Aviation Keywords & Phrases

Aerodynamics: The principles of how an aircraft moves through the air, including concepts like lift, drag, thrust, and weight.

Airfoil: The shape of a wing or propeller blade that generates lift.

Airspeed Indicator (ASI): An instrument showing the aircraft's speed relative to the surrounding air.

Angle of Attack (AoA): The angle at which the wing meets the oncoming air.

Crew Resource Management (CRM): A training program that teaches flight crews to effectively use all available resources for safety and efficiency.

Flight Level (FL): An altitude measurement used for Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) traffic above a certain altitude.

Vertical speed Indicator (VSI): An instrument showing the aircraft's speed relative to the aircraft climb or decent.

Weight and Balance: The process of ensuring the aircraft's weight and center of gravity are within a safe range for flight.

Zulu Time (UTC): Coordinated Universal Time, the standard time reference used in aviation.

ATC (Air Traffic Control): The service that directs aircraft movements to maintain a safe and orderly flow of air traffic.

Call Sign or Tail Number: The name or number used to identify an aircraft during radio transmissions.

"Cleared for the Option": ATC clearance allowing a pilot to perform a full stop, touch-and-go, or missed approach at their discretion.

"Cleared to Land": Permission to land on a specified runway.

"Cleared for Takeoff": Permission to depart from a specified runway.

"Line Up and Wait": An instruction to taxi onto the runway and hold position for a subsequent takeoff clearance.

"Say Again": Request to repeat the last transmission.

"Squawk": An instruction to enter a four-digit code into the aircraft's transponder for identification on ATC radar.

"Ident": An instruction to push the 'Ident' button on your transponder to send a signal to ATC.

"Traffic in Sight": A pilot's report that they have visually located another aircraft.

Approach: The phase of flight where an aircraft descends toward an airport for landing.

"Aviate, Navigate, Communicate": A critical memory aid for pilots, prioritizing flying the aircraft first, followed by navigation, and finally communication.

Final Approach: The final straight-line leg of the landing pattern, aligned with the runway.

Go-Around: Aborting a landing approach, typically due to an unsafe condition.

Holding Pattern: A predetermined, oval-shaped path flown by an aircraft awaiting further clearance.

Touch-and-Go: A training maneuver where an aircraft lands and then immediately takes off again without coming to a full stop.

Traffic Pattern: The standard path aircraft fly when approaching and departing an airport.