Aviation glossary
Explore aircraft, understand their published figures and follow the ideas shaping general aviation. Every entry links to its sources.
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- True airspeed (TAS)
- The aircraft's speed relative to the surrounding air, with instrument and atmospheric effects accounted for; it differs from ground speed.
- Indicated airspeed (IAS)
- The airspeed shown by the aircraft's airspeed indicator before corrections for instrument, position and atmospheric effects.
- Useful load
- The difference between the applicable maximum allowable weight and basic empty weight; it includes occupants, baggage and usable fuel under the relevant definition.
- Payload
- The weight of occupants, cargo and baggage; unlike useful load, it does not include usable fuel in the FAA's GAMA terminology.
- Maximum take-off mass (MTOM)
- The maximum mass permitted for take-off in the applicable aircraft configuration; actual loading must also satisfy balance and other operating limits.
- Density altitude
- Pressure altitude corrected for nonstandard temperature; it expresses air density as an altitude and helps explain changes in aircraft performance.
- Primary flight display (PFD)
- An electronic display that combines essential flight indications, commonly attitude, airspeed, altitude and heading; the layout depends on the installed system.
- Turboprop
- A propulsion system in which a gas turbine supplies shaft power to drive a propeller; a propeller alone does not establish this engine type.