Terminology Flashcards
Learn the definitions of vocabulary.
Ad Hoc
An unscheduled charter
Arm
Arming the slide or arming the door is the process of positioning, or attaching, a slide to be ready for emergency use. This is done when all doors are closed and the jetway is pushed back from the aircraft, or air stairs are removed.
Belly
The cargo and baggage area beneath the passenger cabins
Bidding
The process by which flight attendants select flight schedules or vacation time. All flight attendants submit their bids for the following month and the flight schedule lines are awarded in seniority order. Bidding before all flights also refers to a process used on all aircraft to determine who will work which position. The bidding is also done in seniority order.
Block-to-block
When an aircraft parks at the termination of a flight, wooden or metal blocks are placed on each side of the wheels to keep the aircraft from rolling. These blocks are removed before the aircraft departs on another flight. Block-to-block time is that period of time beginning when an aircraft first moves from the ramp blocks for the purpose of flight, and ending when the aircraft comes to a stop at the ramp at the next point of landing.
Boarding
The process in which passengers enter the aircraft
Buffeting
Shuddering of the aircraft in flight caused by aerodynamic disturbances
Bulkhead
An interior of an aircraft wall running across the aircraft to separate one area from another.
Cabin
The interior of an aircraft where the passengers are seated.
Cabin Altitude
A mechanically simulated altitude maintained in the cabin of the aircraft during flight.
Captain
The person in command of the aircraft, crew members, and passengers on board, The captain is responsible for their safety and well-being.
Charter Flight
A revenue flight which may or may not be operated on a regular, published schedule. Charter flights may be operated on, or off, our regular routes and contracted for carriage of a large group of passengers or freight to meet a party’s special needs
Commercialing
Positioning a crew on a commercial flight (i.e., American airlines, Delta, Us Airways, Southwest, etc.)
Center Aisle
An isle that runs the length of the aircraft between the rows of seats
City Code
The three-letter city designator
Concourse
A large hallway in an airport, which leads to an area where aircraft are parked. Tentacle-like walkways lead out in all directions from the main terminal
Crew call
A phone call to a flight attendant on the aircraft, via a telephone-like device, initiated by a pilot or another flight attendant.
Crew Resource Management (CRM)
Communicating with other other crew members utilizing decision-making techniques, and effectively recognizing circumstances that can reduce job performance.
Crew Scheduling
Office personnel who are responsible for assigning and keeping track of all flight crews and which flights they will staff.
Deadheading
Positioning a crew member, either by commercial, ferry, or live flight. Deadheading can be either OAI or other airline’s aircraft.
Decompression
The aircrafts inability to maintain a designated cabin altitude
Deplane
The procedure in which passengers leave the aircraft
Demo Equipment
Samples of passenger emergency equipment (i.e. life vest, seat belt, etc) used for safety demonstration purposes
Deploy
The process in which an emergency slide is extended out of its container and positioned to be inflated
Ditching
Landing an aircraft in the water
ABP
Able-Boddied Person. An ABP is one who can assist in an emergency
Disarm
The process of detaching or repositioning the slide (located in the door bustle) to its original, non-emergency, state. This is done once the aircraft is parked at the gate.
Doghouse
A totally enclosed storage area normally found behind the last row of seats in the cabin.
Domestic
Flying within the lower 48 states. This excludes Alaska and Hawaii.
Duty time
Time computed from when you report to work until the time you are released from work; not necessarily flight times. Flight attendants are responsible to the company during duty time.
ETA
Estimated time of arrival. The time at which a flight is expected to arrive at a particular station.
ETD
Estimated time of departure. The time at which the flight is expected to depart from a particular station.
Evacuation
The procedure by which passengers are deplaned in the quickest and most orderly manner for emergency purposes.
FAA
Federal aviation administration. The government agency that deals with airline and aircraft safety and emergency procedures.
FAR
Federal aviation regulation.
Ferry flight
A positioning flight that carries only crew; no passengers.
F/O
First officer. The first officer is the pilot who is second-in-command on a flight and sits in the right seat. His/her duties are to assist or relieve the captain.
Flaps
Hinged or pivotal portion of the wing used for additional lift, take-off, and landing. The flaps are retractable into the wing when the aircraft is in flight.
Flight attendant
An airline employee whose work includes providing safety and service to passengers aboard the aircraft.
Flight attendant control panels
Units located at flight attendant jumpseats containing various switches, pilot call button, flight attendant call button, reset button, and microphone/telephone instruments.
Flight deck
Area of an aircraft from which the flight crew flies the aircraft. The flight deck is restricted to authorized crew members of FAA personnel during flight. Passengers are not allowed in this area. The door to the flight deck is kept locked at all times in flight.
Flight time
The time it takes to go from one place to another by air.
FWD
Forward. Any location in front or toward the front of the aircraft.
Fuselage
The main body of the aircraft (excluding the wings, tail assembly, and engines).
Galley
Aircraft kitchen area.
Gate
A holding area where passengers wait prior to boarding the aircraft.
Gross weight
The total weight of an aircraft, including fuel, passengers, cargo, and equipment.
GMT
Greenwich Mean (median) Time
GSC
Ground security coordinator. The person responsible for monitoring all security aspects before flight departure from a station.
Ground speed
The time required for the aircraft to cover specified distances across the earths surface (usually expressed in nautical or statute miles per hour).
Ground time
The period of time an aircraft and/or it’s crew spend on the ground between flights.
Hanger
A building where aircraft are sheltered and where mechanics work.
Head count
The number of ticketed passengers onboard an aircraft determined by visual count. The head count is given to the gate agents at all stations prior to departure.
Head winds
Winds opposing the process of the aircraft through the air.
Holding
A flight that is waiting to land, to take-off, or for a gate to become available in order to park.
