AFOQT Aviation Information SIMPLIFIED

Airport Diagram

A chart depicting an airport's layout, including runways, taxiways, ramps, and other important features.

Aviation Routine Weather Report (METAR)

Standardized report of current surface weather, usually issued hourly and updated when significant changes occur.

Barometric Scale

The altimeter scale on which the pilot sets the local barometric pressure or standard pressure setting.

Cabin Altitude

The equivalent altitude corresponding to the air pressure inside an aircraft's cabin.

Complex Aircraft

An aircraft with retractable landing gear, flaps, and a controllable-pitch propeller.

Constant-Speed Propeller

A controllable-pitch propeller whose governor automatically adjusts blade pitch to maintain the selected RPM as flight conditions change.

Decision Altitude (DA)

The published altitude above mean sea level at which a pilot must begin a missed approach if the required visual references are not available.

Dynamic Stability

How an aircraft's motion changes over time after a disturbance, including whether the motion dies out, persists, or grows.

Height Above Airport (HAA)

The height of the minimum descent altitude (MDA) above the published airport elevation.

Indicated Airspeed (IAS)

The speed shown on the aircraft's airspeed indicator, before correcting for instrument and position errors. Calibrated airspeed is IAS corrected for those errors.

Indicated Altitude

The altitude displayed on the altimeter when set to the current local altimeter setting.

Indirect Indication

Information about aircraft pitch or bank inferred from instruments other than the attitude indicator, such as the altimeter or vertical speed indicator.

Instantaneous Vertical Speed Indicator (IVSI)

A vertical speed indicator designed to show climb or descent rate with less lag than a conventional VSI.

Instrument Approach Procedures (IAP)

Published sequences of maneuvers that guide an aircraft under IFR from the initial approach toward landing or to a point where a visual landing can be made.

Lead Radial

The radial at which a pilot begins turning from a DME arc to intercept the inbound course.

Maneuvering Speed (Va)

The design speed associated with maneuvering loads. Flying at or below Va does not guarantee protection from multiple full control inputs or simultaneous full inputs on different axes.

Maximum Landing Weight

The maximum aircraft weight permitted for landing under the applicable operating limitations.

Neutral Static Stability

An aircraft's initial tendency to remain in its new position after being disturbed from equilibrium.

NOAA

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the U.S. agency responsible for weather, climate, oceans, and related environmental information.

Precipitation Static (P-static)

Radio interference caused by electrical charges generated when precipitation or particles such as dust strike or move across the aircraft.

Pressure demand oxygen system

An oxygen system that supplies oxygen under positive pressure at high altitudes, helping ensure adequate oxygen reaches the lungs.

Profile View

The side view of an instrument approach chart showing altitudes, distances, courses, and fixes along the approach.

Radials

Magnetic courses extending outward from a VOR station, identified by their magnetic direction from the station.

Relative Bearing (RB)

The angle measured clockwise from the aircraft's nose to the direction of a navigation station.

Sectional Aeronautical Charts

Charts used for VFR navigation, showing terrain, landmarks, airports, airspace, navigation aids, obstacles, and other aeronautical information.

Slant Range

The direct line-of-sight distance between an aircraft and a ground station, as measured by DME; it is not the horizontal distance.

Standard Atmosphere

A reference atmosphere with sea-level pressure of 29.92 inHg (1013.25 hPa) and temperature of 15°C (59°F). In the lower atmosphere, standard temperature decreases about 2°C per 1,000 feet.

Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFR)

Temporary airspace restrictions established for reasons such as disaster response, hazardous activities, major events, protection of people or property, or space operations. Pilots should check current NOTAMs for active TFRs.

Touchdown Zone Elevation (TDZE)

The highest runway elevation within the first 3,000 feet beyond the landing threshold, used when publishing straight-in approach minimums.

Trend

An indication of the direction or rate of change in an aircraft's flight condition, shown by an instrument's trend display or pointer.

