Dictionary of Aviation

289 Pages·2008·6.02 MB·English

Dictionary of
Aviation
second edition
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Dictionary of
Aviation
second edition
David Crocker
A & C Black (cid:1) London
Originally published by Peter Collin Publishing
asDictionary of Aeronautical English
First edition published 1999
Second edition published 2005 by Bloomsbury Publishing Plc
Reprinted 2007 by
(cid:2)&C Black Publishers Ltd
38 Soho Square, London W1D 3HB
Copyright © David Crocker and Peter Collin Publishing Ltd. 1999
Revisions and additional material © A&C Black Publishers Ltd 2007
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may
be reproduced in any form or by any means without the
prior written permission of the publishers.
A CIP record for this book is available from the British Library
eISBN-13: 978-1-4081-0226-8
Text Production and Proofreading
Katy McAdam, Sandra Anderson, Heather Bateman, Emma Harris
This book is produced using paper that is made from wood grown in managed,
sustainable forests. It is natural, renewable and recyclable. The logging and
manufacturing processes conform to the environmental regulations of the
country of origin.
Text processed and typeset by A&C Black
Printed in Spain by GraphyCems
Preface
English is the universal language of communication used in civil aviation. This
dictionary provides the basic vocabulary of terms used by pilots, cabin staff,
maintenance crews, ground staff and travellers worldwide. The terms are those used
in everyday work on aircraft, and cover parts of the aircraft, manipulating the
aircraft on the ground and in the air, instructions to passengers, conversations with
air traffic control, weather, emergencies, etc.
Unlike conventional aeronautical dictionaries, theDictionary of Aviationdefines
vocabulary often found in conjunction with the purely technical terms as well as the
technical terms themselves. Simple explanations are presented in simple language,
making the dictionary ideal for those working towards a private or commercial
pilot’s licence, as well as trainee maintenance engineers and more experienced
professionals. We also give examples to show how the words are used in context.
We have selected quotations from various specialised magazines to show the words
and phrases as they are used in real-life situations. The supplements at the back give
further information in the form of tables.
We are particularly grateful to the staff at Qatar Aeronautical College for their help
in the production of the first edition of this dictionary. Thanks are also due to
Stephen Copeland and Gavin Rowden for specialist advice and helpful suggestions
during the preparation of this new edition.
The information contained in this dictionary is not to be regarded as a substitute for
formal training in a given discipline.
Pronunciation Guide
The following symbols have been used to show the pronunciation of the main
words in the dictionary.
Stress is indicated by a main stress mark ((cid:1)) and a secondary stress mark((cid:2)).
Note that these are only guides, as the stress of the word changes according to its
position in the sentence.
Vowels Consonants
(cid:3) back b buck
ɑ(cid:6) harm d dead
ɒ stop ð other
a type d(cid:15) jump
aυ how f fare
aə hire (cid:19) gold
aυə hour h head
ɔ(cid:6) course j yellow
ɔ annoy k cab
e head l leave
eə fair m mix
e make n nil
eυ go ŋ sing
(cid:28)(cid:6) word p print
i(cid:6) keep r rest
i happy s save
ə about ʃ shop
 fit t take
ə near tʃ change
u annual θ theft
u(cid:6) pool v value
υ book w work
υə tour x loch
’ shut (cid:15) measure
z zone
Aviation.fm Page 1 Wednesday, November 24, 2004 3:45 PM
A
AAAIBAIB abbreviation Air Accident Inves- aableble /(cid:2)eb(ə)l/ adjective skilful and
tigation Branch competent (cid:2) to be able to to have the
power, knowledge, skill or strength to
AAARAARA abbreviation air to air refuelling
area do something (cid:1) Is she able to carry this
heavy suitcase?
aabbrebviatebreviate /ə|(cid:2)bri(cid:6)viet/ verb to aable-bbodielde-bodied /(cid:11)eb(ə)l (cid:2)bɒdid/ adjec-
shorten a word or a text (cid:1) Air Traffic tive referring to a person who has no
Control is usually abbreviated to ATC.
