Flight Planning and Navigation
Expert-defined terms from the Global Certificate in Aviation English course at Stanmore School of Business. Free to read, free to share, paired with a globally recognised certification pathway.
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Air Traffic Control (ATC)
Air Traffic Control (ATC) is a service provided by ground #
based controllers who direct aircraft on the ground and in the sky. ATC ensures the safe and efficient flow of air traffic by providing instructions to pilots, such as altitude changes, route modifications, and landing clearances.
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Altitude
Altitude refers to the height of an aircraft above a specific reference point, u… #
Pilots must carefully monitor and adjust their altitude to comply with airspace restrictions and avoid collisions with other aircraft.
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Dead Reckoning
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Flight Plan
A flight plan is a detailed document that outlines the intended route, altitude,… #
Pilots must submit a flight plan to air traffic control before departure to ensure a smooth and safe journey.
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Groundspeed
Groundspeed is the speed at which an aircraft is moving over the ground #
It is calculated by combining the aircraft's airspeed with the effects of wind. Pilots use groundspeed to estimate arrival times and fuel consumption.
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Holding Pattern
A holding pattern is a designated flight path that aircraft follow when they are… #
Pilots must maintain a specific altitude and airspeed while in a holding pattern.
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Instrument Flight Rules (IFR)
Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) are regulations that govern the operation of aircr… #
Pilots flying under IFR must rely on their instruments for navigation and control.
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Jet Stream
The jet stream is a narrow band of strong, high #
altitude winds that flow from west to east across the globe. Pilots often use the jet stream to their advantage by flying in its direction to save time and fuel.
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Minimum Equipment List (MEL)
The Minimum Equipment List (MEL) is a document that specifies the minimum equipm… #
If any equipment on the MEL is inoperative, the aircraft may still be allowed to fly under certain conditions.
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Navigation Log
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Obstacle Clearance Altitude (OCA)
Obstacle Clearance Altitude (OCA) is the minimum altitude at which an aircraft c… #
Pilots must adhere to the OCA to avoid collisions with terrain or man-made structures.
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Preflight Planning
Preflight planning is the process of gathering and analyzing information before… #
Pilots must consider factors such as weather, airspace restrictions, and aircraft performance during preflight planning.
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RNAV (Area Navigation)
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SID (Standard Instrument Departure)
A Standard Instrument Departure (SID) is a published departure procedure that gu… #
Pilots must follow SIDs to ensure safe and efficient departures in busy airspace.
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STAR (Standard Terminal Arrival Route)
A Standard Terminal Arrival Route (STAR) is a published arrival procedure that g… #
Pilots must follow STARs to ensure smooth transitions into busy terminal airspace.
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True Airspeed (TAS)
True Airspeed (TAS) is the actual speed at which an aircraft is moving through t… #
Pilots must adjust their indicated airspeed for temperature and altitude to calculate true airspeed accurately.
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VFR (Visual Flight Rules)
Visual Flight Rules (VFR) are regulations that govern the operation of aircraft… #
Pilots flying under VFR use visual references to navigate and avoid other aircraft.
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Waypoint
19. X #
Ray Clearance
An X #
Ray Clearance is a clearance given by air traffic control to an aircraft before departure. The X-Ray clearance includes instructions on the assigned route, altitude, and any special instructions for the flight.
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Yaw
Yaw is the rotation of an aircraft around its vertical axis #
Pilots use yaw control to keep the aircraft's nose pointed in the desired direction during flight. Yaw is one of the three primary axes of aircraft control, along with roll and pitch.