Relating to operating aircraft
aerobatics
noun
impressive movements in the air made by an airplane
aerospace
adjective
relating to the science or business of building and flying airplanes and space vehicles
airborne
adjective
an aircraft that is airborne is in the air
air corridor
noun
a narrow area that an aircraft must not fly outside when flying over a country
airdrop
noun
an operation to deliver supplies to a place by dropping them from an aircraft
airlift
noun
an operation in which people or things are taken into or away from a place by aircraft, especially in a dangerous situation
air pocket
noun
an area where the air pressure is low that makes an aircraft fall suddenly to a lower level
airspeed
noun
the speed at which an aircraft flies
air-to-air
adjective
involving two aircraft while they are both flying
air traffic control
noun
the activity of organizing the movement of airplanes
airway
noun
a path through the sky that airplanes regularly use
airworthy
adjective
an airworthy aircraft is in good condition and safe to fly
approach
noun
the path that a plane follows when it is preparing to land
automatic pilot
noun
a system that controls the direction of an airplane, ship, or spacecraft
autopilot
noun
an automatic pilot
aviation
noun
the practice of flying airplanes
aviation
noun
connected with making or flying airplanes
beacon
noun
a radio or radar signal that helps ships or aircraft to find their position
burnout
noun
a situation in which an airplane or a spacecraft has used all of its fuel and has no more power
ceiling
noun
the greatest height at which an aircraft can fly and be safe
clearance
noun
official permission that allows the pilot of a plane to take off or land
climb
noun
a gradual movement to a higher position by an aircraft or vehicle
contrail
noun
a line of white steam left in the sky by an airplane flying very high
crash landing
noun
an occasion when an aircraft has to land in a sudden and dangerous way
crop-dusting
noun
the process of using aircraft to drop chemicals onto crops to kill insects
drop
noun
an occasion when something or someone is dropped from an aircraft
earthbound
adjective
unable to fly
flight path
noun
the route that an aircraft, space vehicle, or missile follows as it travels through the air
flight simulator
noun
a machine used for training pilots that provides an environment and experience like flying an airplane
flying
noun
the activity of operating or controlling an aircraft
forced landing
noun
the action of making an airplane land because of an emergency
ground control
noun
the people, computers, and other machines on the ground that help to control a spacecraft or aircraft
guidance
noun
the process of controlling the flight of a missile, an aircraft, or a vehicle in space
holding pattern
noun
the direction in the sky that an airplane follows as it waits for permission to land
landing
noun
the process of moving a plane down onto the ground at the end of a trip
lane
noun
a course that a ship or aircraft follows
lift
noun
the force that makes an aircraft leave the ground and stay in the air
loop
noun
a circular movement made by a plane flying upward, then backward, and then downward
manned
adjective
a manned space vehicle or aircraft has people on it who operate it
mayday
noun
a radio signal which people on a ship or plane use to call for help when they are in danger
navigation
noun
the movement of a ship or an aircraft along a planned path
no-fly zone
noun
an area that an airplane must not fly into because it may be attacked by airplanes belonging to an enemy
nosedive
noun
an occasion when an airplane suddenly falls out of the sky with its nose pointing down
payload
noun
the amount of people or things that an aircraft or other vehicle is able to carry
pitch
noun
a sudden movement in which an aircraft or ship moves up and down
range
noun
the distance that a vehicle, especially an airplane, can travel before it needs more fuel
simulator
noun
a piece of equipment used for training people to operate an aircraft or other vehicle by simulating the situations that they will have to deal with
slipstream
noun
the flow of air behind a vehicle or aircraft that is moving very fast
soft landing
noun
the process by which an airplane or a space vehicle comes down to the ground in a gentle and safe way
sonic boom
noun
the loud sound that an airplane makes as it starts to go faster than the speed of sound
SOS
noun
a radio signal used for calling for help, especially by a ship or airplane
the sound barrier
noun
the very strong air pressure that presses against an airplane when it starts to travel at the speed of sound
spin
noun
the movement of an aircraft that turns as it falls with its front pointing toward the ground
tailspin
noun
an occasion when an airplane falls in the sky with its nose (=front part) downward and its tail (=end part) spinning in a very wide circle
test flight
noun
an occasion when a plane or rocket (=vehicle for traveling into space) is flown for the first time in order to test its equipment
touchdown
noun
the moment when an aircraft lands on the ground
trim
noun
the position of the flaps on an airplane
unmanned
adjective
used for describing an aircraft without a pilot
vapor trail
noun
the long white line seen in the sky behind an airplane
vector
noun
the direction in which an airplane flies
wings
noun
a small pin in the shape of two wings that a pilot receives to show that he or she is officially allowed to fly an airplane
