Glossary

100-HOUR INSPECTION—An inspection required by 14 CFR 91.409 for FAA-certificated aircraft that are operated for hire, or are used for flight instruction for hire. A 100-hour inspection is similar in content to an annual inspection, but it can be conducted by an aircraft mechanic who holds an Airframe and Powerplant rating, but does not have an Inspection Authorization. A list of the items that must be included in an annual or 100-hour inspection is included in 14 CFR part 43, Appendix D.

14 CFR (TITLE 14 OF THE CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS)—Federal regulations pertaining to aviation activity. Previously known as Federal Aviation Regulations.

800-WX-BRIEF—Phone number for reaching an FAA Flight Service Station 24 hours a day almost anywhere in the United States.

ABORTED TAKEOFF—To terminate a replaned takeoff when it is determined that some condition exists which makes takeoff or further flight dangerous.

ACCELERATION—Force involved in overcoming inertia, and which may be defined as a change in velocity per unit of time.

ADM—See AERONAUTICAL DECISION

MAKING.

AERONAUTICAL DECISION MAKING (ADM)— A systematic approach to the mental process used by pilots to consistently determine the best course of action in response to a given set of circumstances.

A/FD—See AIRPORT/FACILITY DIRECTORY.

AFM—See AIRCRAFT FLIGHT MANUAL.

AIRCRAFT—A device that is used or intended to be used for flight in the air.

AIRCRAFT ACCIDENT—An occurrence associated with the operation of an aircraft which takes place between the time any person boards the aircraft with the intention of flight and all such persons have disembarked, and in which any person suffers death or serious injury, or in which the aircraft receives substantial damage. (NTSB 830.2)

AIRCRAFT CATEGORIES—(1) As used with respect to the certification, ratings, privileges, and limitations of airmen, means a broad classification of aircraft. Examples include: powered parachute, airplane, rotorcraft, glider, lighter-than-air, and weight-shift control. (2) As used with respect to the certification of aircraft, means a grouping of aircraft based upon intended use or operating limitations. Examples include: transport, normal, utility, acrobatic, limited, restricted, and provisional.

AIRCRAFT OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS—A document developed by the aircraft manufacturer and accepted by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). It is specific to a particular make and model powered parachute by serial number and it contains operating procedures and limitations.

AIRFOIL—An airfoil is any surface, such as a wing or propeller, which provides aerodynamic force when it interacts with a moving stream of air.

AIRPORT—An area of land or water that is used or intended to be used for the landing and takeoff of aircraft, and includes its buildings and facilities, if any.

AIRPORT/FACILITY DIRECTORY (A/FD) —A publication of the Federal Aviation Administration containing information on all airports, seaplane bases, and heliports open to the public. The A/FD contains communications data, navigational facilities, and certain special notices and procedures.

AIRSPACE—See CLASS A, CLASS B, CLASS C, CLASS D, CLASS E, or CLASS G AIRSPACE.

AIRWORTHINESS—A state in which an aircraft or component meets the conditions of its type design and is in a condition for safe operation.

AIRWORTHINESS CERTIFICATE—A certificate issued by the FAA to aircraft that have been proven to meet the minimum standards set down by the Code of Federal Regulations.

ALTIMETER—A flight instrument that indicates altitude by sensing pressure changes.

AME—See AVIATION MEDICAL EXAMINER.

ANGLE OF ATTACK (AOA)—The acute angle between the chord line of the airfoil and the direction of the relative wind.

ANGLE OF INCIDENCE—The angle formed by the chord line of the wing and a line parallel to the longitudinal axis of the PPC cart.

ANNUAL INSPECTION—A complete inspection of an aircraft and engine, required by the Code of Federal Regulations, to be accomplished every 12 calendar months on all certificated aircraft. Only an A&P technician holding an Inspection Authorization can conduct an annual inspection.

AOA—See ANGLE OF ATTACK.

ARM—The horizontal distance in inches from the reference datum line to the center of gravity of an item. Used in weight and loading calculations.

AROW— The mnemonic aid to remember the certificates and documents required to be onboard an aircraft to determine airworthiness: Airworthiness certificate, Registration certificate, Operating limitations, Weight and balance data.

ASOS—See AUTOMATED SURFACE OBSERVING SYSTEM.

ASPECT RATIO—Span of a wing divided by its average chord.

ASYMMETRICAL AIRFOIL—An airfoil section that is not the same on both sides of the chord line.

ATIS—See AUTOMATIC TERMINAL INFORMATION SERVICE.

AUTOMATED SURFACE OBSERVING SYSTEM (ASOS)—Weather reporting system which provides surface observations every minute via digitized voice broadcasts and printed reports.

AUTOMATED WEATHER OBSERVING SYSTEM

(AWOS)—Automated weather reporting system consisting of various sensors, a processor, a computer-generated voice subsystem, and a transmitter to broadcast weather data.

AUTOMATIC TERMINAL INFORMATION SERVICE (ATIS)—The continuous broadcast (by radio or telephone) of recorded noncontrol, essential but routine, information in selected terminal areas.

AVIATION MEDICAL EXAMINER (AME)—A medical doctor authorized to perform aviation medical exams for aviators.

BANK ATTITUDE—The angle of the lateral axis relative to the horizon.

BASE LEG—A flight path at right angles to the landing runway off its approach end. The base leg normally extends from the downwind leg to the intersection of the extended runway centerline.

CAMBER—The curvature of a wing when looking at a cross section. A wing has upper camber on its top surface and lower camber on its bottom surface.

