Aviation Word Of The Day - Empennage

 The empennage is the aft-most section of a conventional aircraft consisting of three primary parts. The empennage of an aircraft is also known as the tail section. These three parts are known as horizontal stabilizer, vertical stabilizer and rudder. These 3 parts are responsible for controlling the aircraft in 3 axes.  They are also termed as primary control surfaces.

Different kinds of empennage

These control devices are hinged or movable surfaces through which the attitude of an aircraft is controlled during takeoff, flight, and landing.
Primary Control Surfaces
 The primary flight control surfaces on a fixed-wing aircraft include: ailerons, elevators, and the rudder. The ailerons are attached to the trailing edge of both wings and when moved, rotate the aircraft around the longitudinal axis. The elevator is attached to the trailing edge of the horizontal stabilizer. When it is moved, it alters aircraft pitch, which is the attitude about the horizontal or lateral axis. The rudder is hinged to the trailing edge of the vertical stabilizer. When the rudder changes position, the aircraft rotates about the vertical axis (yaw).

Aviation Word Of The Day - Payload

Payload in aviation, particularly when it comes to the operation of transport aircraft refers to anything that an aircraft carries beyond what is required for it's operation during flight. Payload is always expressed in weight. Theoretically,'pay-load' comprises the load from which revenue is derived. This includes passengers, baggage, cargo and/or mail carried on the aircraft.
 Payload can also be described as the amount of load carried by an aircraft over and above the load necessary for the operation of an aircraft. Payload isn't only important because it is the source of revenue for the airline operator,but also because it's distribution in the aircraft can affect the weight and balance thus,the aircraft's performance in flight.
 Payload(passengers,baggage,cargo and mail) need optimal distribution in the aircraft because if not done properly,may unbalance the aircraft and cause either nose or tail heaviness.
The payload capacity of an aircraft among other factors differentiate one aircraft from another.




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Aviation Term Of The Day - Airborne Delay

Airborne Delay refers to the amount of delay to be encountered in airborne holding. Delays on departure and arrival of aircraft taxiing are very common. This is known as ground delay. Aircrafts which are already airborne equally experience delays. This is what is termed as an airborne delay.

Aircrafts are held up in the air for specific periods of time due to several conditions causing the delay.

These airborne delays could be termed as low if they last for a period of 15 minutes or less, moderate for a period of 16-45 minutes, significant or Excessive if the delay occurs within a time frame for as long as 45 minutes or more.

Aviation Word Of The Day - Ramp

The ramp of an airport can also be refered to as apron or in some very rare cases;aerobridge area.

The ramp is the part of the airside area intended for

•Loading and offloading passengers and cargo

•Refuelling the aircraft

•Servicing and maintenance of aircraft

•Parking of the aircraft

The ramp side has also been divided into bays Which could be alloted to aircrafts carrying out specific types of flight. For instance,parking bays for international,domestic,passenger or freight carriers.

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Aviation Term Of The Day - Baggage Allowance

First let's look at what baggage means,before adding  the allowance component.Baggage is simply any luggage,cases,and bags you take with you when travelling-your personal bellongings.

There are two types of baggage.

1)Checked baggage

2)Unchecked baggage

Checked baggage is usually the bigger of the two which is loaded into the lower deck of the aircraft.Whereas unchecked baggage, also known as "carry on" refers to small bags of limited size and weight that passengers are allowed to take with the  into the passenger seating area.This means you'll be in possession of the bag during the flight.

It is clear now that every passenger onboard a flight  is entitled to carry some baggage.However,this doesn't mean you can carry anything and everything.Here's where the Allowance bit comes in.Baggage allowance is the weight of baggage each air passenger is allowed to take for free.

Of course,you can pack beyond the limit,if only you're willing to pay extra charges.Each air carrier(airline) determines this allowance.

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Aviation Word Of The Day - Callsign

A callsign in aviation refers to a series of words and letters used to identify an aircraft,airline or station.It is a unique  designation or code used to enhance radio communication between the pilot and Air Traffic Control for instance.

Callsigns could be Alphanumeric-  that is a combination of alphabet and numerals or either of the two.

Callsigns are distinctive based on each airline's preference and are recognized internationally.Callsigns act the same way as the registration number of an aircraft.

Examples of airline callsigns are 

British Airways - Speedbird

China Airlines - Dynasty

Aero Benin - Aeroben

Atlantic Airlines - Blackjack,etc.

