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AVIATION TERMINOLOGY

Aviation glossary.

Clear definitions of the terms, licences, ratings, procedures and abbreviations you will encounter during pilot training and throughout your aviation career.

GLOSSARY ENTRIES

Glossary entries Terms from A to Z.

All/
Aircraft Systems/
Aircraft and performance/
Airline operations and professional career/
Airports and operations/
Authorities and regulations/
Communications and phraseology/
Fuel and flight planning/
Licences and training/
Meteorology/
Navigation and operations/
Radio navigation/
Safety and emergencies/

Automatic Direction Finder. Equipment used to navigate by receiving signals from an NDB.

Spanish Aviation Safety Agency. Spain’s national aviation authority responsible for applying EASA regulations in Spain.

Affirmative / negative.

Height above the terrain.

Aeronautical Information Publication. The official service and publication providing aeronautical information.

Aeronautical Information Service. The official service and publication providing aeronautical information.

The fuel required to fly from the destination to the alternate aerodrome.

Acceptable Means of Compliance / Guidance Material. Approved compliance methods and supporting guidance accompanying aviation regulations.

Above Mean Sea Level. Altitude above mean sea level.

A system that prevents ice from forming.

The designated parking and servicing area at an aerodrome.

Airline Pilot Standards MCC. An advanced MCC course focused on real airline operating standards.

Auxiliary Power Unit. A small onboard power unit that supplies electrical power and pneumatic air.

Air Traffic Control. The service responsible for controlling and separating air traffic.

Approved Training Organisation. A flight training organisation approved by, or declared to, the competent aviation authority.

Airline Transport Pilot Licence. The highest level of pilot licence and the final goal for most commercial pilots.

Air Traffic Services. Services provided to support the safe and efficient movement of air traffic.

Automatic flight-control system.

Taxiing along the runway in the opposite direction to return to a departure or exit point.

Practical takeoff and landing training in the actual aircraft.

Compressed air extracted from the engines and used by various aircraft systems.

The total amount of fuel loaded before departure.

The system that maintains the equivalent altitude represented by the pressure inside the cabin.

Passenger-cabin crew.

A pilot training programme associated with a specific airline.

Cumulonimbus. A thunderstorm cloud.

Configuration Deviation List. Documents defining approved configuration deviations.

Control Display Unit. The interface used by the crew to control and enter data into the FMS.

Centre of Gravity.

Authorisation to take off.

The process of progressing to captain.

Additional fuel carried to cover unforeseen circumstances.

Commercial Pilot Licence. Allows the holder to work and receive payment for flying.

Crew Resource Management. Techniques used to improve teamwork, communication and decision-making in the cockpit and reduce human error.

Control Area. Controlled airspace established around routes or aerodromes.

Control Zone. Controlled airspace established around routes or aerodromes.

A system that removes ice after it has formed.

A crew member travelling as a passenger for positioning purposes.

A specialist responsible for operational flight planning and flight support.

An emergency landing on water.

Distance Measuring Equipment. Equipment that measures the distance between an aircraft and a ground station.

Declared Training Organisation. A flight training organisation approved by, or declared to, the competent aviation authority.

European Union Aviation Safety Agency. The European agency responsible for regulating aviation safety, operations, training and licensing within the European Union.

Electronic Centralized Aircraft Monitor. Airbus system used to monitor aircraft systems and display warnings and procedures.

Estimated Elapsed Time. The estimated duration of a flight or route segment.

Enhanced Ground Proximity Warning System.

Engine Indicating and Crew Alerting System. Boeing system used to display engine information and crew alerts.

The aircraft’s electrical systems.

Emergency Locator Transmitter. An emergency radio beacon used to help locate an aircraft after an accident.

Estimated Time of Arrival

Estimated Time of Departure.

The emergency evacuation of an aircraft.

Federal Aviation Administration. The civil aviation authority of the United States.

Full Authority Digital Engine Control. A digital system that controls engine operation.

