UNIVERSAL SYMBOLS
AND ABBREVIATIONS
GENERAL AIRSPEED TERMINOLOGY AND SYMBOLS
METEOROLOGICAL TERMINOLOGY
POWER TERMINOLOGY
ENGINE TERMINOLOGY, CONTROLS AND INSTRUMENTS
AIRPLANE PERFORMANCE AND FLIGHT PLANNING TERMINOLOGY
WEIGHT AND BALANCE TERMINOLOGY
A |
ampère |
AC |
alternating current |
ADF |
automatic director finding / finder |
ADI |
attitude director indicator |
AGL |
above ground level |
ALT |
altitude |
AM |
amplitude modulation |
AMPS |
ampères |
ANT |
antenna |
ANTI-COLL |
anti-collision |
AP, A/P |
autopilot |
approx. |
approximate |
ARINC |
Aeronautic Radio Incorporation, USA |
ASA |
anti-static additive |
ASAP |
as soon as possible |
ASD |
accelerate stop distance |
ASI |
attitude situation indicator |
ASTM |
American Society for Testing and Materials |
ATC |
air traffic control |
ATT |
attitude |
auto |
automatic |
AVGAS |
aviation gasoline |
bar |
1 bar @ 14.5 psi |
BATT / BAT |
battery |
BFO |
beat frequency oscillator |
BRG |
bearing |
BRT |
bright |
B.S. |
British Standard |
°C |
degrees centigrade |
CAA |
Civil Aviation Agency |
CAB |
cabin |
C/B |
circuit breaker |
CCW |
counter-clockwise |
CDI |
course deviation indicator |
CDU |
control display unit |
C.G. |
center of gravity |
COMM |
communication |
COMB |
combustion |
CONS |
consumption |
CONTR |
control |
COPIL |
copilot |
CRS |
course or cursor |
cu ft |
cubic foot, cubic feet |
CW |
clockwise or carrier wave |
daN |
deka (x100) Newton |
DC |
direct current |
DCU |
data conversion unit |
DEFR |
defrost (air) |
DG |
directional gyro |
DH |
decision height |
D.Eng R.D. |
Directorate Engineering Research Development (UK) |
DIST |
distance |
DME |
distance measuring equipment |
DN, DWN |
down |
DO |
Dornier |
DR |
dead reckoning |
E |
east |
EAROM |
electrically alterable read only memory |
EGME |
ethylene glycol monomethyl ether |
ELT |
emergency locator transmitter |
EMERG/ EMG |
emergency |
END |
endurance |
ENG |
engine |
ESAD |
equivalent still air distance |
EWC |
estimated wind component |
EXT |
external or EXTING (extinguisher) |
°F |
degrees Fahrenheit |
FAA |
Federal Aviation Agency |
FAR |
Federal Aviation Regulation |
FCU |
fuel control unit |
FDS |
flight director system |
FF |
fuel flow |
FLT |
flight |
FOD |
foreign object damage |
ft |
foot, feet |
ft/min |
feet per minute |
FRQ |
frequency |
F.S.I.I. |
fuel system icing inhibitor |
g |
acceleration due to gravity |
GA |
go around or general aviation |
GAL |
gallon(s) |
GEN |
generator |
GND |
ground |
GOV |
governor |
GS |
glide slope or ground speed |
h |
hour |
HDG |
heading |
HF |
high frequency |
HSI |
horizontal situation indicator |
HTR |
heater |
Hz |
Hertz |
ICAO |
International Civil Aviation Organization |
ICS |
intercommunication system (intercom) |
IFR |
instrument flight rules |
IGN |
ignition |
ILS |
instrument landing system |
IMC |
instrument meteorological condition |
in |
inch, inches |
in Hg |
inches of Mercury |
in lbs |
inch pounds |
INSTR |
instrument(s) |
ISA |
International Standard Atmosphere |
ITT |
interturbine temperature, interstage turbine temperature |
INVTR |
inverter |
JETT |
jettison |
kg |
kilogram (1 kg @ 9.81 N @ 2.207 lbs) |
kHz |
kilo Hertz |
kp |
kilopond (1 kp @ 0.981 kg) |
kt(s) |
knot(s) |
kW |
kilowatt (1 kW @ 1.341 HP) |
L |
liter |
LAND |
landing |
LBA |
Luftfahrt Bundesamt (German Federal Aviation Agency) |
lb(s) |
pound(s) (1 lb. @ 0.4536 kg) |
LB-FT |
foot pound, feet pound (torque) |
LCM |
list of consumable material |
LH |
left hand (side) |
LOC |
localizer |
LP |
low pressure |
LSB |
lower side band |
LT(S) |
light(s) |
m, M |
meter |
m², M² |
square meter |
m³, M³ |
cubic meter |
mA |
milli ampère |
MAC |
mean aerodynamics cord |
MAG/ magn. |
magnetic |
MAN |
manual |
max/ MAX |
maximum |
mb |
millibar |
MCP |
maximum continuous power |
MHz |
Mega Hertz |
mm |
millimeter |
Mil |
military |
MIN/ min |
minimum |
mkg |
meterkilogram |
MKR |
marker |
MSG |
message |
MSL |
mean sea level |
N |
Newton or north |
NATO |
North Atlantic Treaty Organization |
NAV |
navigation |
Ng |
gas generator speed |
NM |
nautical miles |
Np |
power turbine (propeller) speed |
OAT |
outside air temperature |
OBI |
Omni bearing indicator |
OBS |
Omni bearing selector |
PA/ PAX/ PASS |
passenger |
PCU |
propeller control unit |
PIL |
pilot |
PPH |
pounds per hour (lbs/h) |
PRESS |
pressure |
PROP |
propeller |
psi |
pound per square inch (pressure) |
PTR |
pointer |
PTT |
push to talk |
PWR |
power |
QTY |
quantity |
recom |
recommended |
Ref/ REF |
reference |
REG |
regulator |
RELSE |
release |
RF |
radio frequency |
RH |
right hand (side) |
RLY |
relay |
RNAV |
area navigation |
RWY |
runway |
SAE |
Society of Automotive Engineers |
SB |
seat belt |
sec |
seconds |
SL |
sea level |
SPKR |
speaker |
SR |
specific range |
STBY |