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Aviation Word Of The Day - Hub

Airline hubs are certain airports used as gateways to multiple destinations. It is usually a particular airport that an airline uses as a transfer point to get passengers to their intended destination. The hub becomes the airline's transfer point which in most cases, is the city where the airline is headquartered. That's how it works. All travellers going from point A to B would have to go through the airline's gateway which would now become A-B-C.In other words,from point A to C via point B(the hub). For instance,a passenger going to the United States on an Emirates flight will definately have to go through Dubai airport before finally connecting onwards to the destination airport in the United States.
 While there's no universal rule regarding the number of hubs an airline can have,some airlines have single connecting hubs,and others have multiple hubs. Examples of hubs include Frankfurt for Lufthansa Airline, Dubai for Emirates,London's Heathrow for British airways and the list is endless.
 Basically,each and every passenger would have to travel from his destination through the corresponding airline's hub before finally reaching his/her destination except the condition where the passenger's destination happens to be the hub. In this case,the passenger's journey ends at the hub. It only makes sense that someone travelling to Dubai with Emirates Airline stops there.This type of  flight is termed "direct flight" or "point to point".Examples are ACC - LOS, DXB-DEN, AMM - CAI,and so on.

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Aviation Term Of The Day - AOG (Aircraft on Ground)

Grounding essentially means to prohibit an aircraft or member of an aircrew from flying. Which in this case, directly translates as an 'aircraft being grounded'. Just as pilots are grounded after failing medical examinations or breaking standard operating procedures, so do aircraft.
 Aircraft are meant to be flying and not at rest on the ground. Therefore an aircraft on the ground (AOG) or a grounded airplane implies that the aircraft has been grounded due to a technical snag (which is largely the case) or as a result to failure to meet certain standards that may deem the aircraft unfit to fly.

 When an aircraft is inoperative, it is required to undergo several corrective maintenance checks which can further be classified into three types. A,B,and C checks. AOG Spares are usually transported to the station where the aircraft has been grounded, if necessary.The airplane is then granted the permit to resume flying after completing all the necessary checks.
 On the other hand, an AOG may be as a result of a carrier/airline's inability to comply with the set standards or when an aircraft looses it's airworthiness. Grounding an aircraft is another form of sanction in the airline industry.It's very simple. Break a rule,and get grounded.



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Aviation Word Of The Day - Chicken Stick

Chicken stick

 Sometimes the aircraft engine, like anything other machine has it's fair share of mechanical problems. When this happens,there are several methods employed to kickstart the engine. This is very typical of propellers.
 A chicken stick is a dowel or mop handle measuring roughly 8 inches long that is used to  flip the propeller manually. It is usually wooden and it is used to spin the propeller so that the engine can fire up quickly.
 There are several other methods used to kickstart the propeller including using a starter and batt or hand starting.
 However, using the chicken starter is one, if not the safest and fastest method of firing up a nitro powered aircraft propeller. Using the chicken stick is better because propellers have extremely sharp edges which will cause razor cuts if one intends to flip it using the hand starting method.
 Certain precautions need to be observed when using the chicken stick.For example,installing a piece of insulating foam over the stick would go a long way so as not to break the propeller in case the propeller strikes the stick on a backfire.

Aviation Term Of The Day - Airway Beacon

 The origin of airway beacons can be traced as far back as the 1920s and 1930s during the time technology wasn't what it is today and there was no such thing as radio navigation for aircraft.
  was virtually non-existent.
 During that period, pilots relied on the system known as airway beacons. Airway beacons were responsible for visually guiding pilots to their various assigned destinations. They were literally used as radio stations that send out directional signals for navigation.
 Airway beacons equally evolved with time, with an initial design almost as bright as bornfires and later optimized to electric bulbs. Mounted on high towers and lined up at substantial intervals,the airway beacons rotated six times a minute.
 Another feature of the airway beacon was it's brightly coloured flashes ranging from the colours red and green. Red for airways,and green for airports.
 When it comes to negatives, the effectiveness of airway beacons were limited by visibility as well as poor weather conditions.
 Airways beacons have become extinct over time, thanks to evolving technology. However, a few remnants of airway beacons exist for historical purposes. We now live in the era of modern technological innovations where the development and use of radio navigation is now commonplace.






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Aviation Term Of The Day - FBO (Fixed Base Operator)

FBO stands for Fixed Base Operators.
 fixed-base operators (FBO) are commercial businesses which have been granted the right to operate various services like  fueling, hangaring, and parking, aircraft rental, aircraft maintenance, flight instruction,and so on at an airport.

