ALC Technical English Vocabulary

Defense Language I nstitute
English Language Center

Lackland Air Force Base, Texas

A]Y|ERIOAil LAilGljAGE OOIjRSE

DLIELC

TE,CHNICAL ENGLISH
VOCABULARY

STUDENT WORKBOOK

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PRBFACE

This workbook is designed to introduce you to some of the basic aviation
terminology used in the various technical fields of nilitary Eraining. It is
neither a course in aviation nor an aviation dictlonary but merely an expanded
glossary of Eerms. These terms are introduced through a series of questions
and answers. Their technical meanings are presented in basic, easy-to-
understand language with sample sentences using the terms in contexE.
Completion and natching exercises provide additional exposure and practice.
As an aid to pronunciation, each term or phrase is listed with the stressed
syllables identifled in capital letters. The terms are then written out for
pronunciation using a modified Internatlonal Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) system.
A chart interpreting these symbols follows this page. Using this modified IPA
allows for a standardized pronunciation of highly technical terms.
No attempt 1s made ln this workbook to present language or communication
exercises. Language skills such as listening, speaking, reading, and writing
are not developed. These skills are taught in the language modules used at
the Defense Language Institute, English Language Center, Lackland AFB, Texas.

This workbook contains 20 lessons. Every fifth lesson is a review covering
the previous four lessons. The Appendix at the end of this workbook contains
a word list of all the terms presented in the workbook and a list of the most
conmon abbreviations used in aviation tralni-ng.
Inqulries concerning this workbook, including requests for copies or authority
to reproduce materials contai-ned thereln, should be addressed to: Commandant,
Defense Language Institute, English Language Center, ATTN: LESS, Lackland Air

Force Base, Texas 78236.

Reporting of errors, omissions, and recommendations for improving ttris
workbook by the individual user is encouraged. Letters should be submitted
to: Cornmandant, Defense Language Institute, Engllsh Language Center, ATTN:
LEAC, Lackland Air Force Base, Texas 78236.

June | 98iS I

l'10.3?fxlo

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fl0t'l v:r:-; -:

AMERICAN ENGLISH SOUNDS

English ls not spelled phonetically. The same sound is spelled several
different nays. For thls reason it ls helpful to assign separate synbols
to each sound. The followtng system is a nodified version of Ehe IPA
system. Twenty-four consonant symbols, eleven vowel symbols, and three
symbols representing diphthongs are used to represent the significant
sounds of American Engllsh.

CONSONANTS

Symbols Examples
1. p past, stop, put, paper
2. b bed, baby, barber, lab
take, water, sent, ten
3. t date, student, do, hard
car, chemical, recorder, book
4. d gas, eggs, dog, cigar
D. k am, myr number, from
6. g
7. m no, line, find, noon
8. n sing, long, wrong, rank
9. n well, laboratory, always, let
10. I farmer, affirmative, phrase, I augh
v€rV, give, live, seven
11. f thank, Thursday, bath, north
the, this, these, weather, there
t2. v see, this, lesson, tapes
zeno, nose, blows, dozen
13. 0 ship, nation, should, push
14. d pleasure, measure, usual
15. s have, he, how, hot
16. z chair, teacher, picture, March
judge, bridge, page, July
t7. E we, walk, wish, away, why
read, course, for, write
18. ,, yes, you, yestenday, young
19. h
20. E ii
21. J
22. w

23. r
24. v

VOWELS

Symbols Examples

1. i teach, meet, he, machine, chief

2. I sit, in, is, big

3. e make, day, train, vein, steak
4. € met, let, said, bread
cash, half, laugh, hand
D. a

6. a far, farmer, heart, not, hot
all, saw, bought, thought, taught
t. tr go, know, coat, toe, pole

8. O

9. U good, should, would, book, took

l

It

10. u food, blue, blew, do, soup

11. a cup, enough, ago, son, sun

DIPHTHONGS

1. I, tie, buy, my, write
2. oil, boy, join, point

3. now, town, mouth, out

lu

CONTENTS

LESSON PAGE

I l-1

2 2-L
3
3-l
4
4-L
5 5-1
6-1
6 7-L
8-1
7
9-l
8
10-l
9
1t-l
l0
l1 L2-L
13-r
L2 r4-1

l3 r5-r

L4 16-1

l5 L7 _L

r6 r8-r

L7 r9-1
18 20-L

r9

20

APPENDIX

Part I - Abbreviations, AcronYms ' and A-2
A*3
Symbols

Part II - Word List

AVIATION LESSON 1

OBJECTIVES

At the end of the lesson you will make oral and written responses to oral
and written questions as follows:

l. Where does the pilot sit in an aircraft?
The pilot sits in the cockpit.

2. What part of the aircraft provides the prineipal lift for the aircraft
during flight?
The wing provides the principal lift for the aircraft during fllght.

3. What part of the aircraft keeps the alrcraft steady during flight?
The stabiLlzer keeps the aircraft steady during flight.

4. What is the fuselage on an aircraft?
The fuselage is the main body of an aircraft.

5. What do you call the tail secti-on of an aircraft?
You call the tail section of an aircraft the empennage.

6. What is a fixed landing gear?
A fixed landing gear is a non-retractable landing g€ar.

7. What is a retractable landing gear?
A landing gear that can be drawn into the wings or fuselage of
an aircraft.

8. Where is the nosewheel usually attached to an aircraft?
The nosewheel is usually attached to the front part of the aircraft.

