Untitled Flashcard Set

Visibility

The ability to see and identify objects, determined by atmospheric conditions and expressed in units of distance.

Flight Visibility

The average range of visibility forward from the cockpit of an aircraft in flight.

Ground Visibility

The visibility at an aerodrome as reported by ATC, FSS, or AWOS.

Day or Daylight

The time between morning civil twilight and evening civil twilight.

Night

The time between the end of evening civil twilight and the beginning of morning civil twilight.

Civil Twilight

Defined as when the center of the sun's disc is less than 6° below the horizon.

Flight Time

Total time from when an aircraft first moves under its own power for takeoff until it comes to rest.

Air Time

The time an aircraft is off the ground until it touches down.

ATC Clearance

Authorization by an ATC unit for an aircraft to proceed under specified conditions.

Visual Signals to aircraft

Visual signals used by ATC using light signals to communicate with aircraft when radio communication fails.

Fuselage

The main body of an aircraft that houses the cockpit, passengers, or cargo.

Empennage

The tail section of an aircraft, providing stability and control.

Landing Gear

Supports the weight of the aircraft when on the ground and aids in movement.

Propulsion System

Includes the engines and propellers that drive the aircraft forward.

Truss Construction

An assembly made of beams or tubes joined to form the frame of the fuselage.

Monocoque Construction

A structure where formers and bulkheads create the fuselage shape, with a stressed skin.

Composite Construction

Construction using combined materials to create new composite structures.

Aspect Ratio

The relationship of the length/span of a wing to its width/chord, affecting lift and drag.

Control Surfaces

Surfaces such as ailerons and elevators that control an aircraft's movement.

Trim Tabs

Small adjustable surfaces on control surfaces to help compensate for pressure on the controls.

Airframe

The complete structure of an airplane, excluding instruments and engine.

Wing Planform

The shape of a wing as seen from above.

Angle of Attack

The angle at which the wing meets the airflow, affecting lift and drag.

Longitudinal Axis

The axis that extends through the fuselage from nose to tail.

Lateral Axis

The axis extending crosswise from wingtip to wingtip.

Vertical/Normal Axis

The axis passing vertically through the center of gravity of the aircraft.

Ailerons

Control surfaces on the wing that manage roll movements of the aircraft.

Pitch Control

Control of the aircraft's nose up or down, managed by the elevator on the empennage.

Yaw Control

Control of the aircraft's side-to-side movements, managed by the rudder.