Abbreviations and definitions Flashcards
VASI
Visual approach slope indicator
PAPI
Precision approach path indicator
Inclinometer…..
the ball in the turn coordinator, indicates yaw
Precession….
tendency of a gyro to cause instrument errors due to drift
Yaw string….
string over windshield that should be straight back during coordinated turn
Magnetic declination….
points across the earth’s surface connected by isogonic lines, where poles align
IAS
indicated air speed, which is the speed read directly off the air speed indicator
CAS
calibrated air speed, which is IAS corrected for installation and instrument errors
TAS
is CAS corrected for altitude and non-standard temperature
GS
ground speed, is TAS adjusted for wind (GS decreased into a headwind, increased in tailwind)
Balanced turns is when _______
horizontal life = centrifugal force
Glide ration is ______
distance traveled horizontally vs. vertically
Spacial disorientation is ____________
when motions, forces, visual scenes encountered in flight lead to misleading information being sent to brain.
Condensation nuclei
salt, dust, or microscopic particles that condensation uses to start cloud formation
Air mass source region
Area over which air mass acquires its identifying distribution of temperature and moisture.
Ridge
elongated area of high pressure
trough
elongated area of low pressure
Cumulus means
heaped or piled
Stratus means
forms layers
cirrus means
clouds >20,000 feet, usually fibrous looking
Castellanus means
clouds with common base height but different vertical (looks like castle)
Lenticular clouds are
lens shaped, often formed over mountains with strong winds
Nimbus means
rain bearing
Fracto means
broken
Alto means
clouds between ~5000 and 20,000 feet
Azimuth means
an angular measurement in a spherical coordinate system
Complex aircraft
A complex airplane is defined by the United States Federal Aviation Administration as an aircraft that has all of the following: A retractable landing gear (land aircraft only; a seaplane is not required to have this) A controllable pitch propeller (which includes constant speed propellers) Movable or adjustable flaps.
AWOS
Automated weather observing system
ASOS
Automated surface observing system
SIGMET
Significant meteorological information
AIRMET
Airmen’s meteorological information
AFSS
Automated flight service station
DUATS
Direct user access terminal service
EFAS
En route flight advisory service (AKA Flight Watch)
HIWAS
Hazardous inflight weather advisory
EFIS
Electronic flight instrument system
FMS
Flight management system
PFD
Primary flight display
MFD
Multi-functional display
ASRS
Aviation safety reporting system