,000'
MSL surrounding the nation's busiest airports in terms
of airport operations or passenger enplanements. The
configuration of each Class B airspace area is
individually tailored and consists of a surface area and
two or more layers (some Class B airspace areas
resemble upsidedown wedding cakes), and is
designed to contain all published instrument
procedures once an aircraft enters the airspace. An
ATC clearance is required for all aircraft to operate in
the area, and all aircraft that are so cleared receive
separation services within the airspace. The cloud
clearance requirement for VFR operations is "clear of
clouds."
Class C (formerly ARSA Airport Radar Service
Area) Generally, that airspace from the surface to
4,000' MSL above the airport elevation surrounding
those airports that have an operational control tower,
are serviced by a radar approach control, and that
have a certain number of IFR operations or passenger
enplanements. Although the configuration of each
Class C area is individually tailored, the airspace
usually consists of a surface area with a 5 nautical mile
(nm) radius, an outer circle with a 10 nm radius that
extends from 1,200' to 4,000' above the airport
elevation and an outer area. Each person must
establish twoway radio communications with the ATC
facility providing air traffic services prior to entering the
airspace and thereafter maintain those
communications while within the airspace. VFR aircraft
are only separated from IFR aircraft within the
airspace.
Class D (formerly ATA Airport Traffic Area and CZ
Control Zone) Generally, that airspace from the
surface to 2,500' MSL above the airport elevation
surrounding those airports that have an operational
control tower. The configuration of each Class D
airspace area is individually tailored and when
instrument procedures are published, the airspace will
normally be designed to contain the procedures. Arrival
extensions for instrument approach procedures may be
Class D or E airspace. Unless otherwise authorized,
each person must establish twoway radio
communications with the ATC facility providing air
traffic services prior to entering the airspace and
thereafter maintain those communications while in the
airspace. No separation services are provided to VFR
aircraft.
Class E (formerly General Controlled Airspace)
Generally, if the airspace is not Class A, B, C, or D,
and is controlled airspace, it is Class E airspace. Class
E airspace extends upward from either the surface or a
designated altitude to the overlying or adjacent
controlled airspace. When designated as a surface
area, the airspace will be configured to contain all
instrument procedures. Also in this class are Federal
airways, airspace beginning at either 700' or 1,200'
AGL used to transition to/from the terminal or enroute
environment, enroute domestic, and offshore airspace
areas designated below 18,000' MSL. Unless
designated at a lower altitude, Class E airspace begins
at 14,500' MSL over the USA, including that airspace
overlying the waters within 12 nautical miles of the
coast of the 48 contiguous States and Alaska, up to,
but not including 18,000' MSL, and the airspace above
Flight Level 600.
CONVENTIONAL GEAR Having two main landing wheels
at the front and a tailwheel or tailskid at the rear as opposed
to having a tricycle gear with three main wheels. Such an
aircraft is popularly called a TAILDRAGGER.
COWL, COWLING A circular, removable FAIRING around
an aircraft engine (generally radial) for the purposes of
streamling or cooling; aka RING COWLING.
COWL FLAP A controllable louvre to regulating airflow
through an engine's cowling.
CRAB A ruddercontrolled yawing motion to compensate
for a crosswind in maintaining a desired flight path, as in a
landing approach.
CTAF see COMMON TRAFFIC ADVISORY FREQUENCY
DEAD RECKONING In pioneer flight before radio,
beacons, and accurate maps, flying distances much by
instinct and guesswork, and referring to whatever landmarks
were below, was quite routine. The "dead" part simply meant
"straight," as in the nautical "dead ahead," and pilots often
relied heavily on the IRON COMPASS for crosscountry
flights over unfamiliar territory.
DEADSTICK Descending flight with engine and propeller
stopped.
DECALAGE The difference in angular settings [Angles of
Attack] of the wings of a biplane or multiplane.
DECISION HEIGHT With respect to the operation of
aircraft, the height at which point a decision must be made
during an instrument approach to either continue the
approach or to execute a missed approach [abort].
DELTAWING A triangularlyshaped aircraft wing having a
low aspect ratio, a sharplytapered leading edge, a straight
trailing edge, and a pointed tip.
DEPARTURE CONTROL see RADIO NAVIGATION
DEPARTURE STALL A stall in the takeoff configuration
with power.
DEVIATION (MAGNETIC) The error of a Magnetic
Compass due to inherent magnetic influences in the
structure and equipment of an aircraft.
DEWIZ see AIR DEFENSE IDENTIFICATION ZONE
DIHEDRAL The acute angle, usually upward, between the
wing of an airplane and a horizontal crosssection line.
Opposite of ANHEDRAL.
DIRECTIONAL GYRO A panel instrument providing a
gyroscopic reading of an aircraft's compass heading.
DIRIGIBLE A lighterthanair craft capable of being
propelled and steered for controlled flight. Latin: dirigo,to
steer.
DME Distance Measuring Equipment, a radio navigation
device that determines an aircraft's distance from a given
ground station, as well as its groundspeed and time to/from
the station.
DOPE Preservative and pigmented coloring for fabric
aircraft covering and paints, generally nitrate lacquer but
generically used to denote all early shellac and coaltar
mixtures on up to presentday acrylics.
