Aviation Terms and Definitions

Hold short Do not enter or cross the taxiway or runway specified by the controller. If there is a painted hold line, do not cross it. Tail Stall The horizontal stabilizer balances the tendency of the nose to pitch down by generating downward lift on the tail of the aircraft. When the tail stalls, this downward force is lessened or removed, and the nose of the airplane can severely pitch down. Wake Turbulence Wake turbulence is a concern whenever small aircraft share an airport with larger ones. The powerful vortices that spiral off the wing tips of heavier aircraft—turboprops and business jets, as well as airliners— can suddenly and unexpectedly toss a small airplane out of control. Spatial Disorientation Spatial disorientation is an erroneous sense or mistaken perception of one's position and motion relative to the earth. Induction System Ice Not all aircraft ice is structural; induction icing is the cause of many accidents. VASI Visual approach slope indicators provides visual descent guidance during the approach to a runway. The lights are arranged in bars and vary in number from two to 16. Airport Advisory Area An area within 10 statute miles (SM) of an airport where a control tower is not operating, but where a flight service station (FSS) is located. At these locations, the FSS provides advisory service to arriving and departing aircraft. Vestibular system Organs found in the inner ear that sense position by the way we're balanced. PAPIs Precision approach path indicators light units similar to the VASI but are installed in a single row of either two or four light units. Duck-Under Syndrome A pilot may be tempted to make it into an airport by descending below minimums during an approach. There may be a belief that there is a built-in margin of error in every approach procedure, or a pilot may want to admit that the landing cannot be completed and a missed approach must be initiated.

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	Did You Know?
	The Government Be Held Responsible For An Aviation Accident Under the Federal Tort Claims Act, the United States has been sued for the negligence of an air traffic controller that led to an aviation disaster.