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Aviation Dictionary

Search plain-language aviation definitions by term, category, acronym, or keyword. This resource is public and available to all AviateSafely visitors.

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122 terms found

Term Category Definition
Holding Pattern Instrument Procedures A racetrack-shaped maneuver used to keep an aircraft within a specified airspace while awaiting further clearance.
Horizontal Situation Indicator Also known as: HSI Instruments A cockpit instrument that combines heading information with course guidance.
Hypoxia Aeromedical A deficiency of oxygen reaching body tissues, which can impair judgment, vision, and motor skills in flight.
Indicated Airspeed Also known as: IAS Performance The airspeed read directly from the airspeed indicator before correction for instrument or position error.
Induced Drag Aerodynamics Drag created as a byproduct of lift, especially significant at lower airspeeds and higher angles of attack.
Instrument Flight Rules Also known as: IFR Regulations Rules governing flight when pilots navigate and control the aircraft primarily by reference to instruments.
Instrument Landing System Also known as: ILS Instrument Procedures A precision approach system providing lateral and vertical guidance to a runway.
Jet Stream Weather A narrow band of strong winds in the upper atmosphere that can affect flight time, turbulence, and weather development.
Knots Also known as: KT, KTS Navigation A speed measurement in nautical miles per hour.
Lift Aerodynamics The aerodynamic force that acts generally upward and supports an aircraft in flight.
Localizer Also known as: LOC Instrument Procedures The component of an ILS that provides lateral guidance to the runway centerline.
Magnetic Variation Also known as: Variation Navigation The angular difference between true north and magnetic north at a specific location.
Maneuvering Speed Also known as: Va Performance The maximum speed at which full abrupt control movement should not overstress the aircraft under specified conditions.
Mean Sea Level Also known as: MSL Altitude Altitude referenced to the average sea level surface.
METAR Weather An aviation routine weather report describing observed conditions at an airport.
Minimum Descent Altitude Also known as: MDA Instrument Procedures The lowest altitude to which descent is authorized on certain nonprecision approaches unless visual references are established.
Missed Approach Instrument Procedures A published or assigned procedure flown when an approach cannot be completed to landing.
Mode C Avionics A transponder mode that reports aircraft altitude to ATC radar systems.
Nautical Mile Also known as: NM Navigation A unit of distance used in aviation and marine navigation, equal to approximately one minute of latitude.
No-Go Decision Safety A deliberate decision not to begin or continue a flight because risks exceed acceptable limits.
Non-Towered Airport Also known as: Uncontrolled airport Airport Operations An airport without an operating control tower where pilots coordinate traffic using standard procedures and radio calls.
NOTAM Also known as: Notice to Air Missions Flight Planning A notice containing time-critical information essential to flight operations.
Pilotage Navigation Navigation by reference to visible landmarks.
Pitot Tube Instruments A tube that senses ram air pressure for the airspeed indicator and related systems.
Pressure Altitude Performance Altitude indicated when the altimeter is set to 29.92 inches of mercury, used for performance calculations.