Definition
A rechargeable aircraft battery that uses nickel and cadmium as the active materials in its plates, with potassium hydroxide as the electrolyte. NiCad batteries deliver high current, perform well across a wide temperature range, and hold a steady voltage through most of their discharge cycle, making them common in turbine-powered and high-performance aircraft.
Plain English
A type of rechargeable battery built from nickel and cadmium that can deliver lots of power on demand and works well in cold or hot conditions. It is often used in aircraft that need a strong, reliable battery, especially for engine starting.
Context Anchor
Seen in aircraft electrical system descriptions, maintenance information, and discussions of battery power.
Derivation
Named after the two metals it contains: nickel and cadmium. The shorthand 'NiCad' simply combines the chemical names, the same way 'Li-ion' is short for lithium-ion.
Why Pilots Care
NiCad batteries deliver high starting current and tolerate deep discharges, but they must be properly charged and conditioned to prevent capacity loss.
Intuition Check
Do not assume a NiCad is the same as every other rechargeable battery. In this term, NiCad names a specific battery chemistry with its own charging and maintenance requirements.
Example Sentence 1
The turbine helicopter's NiCad battery delivered the heavy current needed to spin up the engine on a cold morning.
Example Sentence 2
During the annual inspection the mechanic performed a deep cycle on the aircraft's NiCad battery.