DORSAL FIN A lateral fin/rudder extension on the top of a
fuselage. Opposite of VENTRAL FIN.
DOWNWASH The air deflected perpendicular to the
direction of movement of an airfoil.
DRAG The resisting force exerted on an aircraft in its line
of flight opposite in direction to its motion. Compare
THRUST.
DRAG WIRE A wire designed to resist DRAG forces,
usually running from a forward inboard point to an outboard
aft point.
DRIFT The angle between the heading of an aircraft and its
Track [flight path] over the ground as affected by winds.
DRY WEIGHT The weight of an engine exclusive of any
fuel, oil, and coolant.
DURAL Originally a tradename for a wrought aluminum
copper alloy created by Bausch Machine Tool Co, now fallen
into generic use as any aluminum alloy containing 3.04.5%
copper, 0.41.0% magnesium, and 0.10.7% manganese.
Alcoa's version is commonly referred to as "Duraluminum,"
popularly used in aircaft manufacture.
DZUS FASTENER ("Zoose") Very singular to aircraft, a
patented slotted screw that binds to a wire for fast release
and securing of cowlings and inspection plates, requiring no
special tool other than a quarter coin.
EARTHINDUCTOR COMPASS One whose indications
depend on the current generated in a coil revolving in the
earth's magnetic field.
ELEPHANT EAR (1) An air intake characterized by twin
inlets, one on each side of the fuselage. (2) A type of
balanced aileron in which the outer edges are noticeably
larger than the control itself. See BALANCED CONTROL
SURFACE and example Travel Air 4000.
ELEVATOR The movable part of a horizontal airfoil which
controls the pitch of an aircraft, the fixed part being the
STABILIZER.
ELEVON A hinged device on the rear portion of an aircraft
wing combining the functions of an elevator and an aileron.
Usually found on deltawing aircraft, it can be moved in the
same direction on either side of the aircraft to obtain
longitudinal control, or differentially to obtain lateral control.
Also see FLAPERON.
ELT Emergency Locator Transmitter
EMPENNAGE An aircraft's tail group, includes rudder and
fin, and stabilizer and elevator. Old French: empenner, to
feather an arrow, from Latin penna, feather.
EN ROUTE AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL SERVICES Air
traffic control services provided aircraft on IFR flight plans,
generally by centers, when these aircraft are operating
between departure and destination terminal areas. When
equipment, capabilities, and controller workload permit,
certain advisory/assistance services may be provided to
VFR aircraft.
ETA Estimated Time of Arrival.
ETD Estimated Time of Departure.
FAIRING An added streamlining structure or auxiliary
member, most often of light metal, whose only purpose is to
reduce drag. Fairings are not loadbearing and, therefore,
are not meant to carry any principal air loads placed on the
airplane structure.
FBO FixedBase Operator. A commercial operator
supplying fuel, maintenance, flight training, and other
services at an airport.
FAN MARKER see RADIO NAVIGATION
FEATHERING In the event of engine failure, the process of
adjusting a controllablepitch propeller to a pitch position
where the blade angle is about 90° to the plane of rotation in
order to to stop its windmilling and lessen drag.
FEDERAL AIR REGULATION (FAR)
FAR Part 91 General Aviation (portions apply to all
operators)
FAR Part 103 Ultralight Vehicles
FAR Part 105 Parachute Jumping
FAR Part 108 Airplane Operator Security
FAR Part 119 Certification: Air Carriers and
Commercial Operators
FAR Part 121 Domestic, Flag, and Supplemental Air
Carriers and Commercial Operators of Large Aircraft
FAR Part 123 Travel Clubs
FAR Part 125 US Civil Airplanes, seating 20 or more
passengers or a maximum payload capacity 6,000# or
more
FAR Part 127 Air Carriers using helicopters for
scheduled interstate flights (within the 48 contiguous
states)
FAR Part 129 Foreign Air Carrier and Foreign
Operators of US registered aircraft engaged in
common carriage
FAR Part 133 Rotorcraft External Load Operations
FAR Part 135 Air Taxi Operators and Commercial
Operators
FAR Part 137 Agricultural Aircraft Operations
FAR Part 141 Pilot School
FERRY FLIGHT A flight for the purpose of (1) returning an
aircraft to base; (2) delivering an aircraft from one location to
another; (3) moving an aircraft to and from a maintenance
base. Ferry flights, under certain conditions, may be
conducted under terms in a special flight permit.
FIN The fixed part of a vertical airfoil that controls the yaw
of an aircraft; the movable part being the RUDDER.
Sometime referred to as Vertical Stabilizer.
FIREWALL A fireresistant bulkhead that isolates the
engine from other parts of an airplane's structure.
FISHTAILING A ruddercontrolled sidetoside [yawing]
motion to reduce air speed, generally prior to landing.
FIVEBYFIVE (5x5) In radio jargon, affirms that a radioed
transmission was received as clear and loud. Rated one to
five, with the first figure for clearness and the second second
for loudness.
FLAP A movable, usually hinged
AIRFOIL set in the trailing edge of an
aircraft wing, designed to increase LIFT
or DRAG by changing the CAMBER of
the wing or used to slow an aircraft
during landing by increasing lift. Also
see FOWLER FLAP, SLOTTED FLAP,
and SPLIT FLAP.