CANOPY—The fabric body of a parachute.

CARBURETOR ICE—Ice that forms inside the carburetor due to the temperature drop caused by the vaporization of the fuel. Induction system icing is an operational hazard because it can cut off the flow of the fuel/air charge or vary the fuel/air ratio.

CART—The engine and seats, attached by a structure to wheels; sometimes referred to as the fuselage, cockpit, chaise, or airframe.

CAVITATION—A condition that exists in a fluid pump when there is not enough pressure in the reservoir to force fluid to the inlet of the pump. The pump picks up air instead of fluid.

CENTER OF GRAVITY (CG)—The point at which an aircraft would balance if it were possible to suspend it at that point. It is the mass center of the aircraft, or the theoretical point at which the entire weight of the PPC is assumed to be concentrated. It may be expressed in inches from the reference datum, or in percent of mean aerodynamic chord (MAC). The location depends on the distribution of weight in the aircraft.

CENTER OF LIFT—The location along the chord line of an airfoil at which all the lift forces produced by the airfoil are considered to be concentrated.

CENTER OF PRESSURE (CP)—The point along the wing chord line where lift is considered to be concentrated.

CENTRIFUGAL FORCE—The apparent force occurring in curvilinear motion acting to deflect objects outward from the axis of rotation. For instance, when pulling out of a dive, it is the force pushing you down in your seat.

CENTRIPETAL FORCE—The force in curvilinear motion acting toward the axis of rotation. For instance, when pulling out of a dive, it is the force that the seat exerts on the pilot to offset the centrifugal force.

CERTIFICATED FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR (CFI)— A flight instructor authorized by the FAA to provide flight instruction in designated category of aircraft.

CFI—See CERTIFIED FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR.

CFR—See CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS.

CG—See CENTER OF GRAVITY.

CHECKLIST—A list of procedures that provides a logical and standardized method to operate a particular make and model aircraft.

CHECKRIDE—A practical test administered by an FAA examiner or designated examiner for the purpose of issuing an FAA certificate or rating.

CHORD LINE—An imaginary straight line drawn through an airfoil from the leading edge to the trailing edge.

CLASS A AIRSPACE—Airspace from 18,000 feet MSL up to and including FL600, including the airspace overlying the waters within 12 NM of the coast of the 48 contiguous states and Alaska; and designated international airspace beyond 12 NM of the coast of the 48 contiguous states and Alaska within areas of domestic radio navigational signal or ATC radar coverage, and within which domestic procedures are applied.

CLASS B AIRSPACE—Airspace from the surface to 10,000 feet MSL surrounding the nation’s busiest airports in terms of IFR operations or passenger numbers. The configuration of each Class B airspace is individually tailored and consists of a surface area and two or more layers, and is designed to contain all published instrument procedures once an aircraft enters the airspace. For all aircraft, an ATC clearance is required to operate in the area, and aircraft so cleared receive separation services within the airspace.

CLASS C AIRSPACE—Airspace from the surface to 4,000 feet above the airport elevation (charted in MSL) surrounding those airports having an operational control tower, serviced by radar approach control, and having a certain number of IFR operations or passenger numbers. Although the configuration of each Class C airspace area is individually tailored, the airspace usually consists of a 5 NM radius core surface area that extends from the surface up to 4,000 feet above the airport elevation, and a 10 NM radius shelf area that extends from 1,200 feet to 4,000 feet above the airport elevation.

CLASS D AIRSPACE—Airspace from the surface to 2,500 feet above the airport elevation (charted in MSL) surrounding those airports that have an operational control tower. The configuration of each Class D airspace area is individually tailored, and when instrument procedures are published, the airspace will normally be designed to contain the procedures.

CLASS E AIRSPACE—Airspace that is not Class A, Class B, Class C, or Class D, and it is controlled airspace.

CLASS G AIRSPACE—Airspace that is uncontrolled, except when associated with a temporary control tower, and has not been designated as Class A, Class B, Class C, Class D, or Class E airspace.

CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS (CFRs)— Regulations issued by the U.S. Federal Government as published in the Federal Register.

COMBUSTION—Process of burning the fuel/air mixture in the engine in a controlled and predictable manner.

COMMON TRAFFIC ADVISORY FREQUENCY

(CTAF)—A frequency designed for the purpose of carrying out airport advisory practices while operating to or from an airport without an operating control tower. The CTAF may be a UNICOM, Multicom, FSS or tower frequency and is identified in appropriate aeronautical publications.

CONTROLLED AIRSPACE—An airspace of defined dimensions within which air traffic control service is provided to IFR flights and to VFR flights in accordance with the airspace classification. Note: “controlled airspace” is a generic term that covers Class A, Class B, Class C, Class D and Class E airspace.

CONTROL TOWER—A terminal facility that uses air/ground communications, visual signaling, and other devices to provide ATC services to aircraft operating in the vicinity of an airport or on the movement area. Authorizes aircraft to land or takeoff at the airport controlled by the tower or to transit the Class D airspace area regardless of the flight plan or weather conditions. May also provide approach control services (radar or nonradar).

COORDINATED TURN—Turn made by an aircraft where the horizontal component of lift is equal to the centrifugal force of the turn.

CRAB ANGLE—The angle formed between the direction an aircraft is pointed and the direction it is tracking over the ground resulting from a crosswind component.

CREWMEMBER—A person assigned to perform duty in an aircraft during flight time.

