The Digital Flight Data Acquisition Unit (DFDAU) provides a means of gathering, conditioning, and converting flight data parameters to digital data.
The acquired information, both digital and analog, is output to the mandatory Flight Data Recorder in accordance with requirements of regulatory agencies.
...read more
Posted in Abbreviations and Acronyms, Avionics Terms
Type Certificate Data Sheets- Type Certificate Data Sheets (TCDS) are a part of the Type Certification Process and contain information relevant to the certification of particular aircraft. TCDS contain information that is useful, not only at the time the aircraft undergoes certification, but as an ongoing resource for the life of an aircraft. Any time a Certificate of [...]
...read more
Posted in Abbreviations and Acronyms, FAA Terms | Tagged Aircraft, Airworthiness, FAA, Regulatory
CMR Definition – What is a CMR? – A CMR is a required periodic task, established during the design certification of the airplane as an operating limitation of the type certificate.
...read more
Posted in Aviation Safety Terms, FAA Terms | Tagged Airworthiness, FAA, Inspection, Maintenance
VFR terminal area charts are helpful when flying in or near Class B airspace. They have a scale of 1:250,000
...read more
Posted in Aircraft Navigation Terms | Tagged FAA Pilot's Handbook
Technical Standard Orders are written specification published by the FAA as a minimum performance standard for specified materials, parts, and appliances used on civil aircraft. When authorized to manufacture an aicraft material, part, or appliances to a TSO standard, this is referred to as TSO authorization.
...read more
Posted in FAA Terms | Tagged Airworthiness, FAA, Parts, TSO
Technical Standard Order Authorization
A Technical Standard Order Authorization – TSOA from the Federal Aviation Administration authorizes a manufacturer to produce a material, part, or appliance to a TSO standard. Receiving a TSOA approves both design and production of the TSO part.
A TSOA does not authorize the installation of a TSO part in a certificated aircraft. The standard [...]
...read more
Posted in FAA Terms | Tagged Airworthiness, FAA, TSO
Transponder Codes are one of 4,096 four-digit discrete codes ATC assigns to distinguish between aircraft.
Emergency Transponder Codes are set by pilots as follows:
Code 7500 (hijack code)
Code 7600 (loss of radio communications code)
...read more
Posted in Aircraft Navigation Terms, Avionics Terms | Tagged FAA Pilot's Handbook
The definition of Aviation / Aircraft Maintenance as defined by the FAA and EASA is
...read more
Posted in Aviation Maintenance Terms | Tagged AMT, EASA, FAA, Maintenance
Compressor Stall
A Compressor Stall in a gas turbine engine is a condition in an axial-flow compressor in which one or more stages of rotor blades fail to pass air smoothly to the succeeding stages. A stall condition is caused by a pressure ratio that is incompatible with the engine rpm. Compressor stall will be indicated by a [...]
...read more
Posted in Aircraft Powerplant Terms, Video | Tagged FAA Pilot's Handbook
CDI – Course Deviation Indicator
A Navigation Instrument that indicates the course and direction to a tuned VOR station
It consists of (1) omnibearing selector (OBS) sometimes referred to as the course selector, (2) a CDI needle (Left-Right Needle), and (3) a TO/FROM indicator. The course selector is an azimuth dial that can be rotated to select a [...]
...read more
Posted in Avionics Terms | Tagged FAA Pilot's Handbook
An important part of learning about any profession is becoming familiar with the language that is unique to the trade. Aviation has no shortage of unique terms, some of which are defined within these pages.