Definition
A mechanical instrument used to measure the tension in aircraft control cables. The tensiometer is clamped onto a cable, and the force required to deflect the cable a fixed amount is read on a calibrated scale, allowing the technician to verify that cable tension matches the manufacturer's specification for the cable size and ambient temperature.
Plain English
A tool that measures how tight a control cable is. You clip it onto the cable and it tells you the tension, so you can check the cable is neither too loose nor too tight.
Context Anchor
Seen during aircraft maintenance, especially when checking or adjusting control cables.
Derivation
From Latin tensio meaning 'a stretching' and the suffix -meter meaning 'measuring device.' Literally a 'stretch measurer' — which is exactly what it does on a cable under tension.
Why Pilots Care
Correct cable tension ensures precise control response and prevents binding or excessive play that could affect handling or safety.
Analogy
It is like checking how tight a guitar string is, except the tensiometer gives a measured reading instead of relying on feel.
Intuition Check
A tensiometer does not measure air pressure or electrical force. In this context, it measures how tight a cable is.
Example Sentence 1
The mechanic used a tensiometer to check the aileron cable tension after the new cables were installed.
Example Sentence 2
After replacing the rudder cables, the team verified each one with a tensiometer before signing off the work.