stand by |
STOL |
short takeoff and landing |
SURF |
surface |
SW.OVR |
switch over |
SX |
selected cross track |
TAS |
true airspeed |
TBO |
time between overhaul |
TEMP |
temperature |
T.O. |
takeoff |
T/P |
temperature-pressure |
TQ |
torque |
TRANS |
transfer |
TRCVR |
transceiver |
T/S |
turn and slip |
USB |
upper side band (or computer: Universal Serial Bus) |
US GAL (gal) |
United States gallons |
V |
speed or volts |
VFR |
visual flight rules |
VG |
vertical gyro |
VHF |
very high frequency |
VLF |
very low frequency |
V/L |
vapor liquid |
VMTR |
voltmeter |
VOR |
very high frequency omni directional range |
VTOL |
vertical takeoff and landing |
WPT |
way point |
WSHLD |
windshield |
WX |
weather |
XMTR |
transmitter |
XPDR |
transponder |
W |
VLF-Omega |
CAS |
Calibrated Airspeed is the indicated speed of an airplane, corrected for position and instrument error. Calibrated airspeed is equal to true airspeed in standard atmosphere at sea level. |
KCAS |
Calibrated Airspeed expressed in knots. |
GS |
Ground Speed is the speed of an airplane relative to the ground. |
IAS |
Indicated Airspeed is the speed of an airplane as shown on the airspeed indicator when corrected for instrument error. IAS values published in this handbook assume zero instrument error. |
KIAS |
Indicated Airspeed expressed in knots. |
TAS |
True Airspeed is the airspeed of an airplane relative to undisturbed air which is the CAS corrected for altitude, temperature, and compressibility. |
VA |
Maneuvering Speed is the maximum speed at which application of full available aerodynamic control will not overstress the airplane. |
VFE |
Maximum Flap Extended Speed is the highest speed permissible with wing flaps in a prescribed extended position. |
VMC |
Minimum Control Speed is the minimum flight speed at which the airplane is controllable with a bank of not more than 5° when critical engine suddenly becomes inoperative and the remaining engine is operating at emergency power and the propeller of the failed engine is windmilling. |
VR |
Rotation Speed is the speed at which rotation should be initiated to ensure liftoff at takeoff speed. |
VSSE |
Single Engine Speed is a speed above both VMC and stall speed, selected to provide a margin of lateral and directional control when one engine is suddenly rendered inoperative. For training purposes, intentional failing of one engine in flight at or above this speed is recommended. |
VS |
Stalling Speed or the minimum steady flight speed at which the airplane is controllable. |
VSO |
Stalling Speed or the minimum steady flight speed at which the airplane is controllable in the landing configuration (FLAPS 2). |
VS1 |
Stalling Speed or the minimum steady flight speed obtained in a specific configuration. |
Vx |
Best Angle-of-Climb Speed is the airspeed which delivers the greatest gain in altitude in the shortest possible horizontal distance. |
Vy |
Best Rate-of-Climb Speed is the airspeed which delivers the greatest gain in altitude in the shortest possible time. |
VMO |
Maximum Operating Limit Speed is the speed limit that may not be deliberately exceeded in normal flight operations. |
V2 |
Takeoff Safety Speed is the minimum speed to be obtained at 50 ft height. |
Altimeter Setting |
Barometric Pressure corrected to sea level. |
ISA |
International Standard Atmosphere in which: |
OAT |
Outside Air Temperature is the free air static temperature, obtained either from in-flight temperature indications adjusted for instrument error and compressibility effects, or from ground meteorological sources. |
Indicated Pressure Altitude |
The number actually read from an altimeter when the barometric subscale has been set to 29.92 inches of Mercury (1013.2 millibars). Position errors may be obtained from the Altimeter Correction graph. |
Pressure Altitude |
Altitude measured from standard sea level pressure (29.92 in. Hg) by a pressure (barometric) altimeter. It is the indicated pressure altitude corrected for position and instrument error. In this handbook altimeter instrument errors are assumed to be zero. |
Station Pressure |
Actual atmospheric pressure at field elevation. |
Wind |
The wind velocities plotted as variables on the charts of this handbook are to be understood as the headwind or tailwind components of the reported winds. |
Emergency |
Highest power rating not limited by time in single engine operation. |
Takeoff |
Highest power rating not limited by time. |
Torque |
An indication of power output of the engine. |
HP |
Horse Power. |
SHP |
Shaft Horse Power - in turboprop engines the amount of power delivered to the prop, disregarding any surplus thrust generated by the exhaust gases. |
RPM |
Revolutions Per Minute. |
Reverse Thrust |
The thrust produced when the propeller blades are rotated past flat pitch into the Beta range. |
