FAA AGI Advanced Ground Instructor key terms

A document published by the FAA to explain, interpret, or clarify a regulation or to share acceptable methods of compliance; an advisory circular is guidance rather than regulation and is not mandatory unless its text says so.

A legally enforceable order issued by the FAA when an unsafe condition exists in a product and that condition is likely to exist in other products of the same type design; owners must comply within stated time limits.

The FAA document that pairs each knowledge and flight task for a certificate or rating with the standards an applicant must meet, replacing the practical test standards for most certificates and ratings.

FAA approval that the design of an aircraft, engine, or propeller meets the applicable airworthiness requirements; it is issued to the design holder before individual aircraft receive their own airworthiness certificates.

The angle between the wing chord line and the relative wind at which the wing produces maximum lift; exceeding it separates the airflow and stalls the wing regardless of airspeed, weight, or attitude.

The ratio of the total lift produced by an aircraft to its actual weight, expressed in G units; it rises in turns and pull-ups and determines the airspeed at which the wing will stall.

Drag created as a byproduct of lift when higher pressure air below the wing spills around the tips into lower pressure above; it is greatest at high angles of attack and low airspeed.

Drag not associated with producing lift, made up of form drag, skin friction, and interference; it increases with the square of airspeed and dominates total drag at high speed.

The airspeed that produces the greatest altitude gain for a given horizontal distance traveled; it is used to clear obstacles after takeoff and increases as density altitude rises.

Pressure altitude corrected for nonstandard temperature; it represents the altitude the aircraft's performance feels, with higher values reducing engine power, propeller thrust, and lift.

A propeller whose blade angle is adjusted automatically by a governor to hold a pilot-selected engine RPM as load and airspeed change; also called a variable-pitch propeller.

Explosive, uncontrolled ignition of the fuel-air mixture after normal spark ignition, producing a sharp pressure spike, roughness, and high cylinder temperatures; causes include low octane fuel, high manifold pressure, and excessive heat.

The aircraft plumbing that supplies impact pressure from the pitot tube and static pressure from the static port to the airspeed indicator, altimeter, and vertical speed indicator.

Flight instruments whose gyros are spun by suction from an engine-driven vacuum pump; they typically include the attitude indicator and heading indicator and become unreliable if suction is lost.

Ice that forms in a carburetor when fuel vaporization and pressure drop cool the air below freezing; it can occur at outside temperatures well above freezing and usually causes a gradual power loss.

The difference between maximum allowable gross weight and the aircraft's empty weight; it covers the weight of occupants, fuel, baggage, and cargo that may be carried aboard.

The forward and aft limits within which an aircraft's center of gravity must fall for safe handling; loading outside these limits can make the aircraft unstable or unable to rotate.

A measure of the rotational tendency of a weight about a reference point, found by multiplying the weight in pounds by its arm in inches; individual moments are totaled to locate the center of gravity.

An imaginary vertical plane from which all horizontal distances, called arms, are measured for weight and balance purposes; the manufacturer establishes it and it may lie ahead of the aircraft's nose.

The angle between the heading actually flown and the desired course, applied to offset drift caused by wind so the aircraft tracks the intended path over the ground.

The angular difference between true north and magnetic north at a given location; east variation is subtracted from true course and west variation is added when converting to magnetic course.

Navigation by computing the aircraft's position from the last known position, the direction flown, airspeed, and elapsed time, corrected for wind; it requires no outside visual references.

The speed of the aircraft through the air mass, corrected for the effects of altitude and temperature on the indicated reading; it is used in wind triangle calculations during flight planning.

An aviation routine weather report issued at scheduled times describing observed surface conditions at an airport, including wind, visibility, sky condition, temperature, dew point, and altimeter setting.

A concise forecast of expected weather at an airport covering a stated period, commonly 24 to 30 hours, listing wind, visibility, clouds, and the times significant changes are expected.

A weather advisory warning of potentially hazardous conditions of concern to all aircraft, such as severe turbulence, severe icing, volcanic ash, or dust storms; a related form addresses convective activity.

The difference between the current temperature and the dew point; a small spread means the air is close to saturation and favors fog, low clouds, and carburetor icing.

Controlled airspace around the nation's busiest airports, individually tailored and usually shaped like an inverted wedding cake; entry requires an explicit ATC clearance plus specified equipment and pilot qualifications.

The 30-nautical-mile ring around the primary airport of Class B airspace within which aircraft must carry an operating altitude-reporting transponder; it extends from the surface to 10,000 feet.

A notice carrying information essential to flight operations that could not be published far enough in advance by other means, such as runway closures, navaid outages, or temporary flight restrictions.

A continuous recorded broadcast of current non-control airport information such as weather, active runway, and local notices; pilots listen before contacting ATC and report receipt of the current code.

A condition in which body tissues receive inadequate oxygen, producing euphoria, impaired judgment, headache, and eventually unconsciousness; causes include high altitude, lung problems, and carbon monoxide exposure.

A mistaken perception of the aircraft's attitude or motion relative to the earth, often occurring when outside visual references are lost and the pilot's senses conflict with instrument indications.

A preflight self-assessment checklist standing for Illness, Medication, Stress, Alcohol, Fatigue, and Emotion that helps a pilot judge whether they are physically and mentally fit to fly.

The tendency to keep carrying out an original plan even after conditions have changed enough that continuing is unwise; it underlies many get-there-itis accidents and is countered by setting decision points in advance.

The category of learning concerned with knowledge and mental skills, ranging from simple recall through comprehension and application to analysis, synthesis, and evaluation.

A teaching technique in which the instructor explains and shows a skill step by step, then has the learner perform it while receiving feedback; it suits psychomotor tasks such as maneuvers and procedures.

A period in training when improvement appears to stop despite continued practice; it may result from fatigue, loss of motivation, or the need to consolidate a newly acquired skill.

A teaching method in which the instructor asks a series of questions that lead learners to discover and state the lesson content themselves; it works best when learners bring relevant experience.