Aviation Operational Terms
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Above ground level (AGL)Distance of the aircraft above the ground Synonyms: radar altitude; Above sea level (ASL)Distance of the aircraft above mean sea level AbsoluteA standard, fixed reference, as opposed to moving reference; Compare: relative; AccelerationRate of change of velocity, either scalar or vector, often with subscripts such as ENU or XYZ to denote the coordinate frame; time derivative of velocity; time integral of jerk; Symbols: a, A; Typical Units: ft/s-squared, g; Dimensions: Length / Time-squared; Acceleration eastAircraft acceleration in true east direction; Symbols: A sub E; Typical Units: ft/s-squared; Dimensions: Length / Time-squared; Acceleration northAircraft acceleration in true north direction; Symbols: A sub N; Typical Units: ft/s-squared; Dimensions: Length / Time-squared; AccelerometerAn inertial device for measuring acceleration, usually in three orthogonal axes (lateral X, longitudinal Y, and vertical Z); accelerometers usually consist of a mass, spring, and damper; accelerometers are usually included in inertial sensors, such as AHRS and INS; AcceptTo allow to proceed, for example with a position update, usually by an operator; Compare: reject AccuracyMeasure of exactness, possibly expressed in percent; Compare: precision AcquireTo begin reception of useful data ActivateTo begin performing a mission objective, such as flying along a radial of a radio station; usually refers to a mode of radio navigation, such flying along that radial after capturing that radial; See Also: capture criterion; Compare: arm, capture; ADCAir data computer ADDRAir data dead reckoning ADFAutomatic Direction Finding AdvisoryA signal to indicate safe or normal configuration, condition of performance, operation of essential equipment, or to attract attention and impart information for routine action purposes (from MIL-STD-1472D); an annunciator that is the least critical (less than a caution or a warning); AFCSAutomatic flight control system AGLAbove ground level AGRAir-ground ranging AGR slant rangeStraight-line distance from the aircraft to a point on the ground; AHOVApproach to hover AHRSAttitude Heading Reference System AidingA process by which one or more sensors provide data to another sensor to produce results better than any single sensor; aiding occurs at the data source level or at the physical device level, depending upon specific implementation of the device and the data source (choice of implementation is transparent above the data source); aiding is automatically controlled by software without input from an operator; a basic control to a data source from navigation, radio navigation, or other devices Compare: update; AileronA control surface on fixed-wing aircraft, usually mounted on the aft edge of wings, that controls roll, and is controlled by the wheel; Symbols: delta sub A; Typical Units: rad, deg; Air Data Computer (ADC)A primary navigation data source. A navigation sensor based on atmospheric data sensors; usually measures static pressure, dynamic pressure, and outside air temperature; sometimes computes other atmospheric data, such as indicated airspeed, Mach number, calibrated airspeed As a guidance mode, ADC is least accurate of the listed modes and is used only as a last resort. Air data dead reckoning (ADDR)Dead reckoning navigation based on simple instruments as source (barometric altimeter, magnetic compass, airspeed indicator, known wind conditions); sometimes called dead reckoning; Air-ground ranging (AGR)Straight-line distance from the aircraft to a point on the ground; Air-mass flight path angleAngle in vertical plane of earthspeed vector and groundspeed vector; occasional definition for flight path angle; Compare: earth-referenced flight path angle; Symbols: gamma sub A; Typical Units: rad, deg; Air Traffic Control (ATC)Standard aviation term Aircraft (ac)A craft that flies in the air; either fixed or rotory wing. Airspeed (as, a/s)See Also: state data, true airspeed, indicated airspeed, calibrated airspeed; Symbols: V sub A/S; Typical Units: kt, ft/s; Dimensions: Length / Time; AiryA standard model for computing earth data AlignmentA basic control to a data source from controls and displays to align a device.Also a procedure to align physical devices, usually navigation sensors, so that they provide the most accurate results possible; commonly required by INS, AHRS, barometric altimeter; See Also: boresighting, calibration, initialization; ALTINTVALAltitude integral input AltimeterA device to measure altitude, either barometric altitude or radar altitude AltitudeHeight, usually with respect to the terrain below (radar altitude, feet above closest dirt) or fixed earth reference (barometric altitude, feet above mean sea level); Symbols: h; Typical Units: ft; Dimensions: Length; Altitude errorA basic output from guidance to flight director, indicating the difference between actual altitude and desired altitude; Symbols: DELTA h; Typical Units: ft; Dimensions: Length Altitude error scale factor (KZSF)A guidance control law parameter, generated by the vertical guidance modes; varies control authority of vertical guidance Altitude integral gain (KALTINT)A guidance control law parameter, generated by the vertical guidance modes; varies control authority of the altitude integral in vertical guidance, to reduce steady-state errors in altitude error Typical Units: ft; Dimensions: Length; Altitude integral input (ALTINTVAL)A guidance control law parameter, generated by the vertical guidance modes; a reference altitude for reducing steady-state errors in altitude error Typical Units: ft; Dimensions: Length; Altitude integral limit (INTMAGLIM)A guidance control law parameter, generated by the vertical guidance modes; limits the magnitude of altitude integral value Typical Units: ft; Dimensions: Length; Angle of attackThe difference between pitch and the air-referenced flight path angle; the angle between the aircraft center line and the airspeed vector in the vertical plane, positive when the nose is up; Symbols: alpha; Typical Units: rad, deg; Angular accelerationRate of change of angular velocity, either scalar or vector, often with subscripts such as XYZ to denote the coordinate frame; time derivative of angular position; time integral of angular acceleration; Symbols: alpha; Typical Units: rad/s-squared; Dimensions: 1/Time-squared; Angular positionAmount of rotation about an axis, either scalar or vector, often with subscripts such as XYZ to denote the coordinate frame; time integral of angular velocity; Synonyms: angle; Symbols: theta; Typical Units: rad, deg; Angular velocityRate of change of rotation about an axis, either scalar or vector, often with subscripts such as XYZ to denote the coordinate frame; time derivative of angular position; time integral of angular acceleration; See Also: tachometer; Symbols: omega; Typical Units: rad/s, rpm; Dimensions: 1/Time; AnnunciatorAny one of warning, caution, or advisory; Synonyms: alert; AperiodicA process that executes based on events rather than a fixed rate, it is not synchronized to other processes of interest; Compare: periodic; APPRApproach Approach (APPR)To fly towards a point; a basic guidance mode, providing lateral guidance, longitudinal guidance, and vertical guidance to a point at an operator selected groundspeed and radar altitude; See Also: waypoint approach, ILS approach, rendezvous approach; Approach to hover (AHOV)Hover approach of a rotary wing aircraft. ArmTo strive for a mission objective, such as flying toward a radial of a radio station; usually refers to a mode of radio navigation, such as striving to reach a specific radial of a radio station prior to flying along that radial; See Also: capture criterion; Compare: activate, capture; ASLAbove sea level Astronomical latitudeLatitude measured with respect to vector of apparent gravity; Compare: geocentric latitude, geodetic latitude; Symbols: Phi sub A; Typical Units: rad, deg,DMS; ATCAir Traffic Control Atmospheric dataEnvironmental data related to the atmosphere at some point of interest AttitudeThe primary aircraft angles in the state vector; pitch, roll, and yaw; Attitude Heading Reference System (AHRS)Combines information Australian NationalA standard model for computing earth data Automatic Direction Finding (ADF)A basic guidance mode, providing lateral guidance to a radio station. Equipment that determines bearing to a radio station; Automatic flight control system (AFCS)An automated system for controlling the primary flight controls, often with built-in functions for guidance and flight director, and sometimes radio navigation; many flight control systems include basic instruments similar to a AHRS; many flight control systems accept flight director inputs so that its radio navigation, guidance, and flight director can be bypassed AutopilotA mode of an automatic flight control system which controls primary flight controls to meet specific mission objectives, such as maintain a heading or altitude; Synonyms: automatic flight control system; Averaging filterA filter for combining multiple data sources, usually of the same type, by adding with weighted averages; a simple average of the data sources; Compare: complementary filter, Kalman filter; AVMAvionics monitor AxisOne direction in an orthogonal reference frame; AzimuthAn angle in the horizontal plane, usually measured with respect to body coordinates BALT SELBarometric altitude select Band-pass filter (BPF)A filter that allows frequencies between two cutoff frequencies to pass while attenuating frequencies outside the cutoff frequencies; a band-pass filter can be constructed as the composition of a low-pass filter and a high-pass filter; Bank angleThe angle between the horizontal plnase and the right wing in the lateral plane, positive when the right wing is down; Synonyms: roll; Symbols: phi,Phi; Typical Units: rad, deg; Barometric altitudeHeight with respect to fixed earth reference (above mean sea level); Synonyms: pressure altitude; Symbols: h sub b; Typical