Reference
Aviation glossary
Concise definitions for aviation terminology — from METAR and NOTAM to aerodynamics and airline operations. Search directly or scan alphabetically.
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Maneuvering SpeedManeuvering speed (VA) is the maximum speed at which a pilot can apply full, abrupt control inputs without risking structural damage to the aircraft. It also marks the upper limit for safe flight through severe turbulence. Marketing AirlineThe airline whose brand and flight number appear on a ticket, though a different carrier physically operates the flight. Marketing airlines sell seats and manage customer relations while operating airlines handle actual flight operations. Material FatigueMaterial fatigue is the progressive weakening of aircraft structures caused by repeated stress cycles, which accumulate microscopic cracks that eventually lead to failure without prior overload. Maximum Demonstrated Crosswind ComponentThe highest crosswind value a test pilot successfully controlled during aircraft certification, recorded in the Pilot's Operating Handbook as a demonstrated capability rather than a regulatory limit. Maximum Gross WeightMaximum Gross Weight is the heaviest total weight at which an aircraft is certified to operate safely, set by the manufacturer and approved by aviation authorities as a structural and performance limit. Mechanical TurbulenceTurbulence created when moving air strikes a solid obstacle and breaks into chaotic, swirling eddies on the downwind side. Severity increases with wind speed and obstacle size. METARA METAR is a standardized, coded weather report issued by airports every 30 minutes, containing current wind, visibility, temperature, dew point, and altimeter data that pilots use for flight planning and performance calculations. Millimeter Wave ScannerA millimeter wave scanner is a security imaging device that uses low-energy radio waves to detect concealed objects on a person's body without physical contact, commonly used at airport security checkpoints. Minimum Descent AltitudeMinimum Descent Altitude (MDA) is the lowest altitude a pilot may descend to during a non-precision instrument approach without visual reference to the runway environment. Minimum Equipment ListAn FAA or EASA-approved document that specifies which aircraft systems and components may be inoperative while the aircraft remains airworthy and legal to fly, derived from the manufacturer's Master Minimum Equipment List. MomentMoment is the product of an aircraft's weight and its distance from a reference point (datum), used to calculate the center of gravity and ensure safe loading. Mountain Wave TurbulenceMountain wave turbulence is turbulence caused by stable air flowing over mountains and oscillating in waves on the downwind side. The most severe turbulence occurs in rotors, rolling masses of air beneath the first wave crest.
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