Definition
The rated performance of an engine — typically thrust or horsepower — established by the manufacturer under standard reference conditions and stamped on the metal identification plate (dataplate) attached to the engine. It represents the engine's certified baseline output, against which actual in-service performance is compared during testing and trend monitoring.
Plain English
The official performance number the manufacturer assigned to the engine when it was built, recorded on a metal tag fixed to the engine itself. It is the baseline you measure the engine against later to see if it is still performing as designed.
Context Anchor
Seen in aircraft maintenance records, engine inspections, engine replacement checks, and powerplant performance discussions.
Derivation
From 'dataplate' — a small metal plate fastened to the engine carrying its identifying data (serial number, model, rated output). 'Performance' here refers specifically to the rated output figure on that plate, not general engine behaviour.
Why Pilots Care
Confirms the engine meets its certified capabilities, which is required for safe operation and regulatory compliance.
Grounding Statement
The dataplate tells you the engine’s official approved capability; the engine’s current condition determines how well it actually performs today.
Intuition Check
Do not read “performance” here as how well the engine happened to run on a given day. Dataplate performance means the engine’s official rated capability as marked by the manufacturer.
Example Sentence 1
After overhaul, the engine was run in the test cell and met its dataplate performance within the allowed tolerance.
Example Sentence 2
Any shortfall from dataplate performance must be resolved before the aircraft returns to service.