The curriculum
2,678 terms. Where the regulation defines a term (14 CFR 1.1 and 1.2, 280 of them), its definition is quoted word for word, and it governs. The FAA handbooks' definitions follow as guidance, each with the page of the handbook that prints it.
Un-ducted Fan™. The trade name registered by General Electric for a type of ultra-high-bypass turbofan engine that drives one or more wide-blade propellers that have between eight and twelve blades. These blades, which are not enclosed in a duct or shroud, are very thin, have wide chords, and are highly swept back in a scimitar shape that enables them to power airplanes flying in the speed range near Mach 0.8.
Aviation Maintenance Technician Handbook — Powerplant, p. G-29
A turbine that drives a pair of ducted or un-ducted contrarotating propellers which have eight to 12 variable-pitch blades. These blades are very thin, have wide chords, and are swept back with a scimitar shape that allows them to power airplanes flying in the speed range of Mach 0.8. The blades are made of advanced composites for high strength and light weight. USH engines may be of either the tractor or pusher type, and have a bypass ratio in excess of 30:1.
Aviation Maintenance Technician Handbook — Powerplant, p. G-29
Ultrahigh frequency.
Aviation Maintenance Technician Handbook — Airframe, p. G-38
See ultra-high frequency.
In stress analysis, the load that causes physical breakdown in an aircraft or aircraft component during a strength test, or the load that according to computations, should cause such a breakdown.
The tensile strength required to cause a material to break or to continue to deform under a decreasing load.
Aviation Maintenance Technician Handbook — Airframe, p. G-38
The range of electromagnetic frequencies between 300 MHz and 3,000 MHz.
Uses high frequency sound energy to conduct examinations and make measurements. Ultrasonic inspection can be used for flaw detection/evaluation, dimensional measurements, and material characterization.
Taught in AF-B Quick reference, GEN-K Quick reference.
Dope that contains aluminum powder or some other pigment that blocks the passage of ultraviolet rays of the sun. The coat of dope protects the organic fabrics and clear dope from deterioration by these rays.
Aviation Maintenance Technician Handbook — Airframe, p. G-38
Unlocking the gimbals of a gyroscopic instrument, making it susceptible to damage by abrupt flight maneuvers or rough handling.
Class G airspace that has not been designated as Class A, B, C, D, or E. It is airspace in which air traffic control has no authority or responsibility to control air traffic; however, pilots should remember there are VFR minimums which apply to this airspace.
Oscillation that continues with an unchanging amplitude once it has started.
Aviation Maintenance Technician Handbook — Airframe, p. G-38
Using less power than required for the purpose of achieving a faster rate of airspeed change. United States Terminal Procedures Publication (TPP). Booklets published in regional format by FAA Aeronautical Navigation Products (AeroNav Products) that include DPs, STARs, IAPs, and other information pertinent to IFR flight.
A rotor hub that rotates below the top of the mast, as on semirigid rotor systems.
A helicopter rotor whose center of gravity is below the point at which it is attached to the mast.
Aviation Maintenance Technician Handbook — Airframe, p. G-38
A speed condition in which the engine is turning at an RPM lower than that for which the propeller governor is set.
Aviation Maintenance Technician Handbook — Powerplant, p. G-29
The oil that does not drain from an engine lubricating system when the aircraft is in the normal ground attitude and the drain valve is left open. The weight of the undrainable oil is part of the empty weight of the aircraft.
Fabric in which all the threads run in the same direction. These threads are often bound with a few fibers run at right angles, just enough to hold the yarns together and prevent their bunching.
Aviation Maintenance Technician Handbook — Airframe, p. G-38
Fibers in a piece of composite material arranged so that they sustain loads in only one direction.
Aviation Maintenance Technician Handbook — Powerplant, p. G-29
United States, in a geographical sense, means (1) the States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the possessions, including the territorial waters, and (2) the airspace of those areas.
United States air carrier means a citizen of the United States who undertakes directly by lease, or other arrangement, to engage in air transportation.
The state of a rotor when rotor force has been removed, or when the rotor is operating under a low or negative G condition.
This is another name for system pressure regulator. See system pressure regulator.
Aviation Maintenance Technician Handbook — Airframe, p. G-38
Unmanned aircraft means an aircraft operated without the possibility of direct human intervention from within or on the aircraft.
Unmanned aircraft system means an unmanned aircraft and its associated elements (including communication links and the components that control the unmanned aircraft) that are required for the safe and efficient operation of the unmanned aircraft in the airspace of the United States.
(GAMA) The fuel remaining after a test has been completed in accordance with governmental regulations.
An unintentional, unanticipated, or extreme aircraft attitude.
A carburetor that mounts on the bottom of a reciprocating engine. Air entering the engine flows upward through the carburetor.
Aviation Maintenance Technician Handbook — Powerplant, p. G-29
The absolute pressure of air at the inlet to the fuel metering system of a turbocharged engine. Upper-deck pressure is the same as the turbocharger discharge pressure.
Aviation Maintenance Technician Handbook — Powerplant, p. G-30
(GAMA) The fuel available for fl[i]ght planning.
Taught in GEN-H Procedures.
Fuel, any other fluids that are not part of empty weight, passengers, baggage, pilot, copilot, and crewmembers. It is determined by subtracting the empty weight from the maximum allowable gross weight.
(GAMA) The difference between takeoff weight, or ramp weight if applicable, and basic empty weight.
The difference between the gross weight and the basic empty weight. It includes the flight crew, usable fuel, drainable oil, if applicable, and payload.
The weight of the pilot, copilot, passengers, baggage, usable fuel, and drainable oil. It is the basic empty weight subtracted from the maximum allowable gross weight. This term applies to general aviation aircraft only.
Waypoint location and other data which may be input by the user, this is the only GPS database information that may be altered (edited) by the user.
A category of aircraft certificated under 14 CFR part 23 and CAR part 3 that permits limited acrobatic maneuvers but restricts the weight and the CG range.
The finish of an aircraft that gives the necessary tautness and fill to the fabric and the necessary protection to the metal, but does not have the glossy appearance of a show-type finish.
Aviation Maintenance Technician Handbook — Airframe, p. G-38
The glossary is CC BY-SA 4.0 as an arrangement; the quoted regulation text is a work of the US Government. Handbook definitions are quoted from the FAA's handbooks, each linked to the FAA's own copy.