Units: ft; Dimensions: Length; Barometric altitude select (BALT SEL)A basic guidance mode, providing vertical guidance to an operator selected barometric altitude; Barometric pressureHeight with respect to fixed earth reference (barometric altitude, feet above mean sea level); Synonyms: pressure; Symbols: p sub a; Typical Units: in HG,mbar; Dimensions: Mass /Time-squared * Length; BCBus controller BeaconA device, usually based on the ground, that aids in determining position or direction; Bearing (BRG)Direction on a compass; Synonyms: direction; Symbols: B; Typical Units: rad, deg; Bessel 1841A standard model for computing earth data BiasAn offset applied to a measurement for error correction; Synonyms: offset BISBuilt-in simulation BodyThe aircraft, usually referring to a coordinate system; Body coordinatesCoordinates referenced to the body of the aircraft; See Also: XYZ; Compare: earth coordinates, stability coordinates Boresight angleThe angle between the center line of a sensor and aircraft center line, either by design or by misalignment; BoresightingA basic control to a data source from controls and displays to boresight a device; Also, a procedure to align the center line of physical devices, usually update sensors, so that they provide the most accurate results possible; a basic control to a data source from controls and displays; commonly required by FLIR, MMR; boresight procedures commonly result in correction factors to be downloaded from the host processor to the device; during boresighting, the device is usually not available; See Also: alignment, calibration, initialization; BPFBand-pass filter BRGBearing Built-in simulation (BIS)Function in avionics software that simulates sensors, aircraft, and pilot, to exercise avionics software (including navigation, radio navigation, guidance and flight director); BIS is often used by a development team to check basic operation following installation of new software or patches; BIS is seldom used by aircraft flight crews or maintenance crews; Compare: real-time engineering simulation; Bus controller (BC)Term defining role of device on a MIL-STD-1553 bus as being master; Compare: remote terminal; Calibrated airspeed (CAS)Indicated airspeed corrected for instrumentation errors, but not for air density; See Also: airspeed; Symbols: V sub ‘CAS’; Typical Units: kt,ft/s; Dimensions: Length / Time; CalibrationA basic control to a data source from controls and displays for calibrating a device; Also, a procedure to adjust physical devices so that they provide the most accurate results possible; calibration procedures commonly result in correction factors to be downloaded from the host processor to the device; during calibration, the device is usually not available; See Also: alignment, boresighting, initialization; Cant angleAngle of nacelle mounting; Typical Units: rad, deg; CaptureTo attain an objective, such as reaching a radial of a radio station; See Also: capture criterion; Compare: activate, arm; Capture criterionA test case to determine if an armed objective has been captured; In avionics, an aircraft might have an objective to fly to a radial of a radio station, then to fly along it. While enroute, the objective is armed, meaning that the crew and software are attempting to reach the radial.The radial is captured and the objective is met when the capture criteria are met.In this case, the capture criterion might be bearing to the radio station is within 5deg of 270deg.An objective can have multiple criteria. Capture criterion are often used with radio navigation to determine a transition from armed to active. CASCalibrated airspeed CautionA signal which alerts the operator to an impending dangerous condition requiring attention, but not necessarily immediate action (from MIL-STD-1472D); an annunciator that is more critical than an advisory but less critical than a warning; CCLIMCourse cut limit Center lineStandard aviation term CEPCircular error probability ChannelA number that maps to a frequency; Circular error probability (CEP)A probability that a percentage of two-dimension measurements will lie within a circle of given radius, with the circle centered at truth or mean of the measurements; Compare: radial error probability, spherical error probability; CEP specifies test cases for measurement errors of sensors of two dimensions, such as velocity east and north. Clarke 1866A standard model for computing earth data Clarke 1880A standard model for computing earth data CollectiveA flight control operated by moving up or down with hand in rotary-wing aircraft, primarily to control lift (altitude); controls collective (total) pitch of the rotors on a rotary-wing aircraft; Collective cueA vertical flight director cue for rotary-wing aircraft, primarily to control altitude, by changing power; Compare: yoke cue; Symbols: Gamma sub ‘VERT’; Typical Units: percent,in; CommandedControls given to a device, not that the device necessarily obeyed the controls CommunicationsHow well equipment is communicating; Values: operational, degraded, failed Complementary filterA filter in which the complement of the filter is desired, giving the effect of a high-pass filter by implementing a low-pass filter; a filter for combining multiple data sources, usually of different types, by adding filtered values, where the sum of the filters in the frequency domain is unity; a Kalman filter with fixed gains; Complementary filters are often designed in the frequency domain in way that that the filters determined at build time such that the cutoff frequency of the LFP is equal to that of the HPF.This provides the advantages of DNS’s long-term accuracy and INS’s short-term accuracy, while filtering DNS’s high-frequency noise and INS’s slow drift.Compare: averaging filter, Kalman filter; Computer cycleIn a periodic, cyclical computer system, the most basic, fastest timing loop Continuous timeTime which can have any point expressed as a real quantity, without regard for any specific interval or processing rate; Compare: discrete time; Continuous-time equationA mathematical relationship to describe a function of time, expressed in terms of continuous time; Compare: difference equation, differential equation, discrete-time equation, Laplace transform, state-space model, Z transform; See Also: first-order filter, second-order filter, unit functions for examples; Control lawThe mathematical definition of a system used to control or to change the dynamic response of a system; Control surfaceAn airfoil attached to an aircraft that is moved to control the attitude of the aircraft; an surface to control flight of an aircraft indirectly, such as a swashplate to control pitch of rotor blades; See Also: aileron, rudder, spoiler, elevator, flaps, trim tab, stabilizer; Symbols: delta; Typical Units: rad, deg; Controlled altitude (CTALT)A guidance control law parameter, generated by the vertical guidance modes; altitude that is being controlled Typical Units: ft; Dimensions: Length; Controlled speed (CTS)A guidance control law parameter, generated by the longitudinal guidance modes; speed that is being controlled Typical Units: ft/s, kt; Dimensions: Length / Time; Coriolis accelerationTangential acceleration caused by motion on a radial on a rotating surface, in aviation, it is acceleration in the earth’s longitudinal direction caused by changing latitude, usually computed from system state data; Symbols: a sub c; Typical Units: ft/s-squared,g; Dimensions: Length / Time-squared; Corrected altitudeMeasured pressure altitude corrected for instrumentation errors CoupledDescribes operation of flight director in which automatic flight control system causes flight controls to follow commands from flight director or errors from guidance CourseTowards a point at a specified course; Compare: direct Course cut limit (CCLIM)A guidance control law parameter, generated by the lateral guidance modes; limits the intercept angle of the flight path with a desired course, typically 45deg Typical Units: deg, rad; Creeping line searchA pattern of equally spaced parallel lines followed for searching the ground from an aircraft; Compare: expanding square search, sector search; Cross trackPerpendicular to the course; Crosstrack deviation (XTKD)A guidance control law parameter, generated by the lateral guidance modes; distance from the aircraft to a desired course measured along a prependicular to the course Typical Units: ft; Dimensions: Length; Crosstrack deviation gain (KXTKD)A guidance control law parameter, generated by the lateral guidance modes; relative weighting of crosstrack deviation in the lateral control law Typical Units: rad/ft; Dimensions: 1/L; Crosstrack deviation rate (XTKR)A guidance control law parameter, generated by the lateral guidance modes; rate of change of crosstrack deviation Typical Units: ft/s; Dimensions: Length / Time; Crosstrack deviation rate gain (KXTKR)A guidance control law parameter, generated by the lateral guidance modes; relative weighting of the crosstrack deviation rate in the lateral control law Typical Units: s; Dimensions: Time; CTALTControlled altitude CTSControlled speed CueA indicator to an operator for control placement, tells the operator where to place controls; Synonyms: command CursorSee: moding cursor, target cursor Cutoff frequencyThe frequency at which the gain of a filter is at an edge of a band, usually taken to be when gain is 0.5, or -3.01dB; the frequency at which the output of a filter is half the power of the input; See Also: band-pass filter, high-pass filter, low-pass filter; Symbols: omega sub c; Typical Units: rad/s,Hz; Dimensions: 1/Time; CyclicSee: longitudinal cyclic, lateral cyclic; Damped frequencyThe frequency of oscillation of an underdamped second-order filter; See Also: second-order filter; Symbols: omega; Typical Units: rad/s,Hz; Dimensions: 1/Time; Damping ratioControl parameter for a second order filter. Symbols: zeta; Data source object (DSO)Software that receives data from a physical device, translates the data into standard units, maintains equipment status, and provides a