AFOQT Aviation Information Part 2

Aviation Terms for AFOQT Examination

Primary Flight Display (PFD)

A display that provides increased situational awareness to the pilot by replacing the traditional six instruments used for instrument flight with an easy-to-scan display that provides the horizon, airspeed, altitude, vertical speed, trend, trim, and rate of turn among other key relevant indications.
Procedure Turn

Procedure Turn

A maneuver prescribed when it is necessary to reverse direction to establish an aircraft on the intermediate approach segment or final approach course.

Profile View

Side view of an IAP chart illustrating the vertical approach path altitudes, headings, distances, and fixes.

Prohibited Area

Designated airspace within which flight of aircraft is prohibited.

Propeller

A device for propelling an aircraft that, when rotated, produces by its action on the air, a thrust approximately perpendicular to its plane of rotation. It includes the control components normally supplied by its manufacturer.

Propeller/Rotor Modulation Error

Certain propeller rpm settings or helicopter rotor speeds can cause the VOR course deviation indicator (CDI) to fluctuate as much as ±6°. Slight changes to the rpm setting will normally smooth out this roughness.

Rabbit, the

High-intensity flasher system installed at many large airports. The flashers consist of a series of brilliant blue-white bursts of light flashing in sequence along the approach lights, giving the effect of a ball of light traveling toward the runway.

Radar

A system that uses electromagnetic waves to identify the range, altitude, direction, or speed of both moving and fixed objects such as aircraft, weather formations, and terrain.

Radar Approach

The controller provides vectors while monitoring the progress of the flight with radar, guiding the pilot through the descent to the airport/heliport or to a specific runway.

Radar Summary Chart

A weather product derived from the national radar network that graphically displays a summary of radar weather reports.

Radar Weather Report (SD)

A report issued by radar stations at 35 minutes after the hour, and special reports as needed. Provides information on the type, intensity, and location of the echo tops of the precipitation.

Radials

The courses oriented from a station.

Radio or Radar Altimeter

An electronic altimeter that determines the height of an aircraft above the terrain by measuring the time needed for a pulse of radio-frequency energy to travel from the aircraft to the ground and return.

Radio Frequency (RF)

A term that refers to alternating current (AC) having characteristics such that, if the current is input to antenna, an electromagnetic (EM) field is generated suitable for wireless broadcasting and/or communications.

Radio Magnetic Indicator (RMI)

An electronic navigation instrument that combines a magnetic compass with an ADF or VOR. The card of the RMI acts as a gyro-stabilized magnetic compass, and shows the magnetic heading the aircraft is flying.

Radiosonde

A weather instrument that observes and reports meteorological conditions from the upper atmosphere. This instrument is typically carried into the atmosphere by some form of weather balloon.

Radio Wave

An electromagnetic wave with frequency characteristics useful for radio transmission.

RAM Recovery

The increase in thrust as a result of ram air pressures and density on the front of the engine caused by air velocity.

Random RNAV Routes

Direct routes, based on area navigation capability, between waypoints defined in terms of latitude/longitude coordinates, degree-distance fixes, or offsets from established routes/airways at a specified distance and direction.

Ranging Signals

Transmitted from the GPS satellite, signals allowing the aircraft's receiver to determine range (distance) from each satellite.

Rapid Decompression

The almost instantaneous loss of cabin pressure in aircraft with a pressurized cockpit or cabin.

Receiver Autonomous Integrity Monitoring (RAIM)

A system used to verify the usability of the received GPS signals and warns the pilot of any malfunction in the navigation system. This system is required for IFR-certified GPS units.

Recommended Altitude

An altitude depicted on an instrument approach chart with the altitude value neither underscored nor overscored. The depicted value is an advisory value.

Receiver-Transmitter (RT)

A system that receives and transmits a signal and an indicator.

Reduced Vertical Separation Minimum (RVSM)

Reduces the vertical separation between flight levels (FL) 290 and 410 from 2,000 feet to 1,000 feet, and makes six additional FLs available for operation.

Reference Circle (Distance Circle)

The circle depicted in the plan view of an IAP chart that typically has a 10 NM radius, within which chart the elements are drawn to scale.

Regions of Command

The "regions of normal and reversed command" refers to the relationship between speed and the power required to maintain or change that speed in flight.

Region of Reverse Command

Flight regime in which flight at a higher airspeed requires a lower power setting and a lower airspeed requires a higher power setting in order to maintain altitude.

Relative Bearing (RB)

The angular difference between the aircraft heading and the direction to the station, measured clockwise from the nose of the aircraft.

Relative Bearing Indicator (RBI)

Also known as the fixed-card ADF, zero is always indicated at the top of the instrument and the needle indicates the relative bearing to the station.

Relative Wind

The direction of airflow by an object moving through the air. The relative wind for an airplane in flight flows in a direction parallel with and opposite to the direction of flight; therefore, the actual flight path of the airplane determines the direction of the relative wind.

Remote Communications Outlet (RCO)

An unmanned communications facility that is remotely controlled by air traffic personnel.