FLAPERON A control surface
combining the functions of a FLAP and
an AILERON.
FLARE A simple maneuver performed
moments before landing in which the
nose of an aircraft is pitched up to
minimize the touchdown rate of speed.
FLIGHT ENVELOPE An aircraft's performance limits,
specifically the curves of speed plotted against other
variables to indicate the limits of speed, altitude, and
acceleration that a particular aircraft cannot safely exceed.
FLIGHT LEVEL (FL) A level of constant atmospheric
pressure related to a reference datum of 29.92 inches of
mercury. Each is stated in three digits that represent
hundreds of feet—flight level 250 represents a barometric
altimeter indication of 25,000', flight level 255 as 25,500'.
FLIGHT PLAN Specified information relating to the
intended flight of an aircraft, filed orally or in writing with an
FSS or an ATC facility.
FLIGHT SERVICE STATION (FSS) Air traffic facilities
which provide pilot briefing, enroute communications and
VFR search and rescue services, assist lost aircraft and
aircraft in emergency situations, relay ATC clearances,
originate Notices to Airmen, broadcast aviation weather and
NAS information, receive and process IFR flight plans, and
monitor NAVAIDs. In addition, at selected locations, FSSs
provide Enroute Flight Advisory Service (Flight Watch), take
weather observations, issue airport advisories, and advise
Customs and Immigration of transborder flights.
FLOATPLANE A waterbased aircraft with one or more
mounted pontoons, as differentiated from a hulled
SEAPLANE [Flying Boat], but often used generically.
FLYING WIRES Interplane bracing wires that help support
wingloads when the plane is in flight. Direction of travel is
upward and outward from the fuselage to the interplane
struts. Also known as LIFT WIRES, the opposite of
LANDING WIRES.
FOWLER FLAP Trademark name of
a splitflap attached to a wing's trailing
edge with a system of tracks and
rollers to roll the FLAP backward and
downward, increasing the wing area.
Named for its inventor, USAAF
engineer Harland D Fowler.
FRISE AILERON A type of aileron that has a beveled
leading edge projecting beyond its inset hinges. When
lowered, it forms an extension of the wing surface; when
raised, its nose protrudes below the wing, increasing DRAG
and reducing YAW. Named for its inventor, British engineer
Leslie George Frise.
FSS see FLIGHT SERVICE STATION
FUSELAGE An aircraft's main body structure housing the
flight crew, passengers, and cargo and to which the wings,
tail and, in most singleengined airplanes, engine are
attached. French: fuselé, tapering.
g or G see LOAD FACTOR
GAP The distance between two adjacent wings of a
biplane or multiplane.
GCA GroundControlled Approach; part of ILS.
GENERAL AVIATION That portion of civil aviation which
encompasses all facets of aviation except air carriers holding
a certificate of public convenience and necessity from the
Civil Aeronautics Board and large aircraft commercial
operators.
GEOGRAPHIC NORTH The northern axis around which
the Earth revolves; aka "Map North" and TRUE NORTH.
Also see MAGNETIC NORTH.
GLASS COCKPIT Said of an aircraft's control cabin which
has allelectronic, digital and computerbased,
instrumentation.
GLIDER An unpowered aircraft capable of maintaining
altitude only briefly after release from tow, then gliding to
earth. Compare SAILPLANE.
GLIDE SLOPE (1) The angle between horizontal and the
glide path of an aircraft. (2) A tightlyfocused radio beam
transmitted from the approach end of a runway indicating the
minimum approach angle that will clear all obstacles; one
component of an instrument landing system (ILS).
GPS Global Positioning System; satellitebased navigation.
GREEN LIGHT Approval for landing. A carryover
expression from days when aircraft for the most part had no
radios, and communication from a control tower was by
means of a lightgun that beamed various green, red, and
yellow signals to pilots in the air and on the ground. A
popular phrase, "3 green lights," refers to the instrument
panel lights verifying that all three gears (in a trigear aircraft)
are down and locked for safe landing.
GROSS WEIGHT The total weight of an aircraft when fully
loaded, including fuel, cargo, and passengers; aka Takeoff
Weight.
GROUND CONTROL Tower control, by radioed
instructions from air traffic control, of aircraft ground
movements at an airport.
GROUND CUSHION see GROUND EFFECT
GROUND EFFECT Increased lift generated by the
interaction between a lift system and the ground when an
aircraft is within a wingspan distance above the ground. It
affects a lowwinged aircraft more than a mid or high
winged aircraft because its wings are closer to the ground;
aka GROUND CUSHION.
GROUNDSPEED The actual speed that an aircraft travels
over the ground—its "shadow speed"; it combines the
aircraft's AIRSPEED and the wind's speed relative to the
aircraft's direction of flight.
GULLWING Descriptive of wing in frontal view bent as the
wing of a seagull; a distinctive shallow, inverted "V" shape—
see Stinson SR10 or inverted gullwing Vought F4U.
GYROPLANE A rotorcraft whose rotors are not engine
driven, except for initial starting, but are made to rotate by
action of the air when the rotorcraft is moving and whose
means of propulsion, usually a conventional propeller, is
independent of the rotor system. Similar to AUTOGYRO.
HANGAR An enclosed structure for housing aircraft.
Originated with lakebased floating homes of the original
German Zeppelins in which they were "hung" from cables,
which explains the erroneous, oftseen spelling of "hanger."