common interface for each variation of a particular device; Data Transfer System (DTS)A device for transferring data with avionics, similar to a diskette drive; Dead reckoning (DR)A method of navigation based on basic information (barometric altitude, magnetic heading, airspeed, wind conditions) from best available source; sometimes short for air data dead reckoning; DeltaDifference; error. Depart from hover (dhov)A guidance mode providing lateral guidance, longitudinal guidance and vertical guidance for a set heading or bank angle, a set speed, and a set climb rate, altitude or pitch; DerivativeRate of change, usually with respect to time; Symbols: x dot, x prime, x sup (1), dx/dt, Dx; DerivedCalculated values for which no direct measurement exists; Compare: estimated, filtered, measured, raw, selected, smoothed DESALTDesired altitude DesiredWhat must be achieved in order to match a plan; Synonyms: reference; Desired altitude (DESALT)A guidance control law parameter, generated by the vertical guidance modes; altitude which controlled altitude is attempting to achieve Typical Units: ft; Dimensions: Length; Desired pathA trajectory in space determined by guidance to meet the current mission objectives; Desired speed (DESS)A guidance control law parameter, generated by the longitudinal guidance modes; speed which controlled speed is attempting to achieve Typical Units: ft/s,kt; Dimensions: Length / Time; DESSDesired speed DeviationDifference from desired; DeviceA piece of equipment, a subsystem; Synonyms: physical device, unit DFADDigitized Feature Analysis Data DHOVDepart from hover DMEDistance Measuring Equipment Difference equationA mathematical relationship to model a discrete function, expressed in terms of other values in the sequence; Difference equations are usually derived from differential equations. Compare: continuous-time equation, differential equation, discrete-time equation, Laplace transform, state-space model, Z transform; in avionics, a difference equation usually models periodic process in terms of past values; See Also: first-order filter, integrator, second-order filter; Differential equationA mathematical relationship to model a continuous function, expressed in terms of derivatives; Initial conditions are usually given or implied.In avionics, differential equations are commonly used by systems engineers to model avionics systems.The systems engineer usually converts differential equations to difference equations for specification and implementation in software.In avionics, a differential equation usually models continuous-time phenomenon in terms of time derivatives; Compare: continuous-time equation, difference equation, discrete-time equation, Laplace transform, state-space model, Z transform; See Also: first-order filter, integrator, second-order filter Digital Map Generator (DMG)Digitial equipment that produces map video, and sometimes contains TRN; uses Digital Terrain Elevation Data and Digitized Feature Analysis Data; Displays reconstructed digital map data, aeronautical charts or photographs.The digital map data can be annotated with natural and man-made (point and linear) features as well as threats. A Terrain Referenced Navigation algorithm correlates altitude readings with digital map data to provide position data. Digital Terrain Elevation Data (DTED)On a digitial map, data for elevation of terrain; DTED is usually provided by Defense Mapping Agency; Compare: Digitized Feature Analysis Data; Digitized Feature Analysis Data (DFAD)On a digitial map, data for cultural features such as buildings and roads; DFAD is usually provided by Defense Mapping Agency; Compare: Digital Terrain Elevation Data; DimensionlessNo units, such as ratios; Synonyms: unitless; DirectTowards a point along the shortest distance; Compare: course Directionbearing. Discrete timeTime divided into quantized intervals; in avionics, time is usually divived into equal intervals to create a periodic process; Compare: continuous time; Discrete-time equationA mathematical relationship to describe a function of time, expressed in terms of discrete time; Compare: continuous-time equation, difference equation, differential equation, Laplace transform, state-space model, Z transform; See Also: first-order filter, unit functions; DistanceMethod of measurement dependent on use; Synonyms: range; Distance Measuring Equipment (DME)Equipment for measuring distance, usually from an aircraft to a ground station; usually part of a Tactical Air Navigation system DMGDigital Map Generator DNSDoppler Navigation System DopplerA technique for measuring velocity by radiating and determining frequency shift Doppler Navigation System (DNS, DPLR)A navigation for measuring velocity by radiating and determining frequency shift; DPLRDoppler navigation system DRDead reckoning DragForce of air against aircraft acting in opposite direction of the airspeed vector projected into horizontal plane; Symbols: D; Typical Units: lbf,kip; Dimensions: Mass * Length / Time-squared; DriftSlow, monotonic change in measured data DSOData source object DTEDDigital Terrain Elevation Data DTSData Transfer System Dynamic pressureTotal pressure Earth coordinatesCoordinates referenced to the earth; See Also: east-north-up; Compare: body coordinates, stability coordinates Earth dataEnvironmental data related to the earth at some point of interest; usually a function of latitude and longitude Earth eccentricityA measure of the degree to which the earth is oblate; Symbols: epsilon; Earth modelThe earth model computes data related to the earth.Most data is a function of position.Standard models are: International, Clarke 1866, Clarke 1880, Everest, Modified Everest, Bessel 1841, Australian National, World Geodetic Survey 1972, World Geodetic Survey 1984, Airy, Hough, South American. Earth radiusRadius of the earth, function of position, Earth radius best sphereGaussian radius of curvature Earth radius east/westPrime radius of curvature Earth radius north/southMeridian radius of curvature Earth-referenced flight path angleAngle in vertical plane of airspeed vector and groundspeed vector; usual definition for flight path angle; Compare: air-mass flight path angle; Symbols: gamma sub T; Typical Units: rad, deg; EarthspeedTotal velocity measured with respect to a plane tangent to the earth’s surface at the current position; a vector composed of velocity north, velocity east, and vertical velocity; See Also: state data; Symbols: V sub E; Typical Units: kt,ft/s; Dimensions: Length / Time; East-north-up (ENU)A standard earth coordinate frame and sign convention, where east, north, and up are positive; vertical, or V, is sometimes used in place of up; Synonyms: east-north-vertical; Compare: XYZ; East-north-vertical (ENV)East-north-up. ECIEarth Centered Inertial ElevationAn angle in the vertical plane through a longitudinal axis; height above mean sea level, usually of terrain; ElevatorA control surface on fixed-wing aircraft, usually mounted on the aft edge of stabilizers, that controls pitch, and is controlled by the yoke; Symbols: delta sub E; Typical Units: rad, deg; ENUEast-north-up ENVEast-north-vertical Environmental dataAtmospheric data and earth data Equipment statusOperational status of a piece of equipment consisting of a status indicator and status words; Synonyms: health; ErrorDifference between desired and measured data; Synonyms: delta; EstimatedData that is the result of filtering two or more signals; Compare: derived, filtered, measured, raw, selected, smoothed Euler anglesPitch, roll, and yaw Euler parametersFour parameters for specifiying quaternions; Symbols: e sub < 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 >,a,b,c,s; EverestA standard model for computing earth data Expanding square searchA pattern of progressively larger squares (a “square spiral”) followed for searching the ground from an aircraft; Compare: creeping line search, sector search; ExtrapolateFunction to determine values from two or values in a table, when the given value lies outside of the range of the table; usually linear but can be higher order; FCSFlight control system FilterA device to alter a signal; software to alter a data steam; See Also: averaging filter, band-pass filter, complementary filter, first-order filter, high-pass filter, hysteresis, Kalman filter, limiter, low-pass filter, rate limiter, second-order filter, smoothing filter, wash-out filter; FilteredData that is the result of filtering a signal; filtering is usually more sophisticated than smoothing Compare: derived, estimated, measured, raw, selected, smoothed; First-order filterA filter in which the output follows the input, only more slowly; It is usually implemented in software as a difference equation of period T.The first-order filter is commonly used in avionics to smooth data, and to wash out transients at mode change.It is also used as a low-pass filter.When implementing a second-order filter on normalized variables, such as angles, the discontinuities require special treatment. FixA determination of one’s position based on external data, such as a known terrain point Fixed wingAn airplane, as opposed to a rotory wing / helicopter; FlapsA control surface on fixed-wing aircraft, usually mounted to the fore edge of the wings, that extends the wing to provide added lift at low speeds; Compare: slats; Symbols: delta sub F; Typical Units: rad, deg,percent; Flight control system (FCS)A primary flight control system or an automatic flight control system; Flight controlsControls in a cockpit for flying an aircraft; primary flight controls are wheel, yoke, cyclic, pedals, throttle, and collective; secondary flight controls are flight controls other than primary, such as flaps, slats, stabilizer, and landing gear; Flight directorSystem, usually software, that generates stick position cues from state errors – typically three cues:.pitch, roll, and throttle for fixed-wing and longitudinal cyclic, lateral cyclic, and collective for rotory wing; Flight path angle (FPA)Angle in vertical plane of earthspeed vector and groundspeed vector (usual