True Airspeed

The aircraft's actual speed through the surrounding air, corrected from calibrated airspeed for pressure altitude and temperature.

Vle

The maximum speed at which an aircraft with retractable landing gear may safely fly with the gear extended.

Vyse

Best rate-of-climb speed with one engine inoperative, usually marked by a blue line on the airspeed indicator of applicable multiengine aircraft.

Wide area augmentation system (WAAS)

A GPS augmentation system that uses ground reference stations and satellites to provide corrections and integrity information, improving navigation accuracy and supporting certain precision-like approaches.

Winds and Temperature Aloft Forecast (FB)

A forecast of winds and temperatures at specified altitudes and locations. The legacy FB product name has largely been replaced by current aviation forecast products.

Wing Area

The total planform area of an aircraft's wings, as defined for aerodynamic and performance calculations.

Absolute accuracy

The ability to determine an aircraft's actual geographic position independently of other position references.

Airport Markings

Painted lines and symbols on airport surfaces that provide information such as runway boundaries, centerlines, and holding positions.

Airport Surface Detection Equipment (ASDE)

Radar equipment that detects aircraft and other traffic on airport runways and taxiways to help controllers monitor surface movements.

Bernoulli's Principle

As the speed of a flowing fluid increases, its static pressure decreases under the applicable flow conditions.

Coupled Ailerons and Rudder

An interconnected control system that automatically coordinates rudder movement with aileron input to reduce adverse yaw.

Direct Indication

The attitude indicator's direct display of pitch and bank through the miniature aircraft's position relative to the horizon bar.

Doghouse

A doghouse-shaped marking on the dial of some turn-and-slip indicators.

Encoding Altimeter

A pressure altimeter that also transmits altitude information to ATC through an aircraft transponder.

False Horizon

A misleading visual reference that causes a pilot to mistake something other than the true horizon for the horizon, potentially leading to an incorrect aircraft attitude.

Heading

The direction in which an aircraft's nose points, measured in degrees from north.

Knot

A unit of speed equal to one nautical mile per hour, or approximately 1.15 statute miles per hour.

Plan View

The overhead view of an instrument approach chart showing approach routes, fixes, courses, and related information.

Spoilers

Devices that disrupt airflow over a wing, reducing lift and increasing drag. They may assist roll control, slow the aircraft, or help reduce landing distance.

Stall

A rapid loss of lift caused by exceeding the wing's critical angle of attack. A stall can occur at any airspeed or pitch attitude.

Taxiway Lights

Blue lights that outline taxiway edges.

Total Drag

The combined parasite drag and induced drag acting on an aircraft.

Vlo

The maximum speed at which landing gear may be extended or retracted on an aircraft with retractable gear.

V-tail

A tail design with two angled surfaces that combine the functions of the conventional rudder and elevator.

Wing Span

The distance from one wingtip to the other.

Absolute altitude

The aircraft's height above the terrain directly beneath it.

Absolute pressure

Pressure measured relative to a perfect vacuum; absolute pressure equals gauge pressure plus atmospheric pressure.

Acceleration error

Magnetic compass error during acceleration or deceleration on east or west headings: acceleration indicates north, and deceleration indicates south (ANDS).

Accelerate-go distance

The distance required to continue a takeoff after an engine failure at the designated decision speed, including reaching the specified screen height with the required takeoff safety speed.

Accelerate-stop distance

The distance required to accelerate to the decision speed, reject the takeoff, and bring the aircraft to a stop under the specified conditions.

Accelerometer

A device in an inertial navigation system that measures acceleration along an axis.

What does ADC stand for?

Air Data Computer.

What does ADF stand for?

Automatic Direction Finder.

What does ADI stand for?

Attitude Director Indicator.

Adjustable-pitch propeller

A propeller whose blade pitch can be adjusted on the ground but not in flight; also called a ground-adjustable propeller.