(cid:2) abbreviated weather report a short- physical disabilities (cid:1) Physically disad-
vantaged as well as able-bodied people
ened weather report
can gain a PPL.
aatbbhrebveiatib onshreovrti faotrimon o f/ əa|(cid:11) bwroi(cid:6)rvdi |(cid:2)oer tʃe(xət) n(cid:1)/ Aneoruon- aanbnoorbmaltn noorrmmaall /(cid:18)b|(cid:2)nɔ(cid:6)m(ə)l/ adjective
nautical charts use abbreviations and
aabnorbmalitny ormality /(cid:11)(cid:18)bnɔ(cid:6)(cid:2)m(cid:18)lti/ noun
symbols. (cid:1) Km is the abbreviation for |
something that is not normal, expected
kilometre.
or correct, and is therefore possibly
COMMENT: Abbreviations can cause worrying (cid:1) Any abnormality in engine
confusion. They may range from those performance should be checked.
wdehfiicnhe dh abvye aa nv earyu sthpoercitiafitciv me ebaondinyg, atos aabnorbmal lnoadormal load /(cid:18)b|(cid:11)nɔ(cid:6)m(ə)l (cid:2)ləυd/
others which may come about noun a load which is heavier than nor-
because of personal usage in note- mal
making, etc. ICAO approved aabortbort /ə(cid:2)bɔ(cid:6)t/ verb 1. to stop some-
abbreviations may differ from those |
thing taking place (cid:1) They had to abort
used in JARs. AC can mean
the landing because of a violent storm
‘alternating current’ or ‘altocumulus’.
CPL is generally taken to mean 2. to end something before it has fin-
Commercial Pilot’s Licence but the ished
ICAO definition is Current Flight Plan. aabsolbutesolute /(cid:2)(cid:18)bsəlu(cid:6)t/ adjective com-
Advances in technology have plete, total (cid:2) absolute necessity some-
significantly increased the number of
thing that you cannot manage without
abbreviations with which pilots and
under any circumstances (cid:2) absolute
engineers must be familiar.
silence a condition in which no sound
Abbreviations in this dictionary include
those with generally accepted of any kind can be heard
definitions and others with specific aabsolbute cseiliong lute ceiling /(cid:11)(cid:18)bsəlu(cid:6)t (cid:2)si(cid:6)lŋ/
ICAO definitions. noun the maximum height above sea
aabilibtyility /ə(cid:2)blti/ noun the power, level at which an aircraft can maintain
knowledge |or skill needed to do some- horizontal flight
thing (cid:1) Strength is the ability of a mate- aabsolbute hsumidoitylute humidity /(cid:11)(cid:18)bsəlu(cid:6)t hju(cid:6)
rial to support a load. (cid:2) he has great (cid:2)mdəti/ noun the vapour concentration|
ability he has good skills or is very or mass of water in a given quantity of
clever air
Aviation.fm Page 2 Wednesday, November 24, 2004 3:45 PM
absolute pressure 2
aabsolbute psressourelute pressure /(cid:11)(cid:18)bsəlu(cid:6)t metres per second per second. Abbrevi-
(cid:2)preʃə/ noun a unit of force per unit of ation g
area without comparison to other pres- aaccelceromceterelerometer /ək(cid:11)selə(cid:2)rɒmtə/
sure (cid:1) Aircraft show absolute pressure noun an instrument that | mea|sures an
in inches of mercury on the inlet mani- aircraft’s acceleration
fold pressure gauge. aaccepct cept /ək(cid:2)sept/ verb 1. to be able to
aabsolbute vsalueolute value /(cid:11)(cid:18)bsəlu(cid:6)t (cid:2)v(cid:18)lju(cid:6)/ take or rece|ive (cid:1) Some units accept
noun the size or value of a number electrical inputs from the autopilot. 2.