definition), earth-referenced flight path angle; angle in vertical plane of airspeed vector and groundspeed vector (occasional definition), air-mass flight path angle; Symbols: gamma; Typical Units: rad, deg; Flight planA predetermined route, possibly including guidance modes, communications, and mission objectives, used by guidance and mission management for moding and planning; Series of navigation reference points, waypoints, and mode commands for navigation, radio navigation, guidance, and flight director FLIRForward-Looking Infrared Flux valveA device to measure the earth’s magnetic flux; a compass Fly overA position update by flying directly over a known point Forward-Looking Infrared (FLIR)Sensor equipment used to supplement AGR, extend the aircraft visual search capability and provide position information for guidance and navigation update capability.Imagery derived from the FLIR sensor is displayed in the cockpit.FLIR pointing can be controlled manually using a tracking handle or automatically by the Mission Computer.FLIR converts a heat image into a video image and determines azimuth, elevation, and sometimes range of a point; Synonyms: Infrared Detecting Set; FPAFlight path angle GAGo around Gaussian radius of curvatureRadius of the earth for the best fitting sphere at a given position; Synonyms: earth radius best sphere; Symbols: rho sub G; Typical Units: ft; Dimensions: Length; GCLPGuidance control law parameter Geocentric latitudeLatitude measured with respect to horizontal through mass center of the earth; Compare: astronomical latitude, geodetic latitude; Symbols: Phi sub C; Typical Units: rad, deg; Geodetic latitudeLatitude measured with respect to normal to reference ellipsoid; Compare: astronomical latitude, geocentric latitude; Symbols: Phi sub T; Typical Units: rad, deg; Gimbaled inertial sensorAccelerometers mounted to a platform which is free to rotate, with gyroscopes to measure rotation and servomotors to maintain a fixed attitude with respect to the earth Compare: strapdown inertial sensor; GlideslopeAngle approach a runway; Symbols: Gamma; Typical Units: rad, deg; Global Positioning System (GPS)A navigation sensor based on satellites; A Global Positioning System (GPS) provides highly accurate navigation data: position, velocity, and time reference.GPS is often aided by the INU, AHRS, and Doppler data.GPS is accurate with four or more properly oriented satellites.Accuracy is degraded with improperly placed satellites or fewer than four satellites visible. GPS-INS is the most accurate of modes listed, with day/night and all weather capability. Go around (GA)A basic guidance mode, providing lateral guidance, longitudinal guidance and vertical guidance to climb then to accelerate, while maintaining a wings-level roll; in some implementations (such as SOA), individual axes can be overridden by other modes (for example, longitudinal with G/S SEL and vertical with RALT SEL or BALT SEL) GPSGlobal Positioning System GPS-DNSGPS using DNS GPS-INSGPS using INS Gravitational accelerationAcceleration caused by the force of gravity; Symbols: g; Typical Units: ft/s-squared,g; Dimensions: Length / Time-squared; GravityForce exerted by gravity; gravity sometimes includes effects of the earth’s rotation; gravity is often treated as a constant, but for greater accuracy gravity is a function of latitude, altitude, and the phase of the moon (yes, it’s true); Symbols: g; Typical Units: lbf,kip; Dimensions: Mass * Length / Time-squared; Grid northStandard aviation term. GrivationSymbols: nu sub g ; Typical Units: rad, deg; Ground track angle (GTA)Direction of ground speed vector with respect to true north; Synonyms: true track; Symbols: eta; Typical Units: rad, deg; GroundspeedThe speed over the ground; earthspeed projected to a horizontal plane; Symbols: V sub g; Typical Units: kt,ft/s; Dimensions: Length / Time; Groundspeed select (G/S SEL)A basic guidance mode, providing longitudinal guidance to an operator selected groundspeed; G/S SELGroundspeed select GTAGround track angle GuidanceSystem, usually software, that determines state errors of desired state minus current state, typically three states: heading, altitude, and speed; Guidance control law parameter (GCLP)One of several parameters for the guidance control laws, generated by individual guidance modes; See Also: altitude error scale factor, altitude integral gain, altitude integral input, altitude integral limit, controlled altitude, controlled speed, course cut limit, crosstrack deviation, crosstrack deviation gain, crosstrack deviation rate, crosstrack deviation rate gain, desired altitude, desired speed, path integral gain, path integral limit, path integral value, reference acceleration, reference acceleration gain, track angle error, track angle error gain, velocity error scale factor; Reference: kilmer89. Gyroscope (gyro)An inertial device for measuring change of attitude (pitch rate, roll rate, and yaw rate); gyroscopes usually consist of a gimbled, rotating mass; gyroscopes are usually included in inertial sensors, such as AHRS and INS; See Also: ring-laser gyro; HDG SELHeading select HeadingDirection on a compass that aircraft is pointed, measured with respect to true north or magnetic north; Symbols: psi; Typical Units: rad, deg; Heading errorA basic output from guidance to flight director, indicating the difference between actual heading and desired heading; Symbols: DELTA psi; Typical Units: rad, deg; Heading select (HDG SEL)A basic guidance mode, providing lateral guidance to an operator selected heading (magnetic heading or true heading, again, operator selectable); HealthEquipment status High-pass filter (HPF)A filter that allows frequencies above a cutoff frequency to pass while attenuating frequencies below the cutoff frequency; HoldTo maintain some aspect(s) of aircraft state, such as heading, airspeed, altitude, pitch HookIn the US Navy, a target cursor; HoughA standard model for computing earth data Hover hold (HVR SYM)A basic guidance mode, providing lateral guidance and longitudinal guidance to maintain an operator selected north velocity and east velocity; if the selected velocities are zero, then a position is held HPFHigh-pass filter HVR SYMHover hold HysteresisA function in which the algorithm for computing output changes at defined events or thresholds, such that output follows one path as input increases and another path as input decreases; Hysteresis can be formalized: (0) at initialization, select algorithm-0 (1).if event-1 occurs, switch to algorithm-1 (2) if event-2 occurs, switch to algorithm-2 …(N) if event-n occurs, switch to algorithm-n Frequently in avionics, hysteresis prevents a test from oscillating near the transition point due to noise. Implementation is usually: (0) at initialization, set y = 0 (1) if x sub c + h/2 le x, then set y = 1 (2) if x sub c – h/2 lt x lt x sub c + h/2, then let y retain its value (3) if x le x sub c – h/2, then set y = 0 IASIndicated airspeed IBCIls Back Course IBITInitiated built-in-test IDSInfrared Detecting Set ILSInstrument Landing System ILS approachTo approach a runway using ILS ILS Back Course (IBC)Operation of ILS in which the runway is approached in reverse direction, giving only lateral guidance; Compare: ILS Front Course; ILS Front CourseOperation of ILS in which the runway is approached in forward direction, giving lateral, longitudinal, and vertical guidance; sometimes called ILS Compare: ILS Back Course; Indicated airspeed (IAS)Airspeed as instruments would indicate, not corrected for instrumentation errors or air density; See Also: airspeed; Symbols: V sub ‘IAS’; Typical Units: kt,ft/s; Dimensions: Length / Time; InertialBased on inertia, such as with an INS or an AHRS Inertial Navigation System (INS)An Inertial Navigation System (INS) is a self-contained navigation system. It consists of gyroscopes and accelerometers to provide attitude, heading, position, attitude, body/inertial velocity, and acceleration information.A primary navigation data source.INS loses accuracy with time due to drift of gyroscopes.INS-DNS is moderately accurate over land, not good over water.See Also: Inertial Navigation Unit; Inertial Navigation Unit (INU)A self-contained Inertial Navigation System; Infrared Detecting Set (IDS)Forward-Looking Infrared; InitializationA basic control to a data source from controls and displays for initializing a device.Initiated by power-on, operator, driver, or MC; During initialization, the device is usually not available; Also, a procedure to reset physical devices to a known state; Values: initialization in progress, not initialized, unreliable, normal, redundant, degraded, failed.See Also: alignment, boresighting, calibration; Initiated built-in-test (IBIT)Selftests running internal to a device initiated external to the device, usually an operator, causing the device to temporarily cease normal operation; Compare: periodic built-in-test; Inner markerInnermost marker beacon on an ILS INSInertial Navigation System Instrument Landing System (ILS)Equipment determining glideslope, localizer (bearing), and distance (marker beacon) to a runway; ILS provides precision aiding for landing; ILS is usually part of a VOR station.A basic guidance mode, providing lateral guidance, longitudinal guidance, and vertical guidance to approach a runway for landing; in ILS back course, vertical guidance is not provided InstrumentationHardware to measure and to monitor a system IntegrateTo combine multiple systems; Also, to compute to integral of; IntegratorA function that integrates; Many types of integrators exist; in fact, they constitute entire books.Avionics software usually relies on rectangular, single integrators, but occassional uses trapezoidal or double integrators. InternationalA standard model for computing earth data InterpolateFunction to determine intermediate values from two or values in a table; usually linear but can be higher order; endpoints are either extrapolated or limited; InterrogationA request of data INTLIMPath integral limit INTMAGLIMAltitude integral limit INTVALPath integral value