Aviation Glossary
121 general aviation terms - aircraft parts, flight phases, ATC concepts, units, and the phonetic alphabet.
A
Abort
To stop or cancel a takeoff or landing.
Accelerate
To increase the speed of the aircraft.
Acknowledge
To confirm receipt of a message.
Aileron(s)
Control surfaces hinged at the back of the wings which, by deflecting up or down, help bank the airplane.
Airplane
A mechanically-driven, fixed-wing, heavier-than-air craft.
Airport
A tract of land or water for the landing and takeoff of aircraft, with facilities for shelter, supply, and repair.
Airspeed
The speed of the aircraft relative to the air around it.
Airway
An air route marked by aids to air navigation, such as beacons, radio ranges and direction-finding equipment, along which airports are located.
Altimeter
An instrument for measuring, in feet, the height of the airplane above sea level.
Altitude
The vertical distance from a given level (sea level) to an aircraft in flight.
Altitude alert
A warning when the aircraft reaches a specific altitude.
Approach
The final phase of flight before landing.
ATC
Air Traffic Control.
Attitude
The position of the airplane relative to the horizon (e.g. a climbing attitude, a straight-and-level attitude).
Autopilot
A system that automatically controls the aircraft's flight path.
B
Beacon
A light on the aircraft that signals its presence to others.
Bearing
The direction from the aircraft to a specific location.
Birdstrike
A collision with a bird.
C
Cabin
The passenger compartment of the aircraft.
Ceiling
The height above ground of the cloud base, or the height of the lowest clouds or other obscuring phenomena.
Chart
An aeronautical map showing information of use to the pilot in going from one place to another.
Clearance
Permission from ATC to proceed with a specific action.
Cockpit
The area of the aircraft where the pilots sit.
Compass
An instrument indicating direction.
Crosswind
A wind that blows across the aircraft's direction of travel.
D
Dead reckoning
Navigation based on a previously determined position.
Descent
The phase of flight where the aircraft descends to a lower altitude.
Drag
The component of the total air force on a body parallel to the relative wind and opposite to thrust.
E
Elevation
The height above sea level of a given land prominence, such as airports or mountains.
Elevators
Control surfaces hinged to the horizontal stabilizer which control the pitch of the airplane - the position of the nose relative to the horizon.
Emergency
A situation that requires immediate action.
Engine
The part of the airplane that provides power, or propulsion, to pull the airplane through the air.
F
Final
The last part of the approach before landing.
Fin
A vertical attachment to the tail of an aircraft which provides directional stability. Same as vertical stabilizer.
Flaps
Hinged or pivoted airfoils forming part of the trailing edge of the wing, used to increase lift at reduced air speeds.
Flight level
An altitude measured in feet above sea level, using a standard pressure setting.
Flight plan
A document that outlines the intended flight path and destination.
Force
A push or pull exerted on an object.
Fuel
The substance that powers the aircraft.
Fuselage
The streamlined body of an airplane to which the wings and tail are fastened.
G
Glide
A descent without engine power.
Gravity
Force toward the center of the earth.
Ground control
ATC responsible for aircraft movement on the ground.
Groundspeed
The speed of the aircraft relative to the ground.
H
Hangar
A building on the airport in which airplanes are stored or sheltered.
Heading
The direction the aircraft is pointing.
Hold
A specified location where the aircraft waits for further instructions.
I
ILS
Instrument Landing System.
Inbound
Heading toward a specific location.
Instrument
A device used to measure or control the aircraft's flight.
Intercept
To join a specific flight path or heading.
J
Jetway
A bridge that connects the aircraft to the terminal.
Jumpseat
An extra seat in the cockpit or cabin for a non-operating crew member.
K
Kilo
The phonetic alphabet word for the letter "K".
Knot
A measure of speed; one knot is one nautical mile per hour.
L
Land
The act of making the airplane descend, lose flying speed, and make contact with the ground or water, ending the flight.
Landing
The act of touching down on the runway.
