100-HOUR INSPECTION—
An inspection, identical in scope to an
annual inspection. Must be conducted
every 100 hours of flight on aircraft of
under 12,500 pounds that are used
for hire.

ABSOLUTE ALTITUDE—
The vertical distance of an airplane
above the terrain, or above ground
level (AGL).

ABSOLUTE CEILING—
The altitude at which a climb is no
longer possible.

ACCELERATE-GO DISTANCE—
The distance required to accelerate to
V1 with all engines at takeoff power,
experience an engine failure at V1 and
continue the takeoff on the remaining
engine(s). The runway required
includes the distance required to
climb to 35 feet by which time V2
speed must be attained.

ACCELERATE-STOP DISTANCE
The distance required
to accelerate to V1 with all engines at
takeoff power, experience an engine
failure at V1, and abort the takeoff and
bring the airplane to a stop using braking
action only (use of thrust reversing
is not considered).

ACCELERATION—Force involved
in overcoming inertia, and which may
be defined as a change in velocity per
unit of time.
ACCESSORIES—Components that
are used with an engine, but are not a
part of the engine itself. Units such as
magnetos, carburetors, generators,
and fuel pumps are commonly
installed engine accessories.

ADJUSTABLE STABILIZER—
A stabilizer that can be adjusted in
flight to trim the airplane, thereby
allowing the airplane to fly hands-off
at any given airspeed.

ADVERSE YAW—A condition of
flight in which the nose of an airplane
tends to yaw toward the outside of the
turn. This is caused by the higher
induced drag on the outside wing,
which is also producing more lift.
Induced drag is a by-product of the lift
associated with the outside wing.

AERODYNAMIC CEILING—
The point (altitude) at which, as the
indicated airspeed decreases with altitude,
it progressively merges with the
low speed buffet boundary where prestall
buffet occurs for the airplane at a
load factor of 1.0 G.

AERODYNAMICS—The science of
the action of air on an object, and with
the motion of air on other gases.
Aerodynamics deals with the
production of lift by the aircraft, the
relative wind, and the atmosphere.

AILERONS—Primary flight control
surfaces mounted on the trailing edge
of an airplane wing, near the tip.
Ailerons control roll about the longitudinal
axis.

AIR START—The act or instance of
starting an aircraft's engine while in
flight, especially a jet engine after
flameout.

AIRCRAFT LOGBOOKS—
Journals containing a record of total
operating time, repairs, alterations or
inspections performed, and all
Airworthiness Directive (AD) notes
complied with. A maintenance
logbook should be kept for the
airframe, each engine, and each
propeller.

AIRFOIL—An airfoil is any surface,
such as a wing, propeller, rudder, or
even a trim tab, which provides
aerodynamic force when it interacts
with a moving stream of air.

AIRMANSHIP SKILLS—The skills
of coordination, timing, control touch,
and speed sense in addition to the
motor skills required to fly an aircraft.

AIRMANSHIP—
A sound acquaintance with the
principles of flight, the ability to
operate an airplane with competence
and precision both on the ground and
in the air, and the exercise of sound
judgment that results in optimal
operational safety and efficiency.

AIRPLANE FLIGHT MANUAL
(AFM)—A document developed by
the airplane manufacturer and
approved by the Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA). It is specific to
a particular make and model airplane
by serial number and it contains
operating procedures and limitations.

AIRPLANE OWNER/
INFORMATION MANUAL—A
document developed by the airplane
manufacturer containing general
information about the make and
model of an airplane. The airplane
owner's manual is not FAA-approved
and is not specific to a particular serial
numbered airplane. This manual is not
kept current, and therefore cannot be
substituted for the AFM/POH.

AIRPORT/FACILITY
DIRECTORY—
A publication designed primarily as a
pilot's operational manual containing
all airports, seaplane bases, and
heliports open to the public including
communications data, navigational
facilities, and certain special notices
and procedures. This publication is
issued in seven volumes according to
geographical area.