French: hangar, shed, outbuilding, from Latin: angarium,
shed.
HELICOPTER A wingless aircraft acquiring its lift from
revolving blades driven by an engine about a nearvertical
axis. A ROTORCRAFT acquiring its primary motion from
enginedriven rotors that accelerate the air downward,
providing a reactive lift force, or accelerate the air at an
angle to the vertical, providing lift and thrust.
HIGH BLOWER A blowertype supercharger set at high
rpm.
HIGHSPEED STALL Any stall made to occur at more than
1g, such as pulling out of a dive or while turning.
HORSEPOWER The motive energy required to raise 550#
one foot in one second, friction disregarded.
HYPERSONIC Speed of flight at or greater than Mach 5.0,
exceeding SUPERSONIC.
HYPOXIA Deprivation of oxygen, aka "altitude sickness,"
which can adversely affect human judgment and movement
at altitudes above 12,000' with symptoms ranging from light
dizziness to unconsciousness, even death at the extreme. It
was a principal reason for pressurized aircraft.
IFR Instrument Flight Rules, governing flight under
instrument meteorological conditions.
ILS Instrument Landing System. A radarbased system
allowing ILSequipped aircraft to find a runway and land
when clouds may be as low as 200' (or lower for special
circumstances).
INDICATED AIRSPEED (IAS) A direct instrument reading
obtained from an air speed indicator uncorrected for altitude,
temperature, atmospheric density, or instrument error.
Compare CALIBRATED AIRSPEED and TRUE AIRSPEED.
INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS (IMC)
Meteorological conditions expressed in terms of visibility,
distance from clouds, and ceiling less than minima specified
for visual meteorological conditions (VMC).
IRON COMPASS Railroad tracks, favored by pilots of yore
as a dependable aid to surface navigation before radio.
JOYSTICK A single floor or roofmounted control stick—
sideways movement produces ROLL, and forward/backward
movement produces PITCH (rudder pedals produce YAW).
KNOT One nautical mile, about 1.15 statute miles (6,080');
eg: 125kts = 143.9mph.
LAMINARFLOW AIRFOIL A lowdrag airfoil designed to
maintain laminar (smooth, continuous) flow over a high
percentage of the CHORD about itself. Often relatively thin,
especially along the leading edge, with most of its bulk near
the center of the chord.
LANDING WIRES Interplane bracing wires that help
support wingloads when the plane is on the ground.
Direction of travel is downward and outward from the
fuselage. Opposite of FLYING WIRES.
LIFT The force exerted on the top of a moving airfoil as a
lowpressure area [vacuum] that causes a wingform to rise.
AIRFOILs do not "float" on air, as is often assumed—like a
boat hull floats on water—but are "pulled up" [lifted] by low
air pressures trying to equalize.
LIFTDRAG RATIO The lift coefficient of a wing divided by
the drag coefficient, as the primary measure of the efficiency
of an aircraft; aka L/D Ratio.
LIFT WIRES Interplane bracing wires that help support
wingloads when the plane is in flight. Direction of travel is
upward from the bottom of the fuselage to the top of the
interplane struts. Also known as FLYING WIRES, the
opposite of LANDING WIRES.
LIGHT SPORT AIRCRAFT Special FAA certification class
(LSA) for an aircraft other than a helicopter or poweredlift—
singleengine aircraft, airship, balloon, GLIDER,
GYROCOPTER, ROTORCRAFT, weightshiftcontrol
aircraft. While limiting the types of aircraft that could be flown
by a Sport Pilot, it simplified requirements for a obtaining a
pilot license and did not require a medical examination. See
LSA feature.
LIQUID COMPASS A nonelectronic, calibratable compass
floating in a liquid as a panel instrument; aka WET
COMPASS.
LOAD FACTOR (g) The proportion between lift and weight
commonly seen as g (sometimes capitalized)—a unit of
force equal to the force of gravity times one.
LOFTING Design or fabrication of a complex aircraft
component, as with sheet metal, using actualsize patterns
or plans, generally laid out on a floor. The term was
borrowed from boat builders.
LONGERON A principal longitudinal member of a
fuselage's framing, usually continuous across a number of
supporting points.
LOOP ANTENNA A circular radio antenna, either in the
open or in a streamlined, teardrop housing, remotely turned
360° to finetune a station in league with other radiodirective
devices. See also RADIO COMPASS, RADIO DIRECTION
FINDER.
LORAN Long Range Navigation system, which utilizes
timing differences between multiple lowfrequency
transmissions to provide accurate latitude/longitude position
information to within 50'.
LTA Lighterthanair craft, generally referring to powered
blimps and dirigibles, but often also includes free balloons.
LUNKENHEIMER VALVE A manual fuel drain placed
handily along a fuel line for checking avgas, such as for
water or sediment contaminations.
Mach or m. A number representing the ratio of the speed
of an object to the speed of sound in the surrounding air or
medium in which it is moving.
MAGNETIC COMPASS The most common liquidtype
compass, capable of calibration to compensate for magnetic
influences within the aircraft.
MAGNETIC COURSE COMPASS COURSE ± deviation.
