Types of aviation altitudes: Indicated Altitude – Altitude data shown on the altimeter using the current altimeter setting input by the pilot. True Altitude – Height above mean sea level (MSL). Absolute Altitude – Height above ground level (AGL). Pressure Altitude – Indicated altitude when an altimeter is set to 29.92 in Hg and used [...]
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Posted in Aircraft
Wing Loading – The total weight of the airplane divided by the planform area of the wing.
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Posted in Aircraft | Tagged Aerodynamics
Pressure Coefficient – The pressure coefficient is a non-dimensional form of the pressure. It is defined as the difference of the free stream and local static pressures all divided by the dynamic pressure.
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Posted in Aircraft | Tagged Aerodynamics
Load Cell - A component in an electronic weighing system that is placed between the jack and the jack pad on the aircraft. The load cell contains strain gauges whose resistance changes with the weight on the cell. Electronic load cells are used when the aircraft is weighed by raising it on jacks. The cells are placed between the [...]
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Posted in Aircraft | Tagged Weight & Balance
Q-Corner or Coffin Corner is a term used to describe operations at high altitudes where low indicated airspeeds yield high true airspeeds (MACH number) at high angles of attack. The high angle of attack results in flow separation which causes buffet. Turning maneuvers at these altitudes increase the angle of attack and result in stability [...]
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Posted in Aircraft | Tagged Aerodynamics, Aircraft
MACH -Named after Ernst Mach, a 19th century Austrian physicist, is the ratio of an aircraft’s true speed as compared to the local speed of sound at a given time or place. MACH number (MACH Speed) is a decimal number (M) representing the true airspeed (TAS) relationship to the local speed of sound (e.g., TAS [...]
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Posted in Aircraft | Tagged Aerodynamics, Aircraft, Airspeed, Systems
Drag Divergence is a phenomenon that occurs when an airfoil’s drag increases sharply and requires substantial increases in power (thrust) to produce further increases in speed. This is not to be confused with MACH crit. The drag increase is due to the unstable formation of shock waves that transform a large amount of energy into [...]
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Posted in Aircraft | Tagged Aerodynamics
Region of Reverse Command Flight regime in which flight at a higher airspeed requires a lower power setting and a lower airspeed requires a higher power setting in order to maintain altitude. Aerodynamic Properties of the Aircraft The aerodynamic properties of an aircraft generally determine the power requirements at various conditions of flight, while the powerplant capabilities [...]
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Posted in Aircraft | Tagged FAA Pilot's Handbook
A stabilized approach is the safest profile, and it is one of the most critical elements of a safe approach and landing operation. There are five basic elements to the stabilized approach: Landing Configuration – Stabilized Approach Element 1 The airplane should be in the landing configuration early in the approach. The landing gear should [...]
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Posted in Aircraft | Tagged Flying, Landing, Pilot Technique |
Factored Landing Distance. The unfactored certified dry landing distance adjusted for airport and aircraft conditions, and then multiplied by the appropriate factor to satisfy a regulatory predeparture requirement. For example: [(AFM unfactored dry landing distance + MEL/CDL penalties) ×1.67 = factored dry runway landing distance ].
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Posted in Aircraft | Tagged Airport, Flying, Landing
