Reference
Aviation glossary
Concise definitions for aviation terminology — from METAR and NOTAM to aerodynamics and airline operations. Search directly or scan alphabetically.
P
Parasite dragParasite drag is the aerodynamic resistance an aircraft experiences from everything except lift production. It includes form drag, skin friction drag, and interference drag, and increases sharply with airspeed. Parasitic DragParasitic drag is aerodynamic resistance produced by aircraft components that do not generate lift, including the fuselage, landing gear, antennas, and other exposed parts. It increases with the square of airspeed and is a major factor in cruise... Personal minimumsSelf-imposed weather and flight condition limits a pilot sets above legal FAA minimums to create a personal safety margin based on experience, aircraft capability, and proficiency. Pilot weather briefingA structured package of weather information, including current conditions, forecasts, and hazard advisories, assembled for a specific flight to support go/no-go decisions. PIREPA PIREP (Pilot Report) is a real-time weather observation transmitted by a pilot in flight to air traffic control or a flight service station, describing actual atmospheric conditions at a specific location, altitude, and time. PitchPitch is the rotation of an aircraft around its lateral axis, controlling whether the nose points up or down. The pilot commands pitch using the elevator control surface. Pitch StabilityPitch stability is an aircraft's tendency to return to its trimmed pitch attitude after a disturbance without pilot input. It depends on the relationship between the aircraft's center of gravity and its aerodynamic neutral point. Point-to-Point Airline RoutesPoint-to-point airline routes connect two cities directly without intermediate stops or hub transfers. Passengers fly on the same aircraft from origin to destination, a model pioneered by low-cost carriers to maximize aircraft utilization and... Positioning FlightA positioning flight is a short, inexpensive flight taken to reach the departure city of a longer or premium journey. Travelers use it to access better routes, cabins, or frequent flyer redemption value unavailable from their home airport. Pressure altitudePressure altitude is the altitude indicated on an altimeter when set to standard sea-level pressure (29.92 inHg), providing a universal reference point independent of local weather conditions. Pressurization SystemAn aircraft system that maintains cabin air pressure and breathable conditions at high altitudes by supplying compressed air from the engines and regulating how fast that air escapes through outflow valves. Prevailing VisibilityPrevailing visibility is the greatest horizontal distance a human observer can see across at least half the horizon at an airport, reported in surface weather observations like METARs. Prohibited ItemsProhibited items are objects, substances, or materials that aviation regulations forbid from being carried on aircraft in cabins or checked baggage. These restrictions exist to prevent fire, explosions, and hazardous material incidents at altitude. Property Irregularity ReportA formal document filed at an airport when checked baggage arrives damaged, delayed, or missing. The PIR creates an official record and initiates the airline's baggage search and recovery process. PushbackPushback is the controlled rearward movement of an aircraft from its gate, performed by a powered tug vehicle since large jets cannot safely reverse under their own power.
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