FAA Commercial Pilot key terms

Pressure altitude corrected for nonstandard temperature. It represents the altitude the aircraft feels performance-wise; high density altitude reduces engine power, propeller thrust, and wing lift, lengthening takeoff and landing distances.

The point along the aircraft's longitudinal axis where total weight is considered concentrated. It must lie within the manufacturer's forward and aft limits for safe control and predictable performance.

The difference between maximum certificated takeoff weight and empty weight. It includes fuel, oil, passengers, baggage, and cargo the aircraft may carry in a given configuration.

A mandatory corrective action issued by the FAA when an unsafe condition exists in a type-certificated product. Compliance is required within the stated time or operating condition for the aircraft to remain airworthy.

An FAA-approved document that allows flight with certain inoperative equipment under specified conditions, provided the item is not required by the aircraft's type certificate or the applicable operating rules.

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

A weather advisory warning of conditions hazardous to all aircraft, such as severe turbulence, severe icing, volcanic ash, or widespread dust storms, that are potentially dangerous to flight.

A notice containing time-critical information about changes to facilities, services, procedures, or hazards that pilots need before flight but that is not published in charts or other permanent documents.

A preflight checklist for pilot fitness covering Illness, Medication, Stress, Alcohol, Fatigue, and Emotion. Any positive item should prompt the pilot to delay or cancel the flight.

A systematic external and internal examination of the aircraft before flight to confirm it is airworthy, properly fueled, free of damage or contamination, and that required documents and equipment are aboard.

A ground check before takeoff in which the engine and systems are operated at specified settings to verify magnetos, carburetor heat, fuel flow, oil pressure, and instrument readings are normal.

Turbulent air left behind a wing as it generates lift, strongest behind heavy, slow, clean aircraft. Pilots avoid it by spacing takeoffs and landings and staying above and upwind of the generating aircraft's path.

Land and Hold Short Operations: a clearance to land and stop before a specified point such as an intersecting runway. Pilots should accept only when landing distance and aircraft performance clearly permit it.

The reduction of induced drag and increase in lift that occurs when an aircraft flies within roughly one wingspan of the surface, causing it to float or settle unexpectedly during takeoff and landing.

A planned or sudden abandonment of an approach or landing in which the pilot applies power, establishes a climb attitude, and follows the published or ATC-directed missed approach procedure.

A maximum-performance takeoff technique using the recommended flap setting, full power before brake release, and rotation at the manufacturer's speed to clear a 50-foot obstacle in the shortest distance.

A condition in which water on the runway prevents tire contact with the surface, greatly reducing braking and steering. It is more likely with high speed, standing water, and underinflated or worn tires.

A maximum-performance climbing turn through 180 degrees, starting from level cruise and ending just above stall speed, used to develop coordination and awareness of the airplane's changing performance.

A precision maneuver describing two opposing climbing and descending turns of 180 degrees each, with constantly changing bank, pitch, and airspeed, demonstrating smoothness, coordination, and planning.

A ground reference maneuver in which the pilot flies a figure-eight around two pylons while keeping each pylon at a constant line of sight, requiring precise correction for wind and pivotal altitude.

The ratio of the total lift produced by the wings to the aircraft's actual weight. It increases in turns and pull-ups, raising stall speed and structural stress.

Navigation by calculating the aircraft's position from a known starting point, true airspeed, heading, and elapsed time, corrected for wind. It requires no outside visual references or ground-based navigation aids.

Navigation by visually following landmarks and comparing them with symbols on a chart. It is simple and reliable in good visibility but requires recognizable features and careful preflight planning.

The angular difference between the aircraft's heading and its desired true course, applied to compensate for wind drift so the aircraft tracks the intended path over the ground.

The angular difference between true north and magnetic north at a given location, shown on charts as east or west variation and applied when converting between true and magnetic directions.

Flight at an airspeed just above the stall, with a high angle of attack and high power, where controls feel mushy and large inputs are needed. It builds recognition of the approaching stall.

A stall that occurs at a higher speed than normal because increased load factor in a turn or pull-up raises the angle of attack beyond the critical value.

The angle between the wing chord and the relative wind at which the wing produces maximum lift; exceeding it causes a stall regardless of airspeed, weight, or attitude.

An aggravated stall in which one wing is more stalled than the other, producing autorotation and a descending helical path. Recovery requires reducing angle of attack, then stopping rotation and recovering from the dive.

The period after loss of adequate oxygen during which a person can still take correct, purposeful action. It shortens rapidly as altitude increases above 25,000 feet.

A condition in which body tissues receive insufficient oxygen. Symptoms include euphoria, impaired judgment, headache, and cyanosis, and they can appear without the pilot noticing.

A rapid but controlled descent to a lower altitude, often prompted by loss of pressurization, performed with power reduced, speed managed, and the crew on oxygen while advising ATC.

A transmitter that automatically activates on impact to broadcast a distress signal on 121.5 MHz, helping search and rescue locate a downed aircraft. Testing and battery replacement follow FAA rules.

The minimum speed at which the airplane remains directionally controllable after the critical engine fails, with maximum power on the good engine, gear up, and no more than five degrees of bank.

In a twin-engine airplane, the engine whose failure would most adversely affect the aircraft's performance and handling qualities, typically because its thrust line lies farther from the center of gravity.

The runway distance needed to accelerate to the decision speed with all engines operating, then lose an engine and bring the aircraft to a full stop.

A technique after losing an engine at high altitude in which the aircraft descends slowly at a speed giving maximum range, allowing the pilot to reach an altitude where single-engine cruise can be maintained.

A walk-around check after flight looking for damage, leaks, tire condition, and other discrepancies, and confirming the aircraft is fueled, secured, and any issues are reported.

A written record in the aircraft's maintenance log describing a defect found during or after flight so that it can be corrected and signed off before further flight.