CREW RESOURCE MANAGEMENT (CRM)— The application of team management concepts in the flight deck environment. This includes single pilots of general aviation aircraft. Pilots of small aircraft, as well as crews of larger aircraft, must make effective use of all available resources; human resources, hardware, and information. Human resource groups include but are not limited to: pilots, dispatchers, cabin crewmembers, maintenance personnel, and air traffic controllers.

CRM—See CREW RESOURCE MANAGEMENT.

CROSSWIND—Wind blowing across rather than parallel to the direction of flight. In a traffic pattern, the crosswind leg is a flight path at right angles to the landing runway off its upwind end.

CROSSWIND CORRECTION—Correction applied in order to maintain a straight ground track during flight when a crosswind is present.

CROSSWIND LANDING—Landing made with a wind that is blowing across rather than parallel to the landing direction.

CROSSWIND TAKEOFFS—Takeoffs made during crosswind conditions.

CTAF—See COMMON TRAFFIC ADVISORY

FREQUENCY.

DATUM—An imaginary vertical plane or line from which all measurements of moment arm are taken. The datum is established by the manufacturer.

DECIDE MODEL—Model developed to help pilots remember the six-step decision-making process: Detect, Estimate, Choose, Identify, Do, Evaluate.

DECK ANGLE—The angle of the cart’s lower frame (from the front wheel to the rear wheels), to the landing surface.

DENSITY ALTITUDE—Pressure altitude corrected for variations from standard temperature. When conditions are standard, pressure altitude and density altitude are the same. If the temperature is above standard, the density altitude is higher than pressure altitude. If the temperature is below standard, the density altitude is lower than pressure altitude. This is an important altitude because it is directly related to the PPC’s performance.

DEPARTURE LEG—The leg of the rectangular traffic pattern that is a straight course aligned with, and leading from, the takeoff runway.

DESIGNATED PILOT EXAMINER (DPE)—An individual designated by the FAA to administer practical tests to pilot applicants.

DIRECTIONAL STABILITY—Stability about the vertical axis of an aircraft, whereby an aircraft tends to return, on its own, to flight aligned with the relative wind when disturbed from that equilibrium state. The pendulum design is the primary contributor to directional stability, causing a PPC in flight to align with the relative wind.

DOWNWIND LEG—Leg of the traffic pattern flown parallel to the landing runway, but in a direction opposite to the intended landing direction.

DPE—See DESIGNATED PILOT EXAMINER.

DRAG—An aerodynamic force on a body acting parallel and opposite to the relative wind. The resistance of the atmosphere to the relative motion of an aircraft. Drag opposes thrust and limits the speed of the aircraft.

DRAG COEFFICIENT (Cd)—A dimensionless number used to define the amount of total drag produced by an aircraft.

DRIFT CORRECTION—Correction that is applied to counter the affects of wind on an aircraft’s flight and ground track.

DUAL FLIGHT—Flight time that is received and logged as training time. Dual flight time must be endorsed by a Certificated Flight Instructor. DYNAMIC PRESSURE (q)—The pressure a moving fluid would have if it were stopped. Reference 14 CFR 61.51(h).

EIS—See ENGINE INFORMATION SYSTEM.

E-LSA (EXPERIMENTAL LIGHT-SPORT AIRCRAFT)—An aircraft issued an experimental certificate under Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) part 21.

EMERGENCY FREQUENCY—Frequency that is used by aircraft in distress to gain ATC assistance. 121.5 MHz is an international emergency frequency guarded by Flight Service Stations and some military and civil aircraft. Reference AIM paragraph 6-3-1.

ERROR CHAIN—A series of mistakes that may lead to an accident or incident. Two basic principles generally associated with the creation of an error chain are: (1) one bad decision often leads to another; and (2) as a string of bad decisions grows, it reduces the number of subsequent alternatives for continued safe flight. Aeronautical decision making is intended to break the error chain before it can cause an accident or incident.

FAA—See FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION.

FAA INSPECTOR—FAA personnel who can administer practical and proficiency tests and can issue pilot certificates.

FAA KNOWLEDGE EXAM—Written exam administered by the FAA as a prerequisite for pilot certification. Passing the knowledge and practical exams are required for pilot applicants to be issued FAA certificates or ratings.

FAR—See FEDERAL AVIATION REGULATIONS.

FDC NOTICE TO AIRMAN (NOTAM)—Notice to Airman that is regulatory in nature.

FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION

(FAA)—The federal agency responsible to promote aviation safety through regulation and education.

FEDERAL AVIATION REGULATIONS (FARs)— The division within the Department of Transportation of the United States government that has the responsibility of promoting safety in the air, by both regulation and education.

FIELD ELEVATION—The highest point of an airport’s usable runways measured in feet from mean sea level.

FINAL—Leg of the traffic pattern that is a descending flightpath starting from the completion of the base-to-final turn and extending to the point of touchdown.

FIXED-PITCH PROPELLERS—Propellers with fixed blade angles. Fixed-pitch propellers are designed as climb propellers, cruise propellers, or standard propellers.

FIXED-WING AIRCRAFT—An aircraft whose wing is rigidly attached to the structure. The term fixed-wing is used to distinguish these aircraft from rotary-wing aircraft, such as helicopters and autogiros.

FLARE—The slow, smooth transition from a normal approach attitude to a landing attitude. This maneuver is accomplished in a PPC by pulling down on the steering lines to increase drag, reducing the forward speed and decreasing the rate of descent.

FLIGHT PLAN—Specified information relating to the intended flight of an aircraft that is filed orally or in writing with an FSS or an ATC facility.

