Reference
Aviation glossary
Concise definitions for aviation terminology — from METAR and NOTAM to aerodynamics and airline operations. Search directly or scan alphabetically.
E
ElevatorThe elevator is a hinged control surface on the aircraft's horizontal tail that controls pitch. Deflecting up or down, it tilts the nose of the aircraft up or down. Elevator AuthorityElevator authority is the elevator control surface's ability to pitch the aircraft's nose up or down effectively across all flight conditions, limited primarily by center of gravity position and airspeed. Elite StatusElite status is a membership tier in an airline's frequent flyer program, earned by meeting annual thresholds of flying activity or spending. Members receive tiered benefits like priority boarding, lounge access, and upgrades. Empty WeightEmpty weight is the total weight of an aircraft in its baseline, ready-to-fly condition, excluding fuel, payload, and crew. It includes the airframe, engines, and all operating fluids. Explosive Detection SystemAn automated security screening device that uses CT X-ray technology to scan checked baggage for explosive materials by creating detailed three-dimensional images of bag contents. Explosive Trace DetectionExplosive Trace Detection (ETD) is a security screening method that collects microscopic particles from surfaces and analyzes them using spectrometry to identify explosive compounds.
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