Landing gear
The understructure of an airplane which supports it on land or water: wheels, skis, or pontoons. Gear that does not retract is called "fixed".
Lateral
A movement from side to side.
Left
The direction to the pilot's left.
Lift
An upward force caused by the rush of air over the wings, supporting the airplane in flight.
Lima
The phonetic alphabet word for the letter "L".
M
Mach
A measurement of airspeed based on the speed of sound.
Maneuver
A change in the aircraft's flight path.
Mike
The phonetic alphabet word for the letter "M".
Minimums
The minimum altitude or visibility required for a safe approach or landing.
Missed approach
A procedure where the aircraft goes around and tries the landing again.
N
Nautical mile
A unit of distance equal to 1.852 kilometers.
Navigation
The process of determining the aircraft's position and flight path.
O
Oscar
The phonetic alphabet word for the letter "O".
Outbound
Heading away from a specific location.
Overhead
A position directly above a specific location.
Oxygen
A gas used for breathing at high altitudes.
P
Papa
The phonetic alphabet word for the letter "P".
Pattern
The standard flight path for takeoff and landing.
Pilot
The person who controls the airplane.
Pitch
The angle of the aircraft's nose up or down.
Position
The aircraft's current location.
Power
The amount of thrust or force provided by the engines.
Preflight
The process of checking the aircraft before flight.
Propeller
An airfoil which an engine turns to provide thrust, pulling the airplane through the air.
Q
QNH
A setting for the altimeter to adjust for local pressure conditions.
R
Radar
Beamed radio waves for detecting and locating objects, "seen" on a radar screen or scope; used to track an aircraft's position and movement.
Radio
The device used for communication with ATC and other aircraft.
Range
The distance the aircraft can fly without refueling.
Report
To provide information to ATC or other pilots.
Request
To ask ATC for permission or information.
Roll
A movement from side to side - rotation about the aircraft's longitudinal axis.
Romeo
The phonetic alphabet word for the letter "R".
Rudder
A control surface hinged to the back of the vertical fin.
Runway
A surface or area on the airport designated for airplanes to take off and land.
S
Sector
A specific area of airspace.
Sierra
The phonetic alphabet word for the letter "S".
Speed
The aircraft's velocity.
Squawk
A code transmitted by the aircraft's transponder.
Stall
A loss of lift due to a low airspeed or a high angle of attack, when the wing stops producing lift.
Streamline
Shaped so that air flows smoothly around it.
T
Tail
The part of the airplane to which the rudder and elevators are attached, keeping the airplane from turning about its lateral axis.
Takeoff
The part of the flight during which the airplane gains flying speed and becomes airborne.
Tango
The phonetic alphabet word for the letter "T".
Taxi
To operate an airplane under its own power on the ground, other than during actual takeoff or landing.
Thrust
The forward force that propels the aircraft.
Tower
The ATC facility located at the airport.
Track
The aircraft's flight path over the ground.
Transponder
A device that responds to ATC radar signals.
Turbulence
Unstable air that can cause the aircraft to bounce or shake.
Turn
A maneuver changing the aircraft's direction of flight.
U
Unicom
A common frequency used for communication at uncontrolled airports.
Uniform
The phonetic alphabet word for the letter "U".
V
Vector
A heading provided by ATC to guide the aircraft to a specific location.
Velocity
Speed, considered together with direction.
Victor
The phonetic alphabet word for the letter "V".
Visibility
The distance toward the horizon that objects can be seen and recognized; smoke, haze, fog, and precipitation hinder it.
Visual
A landing approach where the pilot can see the runway.
W
Waypoint
A specific location along the flight path.
Wind
Air in motion; important to aviation because it influences flight.
Wing
Part of the airplane shaped like an airfoil, designed to provide lift when air flows over it.
X
X-ray
The phonetic alphabet word for the letter "X".
Y
Yankee
The phonetic alphabet word for the letter "Y".
Z
Zero
The starting point for a measurement.
Zulu
The phonetic alphabet word for the letter "Z".