Aviation glossary
Short meanings for the words that show up in the guides and on a school’s quote. They are not a legal definition, and they do not set a price.
A
- AeMC
-
Aeromedical centre. A clinic approved to examine pilots. An initial Class 1 medical is normally done at one.
- Aileron
-
A hinged surface on the outer wing that rolls the aircraft. One side goes up as the other goes down.
- AIP
-
Aeronautical Information Publication. A state’s official manual of airspace, aerodromes, and rules of the air.
- Airspace
-
The sky divided into classes and zones, each with its own rules about clearances, radio, and who may enter.
- Airspeed indicator
-
The instrument that shows how fast the aircraft is moving through the air, not over the ground.
- Altimeter
-
The cockpit instrument that shows height from air pressure. It is only as right as the pressure setting you give it.
- Altitude
-
Height above mean sea level. It is not the same as height above the ground, or as a flight level.
- AME
-
Aeromedical examiner. A doctor approved to issue or revalidate pilot medical certificates.
- ATC
-
Air traffic control. The service that issues clearances and instructions to keep aircraft apart.
- ATIS
-
Automatic Terminal Information Service. A recorded broadcast of the current weather and runway at an aerodrome.
- ATO
-
Approved Training Organisation. A school approved by an authority for specified courses. Professional EASA courses require one.
- ATPL
-
Airline Transport Pilot Licence. The licence expected for command of a transport aeroplane, issued only after the experience requirements are met.
B
- Base leg
-
The leg of a circuit flown at right angles to the runway, before the final approach.
- BIR
-
Basic Instrument Rating. An EASA rating for some instrument flying, with narrower privileges than a full instrument rating.
- Briefing
-
The short lesson before a flight, and the review after it. Instructor time for both is often billed separately from the airborne hour.
C
- CAA
-
Civil Aviation Authority. The name of several national regulators. In these guides it usually means the UK CAA.
- Circuit
-
The rectangular pattern flown around an aerodrome for take-off and landing practice. Also called a traffic pattern.
- Class 1 medical
-
The medical certificate required for a CPL or an ATPL. An initial Class 1 is normally done at an aeromedical centre.
- Class 2 medical
-
The medical certificate that supports a PPL. A valid Class 1 also covers Class 2 privileges.
- CPL
-
Commercial Pilot Licence. Allows a pilot to be paid to fly, within the ratings they hold. It is not by itself an airline command licence.
- Cross-country
-
A flight between two places, as opposed to circuits at one aerodrome. Licence courses require a minimum of this kind of flying.
- CTR
-
Control zone. Controlled airspace around an aerodrome, from the surface up to a published level. Entry needs a clearance.
D
- Discovery flight
-
A trial lesson or air-experience flight with an instructor. A way to try flying. Not a licence, and not a solo.
- Dry rate
-
An aircraft hire price that does not include fuel. Landing fees and the instructor may be extra as well.
- DTO
-
Declared Training Organisation. In the EASA system, an organisation that has declared itself to an authority to train for specified private licences and ratings.
- Dual
-
Flight time with an instructor on board. The instructor is usually the pilot in command.
E
- EASA
-
European Union Aviation Safety Agency. It writes common rules for its member states. A national authority still issues the licence.
- Elevator
-
The surface on the tail that pitches the nose up or down.
F
- FAA
-
Federal Aviation Administration, the United States regulator. An FAA certificate is not an EASA licence.
- Final approach
-
The last leg of the circuit, lined up with the runway.
- FIR
-
Flight Information Region. A large portion of airspace in which a state provides flight information and alerting.
- Flaps
-
Surfaces on the inner wing that extend for take-off or landing so the aircraft can fly more slowly.
- Flight level
-
A height based on the standard pressure setting of 1013.25 hPa, used above the transition altitude. It is not always the same as altitude above the sea.
- Frozen ATPL
-
Industry jargon for a CPL, an instrument rating, and the ATPL theory exams, before the ATPL itself can be issued. It is not a licence.
- FSTD
-
Flight simulation training device. A simulator approved to count some training hours, only to the extent that approval allows.
