English for aeronautics

Question 1

ailerons

Answer 1

the two control surfaces on the trailing edge of the aircraft’s wings that make one wing of the aircraft go up while the other goes down (roll).

Question 2

airfoil (US) / aerofoil (Br)

Answer 2

the curved shape of an aircraft’s wing that makes it rise in the air (lift).

Question 3

APU (Auxiliary power unit

Answer 3

Small jet engine located in the tail cone of the aircraft which provides energy for engine start or air conditioning for instance.

Question 4

cabin

Answer 4

the part of a plane where the passengers sit.

Question 5

call sign

Answer 5

the unique identifying code letters and numbers of an aircraft.

Question 6

cockpit, flight deck

Answer 6

the part of a plane where the pilot sits.

Question 7

control surfaces

Answer 7

moving parts of the aircraft, controlled by the pilot, which influence lift and drag forces and make the aircraft move around the pitch, roll and yaw axes, or slow down.

Question 8

elevator

Answer 8

Control surface located on the trailing edge of the horizontal stabilizer which makes the nose of the aircraft move up or down around the pitch axis.

Question 9

engine (motor)

Answer 9

a machine that uses the energy from liquid fuel, steam or electricity to produce movement (thrust).

Question 10

(trailing edge) flaps

Answer 10

two control surfaces made of hinged parts at the trailing edge of the wings that increase the curved shape of the wings and the amount of force (lift) produced.

Question 11

fuselage, body

Answer 11

the main part of an aircraft that the wings are fixed to

Question 12

(cargo) hold

Answer 12

the area in a plane or ship that is used to store goods, vehicles, or bags.

Question 13

horizontal stabilizer

Answer 13

the horizontal part of an aircraft’s tail that prevents the nose from moving up and down.

Question 14

landing gear

Answer 14

the structure that supports an aircraft while it is on the ground and which allows it to take off and land.

Question 15

leading / trailing edge

Answer 15

the front / back parts of an aircraft’s wing.

Question 16

nose

Answer 16

the front part of an aircraft.

Question 17

propeller

Answer 17

a piece of equipment with blades that spin, used for moving a ship or aircraft

Question 18

rudder

Answer 18

the control surface made of a hinged part of the vertical stabilizer that moves the nose of the aircraft from side to side (around the yaw axis).

Question 19

(leading edge) slats

Answer 19

small aerodynamic surfaces on the leading edge of an airplane wing which, when deployed, allow the wing to operate at a higher angle of attack.

Question 20

spoiler

Answer 20

a control surface located on the upper surface of an aircraft wing, that can be extended to reduce the lift (the aircraft goes down) and to increase the drag (the aircraft slows down).

Question 21

tail

Answer 21

the rear part of an aircraft consisting of the fin, the rudder, the horizontal stabilizer and the elevator.

Question 22

upper / lower surface (of the wing)

Answer 22

(de l’aile) top / bottom surfaces of an aircraft’s wings.

Question 23

vertical stabilizer, fin

Answer 23

the part of an aircraft’s tail that prevents the nose from moving side to side.

Question 24

wing

Answer 24

one of the long flat parts on both sides of a plane that allow it to fly.

Question 25

winglet

Answer 25

a vertical part on the end of a wing that increases an aircraft’s stability.

Question 26

weight

Answer 26

the force caused by the gravitational attraction of the Earth.

Question 27

lift

Answer 27

the force that directly opposes the weight of an aircraft and holds it in the air.

Question 28

thrust

Answer 28

the force created by an aircraft’s propeller or by the engine’s exhaust blasting backward and which pulls or pushes the aircraft forward.

Question 29

drag, air resistance

Answer 29

the frictional force air exerts against a moving aircraft, which makes it slow down

Question 30

pitch or lateral axis

Answer 30

lateral axis (up or down movement of the nose of the aircraft produced by the elevators).

Question 31

roll or longitudinal axis

Answer 31

longitudinal axis (up and down movement of the wing tips of the aircraft produced by the ailerons).

Question 32

yaw or vertical axis

Answer 32

vertical axis (movement of the nose of the aircraft from side to side produced by the rudder).

Question 33

pushback

Answer 33

phase of flight in which the aircraft is moving out of the gate, ramp, or parking area, assisted by a tow vehicle (tug).

Question 34

taxiing (in or out)

Answer 34

the aircraft is moving on the aerodrome surface under its own power prior to takeoff or after landing.

Question 35

take-off

Answer 35

phase of flight in which an aircraft goes through a transition from moving along the ground (taxiing) to flying in the air

Question 36

ascent, climb

Answer 36

an aircraft’s flight upwards.

Question 37

to climb

Answer 37

to go up to a higher altitude.

Question 38

cruise

Answer 38

the level portion of aircraft travel where flight is most fuel efficient. It occurs between ascent and descent phases and is usually the majority of a journey

Question 39

to descend

Answer 39

to go down to a lower altitude.

Question 40

descent

Answer 40

a descent during air travel is any portion where an aircraft decreases altitude

Question 41

holding pattern

Answer 41

the flight path maintained by an aircraft awaiting permission to land.

Question 42

(final) approach

Answer 42

the part of an aircraft’s flight in which it descends directly towards a runway for landing.

Question 43

to touch down

Answer 43

to land.

Question 44

to land

Answer 44

to bring (an aircraft or spacecraft) to the ground in a controlled way.

Question 45

landing

Answer 45

act of bringing an aircraft or spacecraft down to the ground.