A/A
Air-to-Air communication or radar mode between aircraft.
Air-to-Air communication or radar mode between aircraft.
Air-to-Ground communication from aircraft to ground stations.
Above Aerodrome Level — height measured above the aerodrome elevation.
Position 90° to either side of a reference point; used in circuits and navigation.
Above — used in meteorology and ATC information.
Airborne Collision Avoidance System — includes systems such as TCAS.
Aircraft.
Acknowledge — R/T phrase meaning “message received and understood”.
Aircraft Classification Number — expresses aircraft loading on pavements.
Automatic Direction Finder — NDB-based radio navigation equipment.
Aerodrome.
Air Defence Identification Zone — airspace requiring identification before entry.
Aeronautical Decision Making — systematic approach to pilot decision processes.
Airspace Danger Area — zone where activities may be hazardous to aircraft.
Automatic Dependent Surveillance–Broadcast — aircraft broadcasts GPS-derived position.
Aerodrome Flight Information Service — provides information, not clearances.
Aircraft Flight Manual — official performance and limitation data.
Above Ground Level — height measured from the surface directly below the aircraft.
Aeronautical Information Publication — official source of national aeronautical info.
Aeronautical Information Service — responsible for NOTAMs and aeronautical data.
The standardized spelling alphabet used in aviation radiotelephony to ensure clarity.
A – Alfa
B – Bravo
C – Charlie
D – Delta
E – Echo
F – Foxtrot
G – Golf
H – Hotel
I – India
J – Juliett
K – Kilo
L – Lima
M – Mike
N – November
O – Oscar
P – Papa
Q – Quebec
R – Romeo
S – Sierra
T – Tango
U – Uniform
V – Victor
W – Whiskey
X – X-ray
Y – Yankee
Z – Zulu
Approach Lighting System — runway lighting aiding approach alignment.
Altitude (AMSL) — height above mean sea level.
Alternate Aerodrome — backup aerodrome for planning or diversion.
Above Mean Sea Level — standard reference for altitude.
Autopilot — automatic flight control system.
Approach Control — ATC unit responsible for arrivals and departures.
Approach Phase — segment of flight before landing.
Accelerate-Stop Distance Available — runway length available for aborting takeoff.
Air Traffic Control — provides clearances and ensures traffic separation.
Automatic Terminal Information Service — continuous broadcast of airport information.
Air Traffic Management — overall management of ATC, flow, and airspace.
Air Traffic Services — includes ATC, FIS, alerting services.
Aerodrome Traffic Zone — controlled airspace surrounding an aerodrome.
Aviation Turbine Fuel — jet fuel such as Jet A / Jet A-1.
Basic Aerodrome Lighting — minimal lighting system used at small aerodromes.
Patches — used in weather reports to indicate patchy fog or clouds (e.g. BCFG).
Basic Control Geometry — relates to simple aerodynamics and control surface geometry.
Beacon — visual or radio navigation beacon at an aerodrome or navaid site.
Becoming — gradual weather change expected within the forecast period.
The weight of the aircraft including all basic equipment plus a declared quantity of unusable fuel and oil.
Blowing — used for blowing snow, blowing sand, or blowing dust when raised by wind.
Beacon — sometimes abbreviated in older aviation documentation; same as BCN.
Mist — visibility between 1,000 m and 5,000 m (METAR phenomenon).
Bearing — direction to or from a station, measured clockwise from north.
Cloud coverage of 5–7 oktas; considered a “ceiling” for VFR purposes.
Bright — descriptor in some light/visibility reports, meaning higher visibility or illumination.
Below The Line — used in checklists to mark items completed after engine start or other transitions.
Binary Universal Form for the Representation of meteorological data — format used for weather exchange.
Turbulence bump — informal term referring to sudden turbulence, often light to moderate.
Civil Aviation Authority — national aviation regulator of a state.
Calibrated Airspeed — indicated airspeed corrected for position and instrument error.
Clear Air Turbulence — turbulence occurring in clear air, often near jet streams or strong wind gradients.
Category — classification of approach minima (CAT I, II, III) or commercial air transport, depending on context.
Ceiling And Visibility OK — visibility ≥ 10 km, no significant weather, and no clouds below 5000 ft or below the minimum sector altitude (whichever is higher).
Cumulonimbus — large convective cloud associated with thunderstorms, heavy rain, hail and severe turbulence.
Cirrocumulus — high-level cloud type consisting of small white patches or ripples.
Course Deviation Indicator — instrument needle showing lateral deviation from a selected course (VOR/LOC).
Centre of Gravity — point at which the total weight of the aircraft is considered to act; critical for stability and control.
Compass Heading — heading read directly from the magnetic compass, including any deviation error.
