VOR. See very-high frequency omnidirectional range.
VORTAC. A facility consisting of two components, VOR and TACAN, which provides three individual services: VOR azimuth, TACAN azimuth, and TACAN distance (DME) at one site.
VOR test facility (VOT). A ground facility which emits a test signal to check VOR receiver accuracy. Some VOTs are available to the user while airborne, while others are limited to ground use only.
VOT. See VOR test facility.
VSI. See vertical speed indicator.
VS0. The stalling speed or the minimum steady flight speed in the landing configuration. In small airplanes, this is the power-off stall speed at the maximum landing weight in the landing configuration (gear and flaps down). The lower limit of the white arc.
VS1. The stalling speed or the minimum steady flight speed obtained in a specified configuration. For most airplanes, this is the power-off stall speed at the maximum takeoff weight in the clean configuration (gear up, if retractable, and flaps up). The lower limit of the green arc.
V-tail. A design which utilizes two slanted tail surfaces to perform the same functions as the surfaces of a conventional elevator and rudder configuration. The fixed surfaces act as both horizontal and vertical stabilizers.
VX. Best angle-of-climb speed. The airspeed at which an airplane gains the greatest amount of altitude in a given distance. It is used during a short-field takeoff to clear an obstacle.
VY. Best rate-of-climb speed. This airspeed provides the most altitude gain in a given period of time.
VYSE. Best rate-of-climb speed with one engine inoperative. This airspeed provides the most altitude gain in a given period of time in a light, twin-engine airplane following an engine failure.
W
WAAS. See wide area augmentation system.
Wake turbulence. Wingtip vortices that are created when an airplane generates lift. When an airplane generates lift, air spills over the wingtips from the high pressure areas below the wings to the low pressure areas above them. This flow causes rapidly rotating whirlpools of air called wingtip vortices or wake turbulence.
Warm front. The boundary area formed when a warm air mass contacts and flows over a colder air mass. Warm fronts cause low ceilings and rain.
Warning area. An area containing hazards to any aircraft not participating in the activities being conducted in the area. Warning areas may contain intensive military training, gunnery exercises, or special weapons testing.
WARP. See weather and radar processing.
Waste gate. A controllable valve in the tailpipe of an aircraft reciprocating engine equipped with a turbocharger. The valve is controlled to vary the amount of exhaust gases forced through the turbocharger turbine.
Waypoint. A designated geographical location used for route definition or progress-reporting purposes and is defined in terms of latitude/longitude coordinates.
WCA. See wind correction angle.
Weather and radar processor (WARP). A device that provides real-time, accurate, predictive, and strategic weather information presented in an integrated manner in the National Airspace System (NAS).
Weather depiction chart. Details surface conditions as derived from METAR and other surface observations.
Weight. The force exerted by an aircraft from the pull of gravity.
Wide area augmentation system (WAAS). A differential global positioning system (DGPS) that improves the accuracy of the system by determining position error from the GPS satellites, then transmitting the error, or corrective factors, to the airborne GPS receiver.
Wind correction angle (WCA). The angle between the desired track and the heading of the aircraft necessary to keep the aircraft tracking over the desired track.
Wind direction indicators. Indicators that include a wind sock, wind tee, or tetrahedron. Visual reference will determine wind direction and runway in use.
Wind shear. A sudden, drastic shift in windspeed, direction, or both that may occur in the horizontal or vertical plane.
Winds and temperature aloft forecast (FB). A twice daily forecast that provides wind and temperature forecasts for specific locations in the contiguous United States.
Wing area. The total surface of the wing (in square feet), which includes control surfaces and may include wing area covered by the fuselage (main body of the airplane), and engine nacelles.
Wings. Airfoils attached to each side of the fuselage and are the main lifting surfaces that support the airplane in flight.
Wing root. The wing root is the part of the wing on a fixed-wing aircraft that is closest to the fuselage. Wing roots usually bear the highest bending forces in flight and during landing, and they often have fairings to reduce interference drag between the wing and the fuselage. The opposite end of a wing from the wing root is the wing tip.
Wing span. The maximum distance from wingtip to wingtip.
Wingtip vortices. The rapidly rotating air that spills over an airplane’s wings during flight. The intensity of the turbulence depends on the airplane’s weight, speed, and configuration. Also referred to as wake turbulence. Vortices from heavy aircraft may be extremely hazardous to small aircraft.
Wing twist. A design feature incorporated into some wings to improve aileron control effectiveness at high angles of attack during an approach to a stall.
Work. A measurement of force used to produce movement.
World Aeronautical Charts (WAC). A standard series of aeronautical charts covering land areas of the world at a size and scale convenient for navigation (1:1,000,000) by moderate speed aircraft. Topographic information includes cities and towns, principal roads, railroads, distinctive landmarks, drainage, and relief. Aeronautical information includes visual and radio aids to navigation, airports, airways, restricted areas, obstructions and other pertinent data.
Z
Zone of confusion. Volume of space above the station where a lack of adequate navigation signal directly above the VOR station causes the needle to deviate.
Zulu time. A term used in aviation for coordinated universal time (UTC) which places the entire world on one time standard.