Beta Range |
Engine operational mode in which propeller blade pitch is hydro mechanically controlled from the cockpit power Lever. |
Igniter |
A device (spark plug) used to start the burning of the fuel/air mixture in a combustion chamber. |
Impeller |
The main rotor of a radial compressor which increase the velocity of the air which it pumps. |
Stator |
A row of stationary airfoils which direct the airflow between the rows of rotor blades. |
Turbine |
A rotating device actuated either by reaction or impulse (or a combination of both), and used to transform some of the kinetic energy of the exhaust gases into shaft horse power to drive the compressor(s) and accessories. |
Turboprop |
A type of gas turbine that converts heat energy into propeller shaft work. |
Power Lever |
Cockpit Lever used to change propeller pitch during Beta operation and select engine fuel flow during propeller governing. |
Condition Lever |
Cockpit Lever providing inputs to fuel control. |
Interstage Turbine Temperature (ITT) |
Gas temperature measured between the compressor and power turbines. |
Ng Tachometer (Gas Generator RPM) |
The tachometer registers the RPM of the gas generator in %. |
Np Tachometer (Propeller RPM) |
The tachometer registers the propeller RPM up to a maximum of 1900 RPM. |
Torque Meter |
The instrument that indicates the torque (turning force) and thus power output of the engine. |
Propeller Lever |
Cockpit lever used to regulate the RPM of the propeller by increasing or decreasing the propeller pitch through a pitch change mechanism in the propeller hub. |
Climb Gradient |
The ratio of the change in height during a portion of a climb, to the horizontal distance traveled in the same time interval. |
Demonstrated Crosswind |
The maximum 90° crosswind component for which adequate control of the airplane during takeoff and landing was actually demonstrated during certification tests. |
Accelerate-Stop Distance |
The distance required to accelerate an airplane to a specified speed and assuming failure of an engine at the instant that speed is attained, to bring the airplane to a stop. |
Accelerate-Go Distance |
The distance required to accelerate an airplane to a specified speed and, assuming failure of an engine at the instant that speed is attained, continue takeoff on the remaining engine to a height of 50 feet. |
Landing Distance |
The horizontal distance required to land from a 50 ft obstacle height and come to a complete stop. |
Reference Datum |
An imaginary vertical plane from which all horizontal distances are measured for balance purposes. |
Station |
A location along the airplane fuselage usually given in terms of distance from the reference datum. |
Arm |
The horizontal distance from the reference datum to the center of gravity (C.G.) of an item. |
Moment |
The product of the weight of an item multiplied by its arm. (Moment divided by a constant is used to simplify balance calculations by reducing the number of digits.) |
Airplane Center of Gravity (C.G.) |
The point at which an airplane would balance if suspended. Its distance from the reference datum is found by dividing the total moment by the total weight of the airplane. |
C.G. Arm |
The arm obtained by adding the airplane's individual moments and dividing the sum by the total weight. |
C.G. Limits |
The extreme center of gravity locations within which the airplane must be operated at a given weight. |
Usable Fuel |
Fuel available for flight planning. |
Unusable Fuel |
Fuel remaining after a runout test has been completed in accordance with governmental regulations. |
Standard Empty Weight |
Weight of a standard airplane including unusable fuel, full operating fluids and full oil. |
Empty Weight |
This is the Standard Empty Weight plus optional equipment, but not including the removable operational equipment (such as passenger seats in the cabin, stretchers etc.). |
Basic Weight |
Standard Weight plus optional equipment and modifications. |
Payload |
Weight of occupants, cargo, and baggage. |
Useful Load |
Difference between takeoff weight and empty weight. |
Maximum Ramp Weight |
Maximum weight for ground maneuver including fuel weight for start-up engines and taxi. |
Maximum Takeoff Weight |
Maximum weight approved for the start of the takeoff run. |
Maximum Landing Weight |
Maximum weight approved for the landing. |
Maximum Zero Fuel Weight |
Maximum weight exclusive of usable fuel. |
Taken from the Pilot's Operating Handbook (Revision 10 of 1 November 1983) of the Dornier 128-6 registered as "D-IBUF" and currently owned and flown by the Institute of Flight Guidance and Control of the University of Braunschweig, Germany.
Set into html format by Mathias Elsaesser ( Dornier1286@aol.com) in June 2001.