High-level cloud made of ice crystals, usually wispy; often associated with approaching frontal systems.
Clear — used in weather reports to indicate absence of significant cloud at or below a given altitude or in vicinity of the aerodrome (depends on local usage).
Communication, Navigation and Surveillance — collective term for key aviation systems infrastructure.
Changeover Point — point on an ATS route where an aircraft should transfer from one navaid to the next for navigation accuracy.
Closest Point of Approach — point at which two aircraft or objects will be at minimum separation if their relative tracks are unchanged.
Commercial Pilot Licence — licence allowing a pilot to be paid for flying operations within defined limits.
Captain — pilot in command of the aircraft, with overall responsibility for the flight.
Course — intended track over the ground or selected radial on a navaid, expressed in degrees from north.
Control Area — controlled airspace extending upwards from a specified limit above the ground (higher than a CTR), designed to protect en-route or approach traffic.
Control Zone — controlled airspace extending upwards from the surface to a specified upper limit around an aerodrome, protecting arriving and departing traffic.
Cockpit Voice Recorder — records cockpit audio for incident and accident investigation.
Decision Altitude — altitude at which a decision must be made during an instrument approach to continue or go around.
Directional Aid Height — height reference associated with navigation or approach aids (less common in PPL exams).
Airspace where activities dangerous to aviation may take place. Entry may be restricted or require permission.
Direct — clearance or routing that allows the aircraft to proceed straight to a waypoint without following a published route.
The total weight of the aircraft ready for a specific operation, excluding all fuel and traffic load. Includes crew, crew baggage, catering, and passenger service equipment.
Departure — refers to departing traffic, runway, aerodrome or procedures (e.g. “DEP RWY 03”).
Temperature at which air becomes saturated and condensation begins; key factor for fog formation and carb icing risk.
Direction Finding — radio technique using bearings from ground stations to locate an aircraft (older but still examinable).
Danger Area — alternative abbreviation sometimes used interchangeably with D or EPD (varies by country).
Decision Height — height (AGL) at which a decision must be made during an instrument approach. Similar to DA but based on height, not altitude.
Direction Indicator — gyroscopic heading indicator that provides stable heading information unaffected by bank/yaw errors like the magnetic compass.
Distance — horizontal distance between two points, often used in navigation logs and performance calculations.
Delay — used in flow management or clearances (e.g. “DL due to congestion”).
Distance Measuring Equipment — radio aid providing slant-range distance to a paired ground transponder (often co-located with VOR or ILS).
Downwind Leg — segment of the circuit flown parallel to the runway in the opposite direction of landing.
Departure Procedure — procedural routing after takeoff; general term (SID if published, or visual departure instructions).
Dead Reckoning — navigation method using heading, time and speed to estimate position without external references.
Descent — phase of flight during which altitude is reduced; also used in performance tables for rate of descent.
Drift — angle between aircraft heading and track caused by crosswind; corrected through wind-corrected heading.
Class E Airspace — controlled airspace where IFR traffic is controlled and VFR is permitted without clearance. VFR receives traffic information when possible.
Expected Approach Time — the time an aircraft is expected to commence approach following a delay or holding pattern.
Electronic Centralized Aircraft Monitoring — system that displays aircraft systems status (mainly airliners, rarely in PPL exams but appears in theory).
Extended Diversion Time Operations — long-range operation rules for twins (formerly ETOPS). Rare in PPL, but may appear conceptually.
Enhanced Ground Proximity Warning System — advanced terrain-awareness and warning system to prevent CFIT accidents.
Emergency Locator Beacon Aircraft — emergency radio beacon transmitting aircraft distress position (modern ELTs use 406 MHz).
Emergency Locator Transmitter — device activating automatically after an impact to broadcast distress location on 406 MHz and 121.5 MHz.
En-Route section of the AIP — contains rules and procedures for IFR/VFR operations outside terminal airspace.
Entry Point Gap — term used in some airspace structures, referring to gaps in entry points (non-critical for PPL).
Estimated Time of Arrival — predicted time at which the aircraft will reach a specified point or aerodrome.
Estimated Time of Departure — planned time for departure, used in flight plans and ATC flow management.
Extended-range Twin Operations — older term replaced by EDTO. Not directly PPL-relevant but appears in theory context.
Enhanced Vision System — infrared/low-light visual system improving situational awareness (advanced GA/IFR).
Empty Weight — weight of the aircraft without usable fuel, passengers, or baggage; important for weight and balance calculations.
Final Approach Fix — point where the final approach segment of an instrument approach begins.
Final Approach Point — point used for non-precision approaches where final descent begins (no fix symbol).
Final Approach and Take-Off Area — defined area for helicopters to complete landing or takeoff.