 They are mostly found at large airports and are increasingly becoming popular when it comes to private aviation.
 The most common of their operations are the hire of private jets.
 In short, fixed base operators are like a service station for private aircraft owners-more like the private jet terminal at an airport.
Their main services, besides ground and aircraft handling include lounge services for VIPs and diplomats,private jet hire as well as crisis or emergency flights.

Aviation Term Of The Day - Cabotage Freedom

  The term cabotage originates from maritime law, being the right of a country to permit airliners of other countries to operate internal air traffic.Given the fact that aviation and maritime apply similar structures in their operations, the term applies in aviation as well.
   The transportation of passengers and cargo entails a lot, so enforcing laws to govern the operation of the former is very crucial. That being said,certain countries are strict  and do not permit cabotage for reasons of economic protectionism,security on a national level or even public safety.
   This legal arrangement permits carriers to operate within points of the country's boarders. Cabotage freedom generally allows foreign carriers to fly or operate domestic flights in a country which isn't theirs.
  Cabotage isn't granted by most open skies agreements ,thus making it rare when it comes to the transportation of passengers.




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Aviation Word Of The Day - Marshal

 Marshaling an aircraft, or to marshal is one of the numerous ramp services which means to direct an aircraft by way of hand signals.Positioning an aircraft can be quite a challenging task.Owing to the fact that an aircraft in it's whole is sizable, time must be taken to position it in the best manner possible and this cannot be achieved by the pilot alone in his cockpit. He needs remote assistance on the ground to make sure all angles are taken care off. I can't think of any better example - it's as involving as parking a huge car,where the driver himself cannot do all the work. He parks the vehicle perfectly when assisted by someone on the outside with obviously a better view of the exterior.Transfer that analogy here.
The person who does the marshaling is termed aircraft marshal or simply marshaler.

 By guiding the pilot on which specific turns to take, whether to slow down, stop, shut down engines and so on, marshalers see to it that
• the aircraft are appropriately parked or aligned on the right position line (after landing)
• the aircraft are marshaled to the disembarkation or unloading point (after taxiing)
• they guide the pilot towards the correct taxiway that will lead them to the runway (during takeoff).
All of the above is done on the ground. Generally, marshals communicate with pilots in the cockpit by using hand signals which are understood by both the pilot and the aircraft marshal. Given the numerous hazards posed by a moving aircraft, aircraft marshals undergo strict training on the job.

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Aviation Word Of The Day - Angle Of Attack (AOA)

 The angle of attack, abbreviated AOA refers to the angle at which the wind hits the wing of an aircraft.To add more detail,the AOA is the angle between the wind and the imaginary reference line of the wing.This reference line is termed chord,and only refers to the distance from both ends of the wing-leading and trailing edges(as they're called).
 The AOA of the wing plays a very crucial role as it affects the amount of Lift produced by the aircraft's wings. Lift generated by the wing is significantly affected by the AOA in such a way that,an increased AOA allows more air to rush through the upper surface of the wing, which will in turn, force high pressure from the bottom of the wing.

 A wing at a higher AOA produces more lift that a wing at a lower AOA. That's just how it works.When the pilot begins takeoff roll and increases speed while on the runway,the wing generates lift, but the plane then takes off as a result of an increased AOA.
 We can conclude by stating that lift produced by the aircraft's wing is directly proportional to the AOA. A greater AOA means more lift.

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Aviation Word Of The Day - Aeroneurosis

 Aeroneurosis is a functional disorder of aeroplane pilots characterized by anxiety and various psychosomatic disturbances, caused by insufficient oxygen at high altitudes and the emotional tension of flying.
 The length and breadth of the above is that, the anxiety and fatigue airline pilots face as a result of long periods of flying is termed as aeroneurosis.
Anxiety is the body’s natural response to danger, an automatic alarm that goes off when you feel threatened, under pressure, or are facing a stressful situation.(Flying in this case)
 In moderation, anxiety isn’t always a bad thing. In fact, anxiety can help you stay alert and focused, spur you to action, and motivate you to solve problems. But when anxiety is constant or overwhelming, which is often the case with flying,it becomes worrisome.
  As the age-old adage goes,too much of everything is bad,No matter how much pleasure or satisfaction one derives from a particular practice.Performing certain repetitive actions without moderation can pose a health risk and aeroneurosis is a typical example.
 The most proper and effective way to counteract aeroneurosis is to ensure sufficient amount of sleep  before flight.
 Believe it or not, sleep has proven to be one, if not the best remedy to combat stress and maximize mental and physical performance.
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Aviation Term Of The Day - Absolute Altitude

 Absolute Altitude refers to the actual distance between an aircraft which is flying and the terrain over which it is flying that is,the earth.It is basically your actual height over the ground.Other types of altitudes in relation to an aircraft flying include true altitude, Indicated altitude,Pressure altitude and Density altitude.
 The device used to measure absolute altitude is the "radar altimeter".The vertical distance between a flying aircraft and the earth's surface (absolute altitude) could vary dramatically if the aircraft is flown at a constant altitude over the ground.

