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Glossary P - T 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 Pattern altitude The common altitude used for aircraft maneuvering in the traffic pattern Usually 1,000 above the airport surface 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 PIC See pilot in command 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 Aircraft Flight Manual (AFM) information or Aircraft Operating Instructions (AOI) information Pitch The rotation of a WSC 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 orchange 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 Positive Dynamic Stability The tendency over time for an aircraft to return to a predisturbed state Position lights Lights on an aircraft consisting of a red light on the left wing, a green light on the right wing, and a white light on the tail The Code of Federal Regulations requires that these lights be displayed in flight from sunset to sunrise Positive static stability The initial tendency to return to a state of equilibrium when disturbed from that state Porpoising Oscillating around the lateral axis of the aircraft during landing 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 Commonly known as a checkride 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 Preignition Ignition occurring in the cylinder before the time of normal ignition Preignition is often caused by a local hot spot in the combustion chamber igniting the fuel/air mixture 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 15 ºC) equals 29 92 "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 sectional 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 Prohibited area Designated airspace within which flight of aircraft is prohibited 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 blade angle The angle between the propeller chord and the propeller plane of rotation Propeller blast The volume of air accelerated behind a propeller producing thrust Propeller slipstream 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 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 Reduction gear The gear arrangement in an aircraft engine that allows the engine to turn at a faster speed than the propeller Reflex The opposite curvature of the airfoil at the trailing edge which produces a positive pitching moment of the WSC airfoil Reflex lines Wires attached to the top of the king post and the trailing edge of the airfoil to maintain the reflex of the airfoil, used on some wings for trim by raising and lowering the trailing edge of the wing Region of reverse command Flight regime in which flight at a higher airspeed requires a lower power setting and a lower airspeed requires a higher power setting in order to maintain altitude Registration certificate A federal certificate that documents aircraft ownership Relative humidity The ratio of the existing amount of water vapor in the air at a given temperature to the maximum amount that could exist at that temperature; usually expressed in percent Relative wind The direction the wind strikes an airfoil If a wing moves forward horizontally, the relative wind moves backward horizontally Relative wind is parallel to and opposite the flightpath of the airplane Restricted area Airspace designated under 14 CFR part 73 within which the flight of aircraft, while not wholly prohibited, is subject to restriction Ribs The parts of an aircraft wing structure that give the wing its aerodynamic cross section WSC has battens that are inserted in to the sail that act as ribs Risk The future impact of a hazard that is not eliminated or controlled 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 It is controlled by moving the control bar side to side Roundout (flare) The slow, smooth transition from a normal approach attitude to a landing attitude This maneuver is accomplished in a WSC by easing forward on the control bar from approach speed as the WSC gets near the ground for landing to reduce the descent rate to zero as the back whels are inches above the ground, continuing to move the control bar forward reducing speed as the back wheels are inches above the landing surface, and continuing to push the control bar full forward until the back wheels settle to the surface for touchdown RPM Revolutions per minute for the engine crankshaft 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 Runway threshold markings Runway threshold markings come in two configurations They either consist of eight longitudinal stripes of uniform dimensions disposed symmetrically about the runway centerline, or the number of stripes is related to the runway width A threshold marking helps identify the beginning of the runway that is available for landing In some instances, the landing threshold may be displaced Safety directive A manufacturer issued change to a S-LSA that must be complied with This is similar to an airworthiness directive which is a regulatory notice sent out by the FAA to the registered owner of an aircraft informing the owner of a condition that prevents the aircraft from continuing to meet its conditions for airworthiness Airworthiness Directives (AD notes) must be complied with within the required time limit, and the fact of compliance, the date of compliance, and the method of compliance must be recorded in the aircraft’s maintenance records SAR See search and rescue Scan A procedure used by the pilot to visually identify all resources of information in flight 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 Scenario-based training The instructor provides pilot, aircraft, environment, and operational risk elements to train the student to utilize ADM in making the best decision for the given set of circumstances SD See safety directave Sea level A reference height used to determine standard atmospheric conditions and altitude measurements 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 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 is less than approximately 20 degrees 