9. What is the purpose of the propeller on an aircraft?
The purpose of the propeller is to pull the aircraft forward Ehrough
the air.

10. What is a reciprocating engine?
A reciprocating engine is an internal combustion engine that contains
pistons that move back and forEh in cylinders.

11. What part in a reciprocating engine converEs Ehe back-and-forth motion
of the pistons i-nto a rotary motion?
The crankshaft is the part in a reciprocating engine that converts the
back-and-forth motion of the piston into a rotary motion.

L2. What device, fitted into the cylinder of an internal combustion engine,
ignites the fuel-air mixture?
The spark plug lgnites the fuel-air mixture ln the cylinder of an
internal combustion engine.

1-1

13. Vilhat is a piston?
A piston is a short, roundr.metal parL that moves back and forth inside
a cylinder and transfers motion.

14. What is an internal combustion engine?
An internal combustion engine is an engine that produces power from Ehe
burning of gases inside a chamber.

15. What do you call the number of turns a crankshaft rnakes in a minute?
The number of turns a crankshaft makes in one minute is called
revolutions per minute.

16. What type aircraft engine produces a forward push in response to the
rearward discharge of heated exhaust gases?
A jet engine produces a forward push in response to the rearward discharge
of heated exhaust gases.

L7. What part of the jeL engine rotates in reacEion to the exhaust gases
passing through or over it?
The turbine is the part of the jet engine that rotates in reaction to the
exhaust gases passing through or over it.

18. What part of the jet engine compresses the aLr?
The compressor is the part of the jet engine that compresses the air.

19. What do you call the section of the jet engine in which fuel is added
to the compressed air, ignited, and burned?
The section of the jet engine in which fuel is added to the compressed
air, ignited, and burned is called a combustion cttamber.

20. What do you call the back section of the jet engine through which the
exhaust gases are discharged?
The back section of the jet engine through which the exhaust gases are
discharged is called a tailPiPe.

2L, What is a cylinder?
A cylinder is the hollow tube or chamber in which the piston is located.

L-2

TERMINOLOGY AND PRONUNCIATION GUIDE

The pronunciation and stressed syllables (shown in capital letters)
for the objective terms in this lesson are:

l. cockpit (CocK pit)

2. combustion charnber (com BUS tion CHAI'I ber)

3. compressor (com PRES sor)

4. crankshaft (cRANK sharr) /t<r/g ,t.++/ - .
5. cylinder
b. emPennage (CYL in der)
7. fixed landing gear
>(em pen NAGE r'- VnF gn ! :,7

(FIXED LAN ding gear)

8. fuselage (FU se lage)

g. internal combustion engine (in TER nal com BUS tion EN gine)

/s,f""',e-l ka-h{sf sn rCent

lO. jet engine )(JEr EN gine /j{+ Lr1je"/

ll. nosewheel (NosE wheel> / /l . ( n\ ,^: , D

r-3 ",

L2. piston (PIS ton)

13. propeller (pro PEL ler)

L4. reciprocating engine (re CIP ro cat ing EN gine)

15. ret,ractable landing gear *-g/ ni s/f t "4, t ,','Jo',/

(re TRACT a ble LAN ding gear)

r

16. revolutions per minuEe (rev o LU tions Per I'{IN uEe)

L7. spark plug (sPARK PLUG, /.=tJrn lt Jg/
18. stabiLLzer
(STA bi li zer)
19. tailpipe
(TAIL pipe)
20. turbine
2L, wing (ruR bine, / +d"6^^/ / *lrbo.,nl
(r,vrNc> / t^:;> I

L-4

VISUALS FOR LESSON I STABI LIZER

LLER
WING

FUSELAGE

lF TWO MAIN WHEELS

NOSEWHEEL

HOiIZONTAL VERTICAL
TTAIILI ZER STABILIZER

HORIZONTAL

3?A!ILIZER

LANDING GEAR
RETRACTED

1-5

VISYALS FOR LESSON 1 (contfd)

AIR INTAKE COMPRESSOR COMBUSTION JTAILPIPE
CHAMBER
DUCT

NOZZLE

:'+oBlUsReNsED

TURBINE WHEEL

COMBUSTION BURNED GASES OUT
CHAMBER
PISTON

-cYLINDER

CRANKSHAFT

1-6

GLOSSARY

COCKPIT: the place in the aircraft where the pilot sits.
Ex: After the briefing, the pilot walked over to the alrcraft
and climbed into the cockpit.

COI'{BUSTION CHAI'IBER: in a reciprocating engine, the space in the cylinder
where the fuel-air mixture is ignited and burned; in a jet engine, the
section in which fuel is added to the compressed air, ignited, and

burned.

Ex: Because more fuel than alr was entering the combustion chamber
the spark plug failed to ignite the mixture.

COI'{PRESSOR: the part of the jet engine that compresses the air.
Ex: The ai.r intake ducts direct air into the compressor.

CMNKSHAFT: the part ln an engine that converts the back-and-f orth moti-on
of the pistons into rotary motion.
Ex: The crankshaft is the part of the engine that turns the propeller.

CYLINDER: the hollow metal tube or chamber in which the plston ls loeated.
Ex: The mechanic checked each c$lrldff to determine which one was not

working properly.