INUInertial Navigation Unit InvalidAn indication that data from a device is bad and cannot be trusted JerkRate of change of acceleration, either scalar or vector, often with subscripts such as ENU or XYZ to denote the coordinate frame; time derivative of acceleration; Symbols: j,J; Typical Units: ft/s-cubed; Dimensions: Length / Time-cubed; Kalman filterA filter for combining multiple data sources, usually of different types, to produce an estimate better than any single source; Compare: averaging filter, complementary filter; KALTINTAltitude integral gain KINTPath integral gain KLAReference acceleration gain KTAETrack angle error gain KVSFVelocity error scale factor KXTKDCrosstrack deviation gain KXTKRCrosstrack deviation rate gain KZSFAltitude error scale factor Laplace transformA mathematical relationship to model a continuous function in the complex frequency domain (S-plane); Laplace transforms are commonly used by systems engineers to describe avionics systems; Compare: continuous-time equation, difference equation, differential equation, discrete-time equation, state-space model, Z transform; See Also: first-order filter, integrator, second-order filter, unit functions; Laser obstacle avoidance / terrain avoidance sensor (OA/TA)A sensor that provides warnings for long, thin objects (like wires). It has at least a 20deg x 30deg FOV, which is both velocity tracked and pitch stabilized. It provides warnings (every 2.5 seconds) for long, thin obstacles (like wires) at 400 meters detection range and contour flight at 80-120 knots. LateralRelated to latitude; across an aircraft left to right Lateral cueA cue to control heading; lateral cyclic cue See Also: wheel cue Lateral cyclicA flight control operated by moving left or right with hand in rotary-wing aircraft, primarily to control roll (heading); controls differential pitch of the rotors as they rotate from one side to the other on a rotary-wing aircraft; Lateral cyclic cueA lateral flight director cue for rotary-wing aircraft, primarily to control heading, by changing roll; Compare: wheel cue; Symbols: Gamma sub ‘LAT’; Typical Units: percent, in; Lateral guidanceCalculations for the lateral axis of the appropriate guidance modes.The control law lateral axis input data are: Cross Track Deviation, Cross Track Deviation Rate, Cross Track Deviation Rate Gain, Track Angle Error, Track Angle Error Gain, Course Cut Limit, Path Integral Limit, Path Integral Gain.The major output from Longitudinal Guidance is the speed error for the selected longitudinal guidance mode. LatitudePosition on earth, north or south of the equator; See Also: astronomical latitude, geocentric latitude, geodetic latitude; Symbols: Phi; Typical Units: rad, deg; LegA segment of a flight plan; flight path between two waypoints LF ADFLow Frequency Automatic Direction Finding LOCLocalizer LiftForce, created primarily by wings (fixed wing) or by rotors (rotary wing), acting in opposite direction of gravity vector; Symbols: Length; Typical Units: lbf,kip; Dimensions: Mass * Length / Time-squared; LimiterA filter that passes the input to the output, except that the output is limited to a minimum value and a maximum value; Compare: rate limiter; Localizer (LOC)Part of ILS that provides lateral deviations from a preset course; LongitudePosition on earth, east or west of the prime meridian; Symbols: lambda; Typical Units: rad, deg; LongitudinalRelated to longitude; lengthwise along the center line of an aircraft forward Longitudinal cueA cue to control pitch; longitudinal cyclic cue See Also: throttle cue, Longitudinal cyclicA flight control operated by moving fore or aft with hand in rotary-wing aircraft, primarily to control pitch (speed); controls differential pitch of the rotors as they rotate from nose to tail on a rotary-wing aircraft; Longitudinal cyclic cueA longitudinal flight director cue for rotary-wing aircraft, primarily to control speed, by changing pitch; Compare: throttle cue; Symbols: Gamma sub ‘LONG’ ; Typical Units: percent,in; Longitudinal guidanceCalculations for the longitudinal axis of the guidance modes.The control law longitudinal axis input data are: Reference Acceleration, Reference Acceleration Gain, Desired Velocity, Velocity Error Scale Factor.The major output from Longitudinal Guidance is the speed error for the selected longitudinal guidance mode. Low Frequency Automatic Direction Finding (LF ADF)Equipment that determines bearing to a radio station on a low frequency band, usually the standard AM band; Low-pass filter (LPF)A filter that allows frequencies below a cutoff frequency to pass while attenuating frequencies above the cutoff frequency; See Also: first-order filter; LPFLow-pass filter Mach numberRatio of airspeed to the local speed of sound (Mach 1 is the speed of sound under current atmospheric conditions); Symbols: M; Magnetic headingHeading of the aircraft relative to magnetic north; A Magnetic Heading Sensor provides this heading data.Symbols: psi sub M; Typical Units: rad, deg; Magnetic variation (MVAR, MAGVAR)Difference between true north and magnetic north, varying with position; magnetic variation drifts with time; Symbols: nu; Typical Units: rad, deg; MAGVARMagnetic variation MaintenanceIndicates device is in a maintenance mode; Values: non-maintanance, calibration, alignment, boresight MapEquipment that produces a map image; See Also: Digital Map Generator Marker beacon (MB)Part of Instrument Landing System that signals crew members of distance to runway, consisting of three markers:. inner, middle, and outer; MassagedFiltered, estimated, or derived, or some combination of the three Master cautionA signal which indicates that one or more caution lights has been activated (from MIL-STD-1472D); Master warningA signal which indicates that one or more warning lights has been activated (from MIL-STD-1472D); MBMarker Beacon MCMission computer Mean sea level (MSL)Standard aviation term See Also: above sea level; MeasuredRaw data converted to standard units; Compare: derived, estimated, filtered, raw, selected, smoothed Meridian radius of curvatureRadius of the earth in the east/west direction at a given position; Synonyms: earth radius north/south; Symbols: rho sub M; Typical Units: ft; Dimensions: Length; Middle markerMarker beacon located where the center of the glideslope is 200ft above the runway Mission computer (MC)Mission processor; Mission objectivesGoals to be accomplished during a specific mission, including flight plan, NRPs, legs, and a plan on how to accomplish these objectives; plan includes, usually on a leg-by-leg basis, navigation modes, radio navigation modes, guidance modes, flight director modes, data source control information such as frequencies; See Also: capture criterion Mission processor (MP)A general purpose computer to host avionics software.Synonyms: mission computer; MLSMicrowave Landing System ModeA selection of one of several alternatives, such as guidance mode (VOR, TACAN, or Waypoint), or navigation mode (INS, Doppler, or dead reckoning) Modified EverestA standard model for computing earth data Moding cursorA symbol on a display, moved by an operator much like arrow keys for menu selection, to select one of several options MPMission processor MSLMean sea level Multi-mode radar (MMR)A Multi-Mode Radar is used for Terrain Following (TF) and Terrain Avoidance (TA), Ground Mapping (GM) and Air-to Ground Ranging (AGR).The TF mode supplies commands which are processed and displayed as climb/dive commands on the Flight Director display and E-squared video used by the operators in anticipating near term TF commands.When in TA or GM modes, the operator is provided with a Plan Position Indicator (PPI) display. The AGR mode allows the operators to determine the range to a designated target, which can be used for position updates. MVARMagnetic variation NacelleAn enclosure on an aircraft. Nap-of-the-earth flightFlight with a goal to remain close to the earth, usually below the height of surrounding trees and less than 100 ft above the terrain; Compare: terrain following Natural frequencyStandard engineering term See Also: second-order filter; Symbols: omega sub n; Typical Units: rad/s,Hz; Dimensions: 1/Time; NavigationA system, usually software, in which the primary purpose is to generate position relative to a coordinate frame, usually fixed earth frame, such as latitude and longitude or UTM; Navigation aidA device or process to help with navigation, such as a VOR station or a position update; Navigation reference point (NRP)A point, usually fixed in earth coordinates but possibly moving; Also, a basic guidance mode, providing lateral guidance to an NRP, either by course or by direct (operator selectable); Synonyms: point; NoisePart of received data that is undesired, consisting of random sinusoidal terms added to a signal; Compare: offset, signal; NormalizerFunction to restrict input to a specific range, such as restricting an angle alpha in radians so that -pi le alpha le +pi; angles usually require normalizing following any computation; normalized variables often present problems for filters and other functions at their discontinuities; NRPNavigation reference point OAObstacle avoidance OATOutside Air Temperature Obstacle avoidance (OA)Flight cues designed to avoid obstacles, such as terrain, buildings, and power lines; Compare: terrain avoidance, threat avoidance; OffDevice is powered off (power switch is off; no response to communications) – no data and function is available. OffsetPart of received data that is undesired, consisting of a random, time-invariant term added to a signal; Synonyms: bias; Compare: noise, signal OMEGAAn OMEGA receiver provides position information that can be used to update the aircraft navigation position.OMEGA is the least accurate method of obtaining position information. OperationsHow well is equipment operating; Values: operational (all function and data is available), degraded (equipment has partially failed with some function or data unavailable and some available), failed (equipment has failed with no function or data