Airport and Aviation Terms

AIRBUS: A European aircraft manufacturer. Approximately half of passenger airplanes are Airbus aircraft.

AIRFIELD: An area designated for landing, take-off and maneuvering of aircraft.

AIRLINE: A system or company for moving passengers and freight by aircraft.

AIRPLANE: A mechanically driven, fixed-wing aircraft, heavier than air that is kept in the air by the aerodynamic forces of air as it is driven forward by a propeller or jet propulsion.

AIRPOCKET: An atmospheric condition that causes an aircraft to make a sudden, short drop while in flight.

AIRPORT: A tract of land used for the landing and takeoff of aircraft. Facilities for shelter, supply, and repair are usually found there.

AIRSIDE: The area after security checkpoint where only passengers and staff are allowed.

AIRSPACE: The space extending upward above an area of the earth's surface.

AIRSTREAM: The relative stream of air existing around an aircraft in flight around an aircraft in flight or passing through its jets.

AIRSTRIP: A hard surface area, adapted for use as a temporary airstrip.

AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL (ATC): A coordinated system designed to manage air traffic around airports safely, along flight routes, etc.

AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL TOWER: The air traffic control facility located on an airport and responsible for traffic separation within the immediate vicinity of an airport as well as on the surface of an airport.

ALTITUDE: The vertical distance from a given level(sea level) to an aircraft in flight.

APPROACH AREA: The area in which approach to an airfield takes place.

APRON: An area designated for aircraft during embarkation and embarkation and disembarkation of passengers, loading and unloading of cargo, fueling, parking and maintanentce.

BOEING: An American aircraft manufacturer based in Chicago. Approximately half of passenger airplanes are Boeing aircraft.

CEILING: Height above ground of cloud base.

CHART: An aeronautical map showing information of use to the pilot in going from one place to another.

COMPASS: An instrument indicating direction.

DEPARTURE AREA: The area in which departure from an airfield takes place.

ELEVATION: The height above sea level of a given land prominence, such as airports, mountains, etc.

ENGINE: The part of the airplane that provides power, or propulsion, to pull the airplane through the air.

FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION (FAA): The Federal Agency responsible for insuring the safe and efficient use of the nation's airspace, for fostering civil aeronautics and air commerce, and for supporting the requirements of national defense. The activities required to carry out these responsibilities include: safety regulations, airspace management and the establishment, operation, and maintenance of a system of air traffic control and navigation facilities; research and development in support of the fostering of a national system of airports, promulgation of standards and specifications for civil airports, and administration of Federal grants-in-aid for developing public airports; various joint and cooperative activities with the Department of Defense; and technical assistance (under U.S. State Department auspices) to other countries.

FIN: A vertical attachment to the tail of an aircraft that provides directional stability. Also known as a vertical stabilizer.

FLAPS: Hinged or pivoted airfoils forming part of the trailing edge of the wing and used to increase lift at reduced air speeds.

FLEET MIX: The mix of different types of aircraft operating at a specific airport.

FLIGHT CREW: The crew of an airplane while in flight.

FUSELAGE: The streamlined body of an airplane to which are fastened the wings and tall.

GATE: An area where passengers con stay immediately before their flight begins.

GRAVITY: Force toward the center of the earth.

HANGAR: Building on the airport in which airplanes are stored or sheltered.

IATA: International Air Transport Association, a global association of more than 200 airlines.

JET BRIDGE: The bridge connecting an aircraft to the gate so that passengers can embark and disembark the plane.

KNOT: A measure of speed, one knot being one nautical mile per hour.

LAND: The acts of making the airplane descend, lose flying speed, and make contact with the ground or water, thus ending the flight.

LANDING GEAR: The understructure of an airplane which supports the airplane on land or water: wheels, skis, or pontoons. Retractable gear folds up into the airplane in flight. Gear that does not retract is called "fixed".

LANDSIDE: The area of an airport before security checkpoints where everyone is allowed.

LIFT: An upward force caused by the rush of air over the wings, supporting the airplane in flight.

MDW: IATA code for Chicago Midway International Airport.

OPERATION: A takeoff or a landing. Every flight requires two operations, a takeoff and a landing.

ORD: IATA code for O’Hare International Airport.

PILOT: Person who controls the airplane.

PRECIPITATION: Rain, snow, sleet, etc.

PROPELLER: An airfoil that an engine turns to provide the thrust, pulling the airplane through the air.

RADAR: Beamed radio waves for detecting and locating objects. The objects are "seen" on the radar screen or scope.

RUDDER: Control surface hinged to the back of the vertical fin.

RUNWAY: A designated area used for aircraft take-offs and landings.

TAIL: The part of the airplane to which the rudder and elevators are attached. The tail has vertical and horizontal stabilizers to keep the airplane from turning about its lateral axis.

TAKEOFF: The part of the flight during which the airplane gains flying speed and becomes airborne.

TAXI: To operate an airplane under its own power, other than in actual take off or landing.

TAXIWAY: An airfield road for aircraft use.

THRUST: Forward force.

TURN: Maneuver which the airplane makes changing its direction of flight.

VELOCITY: Speed

VISIBILITY: Distance toward the horizon that objects can be seen and recognized. Smoke, haze, fog, and precipitation hinder visibility.

WIND: Air in motion, important to aviation because it influences flight to a certain degree.

WING: Part of the airplane shaped like an airfoil and designed in such a way to provide lift when air flows over it.