EI"IPENNAGE: the tail section of an aircraf t.
Ex: Th" _g3sgggg o.t the aircraf t ldas painted silver.

FIXED LANDING GEAR: a non-retractable type of landing gear.
Ex: A f r*"d l""di"g g... cannot, be pulled up i.nto the wings or fuselage
of ttr" ght.

FUSELAGE: Ehe mal-n body of an aircraf t.
Ex: The cockplt is part of the alrcraftts f"r"f.g*

INTERNAL C0MBUSTION ENGINE: an englne that produces power from the burning
of gases insLde a chamber.
Ex: Ivlost cars have i.nternal conbustion englnes.

JET ENGINE: a reactlon engine that produces a forward push from the rearward
dlscharge of heated exhaust gas€s.
Ex: The turbojet engine is a jet engine that contalns a compressor,
a combustion chamber, a turbine wheel, and a tallpipe.

L-7

NOSEWHEEL: the part of the aircraftrs landing gear system that is usually
atEached to the front part of the aircraft.
Ex: The mechanic was inspecting the nosewheel and the two main wheels
of the aircraftrs tricycle landing gear.

PISTON: a short, round, metal part that moves back and forth inside a
cylinder and transfers motion.
Ex: The oil ring of the piston keeps oil from entering the combustion

chamber.

PROPELLER: a power-driven, rotating device having a hub and two or more
blades used to pull the aircraft forward through the air.
Ex: The propeller is attached to the nose of most single-engine type
aireraft.

RECIPROCATING ENGINE: an j-nternal combusEi.on engine thaE contains pistons
that move back and forth in cylinders.
Ex: A11 reciprocating engines have cylinders, pistons, and crankshafts.

RETRACTABLE LANDING GEAR: a landing gear that can be drawn into the wings
or fuselage of an aircraft.
Ex: The landing gear, whether it is fixed or retractablg, supports the
aircraft on the ground.

REVOLUTIONS PER I'{INUTE (RPM): the number of turns made in one minute by an
object. RPI'{ is the abbreviation for revolutions per minute.
Ex: The RPt"l of a crankshaf t inereases and, decreases as the povrer of an
engine i s-Frcreas ed or decreas ed .

SPARK PLUG: a device fitted into the cylinder of an internal combustion
engine that ignites the fuel-air mixture by means of electric spark.
Ex: An automobile cyllnder has only one g.pl1!_i-ll1g and an aircraf t
cyllnder has two g-gL_pfggg.

STABILIZER: the part of the aircraft that keeps the aircraft steady during
flight.
Ex: The vertical and horizontal stabilizers are part of the tail section
of the aircraft.

TAILPIPE: the tube at the back of a jet engine through whlch the exhaust

gases are discharged.

Ex: The turbine section ls between the combustion chamber and the
tallpipe of a jet engine.

l-8

TURBINE: the part of the jet englne that splns or rotates ln reaction
to the exhaust gases passing through or ov.er lt.
Ex: When the exhaust gases turn the turblnE, the shaft and compressor
also turn.

WING: the part of an aircraft that projects out on each slde of the fuselage
and provides the prlncipal lift for the aircraft durlng fllght.
Ex: The glggg are attached to the fuselage of the aircraft.

1-9

COMPLETION EXERCISE

tlrite in the missing terms that correctly complete the sentences.

l. In an aircraft, the pilot sits ln the

2. The main body of an aircraft ls the

to which the wings are connected.

3. A cannot be pulled up lnto the wings or

f uselage of the ai-rcraf t.

4. The ls the tall section of an aircraft.

5. The tricycle landing gear consists of two main wheels and a

6. The which has trdo or more blades, is

attached to the nose of the aircraft and rotates when the englne is

running.

7. The keeps the aircraft steady durlng

flight.

8. The opposite of a non-retractable landing gear or flxed landing gear ls

9. The provides the main upward force for

an aircraft during flight.

1- 10

10. The number of turns a crankshaft makes ln a minute is called

11. The hollow metaL tube in whlch the piston moves back and forEh is called

L2. The fuel-alr mlxture ls lgnlted by the spark plug in the

of the enginets cyli.nder.

13. In a reclprocatlng engine, the turns and

converts the back-and-forth movement of the pistons to rotary motion.

14. The part ln the cyllnder of a reclproeating engine that ignites the fuel
and alr by an electric spark ls called a

15. After spinnlng the turblne, the exhaust gases are discharged through

the of the jet engine.

16. The between the combustion chamber and

the tallplpe ls turned by the exhaust gases passing through or over it.

t7 . The is the part of Ehe jet engine that
compresses the air.

18. An develops power by burning a mlxture of
fuel and alr ln a chamber.

1-11

19. The is a short, round, metal part EhaE moves

back and forth inside a cylinder.

20. A has cylinders in which the pistons move
back and forth.

2L. A is a reaction engine that pushes the

aircraft forward by discharging heated exhaust gases rearward.

quElrI0NS

Answer the questions with complete sentences. Write the answers
in the space provided.
1. What landing gear can be pulled up into the wlngs or fuselage of the

aircraft during flight?

