Aviation Fundamentals and Aircraft Systems

Practice vocabulary flashcards covering key concepts from lecture notes on aircraft ownership, airframe structure, engine systems, avionics, navigation, collision avoidance, and weight and balance.

ARROW

The acronym for required aircraft flight documents: Airworthiness certificate, Registration, Radio license, Operations manual/pilot operating handbook, and Weight and balance.

Pitot-Static System

An airframe system consisting of a pitot tube, static port, airspeed indicator, and altimeter; required to be tested every 24 calendar months for IFR flight.

Pitot Tube

A sensor in the pitot-static system that measures fluid air flow velocity.

Static Port

A static sensor component in the pitot-static system that measures barometric pressure.

Fixed Landing Gear

Landing gear that is always in the extended position and cannot be retracted, commonly found on trainer aircraft.

Retractable Landing Gear

Landing gear that retracts into the aircraft to reduce drag and increase speed and glide distance; requires a complex endorsement to operate and an inspection every 100 hours.

Conventional Landing Gear

Also known as a taildragger, a landing gear layout featuring two main wheels in front and one small wheel supporting the tail, often equipped with bungee or shock cords.

Cabin Pressurization System

A system that pumps bleed air into the aircraft cabin to maintain pressure between sea level and 8,000 feet.

Bleed Air

Air drawn at high altitudes and passed through a turbine to compress it for cabin oxygen and pressurization.

Reciprocating Engine

A naturally aspirated piston engine whose air intake depends solely on atmospheric pressure, used for aircraft with cruising speeds not exceeding 250 mph.

Continental TSIO-550-B1B

An engine model designation where TS stands for turbocharged, I for fuel injected, O for horizontally opposed, and 550 for cylinder cubic displacement.

Engine Differential Pressure Test

An inspection test that measures cylinder leakage by applying 80 psi to each cylinder; cylinder pressure below 60 psi indicates a need for removal and overhaul.

TBO (Time Between Overhaul)

The manufacturer-mandated operating hours limit for piston engines, typically between 1,200 and 2,000 hours, after which an engine overhaul is required.

Magnetos

Self-contained generators of high voltage that provide ignition to the engine through spark plugs, requiring inspection every 500 hours.

Six Pack

The traditional steam gauge cockpit layout composed of the airspeed indicator, altitude indicator altimeter, turn coordinator, heading coordinator, vertical speed indicator, and attitude indicator.

ADS-B (Automatic Dependent Surveillance Broadcast)

A surveillance system allowing air traffic control and nearby aircraft to receive accurate position and flight path data; ADS-B Out is mandatory for all aircraft, while ADS-B In is optional.

VOR (Omnidirectional Range)

A short-range radio navigation system relying on ground beacons to help aircraft determine position; aircraft must be equipped with two units (VOR 1 and VOR 2).

VHF (Very High Frequency)

A short-range, line-of-sight radio system used for communication between air traffic control and aircraft.

HF (High Frequency)

A long-range radio system used for communication during trans-oceanic flights.

SELCAL (Selective Calling)

A system used during trans-oceanic flights to alert pilots when a ground radio station is trying to reach them, eliminating the need to continuously listen to HF static noise.

AHRS (Attitude Heading Reference System)

A 3-axis sensor unit integrated with the glass cockpit EFIS to provide attitude and heading data, replacing traditional gyroscopic instruments.

IAC (Integrated Avionics Computer)

The central computer of an integrated avionics system containing circuit cards for symbol generation, flight director, autopilot, and primary trim operations.

EGPWS (Enhanced Ground Proximity Warning System)

A system that alerts pilots to terrain and obstacle hazards to prevent Controlled Flight into Terrain (CFIT).

RVSM (Reduced Vertical Separation Minimum)

Operational standards for aircraft operating between 29,000 ft and 41,000 ft that allow reduced vertical distance between aircraft.

Radar Altimeter

An instrument that measures the exact height of an aircraft above ground level (AGL), as opposed to a pressure altimeter measuring height above sea level.

Center of Gravity

The specific point where total aircraft weight is concentrated, which must remain in front of the center of lift during flight for stability.

Elevator Trim

A control mechanism that positions the rear wing stabilizer to maintain appropriate tail-down force across varying airspeeds.