My name is Ali Bitahi, and I am studying to become a pilot. My glossary is for students like me that want to familiarize themselves with pilot or air traffic controller terminology. It has 20 terms that provide you with definitions, pronunciations, translations, and pictures. The definitions and translations used are mostly taken from Google. The pictures used are taken from Wikipedia.
air traffic control
noun
The ground-based personnel and equipment concerned with monitoring and controlling air traffic within a particular area.
Example: Lack of communication Flight 92 was then diverted to East Midlands airport by AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL staff who were alerted to the flight's status.
en: le contrôle du trafic aérien
airway beacon
noun
A radio transmitter whose signal helps to fix the position of a ship, aircraft, or spacecraft.
Example: The AIRWAY BEACONS’ primary purpose was to provide a nighttime navigation system for early aviators, particularly for the U. S. Air Mail service, beginning in the 1920s.
en: balise de voie aérienne
blind spot
noun
A point within the normal range of a transmitter where there is unusually weak reception.
Example: The only problem with the layout of the sensors was that there was a BLIND SPOT in the middle where the receiver was.
en: angle mort
broadcast
verb
Transmit (a program or some information) by radio or television.
Example: Details of these signings were BROADCAST and printed in local media.
en: transmettre
climb-out
noun
The part of a flight of an aircraft after takeoff and before it reaches a level altitude.
Example: During the CLIMB-OUT, the copilot's airspeed dropped to zero, and his altimeter dropped 2,000 feet.
en: montée d'avion
contaminated runway
noun
A runway is considered contaminated when more than 25 percent of the runway surface area (within the reported length and the width being used) is covered by frost, ice, and any depth of snow, slush, or water.
Example: At some point in time RUNWAYS will be CONTAMINATED with rain, snow or slush.
en: piste contaminée
downburst
noun
A strong downward current of air from a cumulonimbus cloud, usually associated with intense rain or a thunderstorm.
Example: The tornado was accompanied by more than of rain, and several instances of DOWNBURST winds.
en: rafale descendante
ETA
noun
An estimated time of arrival, in particular the time at which an aircraft or ship is expected to arrive at its destination.
Example: "What's your ETA?"
en: heure d'arrivée estimée
flight level
noun
An aircraft's altitude at standard air pressure, expressed in hundreds of feet.
Example: They're a bit put off with my inability to maintain the assigned FLIGHT LEVEL.
en: niveau de vol
flight termination system
noun
The components onboard a vehicle that provide the ability to end that vehicle's flight in a controlled manner.
Example: Some launch systems use FLIGHT TERMINATION for range safety.
en: système de terminaison de vol
fuel siphoning
verb
The unintentional release of fuel caused by overflow, punctures, leaks, a loose cap, etc.
Example: It's going to be hard explaining how he got his insides scrambled with diesel if he wasn't SIPHONING FUEL.
en: siphonnage de carburant
high speed taxiway
noun
A long radius taxiway designed and provided with lighting or a marking to define the paths of aircraft, traveling at high speed (up to 60 knots), from the runway center to a point in the center of a taxiway.
Example: Plans for its further development include construction of a new HIGH SPEED TAXIWAY and 4 stands for wide-body aircraft.
en: voie de circulation à grande vitesse
ident
noun
Transponders also have a button on them that is labeled "ident," short for identification. This button allows a pilot or aircraft to identify itself easily and quickly to air traffic control.
Example: When you push the IDENT button in the cockpit, the transponder sets that extra "ident" bit in its reply data.
en: identifiant
lahso
noun
LAHSO is an acronym for "Land and Hold Short Operations." Land and hold short operations are an air traffic control procedure intended to increase airport capacity without compromising safety.
Example: Pilots may accept a LAHSO clearance only if the PIC determines that the aircraft can safely land and stop within the available landing distance.
en: atterrissage et attente à l'écart
landing area
noun
Any specially prepared or selected surface of land, water, or deck designated or used for takeoff and landing of aircraft. See also airfield; amphibious force; landing beach; landing force.
Example: In recent studies, Kennedy's decision to withdraw an air strike over the (beach) LANDING AREA has been condemned.
en: zone d'atterrissage
multicom
noun
A mobile service, not open to public cotiespondence use, used for essential communications in the conduct of activities performed by or directed from private aircraft.
Example: In remote areas other frequencies such as MULTICOM are used.
en: multicom
non movement area
noun
The non-movement area is defined as ramps and aprons and is not controlled by ATC, which means you may move or taxi the airplane without clearance or communications with the control tower.
Example: You don't need authorization from ATC before you enter any part of the airport non movement area.
en: zone de non-mouvement
pilot in command
noun
The pilot in command (PIC) of an aircraft is the person aboard the aircraft who is ultimately responsible for its operation and safety during flight.
Example: Tom is the PILOT IN COMMAND.
en: pilote aux commandes
runway
noun
A leveled strip of smooth ground along which aircraft take off and land.
Example: Kai Tak was a non-24 hour airport, with an extremely short RUNWAY and had operated well-over the initial design capacity in 1954.
en: piste d'atterrissage
touchdown
noun
The moment at which an aircraft's wheels or part of a spacecraft make contact with the ground during landing.
