Definition
A mechanical system that holds the aircraft's wheel brakes in the applied position without the pilot's feet on the toe brakes. It is typically set by pressing the brake pedals and then pulling or activating a separate parking brake handle, lever, or knob, which locks hydraulic pressure in the brake lines. The brakes remain applied until the pilot releases the parking brake control.
Plain English
A control that keeps the airplane's brakes pressed for you, so it stays still when you take your feet off the pedals.
Context Anchor
Seen during before-taxi, run-up, parking, and instrument takeoff checks, especially when confirming the brakes are released before beginning the takeoff roll.
Derivation
Parking comes from the everyday action of leaving a vehicle stopped and unattended; brakes refers to the mechanism that slows or stops motion. Together the words directly describe the function of holding an aircraft in place like a parked car.
Why Pilots Care
Prevents unintended aircraft movement during ground operations and engine checks, reducing risk of collision or loss of control before the takeoff roll begins.
Intuition Check
Parking brakes do not mean the aircraft is safely secured by themselves in every situation. They simply hold the wheel brakes on; wind, slope, surface conditions, or brake problems can still require chocks or other securing steps.
Example Sentence 1
Before starting the engine, the pilot pressed the toe brakes and set the parking brake so the aircraft would not roll during start.
Example Sentence 2
After completing the instrument takeoff checklist the pilot released the parking brakes and advanced the throttles.