Definition
A fuel delivery system that meters fuel and sprays it directly into the intake port of each cylinder (or just upstream of it), rather than mixing fuel and air in a single carburetor. Fuel flow is controlled mechanically based on engine speed, throttle position, and mixture setting.
Plain English
Instead of one shared device mixing fuel and air for the whole engine, each cylinder gets its own small nozzle that sprays fuel right at its intake. The system measures how much fuel to send based on how hard the engine is working.
Context Anchor
Seen in engine-system descriptions, checklists, and abnormal engine-instrument discussions when identifying what type of fuel system the airplane uses.
Derivation
From Latin injicere, 'to throw in.' The fuel is thrown (sprayed) directly into the intake stream rather than being drawn in passively through a carburetor venturi.
Why Pilots Care
Delivers consistent fuel metering at all altitudes and reduces the risk of carburetor icing.
Intuition Check
Fuel injection does not mean an emergency shot of fuel. It is the normal system that meters and sprays fuel into the engine during operation.
Example Sentence 1
Because the airplane has fuel injection, the pilot followed the hot-start procedure in the POH instead of using the normal start checklist.
Example Sentence 2
Abnormal engine roughness led the pilot to check fuel injection pressure as part of the troubleshooting checklist.