Adjustable stabilizer

A stabilizer whose angle can be adjusted in flight to trim the aircraft and reduce sustained control forces.

What does ADM stand for?

Aeronautical Decision-Making.

What does ADS-B stand for?

Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast.

Advection fog

Fog that forms when warm, moist air moves over a colder surface and cools to its dew point.

Adverse yaw

The tendency of an aircraft's nose to yaw opposite the intended direction of roll because the wings experience unequal drag.

Aerodynamics

The study of how air moves and interacts with objects, including the forces of lift and drag on an aircraft.

Aeronautical chart

A map used for air navigation that depicts features such as airports, terrain, navigation aids, routes, hazards, and airspace.

Aeronautical Decision Making (ADM)

A systematic process pilots use to assess situations, evaluate risks, and choose appropriate actions.

Agonic line

A line connecting locations where magnetic variation is zero, so magnetic north and true north align.

Ailerons

Primary flight control surfaces that control roll about the aircraft's longitudinal axis.

Aircraft Approach Category

A classification based on approach speed, determined using 1.3 times the aircraft's stall speed in the landing configuration at maximum certificated landing weight.

Air Data Computer (ADC)

A computer that processes pitot pressure, static pressure, and temperature data to calculate information such as airspeed, altitude, and outside air temperature.

Airfoil

A surface shaped to produce aerodynamic force as air flows around it, such as a wing, propeller blade, or control surface.

AIRMET

A weather advisory for conditions that may affect aircraft safety, including moderate icing, moderate turbulence, and certain visibility or wind conditions.

Holding Position

A marked location where an aircraft must stop and hold until authorized to proceed, such as before entering or crossing a runway.

ILS Critical Area Boundary

Markings identifying the boundary of an area protected to prevent aircraft or vehicles from interfering with Instrument Landing System signals.

Taxiway/Taxiway Holding Position

Markings identifying where an aircraft must hold before an intersecting taxiway or another designated protected area.

Non-Movement Area Boundary

Markings separating the airport movement area from the non-movement area; tower control of aircraft movement generally applies within the movement area.

Surface Painted Holding Position

Painted markings on a taxiway that identify where an aircraft must hold short of a runway.

Enhanced Taxiway Centerline

Yellow taxiway centerline markings with parallel dashed lines that warn pilots they are approaching a runway holding position, typically beginning 150 feet before it.

Surface Painted Taxiway Direction

Painted markings identifying an intersecting taxiway and indicating its direction.

Surface Painted Taxiway Location

Painted markings identifying the taxiway on which an aircraft is located.

Solid double line taxiway edge

Two solid yellow lines marking the edge of usable taxiway pavement; pavement beyond is not intended for aircraft use.

Solid dashed line taxiway edge

Taxiway edge markings indicating whether adjoining pavement is usable: the dashed side indicates usable pavement, while the solid side indicates pavement not intended for aircraft.

Airport Signs

Signs providing mandatory instructions, location information, directions, destinations, general information, or runway distance remaining.

Taxiway/Runway Hold Position

A designated location where an aircraft must hold short of a runway until cleared to enter or cross it.

Runway/Runway Intersection

A sign or marking identifying an intersection of runways or a runway holding position.

Runway Approach Hold Position

A holding position protecting a runway's approach area, where aircraft must hold as instructed.

ILS Critical Area Hold Position

A holding position where aircraft must stop to protect an Instrument Landing System critical area from signal interference.

No Entry

A sign identifying an area that aircraft are prohibited from entering.

Taxiway Location

A sign identifying the taxiway on which an aircraft is currently located.

Runway Location

A sign identifying the runway on which an aircraft is currently located.

Runway Distance Remaining

A sign displaying the remaining runway length in thousands of feet.

Taxiway Direction

A sign identifying intersecting taxiways and indicating the directions to them.

Runway Exit

A sign indicating the designation and direction of a taxiway exit from a runway.