Fixed-Base Operator — facility providing general aviation services such as fueling, parking, maintenance, lounges.
Flight Crew Licensing — EASA/ICAO framework regulating pilot licences, ratings, and medical requirements.
Flight Data Recorder — device recording technical flight data for investigation purposes (“black box”).
Few clouds — 1–2 oktas of cloud coverage (METAR cloud amount group).
Flight Information Centre — provides en-route flight information service and alerting service to pilots.
Flight Information Region — large airspace region providing ATC, FIS, and alerting services (e.g., Athens FIR).
Flight Level — altitude expressed in hundreds of feet based on standard pressure setting (1013 hPa). Example: FL65 = 6,500 ft on standard pressure.
High-lift devices fitted to the wing to increase lift, drag, or stall margin, mainly used during takeoff and landing.
Flight Management Computer — integrated computer managing navigation and performance (airliners/advanced GA).
From — indicates an abrupt change in weather conditions starting at a specific time group in a TAF.
Frequency-Modulated Continuous Wave — radar type used in radio altimeters (advanced concept, but appears in exams).
Flight Management System — integrated navigation and performance system coordinating FMC, autopilot, and sensors.
First Officer — second-in-command pilot assisting the Captain (PIC).
Foreign Object Debris — objects on the runway/apron that may damage aircraft (critical safety concept).
Flight Path Angle — vertical angle of ascent/descent relative to horizontal; used in VNAV/advanced avionics.
Flight Path Analysis Point — a point used in performance and approach path analysis (rare in PPL).
Flight Plan — filed document containing route, fuel, persons onboard, and operational intentions of a flight.
Feet Per Minute — unit for vertical speed (rate of climb or descent).
QNH/QFE prefixes used in some systems to indicate forecast altimeter settings (non-ICAO standard, low frequency in PPL).
Frequency — radio frequency used for ATC, navigation, or communications (e.g. 118.300 MHz).
Frequent — used in weather/NOTAM contexts meaning something occurs often.
Flight Service Station — provides weather briefings, FPL assistance, NOTAM information (more common in US).
General Aviation — all civil aviation operations other than commercial air transport or aerial work.
Go-Around — discontinued approach followed by climb and rejoining of the circuit or missed approach procedure.
General Aviation Forecast — route-oriented weather forecast for VFR flights (used in many European states).
Ground-Based Augmentation System — precision approach system improving GNSS accuracy (advanced but examinable).
Ground Controlled Approach — radar-based approach guidance provided by a controller (rare today but still tested).
Ground Controlled Interception — radar vectoring of an intercept aircraft (mostly in military context).
Ground Control — ATC position responsible for managing traffic on taxiways and aprons (not runways).
Graphical Forecast for Aviation — visual weather briefing tools (varies by region; conceptually relevant).
GNSS Integrity Augmentation — systems improving reliability and accuracy of satellite navigation data.
Glider — aircraft without an engine designed for unpowered flight; appears in airspace and right-of-way rules.
Ground — used in altitude/height reports (e.g., “500 ft GND”) or as ATC frequency abbreviation (“GND 121.9”).
Global Navigation Satellite System — generic term for satellite navigation (GPS, Galileo, GLONASS, BeiDou).
Glide Path — vertical guidance angle of an ILS or precision approach (typically 3 degrees).
Groundspeed — speed of the aircraft relative to the ground, affected by wind; GS = TAS ± wind component.
Glide Slope — vertical radio beam component of the ILS providing descent guidance to the runway.
Sudden, brief increase in wind speed; important for takeoff, landing and Vref adjustments.
Hazard — condition or object with potential to cause harm; used in safety and risk assessment contexts.
Heading — direction in which the aircraft nose is pointing, expressed in degrees from magnetic north.
High Frequency — radio band (3–30 MHz) used for long-range communications; less relevant for basic PPL but examinable conceptually.
High-Frequency Radio — similar to HF, used in long-range aviation and oceanic operations.
Height — vertical distance of a point measured from a specific datum (usually AGL in aviation terms).
Holding — predetermined manoeuvre maintaining position over a fix; also refers to ATC instructions to hold short of a runway or point on the ground.
Hectopascal — unit of pressure used for altimeter settings (QNH, QFE). 1 hPa ≈ 1 millibar.
Hours — time unit used in METAR/TAF groups and NOTAM validity windows (e.g., “HRLY” meaning hourly).
Horizon — used in visual references and in attitude interpretation (natural or artificial horizon).
Haze — reduced visibility due to fine dry particles; worse at low sun angles and common in high-pressure weather systems.
Head-Up Display — system projecting critical flight info onto a transparent screen in the pilot’s line of sight (advanced GA and airliners).
Heavy — ICAO wake turbulence category for aircraft 136,000 kg or heavier; affects separation minima for smaller aircraft.