Required Navigation Performance (RNP)

A specified level of accuracy defined by a lateral area of confined airspace in which an RNP-certified aircraft operates.

Restricted Area

Airspace designated under 14 CFR part 73 within which the flight of aircraft, while not wholly prohibited, is subject to restriction.

Reverse Sensing

The VOR needle appearing to indicate the reverse of normal operation.

RF

Radio Frequency

Rigging

The final adjustment and alignment of an aircraft and its flight control system that provides the proper aerodynamic characteristics.

Rigidity

The characteristic of a gyroscope that prevents its axis of rotation tilting as the Earth rotates.

Rigidity in Space

The principle that a wheel with a heavily weighted rim spun rapidly will remain in a fixed position in the plane in which it is spinning

Risk Elements

There are four fundamental risk elements in aviation: the pilot, the aircraft, the environment, and the type of operation that comprise any given aviation situation.

Rudder

The movable primary control surface mounted on the trailing edge of the vertical fin of an airplane. Movement of the rudder rotates the airplane about its vertical axis.

Ruddervator

A pair of control surfaces on the tail of an aircraft arranged in the form of a V. These surfaces, when moved together by the control wheel, serve as elevators, and when moved differentially by the rudder pedals, serve as a rudder.

Runway Centerline Lights

Runway lighting which consists of flush centerline lights spaced at 50-foot intervals beginning 75 feet from the landing threshold.

Runway Edge Lights

A component of the runway lighting system that is used to outline the edges of runways at night or during low visibility conditions. These lights classified according to the intensity they are capable of producing.

Runway End Identifier Lights (REIL)

A pair of synchronized flashing lights, located laterally on each side of the runway threshold, providing rapid and positive identification of the approach end of a runway.

Runway Visibility Value (RVV)

The visibility determined for a particular runway by a transmissometer.

Runway Visual Range (RVR)

The instrumentally derived horizontal distance a pilot should be able to see down the runway from the approach end, based on either the sighting of the high-intensity runway lights, or the visual contrast of other objects.

St. Elmo’s Fire

A corona discharge which lights up the aircraft surface areas where maximum static discharge occurs.

Satellite Ephemeris Data

Data broadcast by the GPS satellite containing very accurate orbital data for that satellite, atmospheric propagation data, and satellite clock error data.

Sea Breeze

A coastal breeze blowing from sea to land caused by the temperature difference when the land surface is warmer than the sea surface. The sea breeze usually occurs during the day and alternates with the land breeze that blows in the opposite direction at night.

Sea Level Engine

A reciprocating aircraft engine having a rated takeoff power that is producible only at sea level.

Scan

The first fundamental skill of instrument flight, also known as “cross-check”; the continuous and logical observation of instruments for attitude and performance information.

Sectional Aeronautical Charts

Designed for visual navigation of slow- or medium-speed aircraft. Topographic information on these charts features the portrayal of relief, and a judicious selection of visual check points for VFR flight. Aeronautical information includes visual and radio aids to navigation, airports, controlled airspace, restricted areas, obstructions and related data.

Selective Availability (SA)

A satellite technology permitting the Department of Defense (DoD) to create, in the interest of national security, a significant lock and ephemeris error in the satellites, resulting in a navigation error.

Sensitive Altimeter

A form of multi-pointer pneumatic altimeter with an adjustable barometric scale that allows the reference pressure to be set to any desired level.

Service Ceiling

The maximum density altitude where the best rate-of-climb airspeed will produce a 100-feet-per-minute climb at maximum weight while in a clean configuration with maximum continuous power.

Servo

A motor or other form of actuator which receives a small signal from the control device and exerts a large force to accomplish the desired work.

Servo Tab

An auxiliary control mounted on a primary control surface, which automatically moves in the direction opposite the primary control to provide an aerodynamic assist in the movement of the control.

Significant Meteorological Information (SIGMET)

A weather advisory in abbreviated plain language concerning the occurrence or expected occurrence of potentially hazardous en route weather phenomena that ma affect the safety of aircraft operations. It warns information, hence it is of highest priority among other types of meteorological information provided to the aviation users.

Signal-to-Noise Ratio

An indication of signal strength received compared to background noise, which is a measure of the adequacy of the received signal.

Significant Weather Prognostic

Presents four panels showing forecast significant weather.

Simplex

Transmission and reception on the same frequency.

Simplified Directional Facility (SDF)

A NAVAID used for non-precision instrument approaches. The final approach curse is similar to that of an ILS localizer; however, the SDF course may be offset from the runway, generally not more than 3 degrees, and the course may not be wider than the localizer, resulting in a lower degree of accuracy.

Single-Pilot Resource Management (SRM)

The ability for a pilot to manage all resources effectively to ensure the outcome of the flight is successful.

Situational Awareness

Pilot knowledge of where the aircraft is in regard to location, air traffic control, weather, regulations, aircraft status, and other factors that may affect flight.

Skidding Turn

An uncoordinated turn in which the rate of turn is too great for the angle of bank, pulling the aircraft to the outside of the turn.

