Glossary – Aircraft Parts and Equipment (2 of 2)

More aviation terms below. Return next Friday for aviation measurement terms. Visit Fairway Aviation to learn more.

RUDDER Aircraft control surface attached to the rear of the vertical stabilizer (fin) of the aircraft tail. Forces the tail left or right, correspondingly “yawing” the aircraft right or left. Rudder movement “coordinates” with the banking of wings to balance a turn. Controlled by left and right rudder (foot) pedals.

SLATS Small, aerodynamic surfaces on the leading edge of the wings of fixed aircraft which, when deployed, allow the wing to operate at a higher angle of attack. They are usually used while landing or performing maneuvers but are retracted in normal flight to minimize drag.

TCAS (Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance System) A cockpit system to detect other transponder-equipped aircraft, alert pilots, and command/coordinate evasive action between aircraft.

TRAILING EDGE The rearmost edge of an airfoil.

TRANSPONDER An airborne transmitter that responds to ground-based interrogation signals to provide air traffic controllers with more accurate and reliable position information than would be possible with “passive” radar; may also provided air traffic control with an aircraft’s altitude.

TURBINE Engine that uses compressed air to generate thrust to spin a metal shaft inside the motor. Turbines are vital components in jet engines and also power turboprop aircraft.

TAWS (Terrain Awareness and Warning System) An advanced type of GPWS that provides the flight crew earlier aural and visual warning of impending terrain, forward looking capability and continued operation in the landing configuration.

WAAS (Wide Area Augmentation System) An enhancement to the GPS system providing greater navigation accuracy and system integrity and permitting GPS to be used for precision instrument approaches to most airports.

WINGLET A small, stabilizing, rudder-like addition to the tips of a wing to control or employ air movement, thereby increasing fuel economy.

YOKE The control wheel of an aircraft, akin to an automobile steering wheel.