2. What part on a reciprocating engine airplane pulls the aircraft through
the air?

3. What do you call the wheel of Ehe landing gear that is attached to the
nose of the aircraft?

4. Which part of the aircraft are the wings attached to?

L-LZ

5. What do you call a landing gear that cannot be pulled up into the wings
or fuselage of the aircraft during flight?

6. What section of the aircraft is the empennage?
7. What do you call the place in the aircraft where the pilot sits?
8. What is the purpose of the stabilizer on an aircraft?
9. What projects out on each side of the fuselage and provides the principal

lift to the aircraft during flight?
10. What do you call an engine thaE has a crankshaft to change the pistons I

back-and-forth movement to rotary motion?
11. tlhat part of the jet engine rotates in reaction to the exhaust gases

passing through or over it?

1- 13

L2. What is a jet engine?
13. What do you call an engine that produces power from the burning of gases

inside a chamber?
L4. What do you call the hollow tube or chamber in which the piston is

located?

15. What does the crankshaft do to Ehe back-and-forth motion of the pistons?
16. What do you call the short, round, metal part that moves back and forth

in a cylinder and transfers motion?
L7. What is the purpose of the compressor in a jet engine?
18. What do you call the space in the cylinder where the fuel-air mixture

is ignited and burned?

l-14

19. What does the abbreviation RPM refer to in a reciprocating engine?
20. What does the tailpipe of a jet engine discharge?
2L. What ignites the fuel-air mixture in the cylinder of an internal

combustj-on engine?

WATCH WHERE VOU ARE
WALKING. THAT PROPELLER

cAN CUr YoU_ I NrO

EOT?CE frretsS

1- 15

MATCHING EXERCISE

Match the terms in Column B with the phrases in Column A. Write the
letters in the blanks.

Column A Column B

l. the t.ail section of an ai-rcraft &. stabiLizer

2. the place where the pilot sits b. tailpipe
in an aircraft c. propeller

3. the tube at the back of a jet engine d. cockpit

where exhaust gases are discharged €. fuselage

f. empennage

4. the part of the aircraft that keePs g. spark plug
it steady during flight

h. compressor

5. the roLating devi-ce wit,h blades that i. wing
pulls the aircraft through the air

6. the main body of the aircraft j. turbine
k. cylinder

7. the hollow tube where pistons are 1. crankshaft

located III . piston

8. where the engine converts back- fI . internal combustion
and-forth moti-on of pistons into
engi-ne

rotary motion

9. the part of a jet engine that compresses
air

10. the engi.ne that Produces Power bY
burning gases inside a ehamber

11. the part of the aircraft that projects
out from the body and provides lift

L2. the part of Ehe engine that sPins in
reaction to gases passing through it

1- 16

qUIZ EXERCISE

Answer the following questions by marking the best answerr 8r b, or cr

l. What is the main body of an aircraf t .called?
E. the wing
b. the empennage
co the fuselage

2. What type of landing gear can be pulled up into the aircraft?
d. a fixed landing gear
b. a non-retractable landing gear
cr a retractable landing gear

3. What part of the aircraft keeps the aircraft steady during flight?
E. the stabiLizer
b. the wing
co the landing gear

4. What part of the aircraft provi-des the principal lift to the aircraft
during flight
3. the fuselage
b. the wing
c. the engine

5. Where are the stabilizers located on an aircraft?
er. in the landing gear section
b. in the wing section
c. in the empennage section

6. What part of the jet engi-ne spins in response to the exhaust gases
passi.ng through or over it?
Er the compressor
b. the turbine
co the crankshaft

7. What is the cockpit?
8.. Ehe place where the pilot sits in the aircraft
b. the main body of an aircraft
c. the tail secti-on of an aircraf t

L-17

AVIATION LESSON 2

OBJECTIVES

At the end of the lesson you will make oral and written responses to oral
and written questions as follows:

l. What do you call the hard surface where aircraft take off and land?
The hard surface where aircraft take off and land is called a runway.

2. What is a ramp?
A ramp is a hard surface on the flight line where aircraft are parked.

3. In what building on the flight line are aircraft repaired?
The hangar is the building on the flight line in which aircraft are
repaired.

4. What is the name of the building where flights are planned and approved?
The name of the building where flights are planned and approved is
Base Operations.
.

5. Which building on the flight line contains radio equipment that is used
in controlling the movement of aircraft in the air and on the ground?
The control tower is the building on the flight line that contains radio
equipment used for controlling the movement of the aircraft in the air
and on the ground.

6. What do pilots do when they drive their airplanes?
They taxi their aircraft.

7. WhaE do you call the path that is used for taxiing an airplane from the
run\^/ay to the ramp?
The path that is used for taxiing an airplane from the runway to the
ramp is called a taxiway.

8. Instead of saying "put out the firer" what can you say?
Extinguish the fire.

9. What do you call the container that is filled with chemi-cals and is used
to put out fires?
It is called a fire extinguisher.

10. What do you call the srnall control tower unit nsteuadrenatsruInl^tarakyetohfafst is
normally used by instructor pilots Lo control
and

landings ?

The small tower unit near a runway used by instructor pilots to control
studentst takeoffs and landings is called a ruil^ray supervisory unit.

2-L

11. What is the purpose of an auxiliary porder unit?
The purpose of an auxiliary power unit is to sEart the aircraftrs
engine or, engirr€s.

L2. What do you call the cone-shaped object on the flight line that shows
the direction of the wind?
The cone-shaped object on the flight' line that shows the direction of
the wind is called a windsock.