FOUR FORCES—The four fundamental forces of flight: lift, weight, drag and thrust.

FOUR-STROKE ENGINE—The principle of operation for some reciprocating engines involving the conversion of fuel energy into mechanical energy. The strokes are called intake, compression, power, and exhaust.

FSS—FAA Flight Service Station.

GLIDEPATH—The path of an aircraft relative to the ground while approaching a landing.

GLIDE RATIO—The ratio of the forward distance traveled to the vertical distance an aircraft descends when it is operating without power. For example, an aircraft with a glide ratio of 10:1 will descend about 1,000 feet for every 2 miles (10,560 feet) it moves forward.

G LOADS—Loads imposed on an airframe due to inertia (centrifugal force). 1G of load factor represents the weight of the actual aircraft. 2G represents effectively twice the aircraft’s actual weight.

GLOBAL POSITION SYSTEM (GPS)—A satellitebased radio positioning, navigation, and timetransfer system.

GO-AROUND—The termination of a landing approach. Reference the AIM Pilot/Controller

GO OR NO-GO DECISION—Decision of whether or not to make a flight based on environmental, personal or mechanical factors. A focus area for human factors study.

GPS—See GLOBAL POSITION SYSTEM.

GROUND-ADJUSTABLE PROPELLER—A type of aircraft propeller whose blade pitch angle can be adjusted when the engine is not running. The adjustment requires loosening the blades in the hub.

GROUND EFFECT—A condition of improved performance encountered when an airfoil is operating very close to the ground. When an airfoil is under the influence of ground effect, there is a reduction in upwash, downwash, and wingtip vortices. As a result of the reduced wingtip vortices, induced drag is reduced.

GROUNDSPEED (GS)—The actual speed of an aircraft over the ground. It is true airspeed adjusted for wind. Groundspeed decreases with a headwind, and increases with a tailwind.

GROUND TRACK—The aircraft’s path over the ground when in flight.

HAZARDOUS INFLIGHT WEATHER ADVISORY SERVICE (HIWAS)—Recorded weather forecasts broadcast to airborne pilots over selected VORs.

HEADWIND—A wind which blows from the direction the aircraft is flying. The ground speed of an aircraft (the speed the aircraft is moving over the ground) is less than the speed through the air by the velocity of the headwind.

HIWAS—See HAZARDOUS INFLIGHT WEATHER ADVISORY SERVICE.

HOUR METER—An instrument installed in many aircraft to show the actual number of hours the engine has operated. The hour meter is an electrical clock that starts when the engine oil pressure builds up, and runs until the engine is shut down and the oil pressure drops to zero.

HYPERVENTILATION—Occurs when an individual is experiencing emotional stress, fright, or pain, and the breathing rate and depth increase, although the carbon dioxide level in the blood is already at a reduced level. The result is an excessive loss of carbon dioxide from the body, which can lead to unconsciousness due to the respiratory system’s overriding mechanism to regain control of breathing.

HYPOXIA—State of oxygen deficiency in the body sufficient to impair functions of the brain and other organs.

IFR—See INSTRUMENT FLIGHT RULES.

INCIDENT—An occurrence other than an accident, associated with the operation of an aircraft, which affects or could affect the safety of operations.

INDUCED DRAG—That part of total drag which is created by the production of lift. Induced drag increases with a decrease in airspeed.

INSTRUMENT FLIGHT RULES (IFR)—Rules governing the procedures for conducting instrument flight. Also a term used by pilots and controllers to indicate type of flight plan.

INTERFERENCE DRAG—Type of drag produced by placing two objects adjacent to one another. Combines the effects of form drag and skin friction.

INVERSION—An increase in temperature with altitude.

JUDGMENT—The mental process of recognizing and analyzing all pertinent information in a particular situation, a rational evaluation of alternative actions in response to it, and a timely decision on which action to take.

KINESTHESIA—The sensing of movements by feel.

KITE—To pressurize and raise the wing overhead the PPC cart.

KITING—Taxiing the PPC on the ground with the wing inflated and overhead.

KNOWLEDGE EXAM—See FAA KNOWLEDGE

EXAM.

LATERAL AXIS—An imaginary line passing through the center of gravity of a PPC and extending across the PPC from one side of the aircraft to the other side.

LEADING EDGE—The part of an airfoil that meets the airflow first.

LIFT—One of the four main forces acting on an aircraft. On a powered parachute, an upward force created by the effect of airflow as it passes over and under the wing.

LIGHT-SPORT AIRCRAFT (LSA)—An aircraft that meets the requirements defined in 14 CFR 1.1, regardless of airworthiness certification.

LINE-OVERS—A dangerous situation when the suspension line goes over the top of the wing instead of going straight from the wing to the riser system. This condition will prevent proper inflation of the wing.

LINE TWISTS—When the PPC suspension lines on both sides of the wing are spiraled together. Flying with a line twist is unsafe; the wing is unairworthy until it is corrected.

LOC—A preflight check: L – Lines Free, O – Cells Open, C – Wing Centered.

LOGBOOK—A record of activities: flight, instruction, inspection and maintenance. Reference 14 CFR 43, 14 CFR 61.51, and 14 CFR 91.417.

LONGITUDINAL AXIS—An imaginary line through an aircraft from nose to tail, passing through its center of gravity. The longitudinal axis is also called the roll axis of the aircraft.

LSA—See LIGHT-SPORT AIRCRAFT.

MAC—See MEAN AERODYNAMIC CHORD.

