An aircraft system which provides head-up guidance to the pilot during flight. It includes the display element, sensors, computers and power supplies, indications and controls. It may receive inputs from an airborne navigation system or flight guidance system. Generally the HUD provides navigation and air data (airspeed in relation to approach reference speed, altitude, left/right [...]
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Posted in Abbreviations and Acronyms, Aircraft Navigation Terms, Avionics Terms | Tagged Avionics
Electronic Flight Directors display cues to guide pilot or autopilot control inputs along a selected and computed flight path. The Flight Director receives inputs such as altitude, airspeed heading data and temperature data. The Flight Director receives information from an Air Data Computer and a flight data computer
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Posted in Avionics Terms, Video | Tagged Aircraft, Avionics, Navigation
Kollsman Window – Altimeter – Paul Kollsman invented the first accurate Barometric Altimeter wiith an accuracy of a few feet. Prior to Kollsman’s invention, altimeters could only determine an airplane’s altitude within a few hundred feet. Kollsman’s invention was used on the first “Blind Flight” conducted by James “Jimmy” Doolittle proving the ability to fly using only instruments.
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Posted in Avionics Terms, Video | Tagged Altimeter, Avionics, FAA Pilot's Handbook, Navigation, Systems
Fail-passive automatic landing system are designed so that in the event of a failure there is no significant deviation of aircraft trim, flight path or
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Posted in Aviation Safety Terms | Tagged ATC, Avionics, Landing, Navigation, Safety
The Cone of Confusion is a cone-shaped volume of airspace directly above a VOR station where no signal is received, causing the CDI to fluctuate. VOR Cone-of-confusion indications: (1) Size of a VOR cone is negligible, meaning that station passage can be used as a recognizable fix (2) HSI VOR bearing pointer will be removed [...]
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Posted in Aircraft Navigation Terms, Avionics Terms | Tagged Aviation Error, Avionics, FAA Pilot's Handbook, Navigation
Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance System – TCAS -An onboard system that detects the presence of some aircraft operating in the vicinity of the airplane by querying the transponders of nearby aircraft and presenting their locations and relative altitudes on a display. Alerts and warnings are issued when nearby aircraft are deemed to be a [...]
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Posted in Aircraft Navigation Terms, Avionics Terms | Tagged Aircraft, Avionics, Navigation
Visual approach slope indicator (VASI). A visual aid of lights arranged to provide descent guidance information during the approach to the runway. A pilot on the correct glideslope will see red lights over white lights. Basic VASI consist of two sets of lights. One set marks the start of the runway, while the other is [...]
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Posted in Airport Terms, ATC Terms | Tagged Avionics, FAA Pilot's Handbook, Instruments
VNAV – Vertical Navigation – Aviation Term – Abbreviation / Acronym Vertical NAVigation in aviation is a function of autopilot which directs vertical movement of aircraft either according to pre-programmed FMS flight plan during cruise or according to ILS glideslope during approach.
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Posted in Abbreviations and Acronyms, Aircraft Navigation Terms, Avionics Terms | Tagged Abbreviation, Acronym, autopilot, Avionics, Navigation
VHF – Very High Frequency – Aviation Term – Abbreviation / Acronym
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Posted in Abbreviations and Acronyms | Tagged Abbreviation, Acronym, Avionics, Communications
UFO – Unidentified Flying Object – Aviation Term – Abbreviation / Acronym
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Posted in Abbreviations and Acronyms | Tagged Abbreviation, Acronym, Avionics, Navigation