13. What is a wind tee?
A wind tee is a T-shaped metal or wooden object that indicates the
direction of Ehe wind.

14. Which way is the aircraft flying when it flies in the same direction
as the wind?
The aircrafu is flying downwind when it flies in the same direction
as the wind.

15. What do you call the wind that blows in the opposite direction of
the ai-rcraf t 's f light ?
The wind that blows in the opposite direction of the aircraftrs flight
is called a headwind.

16. What do you call the wind that pushes an aircraft to the left or right
from the direction in which iE is flyin$?
The wind that pushes an aircraft Lo the left or right from the direction
in which it is flying is called a crosswind.

L7. What is elevation?
Elevation is the height of the ground above sea level.

18. What unit of distance is equal to 61076.10 feet or 11852 meters?
One nautical nile is equal to 61076.10 feet or Lr852 meters.

19. What unj-t of speed is shown in most aircraft?
Knot is the unit of speed shown in most aircraft.

20. What is used as a basis for measuring elevation?
Sea level is used as a basis for measuring elevation.

2L. What is altitude?
Altitude is the height of an object above a given surface or level.

2-2

TERMINOLOGY AND PRONUNCIATION GUIDE

The pronunciation and stressed syllables (shown in capital letters) for
Ehe objective terms in this lesson are:

l. altitude (AL ri rude > / /t+e+,,rtr'

2. auxi liary pohrer uni c (aux IL ia ry POW er u nit)

t /t

3. Base Operations ft"- paJN(BASE op er A rions >a
4. control tower
5. crosswind (conrRoLtower) fk^nIr! *al ^rf
6. downwind
7. elevation (CROSS wind )
8. extinguish
(DOWN wind)
9. f ire extingui-sher
(el e VA tion

(ex rrN guish) J e[st igltr ,'.a,

(FIRE ex TIN guish er)

10. hangar (HANG ar )
11. headwind
L1/A
/ "' "4L(HEAD wind)

2-3

L2. knots (KNors> /natsf
13. nautical miles
ri >(NAU cal MrLES f-nr*^\rl ^a( l.r'
14. ramp
15. runway (RAl,rP> / f y^pf

16. ruil^ray supervisory unit (RUN way )

L7. sea level (RUN way su per VI so ry u nit)
18. taxi
19. taxiway /r."n,'.. s,^['cr vr{-Lg ri yr nr*/
20. windsock
2L. wind tee (sEA rev el) , S( ' . V al, -

(rAX i) *('
-7' "t, -

(TAX i way)

> / Jnd(wrND sock -=a lN

(WIND tee)

2-4

VISUALS FOR LESSON 2

FI REHOUSE

APRON (RAMP)

CONTRO L TOWER

HANGAR

FLIGHT LINE

z-'5

THE INSIDE OF A CONTROL TOWER
2-5

VIJUALS FOR LESSON 2 (contrd)

RUNWAY SUPERVISORY UNIT

WINDSOCK WIND TEE
2-6

VISUALS FOR LESSON 2 (contrd) ++
++
APRoN (nnue)

9.s OUTBOUND
TRAFFI C
ii
-J ""
ACTIVE RUNWAY
,."t-/

RUNWAY

AUXI LIARY
POWER UNIT

RE
UISHER

2-7

VISUALS FOR LESSON 2 (cont rd)

HEADWIND OR UPWIND

vrfll

cRosswlND ->a

cRosswlND +tlll

TAILWTND OR DOWNWIND

WINDS

2-8

CLOSSARY

ALTITUDE: the height of an object above a given surface or level r 8s above
the sea or ground.
Ex: The airplane was flying at an altitude of gr000 feet.

AUXIEaaLIiLAxrRcr:cYrarAaPfntfOtal.leEunRxAgUiPilniUaNeirIsyoTr:ptheaonewngeLaernbxuebtsenr.erlntvaioalntip.otohlnd'eefroflurignahitut xthliilaniateryciaspnonbweoerrumusaenldliyt.toussedtatrot an

start

BASE OPEMTIONS (BASE OPS): a butlding on the f light line where flighrs are
approved. Base Ops is the short term for
planned and Base OperationS.
Ex: Pllots go to Base Operatlons to plan their flight and check rhe
weather.

CONTmEtRoOoxwvL:eeTmrTOeuhInse{tEeocRtofo: naattlrartoaclklrllatotfowtbueoprilendcoitonphnlgeetaogoinrnnosutthhnraeeddgafilorniogduehniqntduipotlihmnreeeinnatwiwrthhheeaircreoahupirnteh.doeptlhpeeecoaopinlrerribonalsetthh.ee

CROSSWIND: a wind that blows against the side of an aircraft. left or right
Ex: Durlng fllght, a crosswind pushes an aircraft to the
from the direction tn ffiTts
going.

DOWNWIND: the directlon of the aircraft when it is flying in the same
dlrection as the wind ls blowing.
Ex: When flying downwind, the aircraft has a tailwind.

ELEVATION: height of the ground above sea level.
Ex: Pilots should know the elevation of the surface fly
won't fly i.nro mounralnili:Znlarher objects . the'y over so
Ehey

EXTINGUISH: to put out; as to put out a fire.
Ex: when you put out a firer you extinguish the fire.

FIRE EXTINGUISHER: a container that ls filled with chemicals and is used

to put out a fire.
Ex: The mechanic used a fire extinguisher to put out the fire.