available); OrientationDirection in reference to a coordinate frame Outer markerMarker beacon located 5-7mi from the end of the runway; See Also: marker beacon Outside Air Temperature (OAT)The temperature just outside the aircraft; Symbols: T; Typical Units: deg; Dimensions: Temperature OverrideTo alter selection made automatically by software Past status wordsStatus words that are logically combined over time (such as “and”ing or “or”ing) to provide history of what has been set in the past Path integral gain (KINT)A guidance control law parameter, generated by the lateral guidance modes; Path integral limit (INTLIM)A guidance control law parameter, generated by the lateral guidance modes; Typical Units: rad; Path integral value (INTVAL)A guidance control law parameter, generated by the lateral guidance modes; Typical Units: ft; Dimensions: Length PBITPeriodic built-in-test PedalA flight control operated by pushing with feet, primarily to control yaw via the rudder in fixed-wing aircraft or thrust to tail rotor in rotary-wing aircraft; pedals are automatically controlled in modern aircraft; PeriodTime of a periodic process; 1/f where f is the sampling frequency; Symbols: T; Typical Units: s; Dimensions: Time. PeriodicA process that executes at a fixed rate; Compare: aperiodic; Periodic built-in-test (PBIT)Selftests running internal to a device as part of normal operation; Compare: initiated built-in-test; Personnel Locating System (PLS)A basic guidance mode, providing lateral guidance to a PLS transmitter from range and bearing inputs.Equipment that determines range and bearing to a personnel with a PLS transmitter; Provides range and bearing to locate ground personnel.Coded continuous or periodic interrogations of the portable ground radios are used to provide the information. PFCSPrimary flight control system Physical deviceA piece of equipment, a subsystem; Synonyms: device Piloted simulationReal-time engineering simulation Pitot pressureTotal pressure PitchThe angle of a rotor measured in the plane of rotation; Symbols: theta,Theta; Typical Units: rad, deg; Pitch cueFlight director cue to control pitch; in fixed-wing aircraft, a yoke cue; in rotary-wing aircraft, a longitudinal cyclic cue Pitch rateRate of change of pitch; time derivative of pitch; Symbols: p; Symbols: theta dot; Typical Units: rad/s,deg/s; Dimensions: 1/Time; PLSPersonnel Locating System PositionLocation, usually in fixed earth coordinates such latitude and longitude; location, either scalar or vector, often with subscripts such as ENU or XYZ to denote source or coordinate frame; time integral of velocity; Symbols: p,P,x,y,z; Typical Units: ft,nmi; Dimensions: Length; Position updateTo cause navigation sensors, devices, or algorithms to reset position to value known to be more accurate due to inaccuracies and drift in the devices and algorithms PrecisionMeasure of exactness, possibly expressed in number of digits, for example, computed to the nearest millimeter; Compare: accuracy Present status wordsMost recently reported status words PressureBarometric pressure Pressure altitudeBarometric altitude Primary flight control system (PFCS)The most basic part of the flight controls operated by a pilot, including wheel (fixed wing), yoke (fixed wing), cyclic (rotary wing), pedals (fixed wing and rotary wing), throttle (fixed wing), and collective (rotary wing); Primary unitsA standard set of four units to which all units can be resolved; primary units are Mass(M), Length(L), Time(theta), and Temperature(T); for example, standard units for velocity might be kt (nmi/hr), ft/s, m/s, mph, but primary are always Length / Theta; sometimes written with negative subscripts. Prime radius of curvatureRadius of the earth in the east/west direction at a given position; Synonyms: earth radius east/west; Symbols: rho sub P; Typical Units: ft; Dimensions: Length; QuaternionA system of representing attitude by measuring angle of aircraft center line with respect to three orthoginal axes plus rotation about centerline; quaternions are used over Euler angles (pitch, roll, yaw) when pitch can approach 90deg because of a singularity on Euler angles at 90deg; discrete-time computations using quaternions can run more slowly than those with Euler angles while producing results of the same accuracy See Also: Euler parameters; RADALTRadar Altimeter. Radar altimeter (RADALT)Measures height above terrain. The altitude is monitored to provide a low altitude warning during TF operations and landing operations.It can also be used as input to the Terrain Reference Navigation algorithm for position updates. Radar altitudeHeight with respect to the terrain below (distance above closest dirt); Synonyms: above ground level; Symbols: h sub r; Typical Units: ft; Dimensions: Length; Radar altitude select (RALT SEL)A basic guidance mode, providing vertical guidance to an operator selected radar altitude; Radial error probability (REP)A probability that a percentage of one-dimension measurements will lie on a radial (line) of given length, with the origin centered at truth or mean of the measurements; used to specify test cases for measurement errors of sensors of one dimension, such as vertical velocity; Compare: circular error probability, spherical error probability; Radio navigationNavigation relative to radio station, providing, for example, of relative bearing, range, lateral deviation, and glideslope; Examples include VOR, TACAN, and PLS. Radio navigation differs from other navigation in that the transmitter signals often dropout for a long period of time, like minutes. This can occur because of natural obstructions, or because the transmitter was shut down intentionally.In hostile territory, a PLS can locate a downed pilot, who would be foolhardy to be continuously transmitting, but would transmit infrequently with small bursts of data.The Radio-Navigation system accommodates this phenomenon by simulating range and bearing to the fixed site when it is not transmitting.After reacquiring a mobile transmitter, the mobile station’s position is re-determined.The navigation component supports wash-out filters on output data. RALT SELRadar altitude select Range (rng)Standard aviation term Synonyms: distance; Symbols: r; Typical Units: ft,nmi – method of measurement dependent on use; Dimensions: Length; RangingAct of determining a range Rate limiterA filter that passes the input as the output, except that rate of change of the output is limited to a maximum absolute value; Compare: limiter; RawData taken directly from the sensor; Compare: derived, estimated, filtered, measured, selected, smoothed Real timeTime in a computational process which runs at the same rate as a physical process; for example, algorithms designed to run a fixed period t (filter time constants at set for t) and actually execute with frequency 1/t execute in real time; Avionics systems must run in real time; Real-time engineering simulation (rtes)A simulator designed to test avionics algorithms with a pilot in the loop, consisting of a simulated cockpit, an aircraft model, sensor models, and algorithms to be tested; rtes is often used during development to check algorithms, such as the navigation, radio navigation, guidance and flight director, prior to full-scale software development; rtes gives systems engineers early insight in human factors problems, pilot complaints, algorithm bugs, unstability in the algorithms, expected performance (accuracy), and pilot-machine interaction; Synonyms: piloted simulation; Compare: built-in simulation; ReasonablenessA test to determine if data is reasonable, for example, radar altitude must be positive, and two devices should return similar data within known limits of each other ReceiveTo absorb rf energy REFACCReference acceleration ReferenceWhat must be achieved in order to match a plan; Synonyms: desired; Reference acceleration (REFACC)A guidance control law parameter, generated by the longitudinal guidance modes; Typical Units: ft/s-squared, g; Dimensions: Length / Time-squared Reference acceleration gain (KLA)A guidance control law parameter, generated by the longitudinal guidance modes; Typical Units: s; Dimensions: Time. RejectTo disallow a position update, usually by an operator; Compare: accept RelativeApplies to measurements, in a non-standard, moving reference, as opposed to fixed reference; Compare: absolute; Relative bearingAngle from aircraft center line to bearing of the destination; Symbols: B sub R; Typical Units: rad, deg; Remote terminal (RT)Term defining role of a device on a MIL-STD-1553 bus as being a slave; Compare: bus controller; Remote Terminal UnitSignal Data Converter; RendezvousTo meet with another aircraft in the air, for refueling or other mission objectives Rendezvous approachTo approach a planned rendezvous point REPRadial error probability ReportedData from a device Ring-laser gyro (RLG)A gyroscope based on a laser beam instead of a rotating mass, providing to same data as a gyroscope; RLGRing-laser gyro RMSRoot mean square; RNGRange RollBank angle; Symbols: phi,Phi; Typical Units: rad, deg; Roll cueFlight director cue to control roll; in fixed-wing aircraft, a wheel cue; in rotary-wing aircraft, a lateral cyclic cue Roll rateRate of change of roll; time derivative of roll; Symbols: q; Symbols: phi dot; Typical Units: rad/s,deg/s; Dimensions: 1/Time; Root mean square (RMS)A statistical measure of data; the root of the mean of the square; for variables with mean of zero, the standard deviation is equal to the rms; Compare: root sum square; Root sum square (RSS)A statistical measure of data; the root of the sum of the square; for a vector, its length is equal to the rss of its scalar elements; Compare: root mean square; Rotary wingA helicopter; RSSRoot sum square; RTRemote terminal RTESReal-time engineering simulation RTURemote Terminal Unit RudderA control surface on fixed-wing aircraft, usually mounted at aft end of the fuselage sticking up (like a dorsal fin), that controls yaw (heading), and is controlled by the pedals; Symbols: delta sub R; Typical Units: rad, deg; S-planeContinuous