100 Terms Every Pilot Should Know

No.	Term	Definition
1.	Abort	Terminate a takeoff or approach for safety reasons.
2.	Aileron	Control surface that rolls the aircraft about its axis.
3.	AIP	Official publication containing aeronautical information for a country.
4.	Altimeter	Instrument that indicates altitude using static air pressure.
5.	Altitude	Vertical distance above mean sea level.
6.	AMSL	Altitude measured above mean sea level.
7.	Approach	Flight phase leading to landing on a runway.
8.	APU	Auxiliary engine providing electrical power and bleed air.
9.	ATC	Service that directs aircraft to maintain safe traffic flow.
10.	ATIS	Recorded broadcast of airport weather and operational information.
11.	Attitude	Aircraft orientation relative to the horizon.
12.	Autopilot	System that automatically controls aircraft flight path.
13.	Aviate	First priority to control the aircraft.
14.	Awareness	Understanding of current situation and future implications.
15.	Baro setting	Altimeter pressure setting for local conditions.
16.	Base leg	Traffic pattern leg flown perpendicular to the runway.
17.	Beacon	Light or transmitter used for identification or navigation.
18.	Bearing	Direction to a point relative to north.
19.	Best glide	Airspeed for maximum glide distance after power loss.
20.	Bleed air	Compressed air extracted from engines for aircraft systems.
21.	Briefing	Planned review of procedures and threats before a phase.
22.	Cabin altitude	Pressure altitude inside the pressurized cabin.
23.	Callsign	Radio identification used to address an aircraft.
24.	CARs	Regulations governing civil aviation operations and licensing.
25.	Ceiling	Height of lowest broken or overcast cloud layer.
26.	CFIT	Collision with terrain while aircraft remains under control.
27.	Checklist	Ordered list ensuring required actions are completed.
28.	Clearance	ATC authorization to proceed under specified conditions.
29.	Climb	Flight segment where altitude increases.
30.	Crosswind	Wind component perpendicular to the runway.
31.	Cruise	Steady level flight at planned altitude and speed.
32.	DA	Decision altitude for precision approach decision making.
33.	Dead reckoning	Navigation by estimated position from course and speed.
34.	Density altitude	Pressure altitude corrected for nonstandard temperature.
35.	Descent	Flight segment where altitude decreases.
36.	Deviation	Variation from an assigned route altitude or procedure.
37.	Dihedral	Upward wing angle that increases lateral stability.
38.	DME	Equipment measuring slant range distance to a station.
39.	Downwind	Traffic pattern leg flown parallel opposite landing direction.
40.	Drag	Aerodynamic force opposing motion through the air.
41.	EFB	Electronic device hosting charts manuals and performance tools.
42.	EGT	Measure of exhaust gas temperature for engine monitoring.
43.	ELT	Emergency beacon that transmits distress location signals.
44.	Enroute	Portion of flight between departure and arrival phases.
45.	ETOPS	Rules enabling extended range operations with two engines.
46.	FADEC	Computer that manages engine performance and limits.
47.	Final	Approach leg aligned with runway centerline.
48.	Flaps	Wing devices increasing lift and drag at low speeds.
49.	Flight levels	Altitudes referenced to standard pressure settings.
50.	Flight plan	Filed route and timing information for a flight.
51.	FMS	Computer managing navigation performance and guidance.
52.	FOD	Debris that can damage aircraft or engines.
53.	Friction	Resistance force between surfaces in contact.
54.	Fuel burn	Rate at which fuel is consumed in flight.
55.	Gate	Airport parking position where passengers board or deplane.
56.	Glidepath	Vertical guidance to a runway during approach.
57.	Go around	Discontinue an approach and climb for another attempt.
58.	GPS	Satellite based navigation providing position velocity and time.
59.	Ground effect	Reduced induced drag near the ground during flight.
60.	Groundspeed	Speed of the aircraft relative to the ground.
61.	Heading	Direction the aircraft nose points relative to north.
62.	Holding	Published pattern for delaying aircraft at a fix.
63.	Hydraulics	Fluid power system operating flight controls and actuators.
64.	IFR	Rules for flying primarily by instruments in controlled airspace.
65.	ILS	Precision approach system providing lateral and vertical guidance.
66.	Indicated airspeed	Airspeed shown on the airspeed indicator.
67.	Inertia	Tendency to resist changes in motion.
68.	Intercept	Maneuver to join a course radial or localizer.
69.	Jet stream	Strong high altitude winds affecting groundspeed and routing.
70.	KIAS	Knots indicated airspeed used for aircraft limitations.
71.	Knots	Nautical miles per hour used for aviation speed.
72.	Landing roll	Ground run after touchdown until taxi speed.
73.	Lift	Aerodynamic force acting perpendicular to relative airflow.
74.	Localizer	ILS component providing lateral runway alignment guidance.
75.	Longitudinal stability	Tendency to return to pitch equilibrium after disturbance.
76.	Mach	Ratio of true airspeed to speed of sound.
77.	Magnetic variation	Angle difference between true north and magnetic north.
78.	Manifold pressure	Intake pressure used to set piston engine power.
79.	MDA	Minimum descent altitude for nonprecision approaches.
80.	METAR	Routine aviation weather observation report for an airport.
81.	Minimums	Lowest authorized altitude to continue an instrument approach.
82.	Missed approach	Published procedure flown after an unsuccessful approach.
83.	Mixture	Fuel to air ratio control in piston engines.
84.	Nosewheel	Front landing gear wheel used for steering on ground.
85.	NOTAM	Time critical notice affecting flight operations or hazards.
86.	Obstacle clearance	Required separation from terrain and manmade structures.
87.	Oil pressure	Engine lubrication pressure indicating proper oil circulation.
88.	Overspeed	Exceeding a published speed limitation.
89.	PAPI	Visual lights showing approach glide slope guidance.
90.	Pattern	Standard traffic circuit around an airport for sequencing.
91.	Payload	Weight of passengers baggage and cargo carried.
92.	Pitot tube	Probe measuring total pressure for airspeed calculation.
93.	Power setting	Selected engine thrust level for a flight phase.
94.	Preflight	Inspection and preparation before engine start and departure.
95.	Pressurization	System maintaining cabin pressure at higher altitudes.
96.	QNH	Altimeter setting that reads field elevation on the ground.
97.	RNP	Navigation performance specification requiring onboard monitoring.
98.	Rotation	Pitch up action initiating liftoff during takeoff.
99.	Rudder	Vertical control surface that yaws the aircraft.
100.	Runway incursion	Unauthorized aircraft vehicle or person on a runway.