regardless of its sign (cid:1) The absolute to take or receive something when it is
value of –64.32 is 64.32. given to you (cid:1) She accepted the award
aabsolbute zseroolute zero /(cid:11)(cid:18)bsəlu(cid:6)t (cid:2)zərəυ/ on behalf of the whole crew. (cid:2) to accept
noun the lowest temperature possible, a gift, to accept a prize to take a prize
0 °K, or –273.15 °C which is handed to you 3. to be willing
to receive or admit something (cid:2) to
aabsorbb sorb /əb|(cid:2)zɔ(cid:6)b/ verb to take in (cid:1) accept the blame to be willing to admit
Warm air absorbs moisture more easily
that you were the person who caused
tgheann. (cid:2)c otold a abisr.o (cid:1)r bO iunrf obromdiaetsi oanb stoor ubn odxeyr-- something bad to happen (cid:1) The airline
accepted the blame for the loss of their
stand and remember something (cid:1) Only baggage. (cid:2) to accept responsibility to
a few passengers absorb the pre-depar-
be willing to be answerable for some-
ture safety information.
thing (cid:1) The copilot accepted responsi-
aabsorbptionsorption /əb(cid:2)zɔ(cid:6)pʃən/ noun the bility for the incident.
|
act of taking something in (cid:1) There is aaccepctablce eptable /ək(cid:2)septəb(ə)l/ adjective
absorption of energy by the tyre when |
allowed or approved of, although it may
the aircraft lands. not be perfect (cid:2) acceptable level of
AAC C abbreviation 1. alternating current safety a good enough standard of safety
2. altocumulus (ICAO) (cid:2) acceptable limits the limits generally
AACARSCARS abbreviation airborne com- regarded as correct (cid:2) there must be a
munication, addressing and reporting continuous flow of clean oil at an
system acceptable temperature the tempera-
ture of the oil must be within given
AACASCAS /(cid:2)ek(cid:18)s/ abbreviation airborne
maximum and minimum figures
collision avoidance system
aaccepctancce eptance /ək(cid:2)septəns/ noun 1.
AACCCC abbreviation area control centre willingness to bel|ieve something or
aaccelceratce elerate /ək(cid:2)seləret/ verb to agree to something (cid:1) There is a growing
|
increase speed (cid:1) After start-up, the acceptance that safety is the main pri-
engine accelerates up to idling speed. (cid:1) ority. 2. willingness to do or use some-
The aircraft accelerated down the run- thing (cid:2) acceptance of new technology
way and took off. Opposite decelerate willingness to use new technology
aaccelceratcioneleration /ək(cid:11)selə(cid:2)reʃ(ə)n/ aaccepctedcepted /ək(cid:2)septd/ adjective
| | |
noun 1. the act of increasing the speed believed or recognised (cid:1) It is accepted
of something or of going faster. Oppo- that incorrect use of English played a
site deceleration (NOTE: Acceleration part in the accident. (cid:1) It is generally
can be felt as an aircraft begins its take- accepted that flying is one of the safest
off run.) 2. a force that pulls outwards forms of transport.
and is caused by a change in direction aaccescs cess /(cid:2)(cid:18)kses/ noun a way to find or
rather than a change in speed (cid:1) Acceler- get at something (cid:2) to gain access to to
ation forces can be felt during aerobatic manage to enter a place (cid:2) access to
manoeuvres.
