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AIRMET, Airmet
normally issued locally, often verbally during pre-flight or
in-flight briefing.
AIRMET, Airmet 1 In-flight weather advisory category
less severe than SIGMET but potentially hazardous to
simple aircraft flown by inexperienced pilot (US).
2 Telephone weather service (CAA UK).
air meter 1 Instrument on testbed [e.g., for engines] for
measurement and recording of airflow mass per unit time.
2 Confusingly, a 1935 dictionary offers “A type of
portable anemometer,” which meassures velocity.
air mile 1 Aeronautical mile = nautical mile.
2 One mile flown through the air, following Hdg. at
TAS; wind must be added to give distnce along Tr. at G/s.
Hence * per gallon.
air mileage unit, AMU Mechanical calculating instrument,
1942–55, to derive continuous value for air distance
flown. Output, more accurate and reliable than air log,
was fed to air mileage indicator (AMI) and often other
instruments.
air-minded Of general public, concerned to further aviation
for prosperity, defence or sport.
air ministry In many countries, national department
charged with administering military (sometimes all) aviation.
In UK, replaced by MoD (RAF).
Airmis Airline management information system, EDP
for smaller airlines.
airmiss Incident reported by at least one member of
aircrew who considers there was “definite risk of
collision” between two airborne aircraft (US). See
airprox.
airmobile, air-mobile Ground troops equipped and
trained for insertion by air, making conventional landing
(fixed or rotary wing).
air-mobile band Band of communications frequencies
assigned to air-mobile forces.
air-mobile operation Operation by ground forces carried
in air vehicles.
Air Mounting Centre Airfield for army traffic (South
Cerney, UK).
air movement Military air transport operation involving
landing and/or airdrop.
air movement table Detailed schedule of utilisation of
aircraft load space, numbers and types of aircraft, and
departure places and times.
AIMS Airport unterference monitoring system.
Air National Guard, ANG Part-time voluntary auxiliary
to USAF equipped with fighter, tactical strike and transport
aircraft, organised as self-contained arm by each
state.
air nautical mile See air mile.
air navigation Art of conducting aircraft from place of
departure to predetermined destination, or along intermediate
routes (eg to follow precise tracks in surveying).
Originally pure pilotage (contact flying); by 1918 moved
into nautical realm of dead reckoning and celestial observation
(astro-nav); by 1960 all ** relied upon ground and
airborne aids, except in gliders and simple light aircraft.
Air Navigation Commission Body charged with setting
standards and operating practice. Reports to the Council,
see next.
Air Navigation Council Governing body of ICAO.
air navigation facility Navaid; surface facility for air
navigation including ‘landing areas, lights, any apparatus
or equipment for disseminating weather information, for
airport runway configuration
signalling, for radio direction-finding, or for radio or
other electronic communication . . .’ (FAA). Today add
‘for electronic position-finding.’
Air Navigation Orders Statutory instruments decreeing
laws of civil air operations, including flight-crew licensing
(UK).
AIRO Airborne IR observatory.
air officer, Air Officer 1 Loosely, officer commissioned
in an air force.
2 Specif., officer of Air Rank in RAF.
air/oil strut Telescopic member utilising properties of air
and oil to absorb compressive shocks (rarely, tensile) with
minimal or controlled rebound.
air operator One who engages in flying for hire or
reward, hence * Certificate.
air phone HF air/ground telephony.
airplane Aeroplane (N America).
Airplane Design Group Class of aircraft, from I to VI,
according to weight, dimensions, turning circle and other
factors affecting airport requirement (FAA).
air plot 1 Continuous air navigation graphic plot
constructed (usually on board aircraft) by drawing
vectors of true headings for lengths equivalent to air
distances flown, today archaic.
2 Similar plot constructed for airborne object derived
from visual or radar observation of its flight.
3 Automatic or manually constructed display showing
position and movements of airborne objects (if in a ship,
relative to the ship).
air pocket Sudden and pronounced gust imparting negative
vertical acceleration; down-draught. Suggest archaic.
airport Airfield or marine base designated and used for
public air service to meet needs of quasi-permanent
community. There need be no facilities for aircraft replenishment
or repair, customs facilities, nor scheduled
service; but there must be facilities for passengers and/or
cargo. Community served can be mainly or even exclusively
employees of one company (eg at oilfield).
airport advisory area Area within 5 miles of geographical
centre of uncontrolled airport on which is located FSS
so depicted on appropriate sectional aeronautical chart
(FAA)
airport advisory service Terminal service provided
by FSS located at airport where control tower is not
operating.
airport code Three-letter code identifying all commercial
airports (eg, LHR, JFK, LAX).
airport commission Board of management of most US
airports.
Airport-G Airport integrated research and development
project for operational regulation of traffic guidance
(Euret).
airport information desk Unmanned facility at local
airport provided for pilot self-service briefing, flight planning
and filing of flight plans (FAA).
airport marker See marker.
airport movement area safety system Uses surface and
airspace radar linked to predictive software to warn of
future conflict on runway, taxiway or apron.
airport of entry Airport provided with customs facilities
through which air traffic can be cleared before or after
international flight.
airport runway configuration Current runways in use for
takeoffs and landings, changes notified in advance.
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