R

Question 1

The Rabbit

Answer 1

High-intensity flasher system installed at many
large airports. The flashers consist of a series of brilliant
blue-white bursts of light flashing in sequence along the
approach lights, giving the effect of a ball of light traveling
toward the runway.

Question 2

Radar

Answer 2

. A system that uses electromagnetic waves to identify
the range, altitude, direction, or speed of both moving and
fixed objects such as aircraft, weather formations, and terrain.
The term RADAR was coined in 1941 as an acronym for
Radio Detection and Ranging. The term has since entered
the English language as a standard word, radar, losing the
capitalization in the process.

Question 3

Radar approach

Answer 3

The controller provides vectors while
monitoring the progress of the flight with radar, guiding
the pilot through the descent to the airport/heliport or to a
specific runway

Question 4

Radar services

Answer 4

Radar is a method whereby radio waves are
transmitted into the air and are then received when they have
been reflected by an object in the path of the beam. Range
is determined by measuring the time it takes (at the speed
of light) for the radio wave to go out to the object and then
return to the receiving antenna. The direction of a detected
object from a radar site is determined by the position of the
rotating antenna when the reflected portion of the radio wave
is received.

Question 5

Radar summary chart

Answer 5

t. A weather product derived from the
national radar network that graphically displays a summary
of radar weather reports.

Question 6

Radar weather report (SD)

Answer 6

A report issued by radar
stations at 35 minutes after the hour, and special reports
as needed. Provides information on the type, intensity, and
location of the echo tops of the precipitation.

Question 7

Radials

Answer 7

The courses oriented from a station.

Question 8

Radio or radar altimeter

Answer 8

An electronic altimeter that
determines the height of an aircraft above the terrain by
measuring the time needed for a pulse of radio-frequency
energy to travel from the aircraft to the ground and return.

Question 9

Radio frequency (RF)

Answer 9

A term that refers to alternating
current (AC) having characteristics such that, if the current is
input to antenna, an electromagnetic (EM) field is generated
suitable for wireless broadcasting and/or communications.

Question 10

Radio Magnetic Indicator (RMI)

Answer 10

An electronic navigation
instrument that combines a magnetic compass with an ADF
or VOR. The card of the RMI acts as a gyro-stabilized
magnetic compass, and shows the magnetic heading the
aircraft is flying.

Question 11

Radiosonde

Answer 11

A weather instrument that observes and reports
meteorological conditions from the upper atmosphere. This
instrument is typically carried into the atmosphere by some
form of weather balloon.

Question 12

Radio wave

Answer 12

An electromagnetic (EM ) wave with frequency 
characteristics useful for radio transmission.

Question 13

RAM recovery

Answer 13

The increase in thrust as a result of ram air
pressures and density on the front of the engine caused by
air velocity.

Question 14

Random RNAV routes

Answer 14

Direct routes, based on area
navigation capability, between waypoints defined in terms
of latitude/longitude coordinates, degree-distance fixes, or
offsets from established routes/airways at a specified distance
and direction.

Question 15

Ranging signals

Answer 15

Transmitted from the GPS satellite, signals
allowing the aircraft’s receiver to determine range (distance)
from each satellite.

Question 16

Rapid decompression

Answer 16

The almost instantaneous loss of
cabin pressure in aircraft with a pressurized cockpit or
cabin.

Question 17

Receiver autonomous integrity monitoring (RAIM)

Answer 17

A system used to verify the usability of the received GPS
signals and warns the pilot of any malfunction in the
navigation system. This system is required for IFR-certified
GPS units.

Question 18

Recommended altitude

Answer 18

An altitude depicted on an
instrument approach chart with the altitude value neither
underscored nor overscored. The depicted value is an
advisory value.

Question 19

Receiver-transmitter (RT)

Answer 19

A system that receives and transmits a signal and an indicator.

Question 20

Reduced vertical separation minimum (RVSM)

Answer 20

Reduces
the vertical separation between flight levels (FL) 290 and 410
from 2,000 feet to 1,000 feet, and makes six additional FLs
available for operation. Also see DRVSM.

Question 21

Reference circle (aka distance circle)

Answer 21

The circle depicted
in the plan view of an IAP chart that typically has a 10 NM
radius, within which chart the elements are drawn to scale.

