Notes

Flight Regulations
Aileron — the hinged flaps that you see go up and down on the wings; flight surfaces that are used to control that aircraft’s roll.

Altitude — the vertical distance from the ground to the aircraft, e.g. how high you’re flying.

Base (in Traffic Pattern) — flying perpendicular to the runway with the beginning of the runway on your left; opposite of crosswind position.

Call Sign — a group of letters and numbers that uniquely identifies an aircraft during communications.

Crosswind (the wind) — wind that’s blowing perpendicular to the plane against its broadside; one of the hardest winds to land in.


Crosswind (in Traffic Pattern) — opposite of the base position, this is when you’re flying perpendicular to the runway with the end of the runway on your left.

Downwind (in Traffic Pattern) — opposite of upwind; this is when you’re flying parallel to the runway, but in the opposite direction that it goes.

Expedite — if you hear ATC telling you to expedite something, that means you should follow the instructions immediately, without delay.

Final (in Traffic Pattern) — the last stage of the traffic pattern when you’re actually making your final approach and will be coming in for a landing.

Flight level — the altitude which you’re flying at or which ATC will direct you to fly at. Flight levels start being used at altitudes above 18,000 feet.

Fuselage — the main body of the aircraft, often referred to in layman’s terms as the tube. This is where the pilot, crew, passengers, and cargo go.

Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) — rules about flying an aircraft using instrumentation and systems rather than visual cues.

Flight Deck — often interchanged with cockpit, the flight deck is the front of the aircraft where the pilots sit and control the plane.


Service ceiling — the highest that an aircraft can fly while still operating at its normal capacity and conditions.

Stall — a phenomenon that occurs when the wings’ angle of attack causes the plane to no longer produce lift. These can be potentially very dangerous.

Wilco — Short for the phrase “will comply”, and is typically said by the pilot to inform ATC that they will be complying with whatever instructions that ATC just gave them.

Thrust — the force produced by jet engines that overcomes drag and propels an aircraft through the skies

Yaw — the tendency of the airplane to turn along its vertical axis. From inside the plane, this would be a left/right motion.

Visual Flight Rules (VFR) — rules about flying an aircraft using your own vision and visual cues rather than the plane’s instrumentation.

Roll — the tendency of the aircraft to turn along its longitudinal axis. From inside the plane, this would feel like you’re rolling over left or right.

Drag — the force that acts against thrust and is typically caused by air resistance, holding a plane back.


Descend — what you are doing as you are going down and your altitude is dropping. You will need to descend during the final approach to make a landing.

Climb — what you’re doing when you are going up and altitude is rising. After takeoff, you’ll enter the initial climb until you reach cruising altitude.

Cockpit — the front of the plane where the pilots sit and control the aircraft, also called the flight deck.

Pitch — the tendency of the aircraft to roll along its horizontal lateral axis. From inside the plane, this would feel like an up/down movement.

Air Traffic Control (ATC) — ATC communicates with pilots and airlines to coordinate air and ground traffic in controlled airspace.

Airfoil — the cross-section of an aircraft’s wing, the design that produces lift.

Controlled Airspace — airspace that is overseen by Air Traffic Control who provides guidance on ground and air traffic coordination

Uncontrolled Airspace — any airspace that is not overseen by any Air Traffic Control service

Traffic Pattern — counter-clockwise pattern of flight around an airport and/or runway that pilots will be directed to partake in during busy and congested times.