AAK ATPL (Kazakhstan) key terms

International treaty signed in 1944 that established ICAO and set core principles for civil aviation, including national sovereignty over airspace, aircraft nationality and mutual recognition of certificates.

A technical standard or recommended practice attached to the Chicago Convention. States incorporate Annex content into national regulations and must notify ICAO of any differences.

Document confirming that an aircraft meets its approved type design and is safe to fly under stated conditions. It remains valid only while required maintenance and inspections are completed.

Mandatory instruction from an aviation authority requiring inspection, modification or operating limitation on aircraft, engines or equipment to correct an unsafe condition. Compliance is required within the stated time.

System of probes and ports that supplies total pressure and static pressure to the airspeed indicator, altimeter and vertical speed indicator, enabling primary flight instrument indications.

Compressed air taken from a turbine engine compressor for cabin pressurisation, air conditioning, anti-icing and engine starting. Its availability can limit performance when engines are near idle.

Point at which the aircraft's weight is considered concentrated. Its position affects stability, control, performance and structural loads, so it must stay within approved limits.

Mass of an aircraft with unusable fuel, full operating fluids and optional equipment, but without crew, passengers, baggage or usable fuel. It is the starting point for mass calculations.

Highest permitted mass of aircraft and payload with no usable fuel. It protects structure and limits how much fuel can be carried with a given payload.

Pressure altitude corrected for non-standard temperature. High density altitude reduces engine power, propeller thrust and lift, so takeoff and landing distances increase.

Shortest runway length for which the accelerate-stop distance equals the takeoff distance to 35 feet with one engine failed. It balances stop and go cases.

Takeoff decision speed. Above V1, an engine failure before rotation normally means continuing the takeoff; below V1, the takeoff should be rejected.

Minimum control speed in the air with one engine inoperative and the other at takeoff power. Below it, directional control cannot be maintained with maximum rudder.

Fuel set aside for unforeseen factors such as weather, routing changes or traffic delays. It is calculated by an approved rule and added to trip fuel.

Point along a route beyond which an aircraft cannot return to the departure aerodrome with the fuel remaining. It is used in planning for remote or overwater operations.

Fuel required from takeoff at the departure aerodrome to landing at the destination aerodrome, including climb, cruise, descent and approach. It excludes reserves and contingency.

Insufficient oxygen reaching body tissues. Symptoms include euphoria, headache, impaired judgement and vision, and may progress to unconsciousness without reliable warning.

Incorrect perception of aircraft position or motion, often when visual references are lost. It can lead pilots to make control inputs that worsen the situation.

Training and practice in communication, leadership, workload management and decision-making to use all available resources safely. It reduces error and improves team performance.

Altimeter setting that makes the altimeter indicate elevation above mean sea level at the reporting station. It is used below the transition altitude.

Boundary where cold air advances and undercuts warm air. It often produces cumuliform cloud, showers, turbulence, a wind shift and a temperature fall.

Narrow band of strong upper-tropospheric wind near the tropopause, often linked to clear air turbulence and large changes in ground speed and fuel planning.

International Standard Atmosphere: a model with sea-level temperature 15°C, pressure 1013.25 hPa and a lapse rate of 1.98°C per 1000 feet up to the tropopause.

Circle on a sphere whose plane passes through the centre. The shorter arc is the shortest surface route between two points.

Line crossing all meridians at the same angle. It is easier to steer than a great circle but longer except along a meridian or the equator.

Angle between true north and magnetic north at a location. East variation is added to true heading to obtain magnetic heading; west variation is subtracted.

Very high frequency omnidirectional radio range. It provides magnetic bearing from the station, allowing aircraft to track radials and determine their position.

Instrument landing system providing lateral guidance by localizer and vertical guidance by glide path, often with distance markers, for precision approach.

Global navigation satellite system providing position, velocity and time. Aircraft use it for en-route navigation and approaches, subject to integrity monitoring.

Published altitude above which pilots set standard pressure and use flight levels. Below it, local QNH is used. It varies by country and airport.

Rapid descent to a safer altitude after cabin depressurisation or fire. It typically uses maximum descent rate, protective equipment and a broadcast to nearby traffic.

Predetermined manoeuvre keeping aircraft within protected airspace while awaiting clearance. It uses a specified fix, inbound course, turn direction and leg timing or distance.

Framework where crews identify threats, avoid or manage errors, and contain undesired aircraft states. It is applied before, during and after flight.

Tendency of an aircraft to yaw away from the turn when ailerons are deflected, caused by higher induced drag on the down-going aileron's wing.

Angle of attack at which airflow separates and lift reaches its maximum. Exceeding it causes a stall regardless of airspeed or attitude.

Ratio of lift to weight. It increases in turns and manoeuvres, raising stall speed, induced drag and structural loads on the aircraft.

Pilot's repetition of a clearance to confirm it was received correctly. It is required for safety-critical instructions such as runway, altitude and heading clearances.

International distress call used when an aircraft is threatened by serious or imminent danger and requires immediate assistance. It has priority over all other communications.

Automatic terminal information service. A continuous broadcast of recorded non-control information such as weather, runway in use and approach aids.

Four-digit transponder code assigned by air traffic control. It identifies the aircraft on radar and supports conflict alert and surveillance.