Cloud-amount indicators ranging from lower coverage, FEW, through SCT, to greater coverage, BKN.

Flight Instructor. An instructor authorised to provide flight training.

The mandatory minimum fuel reserve that must remain available.

Flight Information Region. A service providing flight information and the airspace region in which it is delivered.

Flight Information Service. A service providing flight information and the airspace region in which it is delivered.

Flight Level. A level of constant atmospheric pressure referenced to the standard pressure setting.

The cockpit and its operating flight crew.

Electronically controlled flight-control system.

Flight Management Computer. The system and computer used to manage flight navigation and performance.

Flight Management System. The system and computer used to manage flight navigation and performance.

Fuel On Board. The amount of fuel currently carried by the aircraft.

Flight Plan. A formal submission containing the intended details of a flight.

A status in which a pilot has completed all required training and passed the ATPL theoretical examinations, but still needs to build flight hours to obtain the full ATPL.

Satellite-based navigation systems: the global navigation satellite system, GNSS, and the Global Positioning System, GPS.

A discontinued approach in which the aircraft climbs away instead of landing.

Ground Proximity Warning System. Systems that warn the crew of dangerous proximity to terrain.

Ground Speed.

A racetrack-shaped holding pattern used to keep an aircraft within protected airspace while awaiting further clearance.

A designated position where an aircraft must stop before entering or crossing a runway.

The aircraft’s hydraulic systems.

International Civil Aviation Organization. The United Nations agency that establishes global standards for international civil aviation.

A transponder function that allows a controller to identify an aircraft quickly on the radar display.

Indicated Airspeed.

Instrument Flight Rules. Rules governing flight by reference to instruments and under air traffic control; the standard for commercial aviation.

Instrument Landing System. A precision approach system providing lateral guidance through the localiser and vertical guidance through the glide slope, particularly important in low visibility.

Instrument Meteorological Conditions. Weather conditions that require flight by reference to instruments.

Instrument Rating. A rating that allows a pilot to fly using flight instruments without relying on external visual references.

Instrument Rating Instructor. An instructor authorised to provide instrument flight training.

International Standard Atmosphere. The international reference model for standard atmospheric conditions.

Light Aircraft Pilot Licence. A simplified licence for light aircraft with more limited privileges than a PPL.

A stop away from base that normally includes an overnight stay.

Supervised operational training on scheduled flights.

Enter and align with the runway.

Licence Proficiency Check. Periodic checks of licence proficiency.

The document containing the aircraft’s weight and balance information for a specific flight.

Aircraft speed expressed as a ratio of the local speed of sound.

The standard radio call for distress.

Multi-Crew Cooperation. A course that teaches pilots how to operate effectively in a cockpit with another pilot.

Multi-Engine / Multi-Engine Piston. A rating for operating aircraft with more than one engine.

Minimum Equipment List. Documents defining permitted inoperative equipment.

A routine aerodrome weather report providing current wind, visibility, cloud, temperature, pressure and significant weather conditions.

Maximum Landing Weight.

Multi-Crew Pilot Licence. A licence specifically designed for operating as a co-pilot within a sponsoring airline.

Maximum Takeoff Weight.

Navigation Display. The main flight-information and navigation screens.

Non-Directional Beacon. A ground-based radio beacon that transmits in all directions.

Notice to Air Missions. A notice concerning closed runways, unavailable navigation aids, works or airspace restrictions that must be reviewed before flight.

Operator Proficiency Check. Periodic checks of operational competence.

Overcast. The sky is completely covered by cloud.

The standard radio call for urgency.

The European regulation governing flight crew licensing under Regulation (EU) No 1178/2011; it replaced the former JAR-FCL framework in 2012.

The performance classification commonly applied to multi-engine commercial air transport aeroplanes.

Primary Flight Display. The main flight-information and navigation screens.

Pilot in Command. The pilot with final authority and responsibility for the operation and safety of the flight.

A probe used to measure dynamic pressure for airspeed used by pressure instruments.

