Plane stuff

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Pitot-Static System

Pitot tube measures fluid air flow velocity. A static port measures barometric pressure. measures air pressure to help determine aircraft speed, altitude, climb, and descent rate

IFR

instrument flight rules

IMC

instrument meteorological conditions

FAR

federal aviation regulations

Fixed Landing Gear

landing gear that's always in the extended position and cannot be retracted. In most trainer aircrafts.

Retractable Landing Gear

"gear swing" reduces an aircraft's drag, increasing speed and glide distance. Pilot's need complex endorsement to operate this landing gear. Every 100hr needs inspection.

Conventional Landing Gear

"tail dragger" or tailwheel type. Tail dragger has 2 main wheels in the front and a small wheel to support the tail. Bungee/shock chords are often found on tailwheel aircrafts. More difficult then flying tricycle landing (2 wheels in back, 1 in front)

Fabric

lightweight, but flammable and not durable. Buyer could ask about the condition of the fabric

Sheet metal

dominates modern aviation, made from aluminum alloys used in airframe sections as structure and outer aircraft covering

Composites

Materials like fiberglass, carbon fiber, and keviar. 1960's invention, airplane parts are made from composites materials. Large aircrafts are designed with composite fuselage and wing structure. High strength, low weight, resistant

Cabin pressurization

process in which bleed air is pumped into the cabin of the aircraft to keep pressure of the cabin between sea level and 8,000 feet

Bleed air

example you're 43,000 ft in the air, the air is thin and oxygen is spread out. We pass it through a turbine and it comprises the air together to make better oxygen

Reciprocating Engine

"Piston Engine", naturally aspirated, for an aircraft whose cruising speed does not exceed 250mph. Air intake depends solely on the atmospheric pressure, limiting the aircraft to operate in lower altitudes. Air becomes less dense (altitude increases) decreasing engine performance.

Turbocharged Reciprocating Engine

chosen for high altitude performance and maintaining high power. Buyers from mountainous areas, good for flying above bad weather and larger distances

Engine Differential Pressure Test

Designed to check engine compression by measuring leakage through cylinders caused by damage or worn. Annual or 100hr inspection, tests put 80psi into every cylinder. If pressure is below 60psi, it needs overhaul and removal.

Engine Overhaul

Manufacturers mandate engine overhaul after certain hours of operation. Piston engines have TBO (time between overhaul) on 1,200-2,000 hrs. Engines must be overhauled at or before TBO

Magnetos

Self contained generator of high voltage that provides ignition to the engine through spark plugs. Inspect magnetos every 500hrs.

six pack

six primary analog flight instruments in cockpit. airspeed indicator, altitude indicator, attitude indicator, turn coordinator, heading coordinator, vertical speed indicator

PFD

Primary Function Display, "six packs"

MFD

Multi Function Display, diagrams, weather, traffic control

GTC

Garmin Touch Controller

ADS-B

Automatic Dependent Surveillance Broadcast, allows air traffic controllers and other aircrafts to receive accurate information about other aircraft locations and flight path

ADSB- In

receiver part of the system

ADSB- Out

broadcasts aircraft data to ground stations, all aircrafts are required to have Out but not In

XPDR

abbreviation for transponder, assist in identifying aircraft on traffic control radar, inspected every 24 calender months

WAAS

Wide Area Augmentation System, highly accurate GPS as pilot is approaching airport

FMS

Flight Management System, multipurpose navigation, performance, aircraft operations computer. Can find it in most jets

VOR

Omnidirectional Range, short range radio navigation system, aircraft with a receiving unit can determine its position and stay on course by receiving radio signals from ground radio beacons. Aircrafts must have 2, VOR 1 and VOR 2

ADF

Automatic Direction Finder, less commonly used in US, older aircrafts are still equipped. Most jets have ADF capabilities but some still use a Non Directional Beacon ground station transmitting signal

DME

Distance Measuring Equipment, required both ground base and in aircraft, used to determine aircraft distance from ground base station and navigational purposes. Being used less and less due to GPS

Integrated Navigation Unit

usually 2, contains VOR, localizer, glidescope, marker beacon, DME, ADF receivers. Information received is sent to radio system bus which is connected to audio panel and FMS, usually in jets

VHF

Very High Frequency, these systems are widely used for maintaining contact between ATC and aircraft. Short range communication where you fly to visible horizon (line of sight), these signals do not follow the curvature of the Earth.