MAGNETIC NORTH The magnetic North pole, located
near 71° North latitude and 96° West longitude, that attracts
a magnetic compass which is not influenced by local
magnetic attraction, as opposed to GEOGRAPHIC NORTH.
MAGNETO, MAG An accessory that produces and
distributes a highvoltage electric current for ignition of a fuel
charge in an internal combustion engine.
MAGNUS EFFECT The effect on a spinning cylinder or
sphere moving through a fluid, in which force acts
perpendicular to the direction of motion and to the direction
of spin. This is used to advantage in baseball, in which the
trajectory of a pitched ball is a distinct curve. Applied to
aeronautics in experimental wingforms, the Magnus Theory
states that if air is directed against a smooth, revolving
cylinder, whose circumferential speed is greater than that of
the air current, a force is directed against one side of the
cylinder—air compressed on one side and vacuum formed
on the other—creating lift. Named for physicist Heinrich
Gustav Magnus (180270).
MARKER BEACON see RADIO NAVIGATION
MEAN SEA LEVEL see MSL
METAR Acronym in FAA pilot briefings and weather reports
simply means an "aviation routine weather report," but
nobody seems certain about the original source. The format
was introduced by the French on 1 Jan 1968, but was not
adopted by USA and Canada until 1 July 1996, and is
thought to be a contraction from MÉTéorologique
("Weather") Aviation Règuliére ("Routine"). FAA and NOAA
specifically define METAR as "an approximate translation
from the French."
MOA see SPECIAL USE AIRSPACE
MONOCOQUE Type of fuselage design with little or no
internal bracing other than bulkheads, where the outer skin
bears the main stresses; usually round or oval in cross
section. Additional classifications are (1) SemiMonocoque,
where the skin is reinforced by longerons or bulkheads, but
with no diagonal web members, and (2) Reinforced Shell, in
which the skin is supported by a complete framework or
structural members. French: monocoque, single shell.
MSL Mean Sea Level. The average height of the surface of
the sea for all stages of tide; used as a reference for
elevations, and differentiated from AGL.
NACELLE A streamlined enclosure or housing to protect
something such as the crew, engine, or landing gear.
French: nacelle, from Latin, navicella, little ship.
NATIONAL AIRSPACE SYSTEM (NAS) The common
network of US airspace; air navigation facilities, equipment
and services, airports or landing areas; aeronautical charts,
information and services; rules, regulations and procedures,
technical information, and human resources and material.
Included are system components shared jointly with the
military.
NDB NonDirectional Beacon. An LF, MF, or UHF radio
beacon transmitting nondirectional signals whereby the pilot
of an aircraft equipped with direction finding equipment can
determine his bearing to or from the radio beacon and
"home" on or track to or from the station. When the radio
beacon is installed in conjuncion with the Instrument Landing
System (ILS) marker, it is normally called a Compass
Locator.
ON THE BEAM A leftover phrase from ADCOCK Radio
Range days still means the same thing today—"You are
headed in the right direction," as when you you hear a
steady broadcast tone beamed from your target radio
transmitter. Also as RIDING THE BEAM. Read about it here.
OVERSHOOT To land beyond a runwway or planned spot.
Opposite of UNDERSHOOT.
PANTS A popular word for streamlined, nonload bearing
fairings to cover landing wheels. Also sometimes called
Spats or, when fully enclosing the wheel struts, Skirts.
PAR Precision Approach Radar, a groundradarbased
instrument approach providing both horizontal and vertical
guidance
PATTERN The path of aircraft traffic around an airfield, at
an established height and direction. At towercontrolled fields
the pattern is supervised by radio (or, in nonradio or
emergency conditions by red and green light signals) by air
traffic controllers.
PAYLOAD Anything that an aircraft carries beyond what is
required for its operation during flight, theoretically that from
which revenue is derived, such as cargo and passengers.
PCA see CONTROLLED AIRSPACE
PHONETICS see ALPHABET
PILOT IN COMMAND (PiC) The pilot responsible for the
operation and safety of an aircraft during flight time.
PITCH (1) Of the three axes in flight, this specifies the
vertical action, the upanddown movement. Compare ROLL
and YAW. (2) The angle of a propeller or rotor blade in
relation to its arc; also the distance advanced by a blade in
one full rotation.
PITOT TUBE More accurately but less popularly used,
PitotStatic Tube, a small tube most often mounted on the
outward leading edge of an airplane wing (out of the
propeller stream) that measures the impact pressure of the
air it meets in flight, working in conjuction with a closed,
perforated, coaxial tube that measures the static pressure.
The difference in pressures is calibrated as air speed by a
panel instrument. Named for French scientist Henri Pitot
(16951771).
POSITIVE CONTROL The separation of all air traffic within
designated airspace by air traffic control.
POWER LOADING The GROSS WEIGHT of an airplane
divided by the rated horsepower, computed for Standard Air
density.
PUSHER A propeller mounted in back of its engine,
pushing an aircraft through the air, as opposed to a
TRACTOR configuration.
QUADRAPLANE, QUADRUPLANE An aircraft having four
or more wingforms.
