Aircraft Terminology Flashcards
What is HDG?
Heading, where the nose of the aircraft is pointed.
Does that aircraft always go where it is pointed?
No, this is dependent on wind. If there is wind present, then you will be pushed in another direction from where the nose is pointed. This is called your track (TRK).
What are Latitude lines?
Series of cutting lines running parallel to the Equator. The intersection of each of these cutting planes and the earth’s surface provides a set of circles each smaller than the equator but parallel to it. These are called the Parallels of latitude. (LAT-FLAT)
What are longitude lines?
Series of cutting planes each passing through the earth’s poles and cutting the earth into two equal halves. The lines formed are called meridians of longitude.
What are the three types of north?
True (T), Magnetic (M), and Compass (COMP).
What is True north?
True North is the direction that points directly to the North pole, using the North Pole as a reference or ‘datum’.
What is Magnetic North and is it always the same?
The forces that generate our magnetic field are constantly changing. The field itself is in continual flux, its strength waxing and waning over time. Magnetic North is always changing location. This is why we have a variation on a map.
What is a Variation?
The difference between True North and Magnetic North is called variation. Variations are either East or West. Variation East - Magnetic Least. Variation West - Magnetic Best.
What is Compass North?
The direction that your compass says is north. In a perfect world, a compass would point to Magnetic North, but no man-made device is without error. The difference between compass north and magnetic north is called deviation. ‘Deviation East - Compass Least’ and ‘Deviation West - Compass Best.’
What is the maximum a compass can be out to be considered serviceable?
Must not be out by more than 10 degrees.
What is IAS?
Indicated airspeed, a measurement of the dynamic pressure affecting the aircraft. It is also what we view on the airspeed indicator (ASI) in the cockpit.
What is CAS?
Calibrated airspeed, CAS = IAS plus or minus instrument error plus or minus position error.
What is EAS?
At high airspeeds (>250 knots), another error exists known as compressibility. EAS = CAS + Compressibility Error.
What is TAS?
True air speed, TAS = Equivalent air speed (EAS) + Density Error.
What is ground speed?
The aircraft’s speed over the ground. TAS affected by wind (headwind or tailwind). GS = TAS + Tailwind, GS = TAS - Headwind.
