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True-to-type
An Airworthiness Certificate is certified for a planes specific 'type-design.' This type design outlines what a plane is made out of, and what makes it that specific model. If we change some aspects of equipment listed in the Type Certificate Data Sheet, then the plane is not true-to-type anymore meaning it is no longer the plane it was certified as, and the Airworthiness Certificate is invalid unless we have a 'Supplemental Type Certificate, or we fix what we changed.
This will be discussed further in the Equipment section.
This will be discussed further in the Equipment section.
Differential Breaking
Some planes are fitted with Differential Toe Brakes, meaning we can brake more on one wheel than the other to aid with steering.
Yoke
A yoke is the "steering wheel" of the airplane. We use this to control our ailerons for bank/roll, and our elevator for pitch.
Calendar Months
A Calendar Month is period of time describing a month, and then rounding to midnight on the last day of the month.
Ex. If you got your annual, which expires after 12 calendar months, on April 10th, 2024, it would be valid until April 31st, 2025.
Ex. If you got your annual, which expires after 12 calendar months, on April 10th, 2024, it would be valid until April 31st, 2025.
Hobbs Time
Hobbs time is the time the engine is running. This time begins counting from engine start. This time is often used for logging and billing.
Tach Time
Tach Time is the time that the engine is under stress. It is often measured by the RPM setting. This time is often used for maintenance.
Throttle (Black Lever)
The throttle controls how much of the fuel/air combination is being sent to the engine. Pushing the throttle forward sends more, pulling the throttle back send less.
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Mixture (Red Lever)
The mixture controls the ratio of fuel to air being sent to the engine.
Pushing the mixture forward adjusts the combination for more fuel and less air. This is called a 'Rich' mixture.
Pulling the mixture back adjusts the combination for less fuel and more air. This is called a 'Lean' mixture.
Pushing the mixture forward adjusts the combination for more fuel and less air. This is called a 'Rich' mixture.
Pulling the mixture back adjusts the combination for less fuel and more air. This is called a 'Lean' mixture.
Emergency Bus
A 'bus' in circuits is a common pathway of power to different items. Think of this like an extension cord, providing power to everything connected to it.
Some planes emergency battery power the emergency bus, which is the group of electrical equipment that will remain active on the emergency battery in the event of an alternator failure and dead main battery.
Some planes emergency battery power the emergency bus, which is the group of electrical equipment that will remain active on the emergency battery in the event of an alternator failure and dead main battery.
For example, some Piper Archer with G1000 avionics emergency bus powers these items.
ISA Pressure Lapse Rate
The reason you multiply by 1000 in the Pressure Altitude formula is because the ISA standard lapse rate is -1" of pressure for every 1000ft.
ISA Temperature Lapse Rate
To calculate ISA at our altitude, we need to begin at sea level during standard conditions, which is 15°C. We then subtract -2°C for every +1000ft increase.
For example, the ISA temp at an altitude of 645ft would be roughly 14°C.
(15-1=14)
The ISA temp at an altitude of 2,000ft would be 11°C.
(15-2-2=11)
For example, the ISA temp at an altitude of 645ft would be roughly 14°C.
(15-1=14)
The ISA temp at an altitude of 2,000ft would be 11°C.
(15-2-2=11)
Ground Visibility
Ground Visibility is the visibility observed by special equipment on the ground. This is determined by equipment that can accurately determine visibility.
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Flight Visibility
Flight Visibility is the visibility that we observe outside from the plane. This is based on our distance measuring skills.
Bravo Clearance
A Bravo Clearance is issued from ATC, and is specifically the words “Cleared into the Bravo” or something very similar.
Two-Way Communications
Two-way communications implies that you make a radio call to the appropriate ATC facility and they respond with at least your tail number.
However, if they say something similar to “N8R0CK, Remain outside of the airspace,” we would obviously not be allowed to enter the airspace even though they read our tail number.
However, if they say something similar to “N8R0CK, Remain outside of the airspace,” we would obviously not be allowed to enter the airspace even though they read our tail number.
Horizontal Situation Indicator (HSI)
A Horizontal Situation Indicator (HSI) is an instrument in the plane that combines a Heading Indicator with a Navigation Instrument (like a CDI) such that you may display your heading, and reference it against a GPS, VOR, etc.
Airworthiness Cert
Airworthiness Certificates commonly look like this:
Mean Sea Level
Mean Sea Level is the average height of the surface of the ocean.
Pro Rata Share
…means paying your equal share based on number of passengers. For example:
ATLEAST 50% for 2 passengers,
ATLEAST 25% for 4 passengers, etc.
ATLEAST 50% for 2 passengers,
ATLEAST 25% for 4 passengers, etc.
'Hood' Time
Simulated Instrument time, or 'hood' time, is in the aircraft when we simulate instrument conditions by wearing a view limiting device. A 'hood' used to be attached to the pilots head to limit the view outside. Often you will use "foggles" instead which are glasses with the lenses obscured.
Instrument conditions are times where we fly by only reference to our instruments. This often occurs if we were to enter a cloud.
Instrument conditions are times where we fly by only reference to our instruments. This often occurs if we were to enter a cloud.
Leg
A 'leg' of a flight is the portion of a flight between two points. Most commonly, this is the portion of a flight between two airports.
CG Envelope
A planes CG Envelope is the range where a planes CG can be, and safe flight still be possible. This range is often listen in the POH Section 6.
If a planes CG is too far forward, there may not be enough force available to lift the nose for takeoff.
If a planes CG is too far aft, the plane may liftoff but will be extremely unstable and could lead to an unrecoverable spin/loss of control of the aircraft.
If a planes CG is too far forward, there may not be enough force available to lift the nose for takeoff.
If a planes CG is too far aft, the plane may liftoff but will be extremely unstable and could lead to an unrecoverable spin/loss of control of the aircraft.
Technically Advanced Airplane (TAA)
A TAA must be equipped with an electronically advanced avionics system that includes:
- An electronic Primary Flight Display (PFD) that includes, at a minimum, an airspeed indicator, turn coordinator, attitude indicator, heading indicator, altimeter, and vertical speed indicator
- An electronic Multifunction Display (MFD) that includes, at a minimum, a moving map using Global Positioning System (GPS) navigation with the aircraft position displayed
- A two axis autopilot integrated with the navigation and heading guidance system
- The PFD and MFD must be continuously visible
Complex Airplane
Airworthy Definition
'Airworthy' means that an airplane conforms to its type certificate and, after inspection, is in condition for safe operation.
Glass
A 'glass' cockpit is slang for a plane that utilizes screens for its primary flight instruments, as opposed to a traditional '6-pack' system.
These screens are referred to as EFIS (Electronic Flight Instrument System), and also have other names depending on the type of avionics system. For example, the left screen of a G1000 system is usually a PFD (Primary Flight Display), while the left screen is the MFD (Multifunction Display).
These screens are referred to as EFIS (Electronic Flight Instrument System), and also have other names depending on the type of avionics system. For example, the left screen of a G1000 system is usually a PFD (Primary Flight Display), while the left screen is the MFD (Multifunction Display).