Business Aircraft Makers Key Terms

Learn the language business aircraft makers use

By Cathy Salustri

Understanding how business aircraft manufacturers work entails learning some of their language. Certain words used in discussing the design and creation of a business aircraft will be unfamiliar to those not enmeshed in the industry; discussion of piston engines as opposed to turbo engines may leave the uninitiated confused.

In addition, the standards that business aircraft manufacturers abide by also have their own alphabet soup of acronyms. These acronyms are also important key terms in the industry. Knowing the meaning behind FAR, FAA and other aircraft-related acronyms fosters a better understanding of the business aircraft manufacturing industry.

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)

The federal government has a whole host of aviation-related acronyms like CFR, FAA and others. It's easy enough to learn that CFR stands for the Code of Federal Regulations and FAA means Federal Aviation Administration, but what are these things and what do they really mean?
Try: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has the CFR in its entirety (as it applies to aviation) on its website, as well as a good general description of how the two interrelate.

Federal Aviation Regulations (FAR)

The FARs have their own terminology that includes a bevy of acronyms as well. All pilots, airplane mechanics and private and business aircraft manufacturers know, understand and will use these acronyms and terms, so understanding these are crucial as well.
Try: Risingup Aviation has an exhaustive listing of these acronyms and their meanings.

Piston engines

The first aircraft manufacturers used piston engines, as do many business aircraft manufacturers today. Put as simply as possible, a piston engine burns gas inside its cylinders. Piston engines are one type of internal combustion engine, also called a reciprocating engine.
Try: The Aircraft Engine Historical Society talks about the use of piston engines in aircraft. It also has descriptions of different types of piston engines.

Powerplant

Business aircraft manufacturers, mechanics and pilots will all refer to a powerplant from time to time. In an aircraft, a powerplant is what keeps the plane moving; the things that supply and maintain power are all considered part of the powerplant.
Try: Since the most common way people see the word powerplant in relation to aircraft is when aviators refer to a powerplant mechanic, look at the description on CollegeBoard.com for a powerplant technology major.

Turbine engines

Turbine engines are jet engines. These engines, common in larger business aircraft, use fluid to move energy through the engine.
Try: HowStuffWorks describes how a turbine engine works. It also has a simple video showing an engine at work.

Avionics

Avionics simply means aviation electronics. While the powerplant consists of what makes the plane go, the avionics of a plane are comprised of electronic systems focusing on communication and navigation.
Try: On airforce-technology.com, SPG Media clearly delineates what avionics consist of and explains what avionics do, in addition to closely related terms and topics.