Indicated Airspeed — airspeed shown on the ASI, not corrected for instrument or position error.
International Civil Aviation Organization — UN agency that sets global standards for aviation safety, airspace, and licensing.
Identification — used in transponders (“Squawk Ident”) to momentarily highlight the aircraft on radar.
Instrument Flight Rules — rules for flying by instruments, required in IMC or controlled airspace above certain levels.
Instrument Landing System — precision approach system providing lateral (localizer) and vertical (glide slope) guidance to runway.
Instrument Meteorological Conditions — weather conditions below VFR minima requiring IFR flight or special VFR clearance.
Inertial Measurement Unit — sensor system that detects acceleration and rotation for autopilot and navigation systems (advanced GA).
Inches of Mercury — alternative unit for altimeter setting used mainly in the US. 1 inHg = 33.8639 hPa.
Inertial Navigation System — autonomous navigation using accelerometers and gyros (advanced but examinable conceptually).
International Standard Atmosphere — model defining temperature, pressure and density at various altitudes (e.g., +15°C at sea level).
Line connecting points of equal rainfall — occasionally referenced in meteorology sections of PPL theory.
Joint Aviation Authorities — former European aviation regulatory body, replaced by EASA. Still appears in legacy documentation and exams.
Jet Engine — turbine engine producing thrust by accelerating exhaust gases; includes turbofan, turbojet, and turboprop variants.
Joint Flight Information Region — airspace controlled jointly by more than one state (rare but examinable concept).
Joint Navigation Chart — en-route chart type used in some ICAO materials (legacy but relevant for navigation principles).
Kelvin — temperature scale used in scientific calculations and atmospheric physics. ISA temperature lapse rates are sometimes expressed in Kelvin.
Knots Indicated Airspeed — IAS expressed in knots; primary speed reference for most light aircraft.
Knot(s) — standard aviation unit of speed. 1 kt = 1 nautical mile per hour = 1.852 km/h.
Kilowatt — unit of power. Used in metric performance tables; 1 kW = 1.34 horsepower.
Left — used in circuits and ATC instructions (e.g., “Left-hand circuit”, “Turn left heading 270”).
Light Aircraft Association — organization supporting recreational flying (mainly UK; general aviation relevance).
Latitude — angular distance north or south of the equator, measured in degrees; used in navigation coordinates.
Landing Weight — maximum permissible weight for landing; relevant to performance and aircraft limitations.
Landing Distance Available — runway length declared available and suitable for landing an aircraft.
Landing — phase of flight from flare to touchdown; also used in charts (“LDG distance”, “LDG weight”).
Light-Emitting Diode — common in modern aircraft lighting, displays and annunciators.
Low Frequency — radio band (30–300 kHz) used historically for NDBs; still relevant for ADF navigation theory.
Landing Gear — wheels, struts and supports enabling ground operations; can be fixed or retractable.
Left-Hand — used in traffic patterns (circuits), e.g., “Left-hand downwind runway 25”.
Low Instrument Flight Rules — visibility < 1 mile and/or ceiling < 500 ft (common US term; sometimes referenced in theory).
Localizer — lateral guidance component of the ILS providing course alignment to runway centerline.
Low — used in meteorology and pressure charts indicating a low-pressure system (cyclone).
Localizer — component of ILS providing horizontal guidance; sometimes used for standalone non-precision LOC approaches.
Line-Oriented Flight Training — scenario-based training in simulators (advanced concept but appears in HPL/Human Factors).
Definitions used in aircraft structural integrity and certification limits.
Longitude — angular distance east or west of the prime meridian; pairs with latitude for coordinates.
Localizer Performance with Vertical Guidance — high-precision GNSS-based approach comparable to ILS CAT I minima.
Low Rupture Time — describes specific material properties, sometimes referenced in AGK (Aircraft General Knowledge).
Lowest Safe Altitude — minimum altitude ensuring terrain and obstacle clearance on route; extremely important for navigation safety.
Mach number — ratio of true airspeed to the speed of sound. Mainly relevant in high-speed flight but appears in theory.
Maximum Authorized Altitude — highest altitude permitted on a particular route segment or airspace area.
Magnetic — relating to magnetic north; used in magnetic heading, magnetic variation, magnetic track, etc.
Engine-driven electrical generator that produces high-voltage pulses for the spark plugs. Most piston aircraft engines use two magnetos for redundancy and better combustion.
A graph showing the relationship between airspeed (V) and load factor (n). Defines the structural load limits and safe operating speeds of the aircraft.
Missed Approach Point — point in an instrument approach where a missed approach procedure must be initiated if visual references are not acquired.
Standard mass definitions used in aircraft performance, loading, and certification.