Inboard
Nearest the center of the aircraft.
Inbound
The aircraft, crew, freight, and anyone else or anything arriving at an airport or coming in from a flight.
In-flight operations
An office set up to serve flight attendants needs.
In-flight service report
Form used by the lead flight attendant to have crew sign for/be assigned positions for a flight.
Intermediate stop
A stop at a city or cities between the originating and terminating points of flight.
IFR
Instrument flight rules. The rules governing the navigation of an aircraft when the pilot is unable to observe location and surrounds. When operating IFR, the aircraft is flying on instruments, meaning that the direction of the flight, altitude, and attitude of the aircraft is maintained by observing the flight instruments in the flight deck instead of visual observation of the ground, horizon, sky, etc. All jets are operated IFR, regardless of weather conditions.
ILS
Instrument landing system. Electronic equipment installed in the aircraft and on the ground that allows the Aircraft to descend through overcast skies for landing. Instruments in the flight deck allow the pilot to align the aircraft with the runway, even though the runway may not be seen. If the pilot cannot see the runway descending to the lowest safe altitude, the landing is not completed. The aircraft would then proceed to an alternate airport or hold for weather improvement.
Interphone
A phone on the aircraft that is used for communication between crewmembers.
International flights
All flights operated to, from, or outside the USA.
I.O.E.
Initial operating experience. A flight attendants first flight after classroom training. A FAA requirement (at least 5 hrs in length) that tests onboard competency.
Jetway
Enclosed tunnel-like passageway between the aircraft and the terminal gate area, which is power-driven and controlled by an agent.
Jumpseat
Seat located in the cabin of the aircraft and used only by flight attendants for take offs and landings.
Lav
Lavatory. A restroom on an aircraft.
Layover
A period of rest time spent at a station other than the base station following the termination of a flight.
LCOB
Leads catering and operations brief. A briefing that explains all aspects and requirements of service onboard an aircraft for a flight or series of flights.
Lead flight attendant
The flight attendant responsible to coordinate, lead, and direct the activities of the other flight attendants.
Leading edge (of the wing)
The forward edge of the wings.
Leg (of a flight)
The in-flight segment between stops.
Liquor kit
Container stocked with liquor for passenger service.
Minimum crew
The smallest number of crewmembers required on each aircraft by the FAA.
Non-revenue passenger
Passengers who have not paid for their tickets (usually Arline personnel). Any person traveling on a pass is subject to space availability. Flight attendants should be able to locate non-revs onboard in case of lack of space and/or meal shortage.
OAI
Omni Air International
Operations
The office which serves as a combination of crew scheduling, cabin service, flight information, including weather data, etc.
Originating
The station where an aircraft begins and is assigned a new flight number. A crew originates at the station where they started their assignment for the day.
Outboard
Away from the fuselage, toward the wing tip.
Outbound
Anyone or anything (i.e., aircraft, crew, baggage, etc. ) leaving a station going out on a flight.
Overhead bin
An enclosed area directly over a passengers seat that can be used for carry-on storage.
Pax
Passenger
P.A. Public address
Information given to passengers onboard the aircraft.
PCU: Passenger control unit
Controls in the armrest containing f/a call button, controls for lights and audio, and reading lights.
Per diem
A meal expense. Paid from the time a crewmember leaves his/her base until he/she returns to base, plus 30 minutes.
Planned emergency
A situation expected to happen, i.e., an anticipated emergency landing (an emergency landing in which an emergency is expected to occur upon landing and is known prior to that).
Pre-boarding
The act of boarding passengers that need to be boarded before other passengers, i.e., passengers with disabilities, families with small children, etc.
Pre-departure
Time before the aircraft leaves the gate.
Probation
12 month period of evaluation by the company immediately after employment.
Pushback
Backward movement of an aircraft when it is leaving the gate.
Ramp
The area in front of the terminal where the aircraft is parked.
Ramp agent
A person working the ground operations.
Reserve
The status of a flight attendant who does not have an assigned schedule. A flight attendant on reserve may be used to work a trip when someone is sick, on vacation, or late for his/her assigned flight.
Revenue (tickets or passengers)
Tickets that are paid for, or people who pay for airline tickets.
Safety information card
Cards located in each passengers seat explaining the location and operation of emergency equipment on the aircraft.
Scheduled charter
A charter flown on a regular basis, i.e., daily, weekly, bi-weekly.
Seniority system
The system used involving all Omni flight attendants to determine their priority within the ranks of the flight attendants.
Stand-by
Someone who must wait until last to board the aircraft. They do not have a confirmed reservation and must wait for an available seat.
Stacking
Maintaining an altitude separation (usually 1,000 ft) between aircraft in the vicinity of an airport, waiting to land.
Station
An airport
Stow
To place articles in a safe place for takeoff and landing.
Tailwinds
Winds that aid the progress of the aircraft through the air.
Taxiing
When the aircraft is moving into position for takeoff or moving toward the gate after landing.
Terminal
Airport
Trip report
A written account of any significant incidents occurring during flight. The report is submitted to inflight services.
Trailing edge (of the wing)
The aft (rear) edge of the wing.
TSU: tray service unit
A tray containing all side dishes of the passenger meL. The entree’ is added to the TSU prior to serving.
Turbulence
Variations in air movements causing the aircraft to move up, down, or sideways in short, jerky motions caused by weather and air currents.
Unplanned emergency
A situation that is not expected to happen, i.e., an unanticipated emergency landing is one that happens without warning.
Wide-bodied aircraft
An aircraft with 2 aisles.
Zulu time
Greenwhich Mean Time, which standardizes the world times. Ex. 0800 in Atlanta is 1300 Zulu (actual time in Greenwich, England, UK. ).
