Definition
To leave the aircraft quickly and in an organized manner following an emergency landing or other on-ground emergency, removing all occupants to a safe distance from the airplane.
Plain English
To get everyone out of the airplane and away from it as fast and safely as possible.
Context Anchor
Used in emergency procedures, including night forced landings, cabin smoke or fire, and any situation where the pilot must move people away from the aircraft.
Derivation
From the Latin 'evacuare,' meaning 'to empty out.' In aviation, it means emptying the airplane of its occupants when staying inside is no longer safe.
Why Pilots Care
Quick evacuation after an emergency landing can prevent injuries or fatalities from post-impact fire or other hazards.
Intuition Check
Do not read evacuate as simply “exit.” In aviation emergency use, it means leaving because staying there may be unsafe, and doing it in a controlled way.
Example Sentence 1
After the forced landing, the pilot shut off the fuel and master switch, then helped the passengers evacuate the airplane.
Example Sentence 2
During night emergency training, the student practiced how to evacuate through the cabin door without tripping on unseen terrain.