Aviation Terminology

Absolute Altitude

The vertical distance between the aircraft and ground level.

Absolute ceiling

The highest altitude an aircraft can fly at maximum throttle while maintaining level height and constant airspeed.

Accelerated stall

A stall that occurs at a higher airspeed than a normal stall due to a higher load factor (g).

Adverse yaw

Occurs when the plane’s nose turns away from the direction of turn.

ADF (Automatic Direction Finder)

A navigation system that identifies the relative bearing of an aircraft based on a radio beacon transmitting in the MF or LF bandwidth.

Adiabatic Lapse Rate

The rate at which temperature changes due to increasing and decreasing altitude, under conditions of thermal equilibrium.

Adverse Yaw

When an aircraft turns in the opposite direction of a roll due to use of ailerons and the difference in lift and drag of each wing.

Aeronautical Decision-Making

Training and planning to make the best and safest decisions to mitigate risk.

Aeronautical Information Manual (AIM)

An official Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) publication that details proper pilot operation within the US National Airspace System, including Air Traffic Control (ATC) and aviation safety.

AGL (Above Ground Level)

The vertical distance measured between the aircraft and a specific land mass.

Aileron

The movable, hinged flight control surfaces that are used in pairs with opposite motions to control the roll of an aircraft.

AIM (Aeronautical Information Manual)

Official guide published by the FAA to instruct pilots on how to operate inside the U.S. National Airspace System with regard to flight information, ATC, etc.

Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ)

The airspace over both water and land within which the identification, location, and control of civil aircraft is required in the interest of national security.

Airfoil

The cross-sectional shape of a wing, blade, turbine, or rotor that produces lift.

Airline

A company or organization that offers regularly scheduled flights and routes.

Airspace Classes

The different types of airspace defined by ICAO and adopted around the world. They include controlled, uncontrolled, and special use airspace.

Air Speed Indicator (ASI)

A pitot-static flight instrument that indicates airspeed of an aircraft through an air mass in miles per hour, knots, or both.

Air Taxi Operator

An aircraft company that operates under FAR Part 135. The aircraft must be originally designed to have no more than 60 passenger seats or a cargo payload of 18,000 lbs and carries cargo or mail on either a scheduled or charter basis, and/or carries passengers on an on-demand basis or limited scheduled basis.

Altimeter

An instrument that measures an object’s altitude above a fixed surface.

Altitude Indicator

An instrument that indicates aircraft orientation relative to earth’s horizon.

AMT (Aviation Maintenance Technician)

Another term for an aircraft mechanic.

AME

Aviation Medical Examiner

Angle of Attack

The angle between a reference line on an airfoil and the direction of the oncoming air.

Angle of Incidence

The angle at which a reference line on an airfoil is perpendicular to the aircraft’s longitudinal surface axis.

Anhedral

The downward angle of aircraft wings from the horizontal cross-section of the wings.

Annual Inspection

A required aircraft inspection every 12 calendar months.

A&P

Aircraft and Powerplant Mechanic

Approach

The phase of flight when the pilot intends to land on the runway. There are different types of approaches, depending on whether the pilot is flying VFR or IFR.

Apron

The paved area at an airport where aircraft park, fuel, load, and unload.

ATC (Air Traffic Control)

A ground-based service that ensures safety of air traffic by directing aircraft in the area during take-off, landing, and while flying in the designated airspace.

ATIS (Automatic Terminal Information Service)

A continuous broadcast of pre-recorded aviation information available to pilots around specific terminals. The information is constantly updated and designed for mass spreading of relevant information, which is particularly useful at busy airports.

Avionics Master Switch

A single switch that controls the electrical power for an aircraft’s electronic communication and navigation instruments.

AWIS

Aviation Weather Information Service

Base Leg

The flight path in an airport pattern that runs in the runway landing direction.

Baseline

The minimum or starting point used for comparison.

Best Lift Over Drag Ratio

Often referred to as ‘L over D Max’, this is the highest value of ratios of lift to drag for any airfoil.

Blade Angle

The angle between the reference line of a propeller blade and a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation.

Bleed Air

Hot compressed air produced during the compressor stage of aircraft engine operation.

Cabin Crew

The airline staff members responsible for the safety and comfort of passengers during flight, typically the flight attendants.

Calibrated Airspeed

The indicated airspeed corrected for position and instrument error.

Camber

The convexity of curve on an aircraft wing.

CAVU (Ceiling and Visibility Unlimited)

Describes ideal flying conditions with visibility of 10 or more miles and ceiling of at least 10,000 feet.

Cargo

Goods carried on an aircraft

Ceiling

The height of the lowest cloud layer or obscuring phenomena that is reported as “broken”, “overcast”, or “obscuration”, and not classified as “thin” or “partial”.

Center of Gravity (CG)

The longitudinal and later point over which the aircraft would balance.

Charter

The business of renting all seats on an aircraft rather than a commercial flight where seats are sold individually

Chord Line

The imaginary straight line running between the airfoil’s leading and trailing edges.

Clearance

The authorization provided by air traffic control for aircraft to proceed with a particular action in controlled airspace, which is designed to prevent aircraft collisions.

Climb

The act of increasing aircraft altitude, typically to a designated level.