Minimum Descent Altitude — lowest altitude to which descent is authorized in a non-precision approach before visual references must be seen.
Minimum Descent Height — same as MDA but expressed as height above terrain (AGL).
Meteorology — weather information and reports used in aviation (METAR, TAF, SIGMET, etc.).
Meteorological Aerodrome Report — routine weather report issued at regular intervals for aerodromes.
Medium Frequency — radio band (300–3000 kHz) used historically for NDBs; still relevant in ADF navigation theory.
Minimum Holding Altitude — lowest altitude at which holding patterns can be safely flown considering terrain and obstacles.
Megahertz — unit of frequency equal to one million hertz; used for VHF communication and navigation frequencies (e.g., 118.000 MHz).
Maximum Landing Weight — maximum structural weight permitted for landing; important for performance and limitations.
Minutes — time unit commonly used in navigation planning, fuel calculations, and ATC instructions (“hold 2 MIN legs”).
Medium Intensity Runway Lights — common runway edge lighting system used at many small/medium airports.
Minimum Obstacle Clearance — minimum required vertical separation between aircraft and obstacles during IFR procedures.
Minimum Obstacle Clearance Altitude — ensures obstacle clearance and acceptable navigation signal along a route segment.
Minimum Off-Route Altitude — provides obstacle clearance for aircraft flying off published airways (typically 1000–2000 ft buffer).
Mountain Obscuration — severe reduction in visibility due to clouds or precipitation obscuring terrain; a factor in mountain flying risks.
Mean Operating Temperature — used in engine and systems performance discussions (advanced concept but appears in AGK theory).
Manifold Pressure — pressure in the intake manifold of piston engines; used to set power in constant-speed prop aircraft.
Minimum Reception Altitude — lowest altitude at which an aircraft can reliably receive signals from a given NAVAID on a route segment.
Minimum Radar Vectoring Altitude — lowest altitude ATC can assign while providing radar vectors, ensuring obstacle clearance.
Minimum Sector Altitude — minimum altitude providing at least 1000 ft obstacle clearance within 25 NM of a navigation facility or waypoint.
Mean Sea Level — standard reference datum for altitudes (e.g., 3500 ft MSL).
Maximum Takeoff Weight — maximum structural weight at which the aircraft is certified for takeoff; key performance limitation.
North — one of the cardinal directions. Can refer to true north, magnetic north, or grid north depending on context.
Not Available — used in procedures or charts where an approach segment or minimum is not authorized.
Navigation — general term covering the methods used to determine position and route (dead reckoning, GNSS, VOR, ADF).
Navigation Aid — facility providing guidance to aircraft (VOR, NDB, DME, ILS components, GNSS, etc.).
Northbound — aircraft flying toward the north; used in traffic flow and ATC instructions.
Non-Directional Beacon — radio navigation aid transmitting a continuous signal used by ADF in aircraft.
Non-Directional Beacon — standardized ICAO abbreviation for the radio navigation beacon used with ADF equipment.
Nautical Mile — distance unit used in aviation and maritime navigation. 1 NM = 1.852 km = 6076 ft.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration — US agency providing weather data used widely in aviation charts and forecasts.
Notice to Airmen / Air Missions — official notice containing time-critical information affecting flight operations, hazards, closures, or procedures.
Non-Precision Approach — instrument approach without vertical guidance (e.g., VOR, NDB, LNAV-only GNSS).
Outside Air Temperature — temperature of the air outside the aircraft; important for performance, icing risk, and density altitude.
Omni Bearing Selector — control on VOR indicators used to select desired radial or course.
Outside Controlled Airspace — airspace where most VFR operations occur and fewer ATC services are provided.
Obstacle Clearance Height — height above the elevation of the runway threshold ensuring obstacle clearance in approach procedures.
Obstacle Clearance Limit — lowest permitted altitude ensuring obstacle clearance in a given segment of an instrument procedure.
One Engine Inoperative — performance condition used for multi-engine aircraft calculations and safety margins.
Overhead Panel — panel located above the pilots containing electrical, lighting, fuel, and system controls (more relevant in larger aircraft).
Obstacle Identification Surface — sloping surface defining obstacle clearance requirements near runways and procedures.
Outer Marker — marker beacon (now mostly decommissioned) used in ILS approaches indicating the FAF location.
Outer Marker Beacon — full ICAO term for OM, part of the ILS marker beacon system.
Other Power-driven Aircraft — ICAO classification for performance categories (e.g., helicopters, gyros, powered gliders).
Operations — general term referring to flight operations, procedures, and regulatory requirements (EU-OPS, Part-OPS).
Pressure Altitude — altitude read when the altimeter is set to 1013 hPa; used for performance calculations.