MAGNETO—A self-contained engine-driven unit that supplies electrical current to the spark plugs.

MAKE/MODEL—Refers to the manufacturer and model of a specific aircraft.

MANEUVERING ALTITUDE—An altitude above the ground that allows a sufficient margin of height to permit safe maneuvering.

MAXIMUM GROSS WEIGHT—The maximum authorized weight of the aircraft and all of its equipment as specified in the TCDS for the aircraft.

MEAN AERODYNAMIC CHORD (MAC)—The average distance from the leading edge to the trailing edge of the wing.

MECHANICAL TURBULENCE—Type of turbulence caused by obstructions on the ground interfering with smooth flow of the wind. Trees, buildings and terrain can all cause mechanical turbulence.

MEDICAL CERTIFICATE—Acceptable evidence of physical fitness on a form prescribed by the Administrator.

MEDIUM-BANKED TURN—Turn resulting from a degree of bank (approximately 20 to 45 degrees) at which the PPC remains at a constant bank.

MILITARY TRAINING ROUTES (MTR)—Special routes developed to allow the military to conduct low-altitude, high speed training.

MILITARY OPERATIONS AREA (MOA)—Airspace of defined vertical and lateral limits established for the purpose of separating certain military training activity from IFR traffic.

MINDSET—A factor in aeronautical decision making where decision making is influenced by preconceived ideas about the outcome of events. For example, an expectation of improving weather conditions can lead to increased risk during a flight.

MOA—See MILITARY OPERATIONS AREA.

MODE C TRANSPONDER—A receiver/transmitter which will generate a radar reply signal upon proper interrogation; the interrogation and reply being on different frequencies. Mode C means the reply signal includes altitude information.

MOMENT— A force that causes or tries to cause an object to rotate. The product of the weight of an item multiplied by its arm. Moments are expressed in pound-inches (lb-in). Total moment is the weight of the PPC multiplied by the distance between the datum and the CG.

NEWTON’S THIRD LAW OF MOTION—Whenever one body exerts a force on another, the second body always exerts on the first, a force that is equal in magnitude but opposite in direction.

NONTOWERED AIRPORTS—An airport without an operating control tower.

NOTAM (NOTICE TO AIRMEN)—A notice containing information concerning facilities, services, or procedures, the timely knowledge of which is essential to personnel concerned with flight operations.

OPERATING LIMITATIONS—Limitations published by aircraft manufacturers to define limitations on maneuvers, flight load factors, speeds and other limits. Presented in the aircraft in the form of placards and printed in the limitations section of the aircraft flight manual.

OVERSHOOTING—The act of over flying an intended spot for landing or flying through a course intended for intercept.

PARAFOIL—See RAM-AIR WING.

PARALLEL RUNWAYS—Two or more runways at the same airport whose centerlines are parallel. In addition to runway number, parallel runways are designated as L(left) and R(right) or if three parallel runways exist, L(left), C (center) and R(right).

PARASITE DRAG—That part of total drag created by the design or shape of PPC parts. Parasite drag increases with an increase in airspeed.

PART 1—Federal Aviation Regulation from 14 CFR, pertaining to definitions and abbreviations of terms.

PART 61—Federal Aviation Regulation from 14 CFR, pertaining to the issuance of pilot and instructor certificates and ratings.

PART 67—Federal Aviation Regulation from 14 CFR, pertaining to medical standards and certification for pilots.

PART 91—Federal Aviation Regulation from 14 CFR, pertaining to general operating and flight rules.

PATTERN ALTITUDE—The common altitude used for aircraft maneuvering in the traffic pattern. Usually 1,000 above the airport surface.

PENDULUM—A body so suspended from a fixed point as to move to and fro by the action of gravity and acquired momentum.

PENDULUM EFFECT—The characteristic of the cart weight hanging below the wing that stabilizes the wing pitching moment and the cart underneath the wing for unaccelerated flight. This cart weight (pendulum) can also create momentum of the cart rotating around the wing.

PERSONALITY TENDENCIES—Personal traits and characteristics of an individual that are set at a very early age and extremely resistant to change.

P-FACTOR—A tendency for an aircraft to yaw to the left due to the descending propeller blade on the right producing more thrust than the ascending blade on the left. This occurs when the aircraft’s longitudinal axis is in a climbing attitude in relation to the relative wind. The P-factor would be to the right if the aircraft had a counterclockwise rotating propeller.

PILOTAGE—Navigational technique based on flight by reference to ground landmarks.

PILOT IN COMMAND—The pilot responsible for the operation and safety of an aircraft.

PILOT’S OPERATING HANDBOOK (POH)—A document developed by the aircraft manufacturer and contains the FAA approved Aircraft Flight Manual (AFM) information.

PITCH—The rotation of a PPC about its lateral axis.

PITCH ANGLE—The angle between the wing and the horizontal plane of the earth.

PITCH ATTITUDE—The angle of the longitudinal axis relative to the horizon. Pitch attitude serves as a visual reference for the pilot to maintain or change airspeed.

PLACARDS—Small statements or pictorial signs permanently fixed in the cockpit and visible to the pilot. Placards are used for operating limitations (e.g., weight or speeds) or to indicate the position of an operating lever (e.g., landing gear retracted or down and locked).

PLANFORM—The shape or form of a wing as viewed from above. It may be long and tapered, short and rectangular, or various other shapes.

POH—See PILOT’S OPERATING HANDBOOK.

PORPOISING—Oscillating around the lateral axis of the aircraft during landing.