Aviation Word Of The Day - Timatic

How frustrating will it be, to plan a trip abroad, purchase a ticket,pack your bags and arrive at the airport only to be told you cannot travel? The issue may not be as a result of insufficient funds or a cancelled flight - only because you don't have the right documents!
This is where the Timatic comes in.The timatic is a widely used reference manual which stands for "Travel Information Manual Automatic".It is a monthly manual published by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and contains the most upto-date information regarding documents required for international travel.
Of course,it only makes sense that each passenger would require a passport before travelling to another country.It doesn't just end there-some countries do require visas,and others don't.Others require a minimum amount a passenger should carry along and so on.That being said,basic cross boarder documentation requirements include,but are not limited to
 1)Passports
2)Visas
3)Transit Visas
4)Re-entry permits
5)Health regulations
6)Customs Reguations
The timatic database summarises and diplays results regarding documents needed for onward travel based on the passengers details including country of destination,transit points,nationality of passenger,country of residence and so on.
The timatic is used by the entire aviation industry including airlines and travel agents.A majority of airlines allow passengers to access information from web version of the Timatic through their websites.
In a nutshell, IATA's Timatic is the only complete source with real-time information regarding international travel.And if the timatic doesn't permit you to enter a country,you're dedinitely not going to enter.

Aviation Word Of The Day - Clearance

 Almost every process considered vital requires of involves procedures and standard recommended practices.And flying is definitely not an exception.Pilots are not at the liberty of making their own decisions(to some extent) whenever operating a flight;since it involves invaluable lives and property.
 Clearance refers to the permission for an aircraft to proceed under specified traffic conditions.It is the point at which an aircraft is granted  or authorized to undertake a particular maneuver.
 According to the rule of the air,clearance must be obtained before the aircraft enters a controlled airspace,for instance.
 This means that pilots,in every  circumstance are to request for authorization from ATC before taking a particular action.
 In a nutshell,clearance or cleared means "to proceed as requested or instructed".It is used for both ground and air maneuvering. Pilots may only deviate from ATC clearance only in emergency situations or when compliance will threaten the safety of a flight.
Examples of clearance include cleared for take of,cleared flight planned route,cleared to taxi,cleared to descend,among many others.

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Aviation Word Of The Day - Contrail

 A contrail is defined as a trailing streak of condensed water vapour created in the air by heat from the aircraft engine at high altitudes.
Their formation is triggered by altitude,temperature,and humidity of the atmosphere. Contrails are sometimes mistaken as smoke from the aircraft engines.However,Contrails can be classified as clouds,given their formation.
 They are sometimes visible only for a few seconds or sometimes take a long while before completely fading away.
 Contrails are typically formed when the water in a jet engine's exhaust combines with wet cold air,condenses,and freezes into ice crystals.The lasting effect differs with temperature and humidity at a certain altitude,often very high.
 The exhaust of a jet engine contains Carbon dioxide,oxides of sulfur and nitrogen, unburned fuel, soot,metal particles as well as water vapour. Depending on the plane's altitude,temperature and humidity of the atmosphere,contrails may vary in their thickness,extent and duration.In addition,the production of contrails by jet engines are in no way harmful to the environment,as many believe.

Aviation Term Of The Day - Boarding Pass

A boarding pass is the document which an airline issues to it's passengers during check-in, authorizing the passenger to board a particular flight.The parameters that make up the boarding pass include the name of passenger, the flight number, date as well as the scheduled time of departure.
 In recent times, all that id required of the passenger is to check-in online and print out the boarding pass generated by the system.Passengers with traditional paper tickets are required to attach boarding passes in order to be given permission to board the aircraft; whereas passengers with electronic boarding passes are only required to verify the validity of their boarding passes at the gate.
 In this modern day of technological advancements, many airlines have ditched,or are in the process of ditching(if not completely) traditional paper boarding passes or cards.All the passenger is obliged to do is to check-in online or with their mobile devices for their own comfort and convenience.A boarding pass is equally generated in the form of an email or SMS. All the airline representative does is to scan the code displayed on the passenger's personal mobile device.