2-9

HANGAR: a large building on rhe flight line where aireraft are repaired.
Ex: The aircraf t rdas taken inside the hangar f or ma jor repai-rs.

HEADWIND: a wind that blows opposite the direction of the aircraftts flight.
Ex: A headwind decreases the speed of an aircraft over the ground'

KNOT: a unit of speed of one nautical nile per hour' shown in knots'
Ex: In most aircraft, the speed of the aircrafE is

NAUTICAL MILES: the unit of distance used in navigaEion. one nautical mile
equals 61076.10 feet or 1'852 meters'
Ex: The distance between New York City, New York, and Los Angelest

california, is approximately 2r4ZL nautical miles.

:5y1Mp the hard surf ace on the f light line where aircraf yt oaurearpeatrokedfly'
Ex: Before each flightr You will find the ai-reraft

parked on Ehe ramP.

RUNWAY: the hard surface where aircraft Lake off and land. at the present
The active runway is the runway is being used
Ex: that

time for takeoffs and landings '

RUNI^rpIAurYnawScUatiyPcEinnRogVrISmOtaaRklYlyeUouNfsfIseTda(RbnydSUilna)sn:tdrauincsgtmos.rallRpmSiloUotbissilettohceocnaotrbnobtlrroetlovwisatetuirodnleoncftoasrtethdruaintldeaaayrre the
supervisory unit.
Ex: The runway suPervisory u+it, soT::ine.s called a mobile control unit'
has glassnt like the control tolf,er.

SEA LEVEL: the level at the surface of the s€8. Sea level is taken as a
basis for the measurement for elevation'
Ex: We measure the elevation or height of cities, airfields, and

mountains from sea level.

TAXI: to drive an airplane on the ground or other surface' on the
Ex: The pilot wilf taxi the aircraft to Ehe takeoff position

runway.

TAXIWAY: a hard surface path that is used for taxiing an aircraft to and
Eftrhoxem: inTthbhoeeunoruduntwbtaaoxylniwtdoatyathxiseiwEarraymPisa' irfcorrafaEirctraaxfitingtaxtoiiwngardotu,hteforarmtpakafetoefrf
and

landi-ng'

2-10

WINDSOCK: a cone-shaped cloth objecE that indicates the direction of the

wind.

Ex: A windsock is normally used at an airfield that has no control
tower to tell the pilot the direction of the wind.

WIND TEE: a T-shaped metal or wooden object that indicates the direction
of the wind.
(

Ex: The wind tee ls located in an area where it can move freely into
the wlnd ;a-E;--asily s€€o.

2-LL

CO},IPLETION EXERCISE

Write in t.he missing terms that correctly complete the sentences.

1. Pilots their aircraft from the ramp to the
active ruilday.

2. The height of the airplane above a given surface is called

3. The people in the control the movement
of the aircraft on the ground and in the air.

4. Pilots go Eo to plan their flights.

5. Pilots take off and land on the active

6. We call the level at the surface of the seat

7. A is a hard surface where aircraft are

parked when they are not being flown.

8. The cone-shaped cloth object located in the area of the runway that

indicates wind direction is called a .

9. If there is something wrong with your aircraft after a flight' the
mechanic will probably move the aircraft into a

for repairs.

10. The inbound is for aircraft taxiing toward
the ramp after landing.

11. The aircraft is flying at a speed of 350

2-LZ

L2. The located near the runway is used by

instructor pilots to control and watch their students practLce takeoffs

and landings.

13. The on the fllght line is norrnally used to

start the aircraftrs engine or engines.

14. The is a T-shaped metal or wooden object

that indicates the direction of the wind.

15. When the aircraft is flylng so that the wind hits the sLde of the
aircraft, the wind is called a

16. when the aircraft has a tailwind, it is flying

L7 . The wind that blows opposite the direction of the aircraft ts flight is
called a

18. We measure the or height of citles,

airfields, and mountains from sea level.

19. A knot is a unit of speed of one per hour.

20. The mechanic on the flight line used a
to put out the aircraftrs engi.ne fire.

2L. When you put out a fire r you the fire.

2-L3

QUE STIONS

Answer the questlons with complete sentences. Write the answers in the space

provided.

l. What is a control tower?

2. In which building on the flight line do pilots plan their flights?

3. which building on the flight line are aircrafL taken to for major repairs?
4. Ilow do you refer to the hard surface where aircraft are parked?

5. What do you call the hard surface that aircraft use for takeoffs and

landings ?

6. What do you do when you taxi an aircraft?

7. What is a taxiwaY?

z-L4

8. What do you call the cone-shaped object near the ruilray that indicates
wind directlon?

9. What external power unit is normally used to start Ehe aircraftrs
engine or engines on the flight line?

10, What container is normally used on the flight line to put out aircraft
engine fires?

11. WhaL do you do when you extinguish a fire?

L2. What is a runway supervisory unit?
13. What unit of di.stance is used in navigation?
L4. What unit of speed is used in most aircraft?

2-L5

15. What term do you use when you refer to the height of the ground above

sea level?

16. What is a crosswind?
L7. Which way ls the alrcraft flying when it ls flying downwlnd?
18. Is an aircraft flying opposite or with the wind when it has a headwind?

19. How do you refer to the height of an alrplane above a given surface or
level?

2Q. What do you call the level at the surface of the sea?
ZL. What do you call a T-shaped netal or wooden object that indicates the

directlon of the wind?

z-L6

MATCHING EXERCISE

l"latch the terms in Column B with the phrases in Column A. Write the letters
in the blanks.

