Soldering

A way of joining metal parts by melting a softer metal between them, like a glue that hardens. The parts being joined are not melted — only the filler metal is.

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Friday, October 9, 2026Ferrous metalA metal that is made mostly of iron. Steel and cast iron are the common examples.
Thursday, October 8, 2026night instrument approachFlying an approach to land at night using the aircraft's instruments rather than relying on what you can see outside.
Wednesday, October 7, 2026heavy airplanesLarge aircraft certified to take off at weights above 300,000 pounds. They are called 'heavy' on the radio because the swirling air they leave behind their wings is strong enough that other aircraft need extra distance to stay clear of it.
Tuesday, October 6, 2026Axial bearing loadIt is the push or pull on a bearing that runs straight along the shaft, in line with how the shaft is pointing.
Monday, October 5, 2026replacement partsParts used to replace worn, broken, or removed parts on an aircraft. They have to be FAA-approved and correct for that aircraft, not just any part that physically fits.
Sunday, October 4, 2026centrifugal compressor stageA spinning disc with vanes throws air outward at high speed, and a surrounding ring slows that air down so its pressure rises. That single throw-and-slow step is one stage. Engines may have one or two of these stages stacked together.
Saturday, October 3, 2026Information RequestWhen controllers lose track of an aircraft because it has gone quiet or hasn't checked in on time, they send out a message to other facilities asking, 'Has anyone heard from this aircraft?' That message is called an Information Request.
Friday, October 2, 2026landing weightHow much the aircraft weighs when it lands — the weight it left with, minus the fuel it used along the way.
Thursday, October 1, 2026Mode AwarenessKnowing exactly what the autopilot and related automated systems are doing right now, and what they are about to do, so the pilot is never surprised by the aircraft's behaviour.
Wednesday, September 30, 2026ImmediatelyDo it right now, not in a moment. Something about the situation is unsafe or about to become unsafe, so the instruction can't wait.
Tuesday, September 29, 2026newtonsA newton is a unit used to measure how much push or pull is being applied to something. It tells you the size of a force, the same way pounds or kilograms tell you weight.
Monday, September 28, 2026MISSED APCH FIXA point on the chart that tells the pilot exactly where to fly to during a missed approach. If the landing doesn't happen, this is one of the spots the pilot is expected to reach and use as a turning or holding reference.
Sunday, September 27, 2026SurfactantA chemical added to a liquid to help it spread, soak in, and clean better. It's why soapy water cleans an oily part that plain water just rolls off of.
Saturday, September 26, 2026TurbofanA jet engine with a big fan up front. Some of the air the fan moves goes through the middle of the engine where fuel is burned, and the rest is pushed around the outside. Both streams of air combine to push the airplane forward, which makes the engine more efficient and quieter than a plain jet.
Friday, September 25, 2026DVRSN — DiversionWhen a flight cannot or should not continue to its planned destination, the pilot changes course and lands somewhere else instead. That change is called a diversion.
Thursday, September 24, 2026rectangular cross-checkA way of moving your eyes around the cockpit instruments in a rectangle shape so you keep checking all of them in turn, instead of staring at just one.
Wednesday, September 23, 2026JET BA jet fuel that is a mix of kerosene and gasoline, used mainly in very cold places because it does not freeze as easily as standard jet fuel.
Tuesday, September 22, 2026inspectionA required check of the aircraft to confirm it is safe and legal to fly. The check is done by a qualified person and the results are written into the aircraft's logbooks.
Monday, September 21, 2026parachute jump aircraft operationsFlights where small aircraft climb up so skydivers can jump out. The places where this regularly happens are marked on charts so other pilots know to watch out for the aircraft and the people coming down under canopy.
Sunday, September 20, 2026engine compressor stallThe fan-like blades inside a jet engine stop pulling air through smoothly. Instead of a steady stream of air being squeezed and pushed back, the airflow breaks down, and the engine loses power until normal flow is restored.
Saturday, September 19, 2026OBS — omnibearing selectorIt is the knob on the VOR instrument you turn to pick which course line, measured outward from the station, you want to fly. Once you set the course, the needle on the instrument tells you whether you are on it or off to one side.
Friday, September 18, 2026landing flareJust before the wheels touch the runway, the pilot gently pulls back on the controls to lift the nose, slowing the descent so the airplane settles onto the runway softly instead of hitting it.
Thursday, September 17, 2026crosswind and headwind component chartA chart that breaks a reported wind into two parts: how much of it is blowing straight down the runway, and how much is blowing across it. Pilots use it to check whether the crosswind is within what the aircraft and the pilot can safely handle.
Wednesday, September 16, 2026EutecticA specific blend of metals (or other materials) that melts at a lower temperature than any of the metals would on their own, and changes from solid to liquid all at once instead of gradually softening.
Tuesday, September 15, 2026tubular ductsTiny tube-shaped channels inside the ear that hold fluid. When the head turns, the fluid shifts and tells the brain which way the body is moving.
Monday, September 14, 2026hand proppingStarting the engine by pulling the propeller through by hand instead of using the electric starter button. It's done when the starter doesn't work or the airplane was never built with one, and it must be done carefully because a spinning propeller can seriously injure or kill someone.
Sunday, September 13, 2026air defense identification zoneA buffer zone of airspace, usually near a country's borders or coastlines, where aircraft must identify themselves before entering. If you fly through one without filing a flight plan and talking to ATC, the military may treat you as a potential threat.
Saturday, September 12, 2026Runway Incursion ProgramAn FAA effort to reduce mistakes that put aircraft or vehicles on a runway when they shouldn't be there. As part of it, the FAA flags trouble spots at specific airports so pilots know to be extra careful in those places.
Friday, September 11, 2026Dc AmplifierA circuit that boosts a steady or slowly changing electrical signal so it is large enough to drive a meter, indicator, or control system.
Thursday, September 10, 2026idle detentA built-in catch in the throttle quadrant at the idle position. The pilot has to deliberately lift or move the levers past this catch before they can pull them back into reverse. It stops the levers being yanked into reverse by mistake.