Precision Approach Path Indicator — four-light system providing visual glide-path information on approach.
Procedures for Air Navigation Services — ICAO rules governing instrument procedure design and obstacle clearance.
Precision Approach Radar — radar system providing precise glide-path and centerline guidance (military/advanced IFR).
Passengers — informal abbreviation widely used in operations and manifests.
Pressure — general symbol for atmospheric or static pressure used in meteorology and performance charts.
Pilot-Controlled Lighting — system allowing pilots to activate runway lighting via VHF transmissions.
Pilot Deviation — occurrence where a pilot violates a regulation or ATC instruction (training & safety concept).
Pilot Flying — pilot currently manipulating the controls (opposite of PM, Pilot Monitoring).
Performance — general performance-related data such as climb rates, takeoff distance, and fuel burn.
Precipitation Gauge Measurement — used in meteorology to indicate rainfall intensity or accumulation.
Pilot in Command — pilot responsible for the safe conduct of the flight; holds final authority and responsibility.
Longitudinal rotation of the aircraft about its lateral axis; controlled by the elevator.
Point of No Return — point beyond which the aircraft does not have enough fuel to return to the departure aerodrome.
Persons On Board — required entry in flight plans and operational documentation for emergency services reference.
Pilot’s Operating Handbook — aircraft-specific manual containing procedures, limitations, and performance data.
Potential Temperature — atmospheric thermodynamics term used in advanced meteorology (lightly examinable for PPL).
Powered Paraglider — type of ultralight aircraft; appears in categorization and airspace rules.
Private Pilot Licence — licence allowing non-commercial flight in single-engine aircraft under VFR.
Parking — stands or apron locations used for aircraft ground operations (e.g., PRKG stand 02).
Probability — used in TAF to indicate probability of weather events (e.g., PROB30 means 30% probability).
Pressure Setting — general reference to QNH/QFE/Standard altimeter settings for altitude measurement.
Primary Surveillance Radar — radar detecting aircraft by reflected radio energy (no transponder required).
Press-To-Talk — button on the yoke or radio allowing transmission over VHF comms.
Altimeter setting that reads zero at the airfield reference point (usually runway threshold). Height shown = height above the airfield (AGL).
Sea-level pressure corrected for actual temperature; used in meteorology, not typically for altimeter setting.
Magnetic orientation of a runway in whole tens of degrees (e.g., QFU 270 = runway oriented 270° magnetic).
Controller-assisted approach using radar and radio instructions (similar to talk-down). Mostly historical but appears in theory.
Magnetic bearing **to** the station from the aircraft (“Go Direct Magnetic”). Used with ADF/NDB navigation.
Magnetic bearing **from** the station to the aircraft (“Determined Radial”). Reciprocal of QDM ±180°.
Altimeter subscale setting required to read elevation above mean sea level (less common variant of QNH reference).
Standard altimeter pressure setting of 1013.25 hPa (29.92 inHg) used to indicate pressure altitude and flight levels above the transition altitude.
Altimeter setting giving elevation above mean sea level (AMSL). Standard setting used for circuits and approach altitudes at aerodromes.
Radio interference — signal degraded by man-made noise (e.g., static, equipment interference).
“Nothing for you” — used to indicate no new information or messages (older radiotelephony code but examinable).
Change frequency — instruction to change to another radio channel (e.g., “QSY Approach 128.825”).
Runway Ahead — used in runway signage and alerts indicating that a runway is about to be entered.
Radio Altimeter — measures actual height above terrain (AGL) using radio waves; used for low-level flight and autoland systems.
Rules of the Air and Air Traffic Services — ICAO procedures governing flight rules and ATC operations.
Runway Arresting Gear — cables or equipment used to stop military aircraft; noted on airport charts.
Receiver Autonomous Integrity Monitoring — GNSS function detecting satellite integrity issues; required for RNAV approaches.
Runway Alignment Procedure — procedure or alignment used for instrument approaches or localizer intercepts.
Rescue Boat — SAR (Search and Rescue) vessel; appears in emergency procedures documentation and NOTAMs.
Radiocommunication Failure — complete loss of radio; procedures are detailed in ICAO and national rules.
Reference Datum Height — height above runway threshold where glide slope signal passes overhead (ILS parameter).
Runway End Identifier Lights — two flashing white lights at the approach end of a runway to improve recognition.
Rescue and Fire Fighting — emergency capability category of an aerodrome, based on aircraft size/type.
Right-Hand — used for traffic patterns (e.g., "Right-hand downwind runway 10").
Radar Information Area — airspace where radar information service is provided but not full ATC control (non-standard, seen in exam theory).
Rime Ice — rough, milky ice formed in small supercooled droplets; increases drag and decreases lift.