Index
A
Adjustable stabilizer
6-12
Adverse balance
10-3
Adverse conditions
13-5
Adverse yaw
6-3
Advisory circular (AC)
1-10
Aeromedical factors
17-1
Aeronautical charts
14-3, 16-2
Aeronautical decision-making
2-1
History of ADM
2-2
Aeronautical Information Manual (AIM)
1-9
After-landing
14-34
Ailerons
6-3
Coupled ailerons
6-4
Differential ailerons
6-4
Frise-type ailerons
6-4
Airborne radar
13-4
Aircraft documents
9-6
Aircraft engine
7-1
Aircraft inspections
9-8
100-hour Inspection
9-8
Altimeter system inspection
9-9
Annual inspection
9-8
Preflight inspections
9-9
Transponder inspection
9-9
Aircraft maintenance
9-8
Aircraft owner/operator responsibilities
9-13
Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA)
3-13
Aircraft types and categories
1-15
Air data computer (ADC)
8-14
Airfoil
4-6, 4-7
Leading edge
4-6
Trailing edge
4-6
Airframe sys
tems
7-25
Airline Deregulation Act of 1978
1-7
Air masses
12-17
Air navigation
16-1
Airplane
1-15
Airplane flight manuals (AFM)
9-1, 16-17
Airport beacon
14-16
Airport lighting
14-18
Airport markings
14-5
Other markings
14-15
Runway markings
14-5
Taxiway markings
14-11
Airports
14-2
Civil airports
14-2
Military/federal government airports
14-2
Private airports
14-2
Towered
14-2
Nontowered
14-2
Airport signs
14-15
Destination signs
14-12, 14-16
Direction signs
14-16
Information signs
14-16
Location signs
14-15
Mandatory instruction signs
14-15
Runway distance remaining signs
14-16
Airport surveillance radar
13-4
Air Route surveillance radar (ARSR)
13-2
Air Route traffic control center (ARTCC)
13-2
Airship
1-15
Airspace
15-1
Airspeed
9-2, 16-10
Airspeed indicator (ASI)
11-2
Airspeed indicator markings
8-9
Airspeed limitations
8-9
Airspeed tape
8-12
Air traffic control (ATC)
14-24, 15-7
Airworthiness certificate
9-7
Airworthiness directives (ADs)
9-12
Alcohol
17-15
Alert areas
15-4
Alternator
7-30
Altimeter
8-3, 8-13
Setting the altimeter
8-5
Altimeter operation
8-6
Altitude
8-6, 12-6
Absolute altitude
8-7
Density altitude
8-7
Indicated altitude
8-6
Pressure altitude
8-7
True altitude
8-6
Altitude-induced decompression sickness (DCS)
17-18
Ammeter
7-31
Aneroid barometer
12-5
Aneroid wafer
8-3
Angle of attack (AOA)
6-4
Anti-ice
7-40
Antiservo tab
3-6, 6-11
Approach light systems
14-16
Arm
10-4
Assembling necessary material
16-17
ATC Automation
1-6
ATC delays
13-5
ATC radar beacon system (ATCRBS)
14-24
ATC radar weather displays
13-16
Atmosphere
4-1, 11-2, 12-2
Atmospheric circulation
12-3
Atmospheric pressure
11-2
Atmospheric stability
12-12
Attitude indicator
8-18
Autokinesis
17-26
Automatic decision-making
2-21
Operational pitfalls
2-21
Automatic direction finder (ADF)
16-29
Automation
2-25
Automation management
2-31
Autopilot
6-12
Autopilot systems
2-27
Aviation forecasts
13-9
Area forecasts (FA)
13-10
Terminal aerodrome forecasts (TAF)
13-9
Forecast change group
13-9
Forecast significant weather
13-9
Forecast sky condition
13-9
Forecast visibility
13-9
Forecast wind
13-9
ICAO station identifier
13-9
Probability forecast
13-9
Type of report
13-9
Aviation medical examiner (AME)
17-2
Aviation routine weather report (METAR)
12-17
Aviation safety inspector (ASI)
1-9
Aviation weather reports
13-5
Aviation routine weather report (METAR)
Altimeter setting
13-7
Modifier
13-6
Remarks
13-7
Sky condition
13-7
Station identifier
13-6
Temperature and dew point
13-7
Type of report
13-6
Visibility
13-6
Weather
13-6
Wind
13-6
Zulu time
13-7
Pilot weather reports (PIREPs)
13-8
Axes of an aircraft
5-12
Axes of rotation
6-3
B
Balance
10-2
Balance tabs
6-11
Balloon
1-15
Barbs
12-12
Basic aerodynamics
3-2
Drag
3-2
Lift
3-2
Thrust
3-2
Weight
3-2
Basic empty weight
10-4
Bernoulli, Daniel
4-6
Bernoulli’s Principle of Differential Pressure
4-6
Best angle-of-climb speed (VX)
8-10
Best rate-of-climb speed (VY)
8-10
Binocular cues
17-26
Blade angle
5-28
Bleed air heating systems
7-30
Blocked pitot system
8-10
Blocked static system
8-11
Boundary layer
5-46
Brake horsepower (BHP)
7-24
Brakes
7-34
Bus bar
7-31
C
Cabin pressure control system
7-35
Cabin pressurization system
7-35
Calibrated airspeed (CAS)
11-18
Canard
6-7
Carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning
17-12
Carburetor air temperature gauge
7-11
Carburetor heat
7-10
Carburetor icing
7-9
Carburetor systems
7-8
Float-type carburetor
7-8
Pressure-type carburetor
7-9
Ceiling
12-17
Center of gravity (CG)
10-4
CG limits
10-5
CG ran
ge
10-5
Central blind spot
17-21
Certificated flight instructor (CFI)
1-23
Certificate of aircraft registration
9-6
Chandelles
5-36
Chart Supplement U.S.
16-17
Clearing procedures
14-28
Before takeoff
14-28
Climbs and descents
14-28
Straight and Level
14-28
Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge (Federal Aviation Administration) Page 87