Cockpit

The cockpit of a plane is located at the front. It contains the instrument panel and pilots seats. Learn more about the parts of an airplane.

CofA

Certificate of Airworthiness

Common Traffic Advisory Frequency (CTAF)

A radio frequency used for air-to-air communication, allowing continued aircraft operation at non-towered airports or outside of tower operating hours.

Commuter

An aircraft category outlined by the FAA as “limited to propeller-driven, multi-engine airplanes that have a seating configuration, excluding pilot seats, of 19 or less, and a maximum certificated takeoff weight of 19,000 pound or less. The commuter category operation is limited to any maneuver incident to normal flying, stalls (except whip stalls), and steep turns, in which the angle of bank is not more than 60 degrees.”

Constant-Speed Propeller

A propeller designed to maintain a consistent engine RPM by automatic increases and decreases of the blade pitch.

Contrail

A streak of condensed water vapor in the air due to the heat produced by aircraft engines at high altitudes.

Controlled Airspace

Designated airspace within which Air Traffic Control provides aircraft movement instructions and regulations.

Course Deviation Indicator (CDI)

A navigational instrument that displays the lateral course deviation. When the aircraft is flying left of the selected course, the needle deflects proportionally to the right. When the aircraft is flight right of the selected course, the needle deflects proportionally to the left.

Crosswind

Wind that is blowing perpendicular to the aircraft course

DA (Density Altitude)

The air density given as a height above mean sea level. Considered to be the pressure altitude adjusted for a non-standard temperature.

Descent

The act of decreasing aircraft altitude, typically to a designated level.

Distance Measuring Equipment (DME)

Radio navigation technology used to measure the distance between the aircraft and a ground station.

Distress

An internationally-recognized signal for danger and need for immediate assistance.

DME

Designated Mechanic Examiner

Dogfight

A close range aerial battle between two aircraft. These occurred in every war involving planes until 1992.

Downwind Leg

A flight path parallel to but running the opposite direction of the runway intended for landing

Drag

A parallel and opposing force to an aircraft’s motion through the air

DUATS

Direct User Access Terminal Service

EASA

European Aviation Safety Agency

Elevator

Horizontal surfaces that control aircraft pitch and are typically hinged to the stabilizer

Empennage

Another phrase for the tail of an aircraft, which provides stability during flight

ETA (Estimated Time of Arrival)

The time you will arrive at a destination, based on the local time.

ETD (Estimated Time of Departure)

The time you plan to depart.

ETE (Estimated Time en Route)

The amount of time you will spend traveling to a destination.

FAA (Federal Aviation Administration)

The governing body of civil aviation in the United States.

FARs (Federal Aviation Regulations)

FAA rules governing aviation in the U.S.

FBO (Fixed-Base Operator)

An airfield operation where pilots may find fuel and other services.

Feathering

The act of adjusting variable pitch propellers so that the blades are in line with airflow and don’t create air resistance.

Ferry Flight

A flight intended to return an aircraft to base; deliver a new aircraft from the manufacturer to the purchaser; move an aircraft from one operations base to another; or moving an aircraft for the purpose of maintenance.

Final Approach

A flight path running in the direction of the runway intended for landing that ends with a landing.

Firewall

A fire-resistant bulkhead that is situated between the engine and other aircraft areas.

“Five by five”

Radio receptions is loud and clear on a scale of 1 to 5

Fixed Base Operator (FBO)

An organization at an airport that offers aviation services, such as hangar, parking, and tie-down space; airplane maintenance and rentals; and fuel.

Flaps

A kind of high-lift device used to increase the lift of an aircraft wing at a given airspeed. Flat devices, typically located on the edges of a an aircraft wing, that control lift at specific speeds.

Flare

A maneuver that typically occurs during the landing stage of an aircraft. The aircraft nose is pointed upwards, which lowers the descent rate in preparation for landing.

Flight Deck

An area at the front of airplane where the pilot and aircraft controls are situated – in other words, the cockpit.

Flight Plan

Formatted information provided by pilots or dispatchers regarding an upcoming flight, including details such as destination, path, timing, etc.

Flying Dirty

Flying with extendable surfaces in their extended states to create drag, such as flaps extended and landing gear out.

F/O (First officer)

Second in command of the aircraft

Fog

A thick cloud of tiny water droplets at or near Earth’s surface that obscures visibility.

FSDO (Flight Standards District Office)

Local authority overseen by the FAA.

FSS (Flight Service Station)

An air traffic facility that provides information and services to pilots.

Fuselage

The central portion of an aircraft, which is intended to house the flight crew, passengers, and cargo.

General Aviation

The division of civil aviation aircraft operations that includes all but commercial air transport and aerial work.

Glass Cockpit

A term used to describe an aircraft that is fully equipped with electronic, digital flight instrument displays, instead of analog-style gauges.

“George”

Nickname given to the autopilot system.

Go-Around

Occurs when the pilot abandons a landing and goes around the flight pattern before attempting to land.

Gross Weight

The aircraft weight including people, cargo, fuel, etc.

Ground Effect

The increasing lift and decreasing drag that occurs as a result of an aircraft’s wings as it gets closer to the ground.

Groundspeed

The horizontal speed of an aircraft relative to the surface below.

Hand-off

The action taken by ATC to transfer radar identification of an aircraft to another controller.