Glossary

This glossary contains information on terms, phrases and abbreviations used by the Aviation industry. While this list does not include all aviation terminology, it is the purpose of this glossary to aid the general viewer in better understanding aviation terms as it pertains to content on this website. A full list of aviation terminology can be found here.
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

A

ARSR

See air route surveillance radar.

ARTCC

See air route traffic control center.

ASDE

See airport surface detection equipment.

Aspect ratio

Span of a wing divided by its average chord.

ASR

See airport surveillance radar.

Asymmetric thrust

Also known as P-factor. A tendency for an aircraft to yaw to the left due to the descending propeller blade on the right producing more thrust than the ascending blade on the left. This occurs when the aircraft’s longitudinal axis is in a climbing attitude in relation to the relative wind. The P-factor would be to the right if the aircraft had a counterclockwise rotating propeller.

ATC

Air Traffic Control

ATCRBS

See air traffic control radar beacon system.

ATIS

See automatic terminal information service.

Atmospheric propagation delay

A bending of the electromagnetic (EM) wave from the satellite that creates an error in the GPS system.

Attitude

A personal motivational predisposition to respond to persons, situations, or events in a given manner that can, nevertheless, be changed or modified through training as sort of a mental shortcut to decision-making.

Attitude and heading reference system (AHRS)

A system composed of three-axis sensors that provide heading, attitude, and yaw information for aircraft. AHRS are designed to replace traditional mechanical gyroscopic flight instruments and provide superior reliability and accuracy.

Attitude director indicator (ADI)

An aircraft attitude indicator that incorporates flight command bars to provide pitch and roll commands.

Attitude indicator

The foundation for all instrument flight, this instrument reflects the airplane’s attitude in relation to the horizon.

Attitude instrument flying

Controlling the aircraft by reference to the instruments rather than by outside visual cues.