Definition
A device that converts electrical energy into mechanical rotational energy. In aircraft systems, motors drive components such as fuel pumps, hydraulic pumps, starters, flap actuators, landing gear, trim systems, and various accessories.
Plain English
A motor takes electricity and turns it into spinning movement to power something on the aircraft.
Context Anchor
Seen in powerplant maintenance descriptions for items such as starter motors, pump motors, and small motors that move or drive engine-related parts.
Derivation
From the Latin 'motor', meaning 'mover' (from 'movere', to move). It is anything that produces motion — which is exactly what an electric motor does in an aircraft system.
Why Pilots Care
Electric motors operate critical systems such as fuel pumps and landing-gear actuators; failure can affect flight safety.
Intuition Check
Do not assume “motor” always means the aircraft’s main engine. In this maintenance context, it often means a smaller powered device that makes another part move.
Example Sentence 1
When the pilot selected flaps down, the electric motor drove the flaps to the commanded position.
Example Sentence 2
During the preflight, the pilot checked that the flap motor operated smoothly.