Area Navigation — allows aircraft to fly any desired path using GNSS or DME/DME without ground-based tracking.
Runway Occupied — runway is not available for landing/takeoff due to traffic or obstruction; used in operations logs.
Rate of Climb — vertical speed during climb, usually expressed in feet per minute (fpm).
Rate of Descent — vertical speed during descent, expressed in feet per minute (fpm).
Rich of Peak — mixture setting where fuel mixture is richer than peak exhaust gas temperature (EGT). Used for cooling and engine protection.
Revolutions Per Minute — rotation speed of propeller or engine crankshaft; primary power indication in fixed-pitch prop aircraft.
Rapid Runway (or Rapid Exit) — fast-exit taxiway enabling aircraft to vacate the runway quickly after landing.
Runway Slope — slope percentage affecting takeoff/landing performance (positive = uphill in direction of travel).
Radiotelephony — two-way voice communication between pilots and ATS, governed by ICAO phraseology rules.
Runway — defined rectangular area on land aerodromes prepared for takeoff and landing of aircraft.
Search and Rescue — service responsible for assisting aircraft in distress and coordinating rescue activities.
Static Air Temperature — true ambient air temperature; important for performance and TAS calculations.
Satellite-Based Augmentation System — improves GNSS accuracy (e.g., EGNOS) enabling LPV approaches.
Stratocumulus — mid-level cloud layer with lumpy structure; possible drizzle and turbulence.
Scattered — METAR cloud coverage term indicating 3–4 oktas of cloud.
Selective Calling — alerts the aircraft when ATC wants to contact them, avoiding constant HF/VHF monitoring (airline-level).
Significant Meteorological Information — urgent weather warning for turbulence, icing, thunderstorms, volcanic ash, etc.
Sky Clear — METAR term indicating no clouds detected below the reporting system limit.
Sea Level Pressure — METAR code showing pressure reduced to mean sea level.
Surface Movement Control — ATC function managing taxiways and apron traffic (not runways).
Snow — METAR code indicating falling snow; affects visibility and runway braking.
Takeoff/landing technique used on grass or soft surfaces to reduce rolling resistance and prevent sinking.
Standard Operating Procedure — step-by-step procedures used for consistency and safety.
Special Weather Report — METAR issued when significant weather changes occur between regular observations.
Speed — a general term referring to IAS, TAS, GS, or vertical speed depending on context.
Standardized performance speeds used in aircraft operation. Each V-speed has a precise definition and operational limit.
Transponder code assigned by ATC for identification (e.g., Squawk 7000, Squawk 7700, Squawk Ident).
Sunrise — operational reference time used in lighting rules and VFR day definitions.
Sunset — operational reference time; in many countries night begins 30 minutes after SS.
Standard Terminal Arrival Route — published IFR arrival procedure guiding aircraft toward an airport.
Short Takeoff and Landing — aircraft or procedures requiring minimal runway length.
Altitude at or below which vertical position is referenced to local QNH. Above TA pilots set standard 1013 hPa.
True Airspeed — actual speed of the aircraft through the air mass; important for navigation and flight planning.
Movement of an aircraft on the ground under its own power, excluding takeoff and landing runs.
Threshold Crossing Height — height at which the aircraft crosses the runway threshold during an instrument approach.
TDM (Time Division Multiplexing) — digital signal technique used in some radio navigation systems.
Touchdown Zone — first 3,000 ft (or first third) of runway intended for landing. TDZ lighting assists visual reference in low-visibility operations.
Temperature — general term used in METAR, TAF and performance calculations (e.g., high temp → reduced performance).
Track to Hold Magnetically — magnetic track flown in a holding pattern, ensuring correct alignment with wind correction.
Throttle / Thrust — general term for engine power control or thrust output from engines.
Terminal Control Area — controlled airspace around major airports where arriving and departing traffic is managed by ATC.
The total weight of passengers, baggage, and freight carried on the aircraft.
The length of time an individual can act effectively after oxygen supply is lost, before incapacitation occurs.
Takeoff Distance Available — length of runway plus any clearway available for takeoff run calculations.
Takeoff/Go-Around — throttle setting providing maximum power for takeoff or go-around maneuvers.
Takeoff Run Available — length of runway declared available for the ground run during takeoff.
Track — actual path of the aircraft over the ground; differs from heading due to wind.
Thunderstorm — significant weather phenomenon involving lightning, severe turbulence, hail, icing, strong winds, and downdrafts.
Technical Standard Order — FAA minimum performance standard for parts and equipment used in aircraft.
Tower — ATC unit responsible for aerodrome control, including runways and circuit traffic (“Tower Control”).
Unserviceable — equipment or system that is not functioning and must not be used. Often seen in NOTAMs, checklists, and aircraft logs.
