DRO
Initialism of distant retrograde orbit.
Aviation maintenance
479 entries in this trade.
droop
A hinged portion of the leading edge of an aeroplane's wing, which swivels downward to increase lift during takeoff and landing.
DSN
Initialism of Deep Space Network.
EAC
Abbreviation of European Astronaut Centre.
ECO
Abbreviation of engine cutoff.
ECSS
Initialism of European Cooperation for Space Standardization.
ejectable
Any object that is ejected by a satellite while it is in space.
elevator
A control surface of an aircraft responsible for controlling the pitching motion of the machine.
elevon
A movable surface at the trailing edge of a tailless airplane (such as the space shuttle) that provides pitch and roll control.
eLISA
Initialism of evolved Laser Interferometer Space Antenna, a proposed European Space Agency mission designed to detect and accurately measure gravitational waves.
ELSS
Initialism of extravehicular life support system.
Emirates
One of the two flag carrier airlines of the United Arab Emirates
endorsement
An instructor's signed acknowledgement of time practising specific flying skills.
EOD
Initialism of end of daylight.
erect
To spin up and align to vertical.
erector
A vehicle used to support a rocket for transportation and for placing the rocket in an upright position within a gantry scaffold.
ERV
Initialism of Earth return vehicle.
ESA
Initialism of European Space Agency.
ESOC
Initialism of European Space Operations Centre.
ESRIN
Initialism of European Space Research Institute.
ESTEC
Initialism of European Space Research and Technology Centre.
ET
Initialism of electronic ticket.
excursion
An occurrence where an aircraft runs off the end or side of a runway or taxiway, usually during takeoff, landing, or taxi.
exhaust velocity
The speed with which the exhaust gases leave the rocket engine.
Fairey-Youngman flap
A kind of flap that drops down before sliding aft and then rotating up or down.
fam trip
A free (or low cost) trip for travel agents or consultants, provided by a travel operator or airline as a means of promoting their service.
FCU
Initialism of fuel control unit.
FD
Initialism of flight director.
featherable
adjectiveAviation maintenance
Of a propeller: capable of having its blades streamlined by rotating them perpendicular to the axis of the propeller when the engine is shut down, so that the propeller does not windmill as the aircraft flies.
fission rocket
A spacecraft having a fission reactor that powers the rocket.
fix
A non-waypoint terrain feature used to make a determination of location.
FL
Abbreviation of flight level.
flap
A hinged surface on the trailing edge of the wings of an aeroplane, used to increase lift and drag.
fleet leader
The airframe or component with the longest time in service, compared to others of the same design.
flox
To add fluorine to liquid-oxygen rocket fuel.
FLPP
Initialism of Future Launchers Preparatory Programme.
foil
Clipping of aerofoil/airfoil.
FOP
Initialism of form of payment.
formate
To assemble flying aircraft into formation; to fly in formation.
Fowler flap
A split flap that slides backwards before hinging downward, thereby increasing first chord, then camber. It may or may not form part of the upper surface of the wing.
FTA
Abbreviation of flight test article (such as a test aircraft, a prototype).
FTS
Initialism of flight termination system, a system to destroy the vehicle if it goes out of parameters or out of control.
fuselage
The main body of an aerospace vehicle; the long central structure of an aircraft to which the wings (or rotors), tail, and engines are attached, and which accommodates crew and cargo.
fusion rocket
a rocket engine that uses nuclear fusion reactions for propulsive force
GA
Initialism of general aviation.
GALEX
Acronym of Galaxy Evolution Explorer, a spacecraft of NASA.
gamma
Flight path angle; the angle by which an aircraft's flight path deviates from the horizontal plane.
gas generator
A mechanical device that uses a chemical reaction to produce a gas as an output.
George
The autopilot of an aircraft.
gimbal
To move a reaction engine about on a gimbal so as to obtain pitching and yawing correction moments.
GRAIL
Initialism of Gravity Recovery and Interior Laboratory.
grain
The solid piece of fuel in an individual solid-fuel rocket engine.
ground effect
Any aerodynamic effects occurring due to a vehicle's body or appendages moving in close proximity to the ground.
ground proximity warning system
A device which warns a pilot that their aircraft may be in danger of collision with the ground.
GTO
Abbreviation of geostationary transfer orbit.
gunship
An armed helicopter tasked to attack the enemy.
gyrocopter
An autogyro, similar to a helicopter.
HALO
Acronym of high altitude, low opening (“a type of skydiving where one leaves the launch platform from a high altitude and opens the parachute at a very low altitude”).
hand-off
The transfer of the radar identification of an aircraft from one controller to another when the aircraft enters the receiving controller's airspace and radio communications with the aircraft are transferred.
hard start
An explosion in a rocket engine during startup, usually due to the presence of too much propellant prior to ignition.