PORPOISING EFFECT—The rapid increase in throttle resulting in a rapid initial pitch up, which results in the pendulum effect that dampens out into a steady state climb.

POSITIVE DYNAMIC STABILITY—The tendency over time for an aircraft to return to a predisturbed state.

POSITIVE STATIC STABILITY—The initial tendency to return to a state of equilibrium when disturbed from that state.

POWERED PARACHUTE (PPC)—A powered aircraft comprised of a flexible or semi-rigid wing connected to a fuselage (cart) so that the wing is not in position for flight until the aircraft is in motion. The fuselage of a powered parachute contains the aircraft engine, a seat for each occupant and is attached to the aircraft’s landing gear.

POWER-OFF DESCENT—Aircraft configuration where a descent occurs with power at idle.

POWERPLANT—A complete engine and propeller combination with accessories.

PPC—See POWERED PARACHUTE.

PPCL—Powered parachute land.

PPCS—Powered parachute sea.

PRACTICAL TEST—Flight test administered by an FAA examiner or designated examiner as a prerequisite for pilot certification. Successful completion of the practical test is required to earn a pilot certificate or rating.

PRACTICAL TEST STANDARDS (PTS)—An FAA published document of standards that must be met for the issuance of a particular pilot certificate or rating. FAA inspectors and designated pilot examiners use these standards when conducting pilot practical tests, and flight instructors use the PTS while preparing applicants for practical tests.

PREFLIGHT INSPECTION—Aircraft inspection conducted to determine if an aircraft is mechanically and legally airworthy.

PRESSURE ALTITUDE—The altitude indicated when the altimeter setting window (barometric scale) is adjusted to 29.92. This is the altitude above the standard datum plane, which is a theoretical plane where air pressure (corrected to 15ºC) equals 29.92 in. Hg. Pressure altitude is used to compute density altitude, true altitude, true airspeed, and other performance data.

PRIVATE AIRPORT—Airport that is privately owned and not available to the public without prior permission. They are depicted on aeronautical charts for emergency and landmark purposes.

PRIVATE PILOT CERTIFICATE—An FAA-issued pilot certificate permitting carriage of passengers on a not-for-hire basis. Reference 14 CFR part 61.

PROFICIENCY CHECK—An evaluation of aeronautical knowledge and flight proficiency. Reference part 61. Upon successful completion of the proficiency check the authorized instructor will endorse the applicant’s logbook indicating the added category/class of equipment that the applicant is authorized to operate.

PROPELLER—A device for propelling an aircraft that, when rotated, produces by its action on the air, a thrust approximately perpendicular to its plane of rotation. It includes the control components normally supplied by its manufacturer.

PROPELLER BLAST—The volume of air accelerated behind a propeller producing thrust.

PTS—See PRACTICAL TEST STANDARDS.

PUBLIC AIRPORT—Airport that is available to the aviation public.

PUSHER CONFIGURATION—Propeller configuration where the propeller shaft faces the rear of the aircraft. Thrust produced by the propeller pushes the aircraft, rather than pulling it.

RAM-AIR WING—Also known as a parafoil. An airfoil designed with an aerodynamic cell structure which is inflated by the wind, forming a classic wing cross-section that generates lift.

RECIPROCATING ENGINE—An engine that converts the heat energy from burning fuel into the reciprocating movement of the pistons. This movement is converted into a rotary motion by the connecting rods and crankshaft.

REGISTRATION CERTIFICATE—A federal certificate that documents aircraft ownership.

RELATIVE WIND—The direction the wind strikes an airfoil.

RIBS—The parts of an aircraft wing structure that give the wing its aerodynamic cross section.

Fabric covers the ribs and gives the PPC wing its airfoil shape.

RISERS—One of several straps that attach the cart to the suspension lines. Sometimes referred to as “V lines,” risers are the intermediate link between the suspension lines and the aircraft.

RISK ELEMENTS—The four fundamental areas of exposure to risk: the pilot, the aircraft, the environment, and the type of operation that comprise any given aviation situation.

RISK MANAGEMENT—The part of the decision making process which relies on situational awareness, problem recognition, and good judgment to reduce risks associated with each flight.

ROLL—The rotation of an aircraft about its longitudinal axis.

ROUNDOUT (FLARE)—A pitch-up during landing approach to reduce rate of descent and forward speed prior to touchdown.

RPM—Revolutions per minute. A measure of rotational speed. One RPM is one revolution made in one minute.

RUNWAY—A defined rectangular area on a land airport prepared for the landing and takeoff run of aircraft along its length. Runways are normally numbered in relation to their magnetic direction rounded off to the nearest 10 degrees; e.g., Runway 1, Runway 25.

RUNWAY INCURSION—Any occurrence at an airport involving an aircraft, vehicle, person, or object on the ground that creates a collision hazard or results in loss of separation with an aircraft taking off, intending to takeoff, landing, or intending to land.

SAR—See SEARCH AND RESCUE.

SCANNING—Systematic means of searching for other aircraft. Scanning is most effective when successive areas of the sky are brought into focus using a series of short, regularly spaced eye movements.

SEARCH AND RESCUE (SAR)—A lifesaving service provided through the combined efforts of the federal agencies signatory to the National SAR plan along with state agencies.

SECTIONAL AERONAUTICAL CHARTS— Designed for visual navigation of slow or medium speed aircraft. Topographic information on these charts features the portrayal of relief, and a judicious selection of visual check points for VFR flight. Aeronautical information includes visual and radio aids to navigation, airports, controlled airspace, restricted areas, obstructions and related data.