RADAR APPROACH CONTROL FACILITY (RAPCON) A
terminal ATC facility that uses radar and nonradar
capabilities to provide approach control services to aircraft
arriving, departing, or transiting airspace controlled by the
facility. This facility provides radar ATC services to aircraft
operating in the vicinity of one or more civil/military airports
in a terminal area. The facility may provide services of a
groundcontrolled approach (GCA). A radar approach control
facility may be operated by FAA or a military service, or
jointly. Specific facility nomenclatures are used for
administrative purposes only and are related to the physical
location of the facility and the operating service generally:
Army Radar Approach Control (ARAC) (Army)
Radar Air Traffic Control Facility (RATCF)
(Navy/FAA)
Radar Approach Control (RAPCON) (Air Force/FAA)
Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON) (FAA)
Tower/Airport Traffic Control Tower (ATCT) (FAA
only towers delegated approach control authority)
RAMJET An aerodynamic duct in which fuel is burned to
produce a highvelocity propulsive jet. It needs to be
accelerated to high speed before it can become operative.
RIDING THE BEAM see ON THE BEAM.
RING COWLING A circular engine FAIRING.
ROGALLO WING A flexible, deltawing plan in which three
rigid members are shaped in the form of an arrowhead and
joined by a flexible fabric, which inflates upward under flight
loads. Originally specific to paragliders, but now found on
some powered aircraft.
ROLL Of the three axes in flight, this specifies the action
around a central point. Compare PITCH and YAW.
ROTARY ENGINE A powerplant that rotates on a
stationary propeller shaft. An American invention by Adams
Farwell Co (1896), it was first used for buses and trucks in
the US (1903), then copied by French engineers for early
aircraft engines (1914).
ROTORCRAFT A heavierthanair aircraft that depends
principally for its support in flight on the lift generated by one
or more rotors. Includes helicopters and gyroplanes.
RUDDER The movable part of a vertical airfoil which
controls the YAW of an aircraft; the fixed part being the FIN.
SAILPLANE An unpowered, soaring aircraft capable of
maintaining level flight for long periods of time after release
from tow and of gaining altitude using wind currents, as
opposed to a GLIDER.
SCRAMJET Acronym for supersonic combustion ramjet, in
which combustion occurs at supersonic air velocities through
the engine.
SCUD A low, foglike cloud layer.
SEAPLANE A waterbased aircraft with a boathull
fuselage, often amphibious.The term is also used generically
to define a similar Flying Boat and a pontoon FLOATPLANE.
SECONDARY STALL Any stall resulting from pulling back
too soon and too hard while recovering from any other stall.
Usually a HIGHSPEED or ACCELERATED STALL.
SERVICE CEILING The height above sea level at which an
aircraft with normal rated load is unable to climb faster than
100' per minute under Standard Air conditions.
SESQUIWING A lesserspan additional wingform,
generally placed below the main planes of an aircraft,
generally a biplane.
SHOULDERWING A midwing monoplane with its wing
mounted directly to the top of the fuselage without use of
CABANE STRUTs.
SIDESLIP A movement of an aircraft in which a relative
flow of air moves along the lateral axis, resulting in a
sideways movement from a projected flight path, especially a
downward slip toward the inside of a banked turn.
SINK, SINKING SPEED The speed at which an aircraft
loses altitude, especially in a glide in still air under given
conditions of equilibrium.
SKID Too shallow a bank in a turn, causing an aircraft to
slide outward from its ideal turning path.
SLATS Movable vanes or auxiliary airfoils, usually set
along the leading edge of a wing but able to be lifted away at
certain angles of attack.
SLIP Too steep a bank in a turn, causing an aircraft to slide
inward from its ideal turning path.
SLIPSTREAM The flow of air driven backward by a
propeller or downward by a rotor. Compare DOWNWASH.
SLOT A long, narrow, spanwise gap in a wing, usually near
the leading edge, to improve airflow at high angles of attack
for slower landing speeds.
SLOTTED FLAP A flap that, when depressed, exposes a
SLOT and increases airflow between itself and the rear edge
of the wing.
SMOH "Since Major Overhaul," an acronym seen in
reference to the operating hours, or time remaining, on an
engine.
SPECIAL USE AIRSPACE (SUA) Airspace of defined
dimensions identified by an area on the surface of the earth
wherein activities must be confined because of their nature
and/or wherein limitations may be imposed upon aircraft
operations that are not a part of those activities:
Alert Area Airspace which may contain a high
volume of pilot training activities or an unusual type of
aerial activity, neither of which is hazardous to aircraft.
Alert Areas are depicted on aeronautical charts for the
information of nonparticipating pilots. All activities
within an Alert Area are conducted in accordance with
Federal Aviation Regulations, and pilots of participating
aircraft as well as pilots transiting the area are equally
responsible for collision avoidance.
Military Operations Area (MOA) Airspace
established outside of Class A airspace area to
separate or segregate certain nonhazardous military
activities from IFR traffic and to identify for VFR traffic
where these activities are conducted.
Prohibited Area Airspace designated under part 73
within which no person may operate an aircraft without
the permission of the using agency.
Restricted Area Airspace designated under FAR
Part 73, within which the flight of aircraft, while not
wholly prohibited, is subject to restriction. Most
restricted areas are designated joint use and IFR/VFR
operations in the area may be authorized by the
controlling ATC facility when it is not being utilized by
the using agency. Restricted areas are depicted on
enroute charts. Where joint use is authorized, the
name of the ATC controlling facility is also shown.
