Avionics Key Terms

Avionics terms and phrases you need to know

Avionics are the brain of your aircraft. They refer to the "thinking" part of the plane that helps a pilot keep the plane on course, communicate with other aircraft and control towers, and navigate by instrument when visual aids and points of reference are less than adequate. Every plane will have different avionics, but learning some of the basics will help make the learning curve less steep as you move from one plane to another. This guide explains some of the basic terms surrounding avionics.

 

Avionics

The term avionics means aviation electronics. Avionics include electrical systems, such as radios and lights, as well as navigation systems like a GPS or radar.
Try: SR Technics describes avionics and what purpose they serve in an airplane.

Global positioning system

A global positioning system, or GPS, allows a pilot to see where he is, plot a course from one place to another, and monitor other traffic.
Try: Garmin, a GPS manufacturer, explains what a global positioning system will and will not do.

A & P mechanic

An A & P, or an airframe and powerplant mechanic, repairs avionics as well as other parts of the airplane. Because avionics can include handheld radios that a pilot may bring onboard, some avionics may go to a repair shop instead of going to your maintenance hangar when they need repair. If an avionic component is under warranty you may need to return it to the manufacturer instead of having a local A & P mechanic work on it.
Try: The United States Department of Labor provides a full job description for an A & P mechanic.

Automatic flight control system

An automatic flight control system is part of a plane's autopilot system. This avionics component relies on other components as well to allow a pilot to fly a plane on autopilot. It is not autopilot; rather, it is one part of the autopilot.
Try: The Aviation Glossary explains an automatic flight control system and its components. Scroll down the page to see the glossary entry.

VOR

VOR, or very high frequency omnidirectional range, is a radio aid to navigation that allows a pilot to navigate when he cannot rely on visual landmarks alone.
Try: FlightSimBooks.com explains VOR and how it works.

Glass cockpit

The phrase "glass cockpit" refers to a cockpit where the pilot looks at his instruments on a computer screen rather than referencing steam gauges.
Try: The National Aeronautics and Space Administration explains what a glass cockpit is and how it came about.

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