Private Pilot Study Guide Vocabulary

A complete list of vocabulary terms, acronyms, definitions, and systems metrics sourced from the Private Pilot study guide.

Flight Review

A required review every $24\,\text{calendar months}$ consisting of $1\,\text{hour}$ flight and $1\,\text{hour}$ ground instruction to maintain pilot certificate currency under 14 CFR $61.56$.

Pro Rata Share

The proportional share of a flight's operating expenses (limited to fuel, oil, airport expenditures, or rental fees) that a private pilot must pay when carrying passengers.

BasicMed

An alternative set of pilot medical qualification regulations requiring a valid state driver's license, a physical exam every $4\,\text{years}$, and an online medical course every $2\,\text{years}$.

A.R.R.O.W.

An acronym for documents required onboard the aircraft before flight: Airworthiness Certificate, Registration, Radio License (required for international flight), Operating Limitations (POH), and Weight and Balance equipment list.

A.A.V.1.A.T.E.

An acronym for required aircraft inspections: Airworthiness Directives, Annual ($12\,\text{calendar months}$), VOR ($30\,\text{days}$ for IFR), $100\text{-hour}$ (if operated for hire), Altimeter/Static Encoder ($24\,\text{calendar months}$), Transponder ($24\,\text{calendar months}$), and ELT ($12\,\text{calendar months}$, $1\,\text{hour}$ cumulative use, or half battery life).

Airworthiness Directive (AD)

A mandatory FAA-issued order requiring the correction of a known safety issue or unsafe condition on an aircraft.

Special Flight Permit

A special airworthiness certificate (also known as a ferry permit) issued by the FAA authorizing the operation of an aircraft that does not currently meet applicable airworthiness requirements but is safe for a specific flight.

Preventive Maintenance

Specified minor maintenance tasks (such as changing tires, servicing wheel bearings, or replacing spark plugs) that a certificated pilot can perform on an aircraft they own or operate under 14 CFR Part 43.

METAR

Aviation Routine Weather Report; an observation of current surface weather conditions issued regularly at approximately $55\,\text{minutes}$ past the hour and valid for $1\,\text{hour}$.

TAF

Terminal Aerodrome Forecast; a weather forecast for an area within a $5\,\text{statute mile}$ radius from the issuing airport, valid for $24\text{--}30\,\text{hours}$ and updated $4\,\text{times}$ daily ($0000\text{Z}$, $0600\text{Z}$, $1200\text{Z}$, $1800\text{Z}$).

AIRMET

Airman's Meteorological Information; an inflight weather advisory issued every $6\,\text{hours}$ for weather hazardous to light aircraft (Tango for turbulence/winds, Sierra for IFR/mountain obscuration, Zulu for icing).

SIGMET

Significant Meteorological Information; an unscheduled weather advisory valid for $4\,\text{hours}$ concerning non-convective weather hazardous to all aircraft, such as severe icing or severe/extreme turbulence.

Convective SIGMET

A weather advisory issued for hazardous convective phenomena (e.g., severe thunderstorms with surface winds greater than $50\,\text{knots}$, hail \ge \frac{3}{4}\,\text{in}, or tornadoes) valid for $2\,\text{hours}$.

Lapse Rate

The rate at which atmospheric temperature and pressure decrease with an increase in altitude. Standard temperature lapse rate is $-2^\circ\text{C}$ per $1000\,\text{ft}$.

Microburst

An extremely powerful downdraft occurring near thunderstorms with descent rates up to $6000\,\text{fpm}$, a diameter of $1\text{--}3\,\text{miles}$, and a lifespan of $10\text{--}20\,\text{minutes}$.

PAVE Checklist

A risk management framework used by pilots to divide hazards into four categories: Pilot, Aircraft, enVironment, and External Pressures.

Pilotage

A method of navigation using visual references and land checkpoints matched with a sectional chart.

Dead Reckoning

Navigation solely by means of computations based on time, airspeed, distance, and direction derived from expected winds.

Class B Airspace

Controlled airspace surrounding the nation's busiest airports from the surface to generally $10,000\,\text{ft MSL}$, requiring explicit ATC clearance, a two-way radio, Mode C transponder, and ADS-B Out.

Mode C Veil

The airspace within a $30\,\text{nautical mile}$ radius of a primary Class B airport, extending from the surface up to $10,000\,\text{ft MSL}$, where a Mode C transponder and ADS-B Out are required.

Special Use Airspace (MCPRAWN)

Airspace where activities must be confined or limitations imposed upon non-participating aircraft, including Military Operations Areas, Controlled Firing Areas, Prohibited Areas, Restricted Areas, Alert Areas, Warning Areas, and National Security Areas.

Service Ceiling

The altitude at which the maximum rate of climb for an aircraft decreases to $100\,\text{fpm}$.

Absolute Ceiling

The maximum altitude an aircraft can reach where its maximum rate of climb becomes $0\,\text{fpm}$.

Maneuvering Speed ($V_A$)

The maximum speed at which full control deflections can be made, or the limit load factor can be imposed, without causing structural damage to the aircraft.

Density Altitude

Pressure altitude corrected for non-standard temperature variations; an indicator of aircraft performance capability.

Induced Drag

Aerodynamic drag created as a direct byproduct of lift generation, forming wingtip vortices that increase at lower airspeeds and higher angles of attack.

Parasite Drag

All drag forces that slow an aircraft's movement not related to lift production, comprising form drag, interference drag, and skin friction drag.

Air Data Computer (ADC)

An electronic system that processes static air pressure, pitot ram air pressure, and outside air temperature to provide altitude, airspeed, vertical speed, and temperature data to flight displays.

Attitude and Heading Reference System (AHRS)

An electronic flight system using accelerometers, rate sensors, and magnetometers to calculate and provide aircraft pitch, roll, and magnetic heading information.

Hypoxia

A state of oxygen deficiency in the body sufficient to impair brain function and control, categorized as Hypoxic, Hypemic, Stagnant, or Histotoxic.

Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

A form of hypemic hypoxia caused when colorless, odorless carbon monoxide gas binds to blood hemoglobin $200\,\text{times}$ more readily than oxygen, preventing oxygen transport in the blood.

IMSAFE Checklist

A pilot self-assessment health checklist evaluating Illness, Medication, Stress, Alcohol, Fatigue, and Emotion/Eating prior to flight.

TAPER PDL

An acronym outlining steps for evaluating flight with inoperative equipment under 14 CFR $91.213$: Type Certificate Data Sheet, Airworthiness Directives, POH, Equipment Lists, Regulations, Placard, Deactivate, Log.

PRICE Mnemonic

A mnemonic for checking oxygen equipment prior to flight: Pressure, Regulator, Indicator, Connections, Emergency.