Question 22

Regions of command

Answer 22

. The “regions of normal and reversed
command” refers to the relationship between speed and the
power required to maintain or change that speed in flight.

Question 23

Region of reverse command

Answer 23

. Flight regime in which flight
at a higher airspeed requires a lower power setting and a
lower airspeed requires a higher power setting in order to
maintain altitude.

Question 24

Relative bearing (RB)

Answer 24

The angular difference between the
aircraft heading and the direction to the station, measured
clockwise from the nose of the aircraft

Question 25

Relative bearing indicator (RBI)

Answer 25

The angular difference between the
aircraft heading and the direction to the station, measured
clockwise from the nose of the aircraft

Question 26

Relative humidity

Answer 26

The ratio of the existing amount of
water vapor in the air at a given temperature to the maximum
amount that could exist at that temperature; usually expressed
in percent.

Question 27

Relative wind

Answer 27

Direction of the airflow produced by an object
moving through the air. The relative wind for an airplane in
flight flows in a direction parallel with and opposite to the
direction of flight; therefore, the actual flight path of the
airplane determines the direction of the relative wind.

Question 28

Remote communications outlet (RCO)

Answer 28

An unmanned
communications facility that is remotely controlled by air
traffic personnel.

Question 29

Required navigation performance (RNP)

Answer 29

A specified level
of accuracy defined by a lateral area of confined airspace in
which an RNP-certified aircraft operates.

Question 30

Restricted area

Answer 30

Airspace designated under 14 CFR part
73 within which the flight of aircraft, while not wholly
prohibited, is subject to restriction.

Question 31

Reverse sensing

Answer 31

The VOR needle appearing to indicate the

reverse of normal operation.

Question 32

RF

Answer 32

Radio frequency

Question 33

Rhodospin

Answer 33

The photosensitive pigments that initiate the

visual response in the rods of the eye.

Question 34

Rigging

Answer 34

The final adjustment and alignment of an aircraft
and its flight control system that provides the proper
aerodynamic characteristics.

Question 35

Rigidity

Answer 35

The characteristic of a gyroscope that prevents its

axis of rotation tilting as the Earth rotates.

Question 36

Rigidity in space

Answer 36

The principle that a wheel with a heavily
weighted rim spinning rapidly will remain in a fixed position
in the plane in which it is spinning.

Question 37

Rime ice

Answer 37

Rough, milky, opaque ice formed by the

instantaneous freezing of small supercooled water droplets.

Question 38

Risk

Answer 38

The future impact of a hazard that is not eliminated or controlled

Question 39

Risk elements

Answer 39

s. There are four fundamental risk elements in
aviation: the pilot, the aircraft, the environment, and the type
of operation that comprise any given aviation situation.

Question 40

Risk management

Answer 40

The part of the decision-making process
which relies on situational awareness, problem recognition,
and good judgment to reduce risks associated with each
flight.

Question 41

Rudder

Answer 41

The movable primary control surface mounted on the
trailing edge of the vertical fin of an airplane. Movement of
the rudder rotates the airplane about its vertical axis.

Question 42

Ruddervator

Answer 42

A pair of control surfaces on the tail of an
aircraft arranged in the form of a V. These surfaces, when
moved together by the control wheel, serve as elevators, and
when moved differentially by the rudder pedals, serve as a
rudder.

Question 43

Runway center lights

Answer 43

Runway lighting which consists
of flush centerline lights spaced at 50-foot intervals beginning
75 feet from the landing threshold.

Question 44

Runway edge lights

Answer 44

s. A component of the runway lighting
system that is used to outline the edges of runways at night
or during low visibility conditions. These lights are classified
according to the intensity they are capable of producing.

Question 45

Runway end identifier lights (REIL)

Answer 45

A pair of synchronized
flashing lights, located laterally on each side of the runway
threshold, providing rapid and positive identification of the
approach end of a runway.

Question 46

Runway visibility value (RVV)

Answer 46

The visibility determined

for a particular runway by a transmissometer.

Question 47

Runway visual range (RVR)

Answer 47

The instrumentally derived
horizontal distance a pilot should be able to see down the
runway from the approach end, based on either the sighting
of high-intensity runway lights, or the visual contrast of
other objects.