Ultra High Frequency — 300 MHz to 3 GHz. Used by military aviation and some ground-based systems; not standard for civilian VHF comms.
Upper Kilometres — measurement used in meteorology for upper-air wind and temperature observations (less common but examinable).
Ultralight / Microlight — lightweight aircraft category with reduced regulatory requirements; relevant in European airspace rules.
Coordinated Universal Time — the aviation standard time reference for all flight planning, ATC, and weather reports. Equivalent to Zulu time (Z).
Visual Approach Slope Indicator System — older visual glide-path aid, predecessor of PAPI. Uses pairs of red/white lights to indicate correct approach angle.
VHF Direction Finding — ground station determines bearing to/from an aircraft using VHF transmissions. Produces QDM/QDR bearings (e.g., “Steady, steady…”).
VHF Data Link — digital communication system using VHF frequencies; basis of CPDLC in some regions.
Vector quantity describing speed with direction. Used heavily in navigation, wind triangle, and performance calculations.
Flap limiting speed — maximum speed at which flaps can safely be extended to a specific position (variant of Vfe).
Visual Flight Rules — regulations allowing flight with visual reference to terrain and horizon, requiring minimum visibility and cloud clearance.
Very High Frequency — 118.000–136.975 MHz band used for civil aviation voice communication and some navigation systems (e.g., ILS, VOR).
Visual Meteorological Conditions — weather conditions meeting or exceeding VIS & cloud separation minima for VFR flight. Basis for where/when VFR is permitted.
Vertical Navigation — automated or advisory vertical flight path computed by the FMS/GNSS. Mostly IFR but appears in modern avionics even for GA.
Maximum structural cruising speed — top of the green arc; normal operations must stay below this except in smooth air.
VHF Omnidirectional Range — radio navigation aid providing bearings (radials) from the station. Used with CDI/HSI for en-route and approach guidance.
Combined VOR and TACAN station giving both VOR radials and military DME distances — widely used in en-route charts.
Rotation Speed — speed at which the pilot initiates pitch-up for takeoff. Determined by performance charts and aircraft weight.
Vertical Speed Indicator — cockpit instrument showing climb/descent rate in feet per minute (fpm).
Wind/Velocity — METAR/TAF shorthand for reporting wind direction and speed (e.g., 180/10KT).
Wide Area Augmentation System — U.S. version of SBAS improving GNSS accuracy for LPV and RNAV approaches.
Wind Direction Indicator — usually a windsock showing surface wind direction and approximate strength at an aerodrome.
World Geodetic System 1984 — global reference coordinate system used for GPS and ICAO charts.
Within — used in NOTAMs and procedures to specify distance limits (e.g., “WI 5 NM of VOR”).
Sudden change in wind speed or direction over a short distance. Critical near the ground; can cause severe loss of airspeed on approach or departure.
Wind and Temperature Chart — upper-air forecast providing wind direction, speed, and temperature at various altitudes.
Work In Progress — aerodrome or runway work indicated in NOTAMs; may restrict taxiways, runways or aprons.
Waypoint — defined geographic position used in RNAV/GNSS navigation, flight plans, and approaches.
Wind Shear — METAR/TAF weather code indicating low-level wind shear or vertical shear hazards.
Executive Airport code used in some regional documentation or ICAO references; rare but occasionally seen in materials.
Transceiver — combined transmitter and receiver used in aircraft radios (e.g., VHF COM transceiver).
Transformer — electrical device used to step voltage up or down; appears in AGK/aircraft electrical system diagrams.
Extra Long — used occasionally in runway/taxi descriptions and airport documentation to denote extended length.
Cross Track Error — lateral deviation from the planned path in RNAV/GNSS navigation systems.
Large white “X” marking — indicates a runway or taxiway is closed and must not be used for takeoff, landing, or taxiing.
Yaw Damper — automatic system that reduces unwanted yaw oscillations (“Dutch roll”). More common in larger aircraft but appears in AGK theory.
Primary flight control used to manipulate ailerons (roll) and elevator (pitch). Equivalent to a control stick in some aircraft.
Vancouver International Airport ICAO code context (uncommon in theory but appears in some global chart examples).
Rotation of the aircraft around the vertical axis, controlled by the rudder. Yaw control is essential for coordinated turns and crosswind corrections.
Zulu Time — global aviation standard time equal to UTC. Used in all flight plans, NOTAMs, METARs, TAFs, and ATC coordination.
Zero Fuel Weight — aircraft weight excluding usable fuel; important limitation for structural load and mass & balance.
Specific instrument approach procedure identified by the suffix “Z” (e.g., RNAV (GNSS) Z RWY 34). Indicates a variant of an approach with different minima or guidance.
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