The aircraft’s pneumatic systems.

Private Pilot Licence. The first full pilot licence; it allows the holder to fly independently but not for remuneration.

The system that maintains cabin pressure.

The procedure of moving an aircraft backwards from its parking stand, normally using a tug.

Pressure setting referenced to aerodrome elevation; the altimeter reads zero when the aircraft is on the runway.

Standard pressure setting, 1013.25 hPa, used when flying at flight levels.

Pressure setting adjusted to mean sea level.

Quick Reference Handbook. A manual containing concise procedures for abnormal and emergency situations.

The mandatory repetition of an ATC instruction or clearance to confirm that it has been correctly understood.

Area Navigation. A method that allows aircraft to fly on any desired flight path within the coverage of navigation aids or onboard systems.

Required Navigation Performance. The level of navigation accuracy and monitoring capability required for a route or procedure.

Rate of Climb.

Rate of Descent.

The message has been received and understood.

Radiotelephony. Aeronautical communications conducted by radio.

Runway

Single-Engine / Single-Engine Piston. A rating for operating single-engine aircraft.

Selective Calling. A system that alerts the crew to an incoming radio call without requiring continuous listening.

Length of service and ranking within an airline.

The maximum operational altitude at which the aircraft can maintain a specified rate of climb.

Synthetic Flight Instructor. An instructor authorised to provide training in flight simulators.

Second in Command. The co-pilot.

Standard Instrument Departure. Standard instrument procedures for departing from an aerodrome.

Significant Meteorological Information. A warning concerning significant weather phenomena that may affect flight safety.

An assigned time window for takeoff, landing or use of airport capacity.

A transponder code assigned by air traffic control.

An aerodynamic loss of lift.

The speed at which the stall occurs.

Wait and remain ready for further communication.

Standard Terminal Arrival Route. Standard instrument procedures for arriving at an aerodrome.

A probe used to measure a static pressure inlet used by pressure instruments.

Terminal Aerodrome Forecast. A forecast describing how the weather at an aerodrome is expected to develop over the following hours.

True Airspeed.

Ground movement of an aircraft.

The fuel planned for ground operations and taxiing.

Traffic Collision Avoidance System. An airborne anti-collision system that monitors nearby traffic and issues automatic instructions when there is a risk of collision.

Threat and Error Management. A framework for identifying and managing operational threats and errors.

Terminal Manoeuvring Area. Controlled airspace surrounding one or more major aerodromes.

Takeoff / Go-Around. The maximum thrust or power setting used for takeoff or a go-around.

The altitude and flight level at which the altimeter reference changes between QNH and the standard pressure setting, QNE.

Type Rating Examiner. An examiner authorised to conduct tests and checks for a specific aircraft type rating.

Type Rating Instructor. An instructor authorised to provide training for a specific aircraft type rating.

The fuel required for the planned flight from departure to destination.

Thunderstorm.

The time between an aircraft’s arrival and its next departure.

Taxiway

A qualification required to operate a specific aircraft type.

Upset Prevention and Recovery Training. Training in preventing and recovering from aircraft upsets and loss-of-control situations.

Takeoff decision speed.

Takeoff safety speed.

Visual Flight Rules. Rules governing flight conducted primarily by external visual reference.

Visual Flight Rules Night. A rating or qualification that allows night flying under visual flight rules.

Visual Meteorological Conditions. Weather conditions that allow flight by external visual reference.

Minimum Control Speed in the Air. The minimum speed at which directional control can be maintained following the failure of the critical engine.

VHF Omnidirectional Range. A ground-based radio navigation aid that provides bearing information.

Rotation speed.

Best angle-of-climb speed.

Best rate-of-climb speed.

Will comply. The message has been received, understood and will be followed.

Weight and Balance.

Cross-Country. A navigation flight between aerodromes or over a planned route.

Editorial note

Definitions are written for clarity and learning. For operational, legal or examination use, consult current official regulations, approved manuals and training material.