complex frequency plane; S-plane is used in control systems engineering in the design of control laws See Also: Laplace transform; Sampling frequencyRate of a periodic process; 1/T where T is the period; Symbols: f sub s; Typical Units: Hz; Dimensions: 1/Time. SDCSignal Data Converter Search patternBasic guidance mode; provides lateral steering guidance to fly an expanding square search pattern, creeping line search pattern, or sector search pattern. Second-order filterA smoothing filter in which the output follows the input, only more slowly; It is usually implemented in software as a difference equation of period T.When the second-order filter is used in avionics, it is commonly to smooth data, and to wash out transients at mode change.Usually, a first-order filter suffices, and it being less expensive, is chosen over a second-order filter.Typical values for omega sub n, a, and b are 0.1-2 rad/s, and zeta 0.1-0.9.It should also be noted that two first-order filters can be chained together to form a second-order filter that is critically damped or overdamped.When implementing a second-order filter on normalized variables, such as angles, the discontinuities require special treatment. Sector searchA pattern of concentric arcs followed for searching the ground from an aircraft; Compare: creeping line search, expanding square search; SelectedMeasured data picked from one of many sensors; Selecting is the process of choosing the "best" parameter from multiple copies of that parameter, from multiple, identical devices or similar devices.Compare: derived, estimated, filtered, measured, raw, smoothed SelftestA test internal to a device Semi-circleA measure of angle, 1 semi-circle = pi rad = 180 deg; angles from physical devices are often reported in semi-circles in order to compress data SensorA device that measures, receives, or generates data, for example, an INS, a FLIR, a map.See Also: Data Source Object Sensor Fusion/Correlation (SFC)Measure of convergence of sensor data SEPSpherical error probability SFCSensor Fusion/Correlation ShutdownTo cease normal operations Sideslip angleSymbols: beta; Typical Units: rad, deg; SignalPart of received data that is desired; Compare: noise, offset Signal Data Converter (SDC)A device that converts unique signals to a standard protocol, usually MIL-STD-1553B; Synonyms: Remote Terminal Unit; Signal-to-noise ratio (SNR,S/N)A ratio of magnitude of a desired signal to the magnitude of the noise received with it; Typical Units: dB; Situational awarenessSituational awareness provides the pilots with information relative to the current surroundings, such as other aircraft or threats in the immediate area. Slant rangeDirect line distance, not along the ground; SlatsA control surface on fixed-wing aircraft, usually mounted to the aft edge of the wings, that extends the wing to provide added lift at low speeds; Compare: flaps; Symbols: delta sub S; Typical Units: rad, deg; SmoothedData that is the result of conditioning a signal with a simple filter; Compare: derived, estimated, filtered, measured, raw, selected; smoothing is usually less sophisticated than filtering Smoothing filterA filter to reduce quick changes of a signal by attenuating high frequencies; See Also: first-order filter, second-order filter, wash-out filter; S/NSignal-to-noise ratio SNRSignal-to-noise ratio South AmericanA standard model for computing earth data SpeedScalar velocity; Speed cueFlight director cue to control speed; in fixed-wing aircraft, a throttle cue; in rotary-wing aircraft, a longitudinal cyclic cue Speed errorA basic output from guidance to flight director, indicating the difference between actual speed and desired speed; Symbols: DELTA V; Typical Units: ft/s,kt; Dimensions: Length / Time. Spherical error probability (SEP)A probability that a percentage of three-dimension measurements will lie within a sphere of given radius, with the sphere centered at truth or mean of the measurements; SEP specifies test cases for measurement errors of sensors of three dimensions, such as velocity east, north, and vertical.Compare: circular error probability, radial error probability; SpoilerA control surface on fixed-wing aircraft, usually mounted to the wings, that provides roll control and lift; Symbols: delta sub S; Typical Units: rad, deg; Stability coordinatesCoordinates referenced to the air mass; Compare: body coordinates, earth coordinates; StabilizerA control surface, usually mounted at aft end of the fuselage parallel to the wings, that provides pitch stability, some aircraft have an adjustable stabilizer; Symbols: delta sub H; Typical Units: rad, deg; Stagnation pressureTotal pressure Standard unitsUnits commonly encountered for a particular quantity; State dataData that defines aircraft parameters, such as position, velocity, attitude; Some standard terms for state data include: Groundspeed vector, wind speed vector, true airspeed vector, true bearing, true track, ground track angle, relative bearing, sideslip angle, drift angle, true heading, magnetic variation, grivation. earthspeed vector, vertical velocity, air mass flight path angle, earth-referenced flight path angle, angle of attack, pitch, radar altitude, barometric altitude, earth radius, glideslope, gravity vector, lift vector, lateral acceleration vector, bank angle. State-space modelA mathematical relationship of a system in time using state variables, inputs, outputs, and constants; The state-space model is composed of n state variables (x sub 1 , x sub 2 , …, x sub n), m input variables (u sub 1 , u sub 2 , …, u sub m), k output variables (y sub 1 , y sub 2 , …, y sub k), and four constants a, b, c, and d.Alternatively, a state-space model can be expressed with matrices.Compare: continuous-time equation, difference equation, differential equation, discrete-time equation, Laplace transform, Z transform; Static pressureA measure of barometric pressure as if the sensor were not moving with respect to the air; Compare: total pressure; Symbols: p sub s; Typical Units: psi,lbf/in-squared; Dimensions: Mass /Time-squared * Length StationA structure on the ground, perhaps containing VOR or TACAN StatusAn indicator of how well a system or subsystem is working Status indicatorAn binary indicator of a particular aspect of a device; status indicators are independent of each other; status indicators listed in this dictionary are derived from existing programs.See Also: off, warning, operations, communications, useability, initialization, test, maintenance, unknown; Status wordsData words reported by devices to indicate status; Each bit is defined on a device-by-device basis.The number of words vary from device to device.Status words are used by maintenance personnel and maintenance software.Present, past, and test status words are reported. Strapdown inertial sensorAccelerometers mounted to a platform fixed to the aircaft; Compare: gimbaled inertial sensor SurfaceRelated to surface of water; SurvivabilityA survivability subsytem detects and counters hostile actions. SwashplateA device to control the pitch of rotors; on rotary-wing aircraft, the swashplate is controlled by a collective and a cyclic; SWWMSurface Wind Wave Motion SystemApplied to measurements, means the best value that the system can determine. TATerrain avoidance TACANTactical Air Navigation; TACAN Point-to-Point (TCNP)A basic guidance mode, providing lateral guidance to a point relative to a TACAN station by specified range and bearing; TachometerA device for measuring angular velocity; Tactical Air Navigation (TACAN)A basic guidance mode, providing lateral guidance to a TACAN station; Equipment that determines range and bearing to a radio station with a TACAN transmitter; TAETrack angle error TargetObject or point pointed by FLIR or radar Target cursorA symbol on a display, moved by a track handle or similar device, to select objects on the display TASTrue airspeed Taut lineBasic guidance mode; provides vertical guidance to maintain a taut line for a dipping sonar, or other such device. TCNTacan TCNPTacan Point-to-Point TerrainThe contour of the earth; Terrain avoidance (TA)Flight such that the aircraft maintains a constant barometric altitude but flies around obstacles; Compare: obstacle avoidance, threat avoidance; Terrain following (TF)A basic guidance mode, providing vertical guidance to maintain an operator selected radar altitude above the terrain.Flight such that the aircraft tries to maintain a constant height above the terrain, usually in the range of 100-1,000 ft; Uses a g-command from the Multi-Mode Radar to generate a flight director cue.This controls the aircraft flight path so that the set clearance altitude is achieved over major high points in the terrain with zero flight path angle.Compare: nap-of-the-earth flight; Terrain Referenced Navigation (TRN)A navigation mode based on comparison of barometric altitude and radar altitude with a map; Kalman filters correlate the terrain data and the altitudes. A primary navigation data source.TRN combines INS with map references. It is most accurate over rough terrain.Does not give accurate data while over flat areas or water.See Also: Digital Map Generator; Test status wordsStatus words reported at the conclusion of a test. Values: test in progress, not tested, normal, redundant, degraded, failed; TFTerrain following; ThAThreat avoidance Threat avoidance (ThA)Flight cues designed to avoid enemy threats, such as anti-aircraft artillery and aircraft; Compare: obstacle avoidance, terrain avoidance; ThrottleA flight control operated by moving fore or aft with hands, primarily to control thrust (speed) in fixed-wing aircraft; Throttle cueA longitudinal flight director cue for fixed-wing aircraft, primarily to control speed, by changing power; Compare: longitudinal cyclic cue; Symbols: Gamma sub LONG; Typical Units: percent,in; ThrustForce, created by engines and rotors, acting in the direction of the engine; Symbols: T; Typical Units: lbf,kip; Dimensions: Mass * Length / Time-squared; Tilt rotorAn aircraft with tilting rotors for fixed-wing flight or rotary-wing