Warning Area A warning area is airspace of defined
dimensions extending from 3 nautical miles outward
from the coast of the USA, that contains activity that
may be hazardous to nonparticipating aircraft. The
purpose of such warning area is to warn non
participating pilots of the potential danger. A warning
area may be located over domestic or international
waters or both.
SPLIT FLAP A FLAP built into the underside of a wing, as
opposed to a Full Flap wherein a whole portion of the trailing
edge is used.
SPOILER A long, movable, narrow plate along the upper
surface of an airplane wing used to reduce lift and increase
drag by breaking or spoiling the smoothness of the airflow.
SPORT PILOT Special FAA certification enabling "budget"
pilotry; see LIGHT SPORT AIRCRAFT and LSA feature.
SPONSON A short, winglike protuberance on each side of
a seaplane fuselage to increase lateral stability.
SQUAWK A fourdigit number dialed into his transponder
by a pilot to identify his aircraft to air traffic controllers
STABILATOR A movable horizontal tail that combines the
actions of a stabilizer and elevator, increasing longitudinal
stability while creating a pitching moment.
STABILIZER The fixed part of a horizontal airfoil that
controls the pitch of an aircraft; the movable part being the
ELEVATOR.
STAGGER The relative longitudinal position of the wings
on a biplane. Positive Stagger is when the upper wing's
leading edge is in advance of that of the lower wing [eg:
Waco YKS], and vice versa for Negative Stagger [eg:
Beechcraft D17].
STALL (1) Sudden loss of lift when the angle of attack
increases to a point where the flow of air breaks away from a
wing or airfoil, causing it to drop. (2) A maneuver initiated by
the steep raising of an aircraft's nose, resulting in a loss of
velocity and an abrupt drop.
STANDARD AIR (Standard Atmosphere) An arbitrary
atmosphere established for calibration of aircraft
instruments. Standard Air Density is 29.92 inches of mercury
and temperature of 59° F, equivalent to an atmospheric air
pressure of 14.7# per square inch.
STANDARD RATE TURN A turn in which the heading of an
aircraft changes 3° per second, or 360° in two minutes.
STATIC WIRE A clipon wire used to ground an aircraft by
drawing off static electricity, a potential fire hazard, during
refueling.
SUA see SPECIAL USE AIRSPACE
SUPERSONIC Speed of flight at or greater than Mach 1.0;
literally, faster than the speed of sound.
SWEEPBACK A backward inclination of an airfoil from root
to tip in a way that causes the leading edge and often the
trailing edge to meet relative wind obliquely, as wingforms
that are swept back.
SWINGWING A wing whose horizontal angle to the
fuselage centerline can be adjusted in flight to vary aircraft
motion at differing speeds.
TAILDRAGGER see CONVENTIONAL GEAR
TARMAC (1) A bituminous material used in paving; a trade
name for Tar MacAdam. (2) An airport surface paved with
this substance, especially a runway or an APRON at a
hangar.
TAS True Air Speed. Because an air speed indicator
indicates true air speed only under standard sealevel
conditions, true air speed is usually calculated by adjusting
an Indicated Air speed according to temperature, density,
and pressure. Compare CALIBRATED AIR SPEED and
INDICATED AIR SPEED.
TCA see CONTROLLED AIRSPACE
TERMINAL RADAR SERVICE AREA (TRSA) Airspace
surrounding designated airports wherein ATC provides radar
vectoring, sequencing, and separation on a fulltime basis for
all IFR and participating VFR aircraft. Service provided at a
TRSA is called Stage III Service. TRSAs are depicted on
VFR aeronautical charts. Pilot participation is urged but is
not mandatory.
TETRAHEDRON Groundbased, freerotating, triangular
shaped wind direction indicator, generally placed near a
runway, often lighted at major airports.
THRUST The driving force of a propeller in the line of its
shaft or the forward force produced in reaction to the gases
expelled rearward from a jet or rocket engine. Opposite of
DRAG.
TORQUE A twisting, gyroscopic force acting in opposition
to an axis of rotation, such as with a turning propeller; aka
Torsion.
TOUCHANDGO Landing practice in which an aircraft
does not make a full stop after a landing, but proceeds
immediately to another takeoff.
TRACTOR A propeller mounted in front of its engine,
pulling an aircraft through the air, as opposed to a PUSHER
configuration.
TRAILING EDGE The rearmost edge of an AIRFOIL.
TRANSPONDER An airborne transmitter that responds to
groundbased interrogation signals to provide air traffic
controllers with more accurate and reliable position
information than would be possible with "passive" radar; may
also provide air traffic control with an aircraft's altitude.
TRIKE Nickname for a weightshiftcontrol aircraft, such as
a paraglider.
TRIM TAB A small, auxiliary control surface in the trailing
edge of a wingform, adjustable mechanically or by hand, to
counteract ("trim") aerodynamic forces on the main control
surfaces.
TRUE AIRSPEED The speed of an aircraft along its flight
path, in respect to the body of air (air mass) through which
the aircraft is moving. Also see CALIBRATED AIRSPEED,
GROUND SPEED, INDICATED AIRSPEED.
TRUE NORTH The northern direction of the axis of the
Earth; aka "Map North." GEOGRAPHIC NORTH, as
opposed to MAGNETIC NORTH.
