the Aviation Dictionary

gliders, it is located near the nose or directly ahead of
the main wheel. Two types of tow hooks commonly
used in gliders are manufactured by Tost and
Schweizer.
tower - A terminal facility that uses airlground
communications, visual signaling, and other devices to
provide ATC services to aircraft operating in the
vicinity of an airport or on the movement area.
Authorizes aircraft to land or takeoff at the airport
controlled by the tower or to transit the Class D
airspace area regardless of flight plan or weather
conditions (IFR or VFR). A tower can also provide
approach control services (radar or nonradar).
tower traffic advisories
aircraft over the ground. Also referred to as ground
track.
track [ICAO]- The projection on the Earth's surface of
the path of an aircraft, the direction of which path at
any -point is usually expressed in degrees from North
(True, Magnetic, or Grid).
tracking - A process of navigation where a course is
placed in the course selector and the course is maintain
tracking flag - A wooden pole that supports a white
cotton flag, used to touch the operating rotor blades
that have had their tips covered with colored chalk. The
marks left on the nag indicate track of the main rotor.
tower enroute control service - The control of IFR tracking reflectors -Reflectors placed on the blade tips
enroute traffic within delegated airspace between two to determine track with a spotlight - - or a strobe light. -
or more adjacent approach control facilities. This
service is designed to expedite traffic and reduce
tracking stick - A stick, with a wick on one end, used to
control and pilot communication requirements.
touch the operating rotor blades in order to determine
track.
tower to tower - See tower enroute control service.
tracking targets - Reflectors placed on the blade tips to
tnwer visibility - Prevailing visibility determined from determine track with a spotlight or slrube light.
the control tower.
TRACON - Acronym for Terminal Radar Approach
towering cumulus - A rapidly growing cumulus cloud, Control.
it is often typical of the cumulus stage of thunderstorm
development. Its top can reach 20,000 feet AGL or
tractor propeller - A propeller mounted to the front of
more and have a width of three to five miles.
an engine that pulls the airplane through the air.
towing eye - A ring or hook on an aircraft structure to
trade winds - Winds that blow toward the equator from
which a tow bar can be attached for moving the
the northeast on the north side of the equator and from
airplane on the ground.
the southeast on the south side. Trade winds are caused
bv the friction between the air and the Earth and bv the
Townend ring - A cowling used on radial-engine rotation of the Earth.
aircraft designed to improve airflow and engine
cooling.
traffic - 1. A term used by ATC to refer to one or more
aircraft. 2. A term used bv a controller to transfer radar
toxic - Poisonous.
identification of an aircraft to another controller for the
purpose of coordinating separation action. Traffic is
TPX-42 - A numeric beacon decoder equipmentlsystem.
normally issued:
It is designed to be added to terminal radar systems for
a. in response to a handoff or point out,
beacon decoding. It provides rapid target identification,
b. in anticipation of a handoff or point out, or
reinforcement of the primary radar target, and altitude
c. in conjunction with a request for control of an aircraft.
information from Mode C.
traffic advisories - Advisories issued to alert pilots to
trace - When precipitation occurs in amounts too small
other known or observed air traffic that can be in such
to be measured, less than .01 inches
proximity to the position or intended route of flight of
traceable pressure standard - The facility station their aircraft to warrant their attention. Such advisories
pressure instrument, with certification/calibration can be based on:
traceable to the National Institute of Standards and a. Visual observation.
Technology. Traceable pressure standards can be b. Observation of radar identified and nonidentified
mercurial barometers, commissioned ASOS or dual aircraft targets on an ATC radar display, or
transducer AWOS, or portable pressure standards or c. Verbal reports from pilots or other facilities.
DASI.
Note 1: The word "traff~c" followed by additional
tracer - In composites, a fiber, tow, or yam added to a information, if known, is used to provide such
pre-preg for verifying fiber alignment or for advisories; e.g., "Traffic, 2 o'clock, one zero miles,
distinguishing warp fibers from fill fibers.
southbound, eight thousand."
track - 1. The path followed by the tip of a propeller or
rotor blade as it rotates. 2. The actual flight path of an
Aircraft Technical Book Company
P.O. Box 270
Tabernash, CO 80478
http://w.ACTechbooks.com
Note 2: Traffic advisory service will be provided to the
extent possible depending on higher priority duties of
the controller or other limitations; e.g., radar