Definition
A device that moves fuel from the aircraft's fuel tanks to the engine at the pressure and flow rate the engine requires. Most piston aircraft have two: an engine-driven pump that operates whenever the engine is running, and an electric auxiliary (boost) pump used for starting, takeoff, landing, and as a backup if the engine-driven pump fails.
Plain English
The part that pushes fuel from the tanks to the engine. There is usually a main one driven by the engine itself, plus an electric backup the pilot can switch on.
Context Anchor
You will see this term during preflight inspection, engine start, takeoff checks, and discussions of the airplane fuel system.
Why Pilots Care
A failing fuel pump can cause loss of engine power or complete engine stoppage, so pilots verify its condition and operation before every flight.
Intuition Check
A fuel pump is not the airport pump used to put fuel into the airplane. In this context, it means a pump installed in the airplane that helps deliver fuel to the engine.
Example Sentence 1
Before starting the engine, the pilot turned on the electric fuel pump and checked that fuel pressure rose into the green arc.
Example Sentence 2
Once the engine started, the engine-driven fuel pump took over supplying fuel to the carburetor.