SEE AND AVOID—When weather conditions permit, pilots operating IFR or VFR are required to observe and maneuver to avoid other aircraft. Right-of-way rules are contained in 14 CFR part 91.

SEGMENTED CIRCLE—A visual indicator around a windsock or tetrahedron designed to show the traffic pattern for each runway.

SHALLOW-BANKED TURN—Turns in which the bank (less than approximately 20 degrees) is so shallow that inherent lateral stability of the PPC is acting to level the wings unless the pilot maintains the bank.

SINGLE PILOT RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

(SRM)—Area of human factors study that addresses application of management skills in the cockpit. Single pilots of small aircraft must make effective use of all available resources; human resources, hardware, and information.

SITUATIONAL AWARENESS—The accurate perception and understanding of all the factors and conditions within the four fundamental risk elements that affect safety before, during, and after the flight.

SKILLS AND PROCEDURES—The procedural, psychomotor, and perceptual skills used to control a specific aircraft or its systems. They are the airmanship abilities that are gained through conventional training, are perfected, and become almost automatic through experience.

SKIN—The outside covering of an aircraft airframe.

SKIN FRICTION DRAG—The type of parasite drag resulting from a rough surface which deflects the streamlines of air on the surface, causing resistance to smooth airflow.

S-LSA (SPECIAL LIGHT-SPORT AIRCRAFT)— An aircraft issued a special airworthiness certificate in accordance with 14 CFR 21.290 in the light-sport category. These aircraft meet the ASTM industry-developed consensus standards.

SOLO FLIGHT—Flight that is conducted and logged when a pilot is the sole occupant of an aircraft.

SPATIAL DISORIENTATION—Specifically refers to the lack of orientation with regard to the position, attitude, or movement of the PPC in space.

SPECIAL USE AIRSPACE—Airspace that exists where activities must be confined because of their nature.

SPORT PILOT CERTIFICATE—An FAA-issued pilot certificate, allowing the holder to operate a light-sport aircraft in the category, class, make and model for which they are endorsed to do so.

SRM—See SINGLE PILOT RESOURCE MANAGEMENT.

STABILIZED APPROACH—A landing approach in which the pilot establishes and maintains a constant angle glidepath towards a predetermined point on the landing runway. It is based on the pilot’s judgment of certain visual cues, and depends on the maintenance of a constant final descent airspeed and configuration.

STALL—A rapid decrease in lift caused by the separation of airflow from the wing’s surface brought on by exceeding the critical angle of attack. A stall can occur at any pitch attitude or airspeed.

STANDARD AIRPORT TRAFFIC PATTERN—The left-hand turn traffic flow that is prescribed for aircraft landing at, taxiing on, or taking off from an airport. Reference 14 CFR 91.126 (a)(1) and AIM Chapter 4 Section 3.

STATIC PRESSURE—The pressure of air that is still, or not moving, measured perpendicular to the surface exposed to the air.

STEEP TURN—Turn resulting from a degree of bank (45 degrees or more) at which the overbanking tendency of a PPC overcomes stability, and the bank increases unless the steering controls are applied to prevent it.

STEERING BARS—Located just aft of the nosewheel and mounted on each side of the aircraft, the steering bars move forward and back when the pilot applies foot pressure. Pushing either one of the steering bars causes the steering lines to pull down on the corresponding surface of the trailing edge on the wing which banks the PPC into a turn.

STEERING LINES—Connected to the steering bars and routed through pulleys up to the trailing edge of the parachute.

STRAIGHT-IN APPROACH—Entry into the traffic pattern by interception of the extended runway centerline (final approach course) without executing any other portion of the traffic pattern.

STRESS MANAGEMENT—The personal analysis of the kinds of stress experienced while flying, the application of appropriate stress assessment tools, and other coping mechanisms.

STROBE—A high intensity white flashing light. Strobe lights are located on aircraft wingtips to increase aircraft visibility in low light conditions.

STUDENT PILOT CERTIFICATE— An FAA-issued certificate that permits student pilots to exercise solo pilot privileges with limitations. A student’s medical becomes their student pilot certificate once it is endorsed by their flight instructor.

SUSPENSION LINES—Lines that run from several attachment points on the wing down to a set of cables called risers, which connect to the PPC cart.

TAILWIND—Wind blowing in the same direction the aircraft is moving. When an aircraft is flying with a tailwind, its speed over the ground is equal to its speed through the air, plus the speed the air is moving over the ground.

TAKEOFF CLEARANCE—ATC authorization for an aircraft to depart a runway. It is predicated on known traffic and known physical airport conditions.

TAXI—The movement of an aircraft under its own power while on the ground.

TAXIWAY—Airport area designated for aircraft surface movement.

TEMPORARY FLIGHT RESTRICTION (TFR)— Designated airspace of specified dimension where flight is temporarily restricted or prohibited. NOTAMs are issued to advise airmen of local TFR restrictions.

TERMINAL RADAR SERVICE AREAS (TRSA)— Areas where participating pilots can receive additional radar services. The purpose of the service is to provide separation between all IFR operations and participating VFR aircraft.

TFR—See TEMPORARY FLIGHT RESTRICTION.

THERMAL—A buoyant plume or bubble of rising air.

THROTTLE—The control in an aircraft that regulates the power or thrust the pilot wants the engine to develop.

THRUST—The force which imparts a change in the velocity of a mass. A forward force which propels the powered parachute through the air.