Column A Column B

I. the short term for Base Operations E. hangar

b. downwind
2. height of the ground above sea level

cr taxi

3. to put out d. extingui.sh

4. building on the flight line where €. wind tee

aircraft are repaired f. APU

5. hard surface used for g. crosswind
landings and takeoffs h. Base Ops

6. tailwind i. tailwind
j. RSU

7. to drive an airplane on the ground k. control tower

1. runway

8. a T-shaped wind direction indicator

n. fire extinguisher

9. the abbreviation for o. elevation
auxiliary power unit o. windsock

10. tall building on the flight line
used to control traffic

lI. wind that blows against

the side of an aircraft

L2. the abbreviation for
runway supervisory unit

2-L7

QUIZ EXERCISE

Answer the following questions or complete the followlng sentences by
marking the best ansrder t 8t b, or co

l. trlhat is the correct name of the small moblle control tower located
near the runway?

d. supervisory runway unit
b. runway supervisory unit
cr runway unit supervisory

2. What do you call the hard surface that aircraft use for takeoffs and

landings ?

r€l a funWay
b. a ramp
c o a taxiwaY
3. What is the hangar on the flight line mainly used for?

Eo to plan flights
b. to approve flights
co to repair aircraft
4. Why do you have fire extinguishers on the flight line?

zr. to start aircraft engines
b. to put out aircraf t engi-ne f ires
cr to put in chenicals
5. The people in the control tower control the movement of aircraft

et. on the ground
b. in the air
co both on the ground and in the air

6. Pilots go to Base Operations Eo .

8. plan their flights
b. move their aircraft
cr control their aircraft
7. The pilot will _ the aircraft to the takeoff posltion.

3r- f1y
b. ride
co taxi

2-L8

AVIATION LESSON 3

OBJECTIVES

At the end of the lesson you w111 make oral and written responses to oral and
written questions as follows:

1. What is an elevator?
An elevator ls a movable control surface attached to the horizontal
stabilizer of the ai.rcraf t.

2. What is an aileron?
An aileron is a movable control surface attached to the trai-ling
edge of the wing near the wing tip.

3. What is the rudder?
The rudder is a movable control surface attached to the vertical
stabillzer of an aircraft.

4. On an aircraft, what is the leading edge of the wing?
The leading edge is the front part of the wing.

5. What is the trailing edge of the wing?
The trailing edge is the back part of the wing.

6. What is a yoke?
A yoke is a control wheel ln the cockpit used to control the altitude
and movement of an airplane.

7. In an aircraft, what is the stick?
The stick is a lever in the cockplt used to control the altitude and
movement of an aircraft.

8. What are the rudder pedals?
The rudder pedals are the controls in the cockplt used to move the

rudder.

9. What is the throttle?
The throttle ls a control in the cockpit that the pilot uses to increase
or decrease the fuel supply to the engine.

10. What are flaps?
Flaps are movable surfaces on the leading edges of the wings used
primarlly to increase lif t, or drag of the ai-rcraf t.

11. What ls a tri.m tab?
A trim tab is a small, movable control surface attached to the rear
edge of an elevator, a rudderr or an aileron.

3-1

12. What is the lateral axis?
The lateral axis is an imaginary llne from wing ttp to wlng tlp around
which the aircraft turns.

13. What ls the longitudinal axls?
The longitudinal axis is an imaginary llne from the nose to the tall
around which the aircraft rolls.

L4. What is the vertical axls?
The vertical axis is an imaginary line, perpendlcular to the longltudinal
and lateral axes, around which the aircraft turns.

15. What is pltch?
Pitch is the movement of the aircraft around its lateral axls.

16. What ls ro11?
Roll is the movement of the aircraft around its longitudinal axls.

L7 . What is yaw?
Yaw is the movement of the aircraft around its vertlcal axis.

18. What is lift?
Lift 1s the upward force acting on an aircraft.

19. What is weight?
Weight is a measurement of gravlty, the force that pulls a body toward
the center of the earth.

20. What is a control surface?
A control surface is a movable part on the outslde of an aircraft.

2L. What is drag?
Drag is a force opposing the movement of a body through the alr.

22. What is thrust?
Thrust ls the force that moves the aircraft forward.

3-2

TERIITINOLOGY AND PRONUNCIATION GUIDE

The pronunclatlon and stressed syllables (shown ln capital letters) for the
obJectlve terms ln thls lesson are3

l. aileron (AI le ron)

2. controL surface (con TROL SUR face)

3. drag (DRAG)
4. elevator
5. flaps (EL e va tor) / /'^r"t^rf
6. lateral axls
7. leadlng edge (rLAPs' /f | -P7

8. llft (LAT er al AX ls)

9. longitudlnal axls / t''-g(LEAD rns EDGE' !.jf
(LrFr) / Jr++7'
10. pltch
11. ro11 (LON gl TU dl nal AX is )

t/J'-/.nY.*,, /"r, ^l /kst=/

(PrrcH)

(RoLL)

3-3

L2. rudder (RUD der)
13. rudder pedaLs
14. stick r"/(RUD der PED als) r-4 Pr I ^l .f
15. throttle
16. thrust (srrcK) / s*- ,
L7. tralllng edge
18. trlm tab (THROT rle)
I9. vertlcal axLs
(rHRUSr> - /g""*ff ,ll
2Q. welght
ftar'(rRArL ing EDGE)
21. yart
(TRrr'{ TAB)
22. yoke
(VER tt cal AX ls) -