TURBOJET An aircraft having a jet engine in which the
energy of the jet operates a turbine that in turn operates the
air compressor.
TURBOPROP An aircraft having a jet engine in which the
energy of the jet operates a turbine that drives the propeller.
TURN & BANK INDICATOR Primary airdriven gyro
instrument, a combined turn indicator and lateral
inclinometer to show forces on an aircraft in banking turns.
Also referred to as "needle & ball" indicator, the needle as
the gyro's pointer and a ball encased in a liquidfilled, curved
tube.
TWILIGHT ZONE Long before Rod Serling's tv series was
this consumerlever definition for a glitch in the ADCOCK
RANGE, officially called a BiSignal Zone. It was a portion of
the overlapping area of a beam where the continuous
monotone "oncourse" signal became temporarily overlayed
with the "A" or "N" code signals. Read more here.
ULTRALIGHT An aeronautical vehicle, operated for sport
or recreational purposes, that does not require FAA
registration, an airworthiness certificate, or pilot certification.
Primarily singleoccupant vehicles, although some twoplace
vehicles are authorized for training purposes. Operation of
an ultralight vehicle in certain airspaces requires
authorization from ATC.
UNCONTROLLED AIRSPACE Class G Airspace; airspace
not designated as Class A, B, C, D or E.
UNDERCARRIAGE The landing gear of a landbased
aircraft, including struts, frames, and wheels. A very British
word that has limited use in the USA.
UNDERSHOOT To land short of a runwway or planned
landing spot. Opposite is OVERSHOOT.
UNICOM Universal Communication. A common radio
frequency (usually 121.0 mHz) used at uncontrolled (non
tower) airports for local pilot communication.
UPWASH The slight, upward flow of air just prior to its
reaching the leading edge of a rapidly moving airfoil.
UPWIND TURN Long a point of contest among pilots, there
is in reality no such thing as far as the airplane is concerned.
Proponents claim that airplanes lose air speed when turning
upwind, while opponents (and the laws of physics) argue
that an airplane, like a boat in a river whose speed is only
relative to the water and not the shore, is unaffected within
the movement of an air mass and that it loses only ground
speed.
USEFUL LOAD The weight of crew, passengers, fuel,
baggage, and ballast, generally excluding emergency or
portable equipment and ordnance.
V Velocity, now used in defining air speeds:
VA = Maneuvering Speed (max structural speed for full
control deflection)
VD = Max Dive Speed (for certification only)
VFE = Max Flaps Extended Speed
VLE = Max Landing Gear Extended Speed
VLO = Max Landing Gear Operation Speed
VNE = Never Exceed Speed
VNO = Max Structural Cruising Speed
VS0 = Stalling Speed Landing Configuration
VS1 = Stalling Speed in a specified Configuration
VX = Best Angle of Climb Speed
VXSE = Best Angle of Climb Speed, one engine out
VY = Best Rate of Climb Speed
VYSE = Best Rate of Climb Speed, one engine out
VAPOR TRAIL see CONTRAIL
VARIOMETER A panel instrument, often as simple as a
tiny ball in a vertical tube, indicating subtle PITCH
movements of an aircraft. Popular use in SAILPLANES.
VENTRAL FIN A fin/rudder extension on the bottom of a
fuselage. Opposite of DORSAL FIN.
VENTURI TUBE A small, hourglassshaped metal tube,
usually set laterally on a fuselage in the slipstream to create
suction for gyroscopic panel instruments. Now outdated by
more sophisticated means.
VFR Visual Flight Rules that govern the procedures for
conducting flight under visual conditions. The term is also
used in the US to indicate weather conditions that are equal
to or greater than minimum VFR requirements. Also used by
pilots and controllers to indicate a specific type of flight plan.
VFR ON TOP Flight in which a cloud ceiling exists but
modified VISUAL FLIGHT RULES are in effect if the aircraft
travels above the cloud layer.
VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS (VMC)
Meteorological conditions expressed in terms of visibility,
distance from clouds, and ceiling equal to or better than
specified minima.
VOR VHF OmniRange. A groundbased navigation aid
transmitting very highfrequency (VHF) navigation signals
360° in azimuth, on radials oriented from MAGNETIC
NORTH. The VOR periodically identifies itself by Morse
Code and may have an additional voice identification
feature. Voice features can be used by ATC or FSS for
transmitting information to pilots.
VORTAC VOR + TACAN (Tactical Air Navigation);
combined radio navigation aids.
VSI Vertical Speed Indicator. A panel instrument that
gauges rate of climb or descent in feetperminute (fpm).
Also Rate Of Climb Indicator.
WASHIN, WASHOUT A method of increasing lift by
increasing (WashIn) or decreasing (WashOut) the ANGLE
OF INCIDENCE on the outer part of an airplane wing to
counteract the effects of engine TORQUE.
WET COMPASS see COMPASS
WINGLET A small, stabilizing, rudderlike addition to the
tips of a wing to control or employ air movement.
WING LOADING The maximum takeoff gross weight of an
aircraft divided by its wing area.
YAW Of the three axes in flight, this specifies the sideto
side movement of an aircraft on its vertical axis, as in
skewing. Compare PITCH and ROLL.
YOKE The control wheel of an aircraft, akin to a automobile
steering wheel.
6/30/08

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