Terminology

Aviation Terminology

aerodynamics the science of flight.

ailerons hinged control surface on each wing moved by the control wheel which cause the aircraft to bank.

airways routes in the sky along which aircraft are directed by Air Traffic Control.

altitude the aircraft's altitude in feet above mean sea level is displayed on the altimeter.

approach that phase of the flight when the aircraft is maneuvering to line up with the runway for landing. An approach can be done either visually or with reference to instruments.

APU Auxiliary Power Unit (a small jet engine in the rear fuselage used to supply air and electrical power for ground operations and starting the main engines.)

ATC Air Traffic Control.

Audio Selector Panel a panel on the center console between the pilot seats containing the radios.

autopilot an electronic device (sometimes called "George") selected by the pilots to control the aircraft in a constant direction and altitude without the pilots having to touch the controls. It can also be "coupled" to the ILS and the aircraft will fly an automatic approach.

axis of flight the three axes of flight are: roll, pitch and yaw. The flight controls are coordinated to control the aircraft motion in all three axes.

Captain the pilot in command of the aircraft. CAT Clear Air Turbulence, often associated with high altitude winds.

cockpit the pilot compartment in the front of the aircraft, also called the flight deck.

control column this is a vertical shaft in front of the pilot to which the control wheel is attached. Moving the control column fore and aft changes the pitch of the aircraft; rotating the control wheel from side to side causes the aircraft to roll or bank.

controller an abbreviated term for Air Traffic Controller, someone who directs and monitors air traffic on radar screens and ensures that proper separations are maintained. This person could also be a tower controller who would control traffic in the immediate vicinity of an aerodrome.

cruising altitude the altitude specified in the flight plan and approved by ATC at which the aircraft will fly for the. cruising portion of the flight. Usually, this altitude is the most economical in terms of fuel consumption, and is selected to take maximum advantage of the forecast winds.

elevators hinged control surfaces on the horizontal tail section which control the aircraft in the pitch axis. The elevators are moved by fore and aft pressure on the pilot's control column.

First Officer the pilot who is second in command of the aircraft.

fuselage the main body of the aircraft minus the wings and tail section, but including the passenger and cargo compartments.

galleys compartments at either end of the passenger cabin where the meals are prepared.

ground speed the speed of the aircraft over the ground, or the true airspeed plus or minus the wind factor.

ground spoilers hinged panels on top of the wing which are deployed on landing to slow the aircraft.

heads up the point on final approach for landing when the pilot flying switches attention from instruments to visual references outside the aircraft.

ILS Instrument Landing System. Radio signals are transmitted from the ground and displayed on the pilots' instruments so they can fly an approach without visual references.

IFR Instrument Flight Rules. A set of rules and procedures specified in the Air Regulations that govern how an aircraft must be operated from takeoff to landing. Aircraft operating under IFR conditions are closely controlled and followed on radar in accordance with strict clearances.

knot a unit of speed based on the nautical mile which is used throughout commercial aviation. One knot equals 1.15 statute miles per hour, or 1.85 km/h.

line indoctrination after completing training and before being assigned to regular line duties, a pilot is first given a series of line indoctrination flights under the supervision of a check pilot.

on course when an aircraft is tracking along a pre-determined course usually on an airway or on final approach.

outer marker a beacon on the final ILS approach path which transmits a signal and is used as a check point to verify the aircraft position.

payload the weight of passengers and freight that an aircraft can carry and which generates revenue.

Phonetic Alphabet

A Alfa B Bravo         C Charlie D Delta

E Echo F Foxtrot G Golf H Hotel

I India J Juliet K Kilo L Lima

M Mike         N November O Oscar         P Papa

Q Quebec R Romeo         S Sierra         T Tango

U Uniform V Victor         W Whiskey X X-ray
Y Yankee Z Zulu

pressurization the system in the aircraft which controls the ambient pressure in the passenger cabin.

push-back that phase of the ground operation when the tug pushes the aircraft back from the gate so that the aircraft can start its engines and taxi.

radar an acronym which stands for radio detection and ranging. Aircraft in the air are seen on the radar screen in ATC as "blips" which can be identified. Aircraft have their own airborne radar which is used for avoiding thunderstorms.

rheostats devices used for controlling the flow of electric current. Can be used for varying temperature in the cabin, for instance.

rotate the point during takeoff at which the aircraft nose lifts off the runway just prior to becoming airborne.

rudder a hinged control surface on the vertical tail which controls the aircraft in the yawing axis. The rudder is moved by foot pressure on either pilot's set of rudder pedals.

scan-flow a technique pilots use to systematically check each switch, instrument and control in the cockpit.

simulator an electronic mock-up of the cockpit in which all phases of flight can be duplicated electronically. Used for pilot training and checking.

speed brakes also called spoilers, hinged panels

on the top of the wings which can be deployed

in flight or on the ground to slow the aircraft. 

spoilers, see speed-brakes.

taxi the movement of the aircraft on the ground.

thrust the amount of power an engine is producing; usually expressed as pounds of thrust, or as a percentage of total available thrust.

tiller a control wheel to the left of the Captain's seat which is used to steer the aircraft on the ground.

throttles see thrust levers.

thrust levers the levers on the throttle quadrant between the pilots which are used to control the thrust of the engines.

true airspeed the actual speed of the aircraft passing through the airmass. This is the indicated speed on the airspeed indicator corrected for temperature and altitude.

tug a tractor-like vehicle used to tow or push aircraft on the ground.

turbulence a rough or bumpy flight usually caused by the rapid vertical movement or eddying effect of air currents.

V1 a pre-determined speed during takeoff at which point it is possible to either stop the aircraft on the remaining runway, or continue the takeoff even if one engine has failed. A V1 speed is calculated by the pilots for every takeoff.

VOR Very High Frequency Omni Range. A station which transmits a radio signal which can be identified and used for navigating the aircraft. VOR stations are situated along airways all over the world.

weight and balance the plan by which the aircraft is loaded with passengers, freight and fuel. The weight and balance manifest is used to plot the various factors to ensure that the aircraft is loaded properly.

wheel wells cavities in the belly of the aircraft into which the landing gear are retracted. Note: the landing gear are also referred to as the gear, the wheels, or the undercarriage.

wing f1aps moveable sections at the trailing edge of each wing extended back and down to increase lift and drag for landing and takeoff.