information the means to get at,
aaccelceratcion deue tlo eearthr’s agravittyion due to earth’s retrieve and use information (cid:3) verb to
gravity noun the pulling force exerted find and use (cid:2) to access data, to access
on a body by the Earth. It has an inter- information to find, retrieve and use
national standard value of 9.80665 data or information
Aviation.fm Page 3 Wednesday, November 24, 2004 3:45 PM
3 according to
aaccescsibiclityessibility /ək(cid:11)ses(cid:2)blti/ noun to one of the passengers and is carried
the ease with which |some| thing can be on the same aircraft. (cid:1) unaccompanied
reached or found (cid:1) Accessibility of com- aaccomcpanycompany /ə(cid:2)k(cid:30)mp(ə)ni/ verb to
ponents and equipment during servic- go together with| something else (cid:1)
ing enables work to be done more Engine failure is sometimes accompa-
quickly. nied by fire. (cid:2) Mr Smith was accompa-
aaccescsiblce essible /ək(cid:2)sesb(ə)l/ adjective nied by his wife and children on the
easy to get at (cid:1) It i|s a good idea to have flight to New York Mr Smith’s wife
a set of emergency charts in an accessi- and children were with him on the flight
ble place in the cockpit. (cid:1) Instruments aaccomcplisch omplish /ə(cid:2)k(cid:30)mplʃ/ verb (in for-
which need resetting in flight must be mal technical tex|ts) to do something (cid:1)
accessible to the crew. Feathering is accomplished by moving
aaccescsorycessory /ək(cid:2)sesəri/ noun a system the pilot’s control lever. (cid:1) Retraction of
|
or piece of equipment of secondary the undercarriage is accomplished by
importance (cid:1) a camera with several electrical power. (cid:2) to accomplish a
accessories (cid:3) adjective of secondary task to successfully finish doing some-
importance (cid:1) There are many accessory thing demanding (cid:1) She was the first
systems which need engine power to woman to accomplish the feat in a sin-
operate them – pumps, generators, gle-engined aircraft.
magnetos, etc. (NOTE: The noun acces- aaccomcplischmentomplishment /ə(cid:2)k(cid:30)mplʃmənt/
sory is not connected with the noun noun 1. an achievement |(cid:1) Charles Lind-
access or the verb to access.) bergh’s flight across the Atlantic in May
aaccescs pacneless panel /(cid:2)(cid:18)kses (cid:11)p(cid:18)n(ə)l/ 1927 was a great accomplishment. 2.
noun a part of the aircraft skin which (in physics) work done (cid:1) Power is meas-
can be easily removed so internal com- ured by units of accomplishment corre-
ponents can be inspected lated with time.
aaccidcentcident /(cid:2)(cid:18)ksd(ə)nt/ noun 1. aaccorcdancce ordance /ə(cid:2)kɔ(cid:6)d(ə)ns/ noun (cid:2) in
|
something which happens which seems accordance with in agreement with or
to have no cause (cid:2) it was an accident following something such as rules,
nobody planned that it should happen or instructions or laws (cid:1) Fuels must be
deliberately caused it to happen (cid:2) by used in accordance with instructions. (cid:2)
accident by chance (cid:2) we met by acci- in accordance with Buys Ballot’s Law
dent we met by chance 2. an unfortu- as described by Buys Ballot’s Law
nate or harmful event, something caus-
‘…use full heat whenever carburettor
ing damage (cid:1) An accident must be heat is applied, partial hot air should only
reported. (cid:1) The flight attendant was be used if an intake temperature gauge is
injured in the accident. fitted and only then in accordance with
‘Mr Skidmore lost both arms in an the Flight Manual or Pilot’s Operating
accident while serving in the army as a Handbook’ [Civil Aviation Authority,
young man, and is believed to be the first General Aviation Safety Sense Leaflet]
pilot in the UK – and possibly the world – aaccorcdingclyordingly /ə(cid:2)kɔ(cid:6)dŋli/ adverb as
to go solo with two artificial arms’ [Pilot] needed (cid:1) Check fo|r increasing manifold
aaccidcentacl idental /(cid:11)(cid:18)ks(cid:2)dent(ə)l/ adjective pressure and reduce power accordingly.
|
1. happening by accident, not deliberate aaccorcdingc toording to /ə(cid:2)kɔ(cid:6)dŋ tu(cid:6)/ preposi-
or planned (cid:1) There is a safety device to tion 1. as determine| d by or in relation to
prevent accidental retraction of the (cid:1) The force exerted by the pilot on the
undercarriage. 2. relating to an acci- control column will vary according to a
dent, or happening as a result of an acci- number of factors. 2. as written or said
dent (cid:1) We were told of his accidental by somebody else (cid:1) According to the
death. copilot, engine vibration was detected
aaccomcpanicedompanied /ə(cid:2)k(cid:30)mp(ə)nid/ in engine number one. 3. in agreement
adjective found together w| ith (cid:2) accom- with something, e.g. instructions, etc. (cid:2)
panied luggage luggage which belongs according to instructions exactly as