Skin Friction Drag

Drag generated between air molecules and the solid surface of the aircraft.

Slant Range

The horizontal distance from the aircraft antenna to the ground station, due to line-of-sight transmission of the DME signal.

Slaved Compass

A system whereby the heading gyro is “slaved to”, or continuously corrected by bring its direction readings into agreement with a remotely located magnetic direction sensing device (usually a flux value or flux gate compass).

Slipping Turn

An uncoordinated turn in which the aircraft is banked too much for the rate of turn, so the horizontal lift component is greater than the centrifugal force, pulling the aircraft toward the inside of the turn.

Small Airplane

An airplane of 12,500 pounds or less maximum certified takeoff weight.

Somatographic Illusion

The misperception of being in a nose-up or nose-down attitude, caused by a rapid acceleration of deceleration while in flight situations that lack visual reference.

Spatial Disorientation

The state of confusion due to misleading information being sent to the brain from various sensory organs, resulting in a lack of awareness of the aircraft position in relation to a specific reference point.

Special Use Airspace

Airspace in which flight activties are subject to restrictions that can create limitations on the mixed us of airspace. Consists of prohibited, restricted, warning, military operations, and alert areas.

Special Fuel Consumption

Th amount of fuel in pounds per hour consumed or required by an engine per brake horsepower or per pound of thrust.

Spin

An aggravated stall that results in an airplane descending in a helical, or corkscrew path.

Spiral Instability

A condition that exists when the static directional stability of the airplane is very strong as compared to the effect of its dihedral in maintaining lateral equilibrium.

Spiraling Slipstream

The slipstream of a propeller-driven airplane rotates around the airplane. The slipstream strikes the left side of the vertical fin, causing the aircraft to yaw slightly. Rudder offset is sometimes used by aircraft designers to counteract this tendency.

Spoilers

High-drag devices that can be raised into the air flowing over an airfoil, reducing lift and increasing drag. Spoilers are used for roll control on some aircraft. Deploying spoilers on both wings at the same time allows the aircraft to descend without gaining speed. Spoilers are also used to shorten the ground roll after landing.

Stabilator

A single-piece horizontal tail surface on an airplane that pivots around a central hinge point. A stabilator serves the purposes of both the horizontal stabilizer and the elevators.

Stability

The inherent quality of an airplane to correct for conditions that may disturb its equilibrium, and to return or to continue on the original flight path. It is primarily an airplane design characteristic.

Stagnant Hypoxia

A type of hypoxia that results when the oxygen-rich blood in the lungs is not moving to the tissues that need it.

Stall

A rapid decrease in lift caused by the seperation of airflow from the wing’s surface, brought on by exceeding the critical angle of attack. A stall can occur at any pitch attitude or airspeed.

Standard Atmosphere

At sea level, this has a barometric pressure of 29.92 inches of mercury (Hg) or 1013.2 millibars, and a temperature of 15 C (59 F). Pressure and temperature normally decrease as altitude increases. The standard lapse rate in the lower atmosphere for each 1,000 feet of altitude is approximately 1 “Hg” and 2 C (3.5 F).

Standard Empty Weight (GAMA)

This weight consists of the airframe, engines, and all items of operating equipment that have fixed locations and are permanently installed in the airplane including fixed ballast, hydraulic fluid, unusable fuel, and full engine oil.

Standard Holding Pattern

A holding pattern in which all turns are made to the right.

Standard Instrument Departure Procedures (SIDS)

Published procedures to expedite clearance dilvery and to facilitate transition between takeoff and en route operations.

Standard Rate Turn

A turn in which an aircraft changes its direction at a rate of 3 degrees per second (360 degrees in 2 minutes) for low- or medium-speed aircraft. For high-speed aircraft, the standard rate turn is 1.5 degrees per second (360 degrees in 4 minutes).

Standard Service Volume (SSV)

Defines the limits of the volume of airspace which the VOR serves.

Standard Terminal Arrival Route (STAR)

A preplanned IFR ATC arrival procedure published for pilt use in graphic and/or textual form.

Standard Weights

Weights estabished for numerous items involved in weight and balance computations. These weights should not be used if actual weights are available.

Static Longitudinal Stability

The aerodynamic pitching moments required to return the aircraft to the equilibrium angle of attack.

Static Pressure

Pressure of air that is still or not moving, measured perpendicular to the equilibrium.

Static Stability

The intial tendency an aircraft displays when disturbed from a state of equilibrium.

Station

A location in the airplane that is identified by a number designating its distance in inches from the datum. The datum is, therefore, identified as station zero. An item located at station +50 would have an arm of 50 inches.

Stationary Front

A front that is moving at a speed of less than 5 knots.

Steep Turns

In instrument flight, any turn greater than standard rate; in visual flight, anything greater than a 45 degree bank.

Stepdown Fix

The point after which additional descent is permitted within a segment of an IAP.

Stratoshere

A layer of the atmosphere above the tropopause extending to a height of approximately 160,000 feet.

Supercooled Water Droplets

Water droplets that have been cooled below the freezing point, but are still in a liquid state.