HF

High Frequency, long range communication, used for trans-oceanic flights. Can find in most jets and turboprops

SELCAL (Selective Calling)

allows radio stations to let pilots know they are trying to reach them, used during trans-oceanic flights so pilots don't have to listen to the static noise of the HF

RMU

Radio Management Unit, central controlling functions for entire basic radio system, selects and controls frequencies of each radio. In jet aircrafts and 2 units

Audio Panel

used to switch from different communication/navigational sources. Ex Com 1 and Com 2

Nav Com

unit to provide nav and com. Most aircrafts have 2, always have ADS

EFD

Electronic Flight Display or glass cockpit instrument that uses LCD or other image producing system. Composed to PFD and MFD

EFIS

Electronic Flight Instrument System, display system that displays data electronically instead of electro-manually. Consists of PFD, MFD, EICAS (engine indication crew alerting system)

AHRS

Attitude Heading Reference System, provide a attitude and heading information in the PFD. Typically integrated with EFIS which is central part of the glass cockpit.

IAC

Integrated Avionics Computer, heart of the integrated avionics system. Has circuit cards to perform symbol generation, flight director computer, primary trim, configuration trim, secondary trim, mach trim, autopilot computer, rudder boost

Display Controller

2 on aircraft, one for pilot and one for first officer to control PFD.

EGPWS

Enhanced Ground Proximity Warning System, reduces risk of CFIT (Controlled Flight into Terrain) by providing pilot with timely accurate information about terrain and obstacles in area

TCAS

Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance, designed to reduce mid air collisions, monitors airspace around aircraft and alert crew by traffic advisory

CVR

Cockpit Voice Recorder, records audio in the cockpit for the purpose of investigating any accidents, also known as black box

FDR

Flight Data Recorder, records recent history of flight including dozens of parameters to aid in investigations

RVSM

Reduced Vertical Separation Minimum, reduces vertical separation between aircrafts, airspace is between 29,000 ft- 41,000ft. Aircraft must be certified and crew must be trained to operate in this airspace

Radar Altimeter

measures the altitude of the aircraft above ground level. All aircrafts are equipped with a pressure altimeter which measures the altitude of aircraft above sea level. Most jets and turboprops with have this, sometimes pistons

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STC 337

document reporting an maintenance or repair

Service bulletin

technical document issued by manufacturer to share critical instructions for inspection or repairments.

Piston Engine

or an aircraft whose cruising speed does not exceed 250mph. Air intake depends solely on the atmospheric pressure, limiting the aircraft to operate in lower altitudes. Air and fuel enters the cylinders, pistons move up and compress the mixture, spark plug initiates the mixture and an explosion happens to push pistons down, then the burned gases leave the cylinders (exhaust)

Turbocharged piston Engine

chosen for high altitude performance and maintaining high power. Buyers from mountainous areas, good for flying above bad weather and larger distances

Turbo Prop

basically a jet engine that blows a propeller, instead of pistons going up and down you have turbines spinning continuously. Air enters, then is compressed, fuel is added, burned, turbines spin, propeller turns. Engine is a turbine, but airplane gets most of its thrust from the propeller

Turbojet engine

no propeller, air comes through the front, air is compressed, fuel is added, fire ignites, gases go thrust exhaust, then thrust happens

Turbofan engine

most common on airliners, business jets, large corporate aircraft. Jet engine with a giant fan in the front. Fan pushes a large amount of air back into the engine and then goes through the same core.