flight; Time constantConstant for a first-order filter determining time at which the output of the filter reaches nearly 0.6321 percent of a step input; Symbols: tau; Typical Units: s; Dimensions: Time; TolerancesAllowed error in measurements Total pressureA measure of barometric pressure in the moving air; Synonyms: dynamic pressure, Pitot pressure, stagnation pressure; Compare: static pressure; Symbols: p sub t; Typical Units: psi,lbf/in-squared; Dimensions: Mass/Time-squared * Length Track (TRK)A basic guidance mode, providing lateral guidance to an operator selected ground track; Track angle error (TAE)A guidance control law parameter, generated by the lateral guidance modes; Typical Units: rad; Track angle error gain (KTAE)A guidance control law parameter, generated by the lateral guidance modes; Track handleA device to move a cursor in two axes on a display, much like a mouse TrackingTracking is performed by the TRN TransceiversA device that receives and transmits Transient-free switchA switch with a wash-out filter so that the output contains no transients (steps) at switch time TransmitTo radiate RF energy TransmitterA device that transmits Trim tabA secondary control surface, usually mounted to primary control surface such as aileron, elevator, rudder, or stabilizer, that controls the position of the primary control surface, and is controlled by the an operator or an autopilot; Symbols: delta sub T; Typical Units: rad, deg; TRKTrack TRNTerrain Referenced Navigation; TRN-INSTRN with INS TrueBest available estimate, such as true airspeed; referenced to true north, such as true heading; True airspeed (TAS)Airspeed corrected for instrumentation errors and air density; See Also: airspeed; Symbols: V sub ‘TAS’; Typical Units: kt,ft/s; Dimensions: Length / Time; True bearingSymbols: B sub T; Typical Units: rad, deg; True headingHeading of the aircraft relative to true north; Symbols: psi sub T; Typical Units: rad, deg; True trackGround track angle; Symbols: T sub T; Typical Units: rad, deg; TuneTo set the operating frequency or channel for a device UHF/VHF Automatic Direction Finding (U/V ADF)An Automatic Direction Finder that determines relative bearing to a transmitter to which it is tuned, in either the UHF band or VHF band; Unit functionsA collection of functions used as standard test cases in control systems engineering; The primary unit functions of interest in avionics are the unit impulse, the unit step, and the unit ramp.Symbols: u sub k ( t ); Unit impulseA function used as a standard test case in control systems engineering; a spike of “area” one at time t = 0; Synonyms: impulse; See Also: unit functions; Symbols: u sub <0> ( t ), delta ( t ); Unit rampA function used as a standard test case in control systems engineering; a line of slope 1 starting at zero at time t = 0; Synonyms: ramp; See Also: unit functions; Symbols: u sub < -2> ( t ); Unit stepA function used as a standard test case in control systems engineering; a step from zero to one at time t = 0; Synonyms: step; See Also: unit functions; Symbols: u sub< -1>( t ), u( t ); UnitlessNo units, such as ratios; a quantity with standard units of 1; a quantity with primary units of 1; Synonyms: dimensionless; UnitsA standard quantity, such as ft or mi; Synonyms: dimension; Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM)A system of fixed earth coordinates, sometimes used instead of latitude and longitude, accurate relative to others close by, such as ground troops; UpdateA process by which position is reset with a known better position; updates occur at the data source level or at the physical device level, depending upon specific implementation of the device and the data source (choice of implementation is transparent above the data source); all updates are operator initiated, but the new position may be derived from other sources such as FLIR, MMR, or radio navigation; a basic control to a data source from controls and displays for updating a device Compare: aiding; UTMUniversal Transverse Mercator U/V ADFUHF/VHF Automatic Direction Finding VelocityRate of change of location, either scalar or vector, often with subscripts such as ENU or XYZ to denote the coordinate frame; time derivative of position; time integral of acceleration; Symbols: v,V; Typical Units: kt,ft/s; Dimensions: Length / Time; Velocity eastAircraft velocity in true east direction; Symbols: V sub E; Typical Units: kt, ft/s; Dimensions: Length / Time; Velocity error scale factor (KVSF)A guidance control law parameter, generated by the longitudinal guidance modes; Velocity northAircraft velocity in true north direction; Symbols: V sub N; Typical Units: kt,ft/s; Dimensions: Length / Time; VERT SPDVertical speed hold VerticalReference to earth radial, for example, vertical velocity is velocity along earth radial; See Also: East-North-Vertical; Vertical accelerationAircraft acceleration in earth vertical direction; Symbols: A sub V; Typical Units: ft/s-squared,g; Dimensions: Length / Time-squared; Vertical cueA cue to control altitude; See Also: yoke cue, collective cue; Vertical guidanceCalculations for the vertical axis, rather than the longitudinal axis.The control law vertical axis input data are: Desired Altitude, Altitude Integral, Altitude Integral Gain, Altitude Integral Limit, Altitude Error Scale Factor, Magnitude limit for delta altitudes.The major output from Vertical Guidance is the altitude error for the selected vertical guidance mode. Vertical speed hold (VERT SPD)A basic guidance mode, providing vertical guidance to maintain an operator selected vertical speed; Vertical velocityAircraft velocity in earth vertical direction; Symbols: V sub V; Typical Units: ft/s; Dimensions: Length / Time; VHF Omnirange (VOR)Equipment that determines bearing to a radio station with a VOR transmitter; VOR transmitters usually contain ILS transmitters in addition to VOR; A basic guidance mode, providing lateral guidance to a VOR station.A VOR/ILS/MB.radio receiver provides a VHF Omni-Direction Range (VOR) function and Instrument Landing System with Marker Beacon (MB) function.VOR provides bearings to a fixed point (Localizer function); ILS/MB provides course (localizer function) and glideslope deviations (Glide Slope (G/S) function) during approach to a runway, along with marker beacon indications.If VOR is collocated with a TACAN (VOR-TAC, or VORTAC), bearing and range information is provided. VORVHF Omnirange; VORTACCollocation of VOR and TACAN providing distance and bearing to station; a basic guidance mode, providing lateral guidance to a set of a VOR station and a TACAN station that are collocated WarningA signal which alerts the operator to a dangerous condition requiring immediate action (from MIL-STD-1472D); an annunciator that is the most critical (more than an advisory or a caution); Also, an indicator of potential failure soon; Values: none, hot, low-power, high-power, other; Warning, Caution, Advisory (WCA)See: warning, caution, advisory, annunciator, alert; Wash-out filterA filter to smooth a transition due to change of input source, such as when changing modes; See Also: transient-free switch; Waypoint (WYPT)A point on the ground, predefined as a point of interest for the flight; a basic guidance mode, providing lateral guidance to a waypoint, either by course or by direct (operator selectable); Waypoint approachTo approach a waypoint WCAWarning, Caution, Advisory Weight on wheels (WOW)Indication of whether the aircraft has weight on its wheels, meaning airborne or on the ground; weight on wheels can be detected by a sensor on the wheels, computed from other state data, or a combination; WGS72World Geodetic Survey 1972 WGS84World Geodetic Survey 1984 WheelA flight control operated by turning with hands in fixed-wing aircraft, primarily to control roll (heading) via the ailerons; wheel is connected to yoke; Wheel cueA lateral flight director cue for fixed-wing aircraft, primarily to control heading, by changing roll; Compare: lateral cyclic cue; Symbols: Gamma sub ‘LAT’ ; Typical Units: percent,in; Wind bearingSymbols: B sub W; Typical Units: rad, deg; Wind speedSymbols: V sub W; Typical Units: kt,ft/s; Dimensions: Length / Time; World Geodetic Survey 1972 (WGS72)A standard model for computing earth data; World Geodetic Survey 1984 (WGS84)A standard model for computing earth data; WOWWeight on wheels Wrap testA test to send data to a device having it sent back unaltered WYPTWaypoint XTKDCrosstrack deviation XTKRCrosstrack deviation rate XYZA standard aircraft coordinate frame and sign convention, where nose, right wing, and down are positive X, Y, and Z, respectively; often used as subscripts; Compare: east-north-up; YawAngle of heading; Symbols: psi,Psi; Typical Units: rad, deg; Yaw rateRate of change of yaw; time derivative of yaw; Symbols: r; Symbols: psi dot; Typical Units: rad/s, deg/s; Dimensions: 1/Time; YokeA flight control operated by pushing and pulling with hands in fixed-wing aircraft, primarily to control pitch (altitude) via the elevators; yoke is mounted on a column between the operator’s legs, positioned much like a steering wheel in a car; yoke control is achieved by pushing and pulling the wheel to move the column (yoke) fore and aft; Yoke cueA vertical flight director cue for fixed-wing aircraft, primarily to control altitude, by changing pitch; Compare: collective cue; Symbols: Gamma sub VERT; Typical Units: percent,in; Z-planeDiscrete complex frequency plane; Z-plane is used in control systems engineering in the design of control laws See Also: Z transform; Z transformA mathematical relationship to model a discrete function in the complex frequency domain (Z-plane); Z transforms are commonly used by systems engineers to describe avionics systems; Compare: continuous-time equation, difference equation, differential equation, discrete-time equation, Laplace transform, state-space model; See Also: first-order filter, second-order filter, unit functions; ZOCZone of confusion Zone of confusion (ZOC)A circular area centered at a TACAN station in which bearing is extremely noisy; |