G
- Go-around
-
A missed approach. The aircraft stops the landing and climbs away to try again or to divert.
- Ground school
-
The classroom or distance-learning part of a course, as opposed to flight time.
H
- Heading
-
The direction the nose points, in degrees. Wind means it is not the same as the track over the ground.
I
- ICAO
-
International Civil Aviation Organization. National licence rules are built on its standards. A licence can follow those standards and still need a conversion before another region accepts it.
- IFR
-
Instrument Flight Rules. Flying by reference to instruments and a clearance, including in cloud, when the rating and the aircraft allow it.
- ILS
-
Instrument Landing System. A ground radio aid that gives lateral and vertical guidance to a runway.
- IMC
-
Instrument Meteorological Conditions. Weather below the visual minima. Legal flight in it needs an instrument qualification and IFR.
- Instrument rating
-
A rating added to a licence that permits flight under IFR, within the limits of that rating. It is not a licence by itself.
K
- Knot
-
One nautical mile per hour. Airspeed and wind are usually given in knots.
L
- LAPL
-
Light Aircraft Pilot Licence. An EASA private licence with tighter limits than a PPL, including on aircraft weight and where it is valid.
- Logbook
-
The personal record of flight time. Examiners and authorities use it to check that minima were met. Keep it consistent with the school’s record.
M
- Mayday
-
The spoken emergency call when an aircraft is in grave and imminent danger and needs immediate help.
- METAR
-
A routine coded weather report for an aerodrome. It is an observation, not a forecast.
N
- Night rating
-
A rating that allows a licence to be used at night. It does not permit flight in cloud, and it is not a separate licence.
- NOTAM
-
Notice to Airmen. A short-notice warning of a change, such as a closed runway, an unserviceable aid, or temporary airspace.
- NPPL
-
National Private Pilot Licence. A UK national licence for certain light aircraft, microlights, and self-launching motor gliders, with narrower privileges than a PPL.
P
- Pan-Pan
-
The spoken urgency call. The aircraft has a serious problem and needs help, and it is not yet a Mayday.
- Pilot in command
-
The pilot responsible for the flight. On a training flight, including a discovery flight, that is normally the instructor.
- PPL
-
Private Pilot Licence. Allows non-commercial flying as pilot in command, within the ratings held.
Q
- QNH
-
The altimeter setting that makes the instrument read altitude above mean sea level.
R
- Rating
-
An extra privilege on a licence: an aircraft class or type, night flying, or instrument flying. A rating is not a licence.
- Rudder
-
The surface on the fin that yaws the nose left or right.
S
- SEP
-
Single-engine piston. The class rating that covers a typical training aeroplane with one piston engine. The licence alone does not authorise the aircraft until the class rating is on it.
- Skill test
-
The flight exam with an examiner at the end of a course. Passing it is a step toward the licence. The authority still has to issue the paper.
- Solo
-
Flight time as the only pilot on board. A student flies solo only on a flight an instructor has authorised.
- Squawk
-
The four-digit code set on a transponder so radar can identify the aircraft.
- Stall
-
The wing exceeding its critical angle of attack and losing orderly lift. It can happen at any speed if the angle is high enough. Training includes recognising and recovering from it.
T
- TAF
-
Terminal Aerodrome Forecast. A coded forecast for an aerodrome. A METAR is the observation; a TAF is the forecast.
- Threshold
-
The beginning of the portion of a runway that is usable for landing.
- Transponder
-
The radio that replies to radar with the squawk and, on many aircraft, with altitude.
V
- VFR
-
Visual Flight Rules. Flying by looking outside, in weather that meets the visual minima, under the privileges of the licence.
- VMC
-
Visual Meteorological Conditions. Weather at or above the visual minima. VMC is the weather. VFR is the set of rules.
W
- Wet rate
-
An aircraft hire price that includes fuel. Landing fees and the instructor may still be extra.
Z
- Zulu time
-
Time in UTC. Flight plans, METARs, and logbooks use it so a time does not depend on the local zone.