TORQUE—(1) A resistance to turning or twisting.

TOTAL DRAG—The sum of the parasite and induced drag.

TOUCH AND GO—An operation by an aircraft that lands and takes off without stopping.

TOUCHDOWN POINT—The point or intended point at which an aircraft first makes contact with the landing surface.

TOUCHDOWN ZONE—The portion of a runway, beyond the threshold, where it is intended landing aircraft first contact the runway.

TRACK—The actual path made over the ground in flight.

TRAFFIC PATTERN—The traffic flow that is prescribed for aircraft landing at or taking off from an airport.

TRAFFIC PATTERN INDICATORS—Ground based visual indicators that identify traffic pattern direction at certain airports.

TRAILING EDGE—The portion of the airfoil where the airflow over the upper surface rejoins the lower surface airflow.

TRANSPONDER—The airborne portion of the secondary surveillance radar system. The transponder emits a reply when queried by a radar facility.

TRICYCLE GEAR CONFIGURATION—Landing gear configuration employing a third wheel located on the nose of the aircraft.

TRSA—See TERMINAL RADAR SERVICE

AREAS.

TWO-STROKE ENGINE—A simple form of reciprocating engine that completes its operating cycle in two strokes of its piston—one down and one up. Two-stroke-cycle engines are inefficient in their use of fuel, but their simplicity makes them popular for powering light-sport aircraft and ultralight vehicles where light weight and low cost are paramount.

ULTRALIGHT—A vehicle as defined by 14 CFR 103.1.

UNSTABILIZED APPROACH—The final approach of an aircraft that has not achieved a stable rate of descent or controlled flight track by a pre-determined altitude, usually 500 feet AGL.

UPWIND LEG—A flight path parallel to the landing runway in the direction of landing.

VEHICLE—Man-made means of transportation; an ultralight aircraft (not a light-sport aircraft).

VENTURI—A specially shaped restriction in a tube designed to speed up the flow of fluid passing through in accordance with Bernoulli’s principle. Venturis are used in carburetors and in many types of fluid control devices to produce a pressure drop proportional to the speed of the fluid passing through them.

VENTURI EFFECT—The effect of Bernoulli’s principle, which states that the pressure of a fluid decreases as it is speeded up without losing or gaining any energy from the outside.

VERIFIED—Confirmation of information or configuration status.

VERTICAL AXIS (YAW)—An imaginary line passing vertically through the center of gravity of an aircraft. The vertical axis is called the z-axis or the yaw axis.

VERTICAL SPEED INDICATOR (VSI)—An instrument that uses static pressure to display a rate of climb or descent in feet per minute. The VSI can also sometimes be called a vertical velocity indicator (VVI).

VERTIGO—A type of spatial disorientation caused by the physical senses sending conflicting signals to the brain. Vertigo is especially hazardous when flying under conditions of poor visibility and may cause pilot incapacitation, but may be minimized by confidence in the indication of the flight instruments.

VFR—See VISUAL FLIGHT RULES.

VFR TERMINAL AREA CHARTS—Charts designated to depict Class B airspace in greater detail and greater scale than sectional charts.

VISUAL FLIGHT RULES (VFR)—Code of Federal Regulations that govern the procedures for conducting flight under visual conditions.

V LINES—See RISERS.

VSI—See VERTICAL SPEED INDICATOR.

WAKE TURBULENCE—Wingtip vortices that are created when an aircraft generates lift. When an aircraft generates lift, air spills over the wingtips from the high pressure areas below the wings to the low pressure areas above them. This flow causes rapidly rotating whirlpools of air called wingtip vortices or wake turbulence.

WASHOUT—A condition in aircraft rigging in which a wing is twisted so its angle of incidence is less at the tip than at the root. Washout decreases the lift the wing produces to improve the stall characteristics of the wing.

WEATHER BRIEFING—Means for pilots to gather all information vital to the nature of the flight. Most often obtained from FSS specialist.

WEATHERVANE—The tendency to point into the wind.

WEIGHT—A measure of the heaviness of an object. The force by which a body is attracted toward the center of the Earth (or another celestial body) by gravity. Weight is equal to the mass of the body times the local value of gravitational acceleration. One of the four main forces acting on an aircraft. Equivalent to the actual weight of the aircraft. It acts downward through the aircraft’s center of gravity toward the center of the Earth. Weight opposes lift.

WEIGHT-SHIFT CONTROL AIRCRAFT—Powered aircraft with a framed pivoting wing and a fuselage controllable only in pitch and roll by the pilot’s ability to change the aircraft’s center of gravity with respect to the wing. Flight control of the aircraft depends on the wing’s ability to flexibly deform rather than the use of control surfaces.

WIND CORRECTION ANGLE—Correction applied to the course to establish a heading so that track will coincide with course.

WIND DIRECTION INDICATORS—Indicators that include a wind sock, wind tee, or tetrahedron. Visual reference will determine wind direction and runway in use.

WIND DRIFT CORRECTION—Correction applied to the heading of the aircraft necessary to keep the aircraft tracking over a desired track.

WIND SHEAR—A sudden, drastic shift in windspeed, direction, or both that may occur in the horizontal or vertical plane.

WING—A ram-air inflated and pressurized fabric airfoil that produces the lift necessary to support the powered parachute in flight; including the lines that attach to the cart. Also called a parachute, chute, or airfoil.

WING LOADING—The amount of weight that a wing must support to provide lift.

WINGSPAN—The maximum distance from wingtip to wingtip.