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 Single surface wing one piece of fabric for most of the airfoil on a WSC with the cross bar exposed to the airflow Typically used for slower wings 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 section 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 WSC in space Special flight permit A flight permit issued to an aircraft that does not meet airworthiness requirements but is capable of safe flight A special flight permit can be issued to move an aircraft for the purposes of maintenance or repair, buyer delivery, manufacturer flight tests, evacuation from danger, or customer demonstration Also referred to as a ferry permit Special Use Airspace (SUA) Airspace that exists where activities must be confined because of their nature Consists of prohibited, restricted, warning, military operations, and alert areas Speed The distance traveled in a given time 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 Stalling speed For WSC, the power-off stall speed at the maximum takeoff weight (the lower limit of the green arc) 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 section 91 126 (a)(1) and AIM chapter 4, section 3 Standard Atmosphere Consisting of those atmospheric conditions at sea level that include a barometric pressure of 29 92 inches of mercury ("Hg) or 1013 2 millibars, and a temperature of 15 °C (59 °F) Pressure and temperature normally decrease as altitude increases The standard lapse rate in the lower atmosphere for each 1,000 feet of altitude is approximately 1 "Hg and 2 °C (3 5 °F) For example, the standard pressure and temperature at 3,000 feet mean sea level (MSL) is 26 92 "Hg (29 92 – 3) and 9 °C (15 – 6) Static pressure The pressure of air that is still, or not moving, measured perpendicular to the surface exposed to the air Static stability The initial tendency an aircraft displays when disturbed from a state of equilibrium Stationary front A front that is moving at a speed of less than 5 knots Steep turn Turn resulting from a degree of bank of 45 degrees or more 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 Strut Wing structural member used to hold the wings in place instead of the flying and ground wires for some designs The “strutted wing” does not use a kingpost Student Pilot Certificate An FAA issued certificate that permits student pilots to exercise solo pilot privileges with limitations This can be a student’s FAA third class medical or a student pilot certificate issued for flying an LSA using a driver’s license as medical eligibility SUA See special use airspace Surface analysis chart A report that depicts an analysis of the current surface weather Shows the areas of high and low pressure, fronts, temperatures, dewpoints, wind directions and speeds, local weather, and visual obstructions 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 aerodrome forecast (TAF) A report established for the 5 statute mile radius around an airport Utilizes the same descriptors and abbreviations as the METAR report Terminal Radar Service Area (TRSA) Area where participating pilots can receive additional radar services, the purpose of which 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 from the valve in a carburetor or fuel control unit that determines the amount of fuel-air mixture that is fed to the engine Thrust The force which imparts a change in the velocity of a mass A forward force which propels the WSC through the air Thrust line An imaginary line passing through the center of the propeller hub, perpendicular to the plane of the propeller rotation Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) That portion of the code formerly called the Federal Aviation Regulations (FAR) governing the operation of aircraft, airways, and airmen Torque (1) A resistance to turning or twisting (2) Forces that produce a twisting or rotating motion (3) In a WSC, the tendency of the aircraft to turn (roll) in the opposite direction of rotation of the engine and propeller 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 Towered airport An airport that has an operating control tower 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 aft edge of the airfoil In normal flight, it is the portion of the airfoil where airflow over the upper surface rejoins the lower surface airflow Training bars An attachment to the control frame which allows the instructor in the rear seat to move the control bar and control the pitch and bank with a solid attachment 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 True airspeed Actual airspeed, determined by applying a correction for pressure altitude and temperature to the CAS Because air density decreases with an increase in altitude, an airplane has to be flown faster at higher altitudes to cause the same pressure difference between pitot impact pressure and static pressure Therefore, for a given calibrated airspeed, true airspeed increases as altitude increases; or for a given true airspeed, calibrated airspeed decreases as altitude increases True altitude The vertical distance of the airplane above sea level the actual altitude It is often expressed as feet above mean sea level (MSL) Airport, terrain, and obstacle elevations on sectional charts are true altitudes TRSA See Terminal Radar Service Area Tuck A nose down situation in a WSC where the pitch angle is over 90 degrees down resulting from a whip stall or severe turbulence Tumble The WSC rotating uncontrollably around its lateral axis from a whip stall or severe turbulence Results of a tumble would probably cause a structural failure with catastrophic consequences Turbulence An occurrence in which a flow of fluid is unsteady Twist The design of the WSC wing in which a wing is twisted so its angle of attack is less at the tip than at the root This decreases the lift the wing produces at the tip to improve the stall characteristics of the wing Also called washout 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 |
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