,, nnLn'^l lks*s,

(r.rErcnr> / u"+f

(YAw)

(YoK.E) l'voKt/ t

3-4

VISUALS FOR LESSON 3 AILERON

AIL ERON TRIM
TAB
EL EVATOR

RU DDE R
PEDAL5

THRU5T sLIFT N DRAG
€
w

WE!GHT

3-s

VISUALS FOR LESSON 3 (eontrd)

VERTICAL AXIs

NGITUDINAL AXIS

LATERAL AXIS

3-6

GLOSSARY

AILERON: a movable control surface attached to Ehe trailing edge of the wing
near the wing tip.
Ex: I'loving Ehe aileron causes the wlng to move up or down.

CONTROL SURFACE: a movable part on the outslde of an al-rcraft.
Ex: The ailerons, the elevators, and the rudder are movable control
surfaces on the aircraft.

DMG: a f orce opposing movement of a body through the air.
Ex: When drag is greater than thrust, the speed of the aircraft

decreases.

ELEVATOR: a movable control surface attached to the horizontal stabilLzer
of the aircraft.
Ex: The elevator moves the nose of the aircraft
to move up and down. ,up and down and causes

FLAPS: a movable surface on the leading edge of the wing used prinarily to
increase lift or drag of the aircraft.
Ex: When the flaps are lowered, the upward force acting on the wing
increases; this causes Ehe speed of the aircraft to decrease.

LATEML AXIS : an inaginary line f rom wing t ip to wing t ip around which the
aircraft turns.
Ex: The three axes of an aircraft are the longitudinal axis, the lateral
"*i", and the vertical axis.

LEADING EDGE: the front part of the wing.
Ex: During flight, the air passes over the leading edge of the wing
first.

LIFT: the upward force acting on an aircraft. Weight opposes lift.
Ex: If lift is greater than weight, the aircraftrs altitude increases.

LONGITUDINAL N(IS: an imaginary llne from the nose to the tail around whlch
the aircraft, rolls.
Ex: The aircraft rolls to the right or left around the longitudinal axis'

3-7

PITCH: the movement of the aircraft around its lateral axis.
Ex: When an aircraft pitches, the nose goes up or down.

ROLL: the movement of the aircraft around its longitudinal axis.
Ex: When an aircraft rolls, one wing goes up and the other wing goes

down -

RUDDER: a rnovable control surface attached to the vertical stabilizer of
an aircraft.
Ex: The rudder moves to the right or left and eauses Ehe nose of the
ai rcraf t ffio-v" to the right or lef t .

RUDDER PEDALS: the controls in the cockpit used to move the rudder.
Ex: The pilot moves the rudder Pedals with his feet.

STICK: a lever in the cockpic used to control the altitude and movement of
an airplane.
Ex: In a fixed wing aircraft, the stick moves the elevators by its back-
and-forth movement and the ailerons by its side-to-side movement.

THROTTLE: a control in the cockpit that the pilot uses Eo increase or
decrease the fuel supply to the erigine.
Ex: The pilot can increase engine RPM by moving the throttle to increase
the fuel supplY to Ehe engine.

THRUST: the force that moves uhe aircraft forward.
Ex: When thrust is greater than drag, the speed of the aircraft
increases.

TRAILING EDGE: the back of the wing. edge of the wing
Ex: During flight, the air passes over the trailing
last.

TRIM TAB: a snall, movable control surface attached to Ehe rear edge of an
elevator, a rudder, or an aileron.
Ex: The pilot adjusts the trim tabs to balance the aircraft during
flight.

VERTICAL A)(IS: an imaginary line, perpendicular to the longitudinal and
lateral axes, around which the aircraft turns.
Ex: When the aircraft moves around its verticql axis, the nose turns

to the right or left.

3-8

WEIGHT: a measurement of gravity whlch ls the force that pulls a body toward
the center of the earth. Llft opposes welght.
Ex: As the aircrafErs engine of the aircraft
burns fuel, the welght

decreases.

YAW: the movement around the vertlcal axls.
Ex: The aircraft yaws to the left or rlght when pressure ls applied to
Ehe rudder pedals whlch move the rudder.

YOKE: a control wheel ln the cockpit used to control the altltude and
movement of an airplane.
Ex: Some aircraft have a yoke lnstead of a stick to move the elevators
and the aLlerons.

3-9

COMPLETION EXERCISE

I{rite ln the nLssing terms that correctly complete the sentences.
1. The upward force actlng on the wlng Lncreases when the

are lowered.

2. The elevators are one type of movable
3. When the nose of an alrcraft goes up or down, we say the aircraft

4. In a fixed wing alrcraft, the allerons are moved by the slde-to-slde

movement of the .

5. As the fuel ls burned in the alrcraftrs engine, the
of the al.rcraf t decreases.

6. An aircraft lncreases altitude when the 1s
greater than the weLght.

7 . The wing moves up and down when the is

moved.

8. The back of Lhe wing ls called the

9. The force that opposes the movement of a body through the alr ls

called .

10, l"loving the to the rlght or left causes

the nose of the alrcraft to move to the rtght or left.

3-10