the Aviation Dictionary

cast iron - Iron that contains 6% to 8% carbon and
silicon. Cast iron is a hard unmalleable pig iron made
by casting.
cast-aluminum alloy - Aluminum alloy that has been
heated to its molten state and poured into a mold to
give it a desired shape.
castle nut - A general purpose
hexagonal nut for aircraft or
engine use Their shape
resembles a castle with the
slots between the "turrets"
used for locking the nut to
the bolt with cotter pins.
catalyst - A material used to bring about a change, or
speeds up the rate of change of a chemical action, but
does not actually enter into the change itself.
catalytic cracking - A method of refining petroleum
products in which a catalyst is used to change highboiling-point
hydrocarbons into low-boiling-point
hydrocarbons.
catalyzed material - A material whose cure is initiated
by the addition of a catalyst.
catalyzed resin - A term used to describe the resin
mixture after it has been mixed with the catalyst or
hardener. It may still be in the workable state.
catapult - A mechanism used to launch an object into
the air. Catapults are used to launch heavily loaded
aircraft from the decks of aircraft carriers at a high rate
of weed.
cast iron - Cathode-rav oscillosco~e
category I1 operation - With respect to the operation of
aircraft, this is a straight-in ILS approach to the runway
of an airport, under a category I1 ILS instrument
approach procedure issued by the Administrator or
other appropriate authority.
category 11 operations - With respect to the operation
of aircraft, means a straight-in ILS approach to the
runway of an airport under a Category I1 ILS
instrument approach procedure issued by the
Administrator or other appropriate authority.
category I11 operations - With respect to the operation
of aircraft, means an ILS approach to, and landing on,
the runway of an airport using a Category 111 ILS
instrument approach procedure issued by the
Administrator or other appropriate authority.
category IIlA operations - An ILS approach and
landing with no decision height (DH), or a DH below
100 feet (30 meters), and controlling runway visual
range not less than 700 feet (200 meters).
category IIIB operations - An ILS approach and
landing with no DH, or with a DH below 50 feet (15
meters), and controlling runway visual range less than
700 feet (200 meters), but not less than 150 feet (50
meters).
category IIIC operations - An ILS approach and
landing with no DH and no runway visual range
limitation. Also known as zero-zero landing.
catenary curve - A curve formed by a flexible cord or
rope suspended between two points at the same level.
catenary thermal shield - A curved sheet metal section
category - 1. As used with respect to the certification,
between turbine wheels of a particular set. It serves as a
ratings, privileges, and limitations of airmen, means a
heat bamer between the gas path and the inner portion
broad classification of aircraft. Examples include:
of a drumairplane;
rotorcraft; glider; - and lighter-than-air. -
2. As
used with respect to the certification of aircraft, means type
..
turbine wheel.
a grouping of aircraft based upon intended use or
cathedral - The downslope of the wings from the
operating limitations. Examples include: transport,
fuselage. It is the opposite of dihedral. Airplanes that
normal, utility, acrobatic, limited, restricted, and
employ cathedral have an increase in maneuverability
provisional.
but a decrease in stability.
category A - With respect to transport category
cathode - 1. The negative terminal of a semiconductor
rotorcraft, means multiengine rotorcraft designed with
diode or the element in an electron tube from which the
engine and system isolation features specified in Part
electrons are emitted. 2. An active element in an
29 and utilizing scheduled takeoff and landing
electrochemical cell that loses oxygen in the chemical
operations under a critical engine failure concept which
action that causes electrons to flow.
assures adequate designated surface area and adequate
performance capability for continued safe flight in the cathode of a semiconductor diode - The end of a
event of engine failure.
semiconductor diode made of N-type material.
category B - With respect to transport category cathode protection - A material more anodic than the
rotorcraft, means single-engine or multiengine material being protected is attached to or plated on the
rotorcraft which do not fully meet all Category A material, which then becomes the cathode and is not
standards. Category
-.
B rotorcraft have no guaranteed corroded. Also referred to as sacrificial corrosion
stay-up ability in the event of engine failure and
unscheduled landing is assumed.
Cathode-ray oscilloscope - An electrical measuring
instrument in which the readout is on the surface of a
tube similar to that in a television set. Electrons are
Aircraft Technical Book Company
P.O. Box 270
65
Tabernash, CO 80478
http://w.ACTechbooks.com