RSU Runway supervisory unit.
S
SAC Strategic Air Command.
SAR Search-and-rescue operations.
SKE Station Keeping Equipment.
Slipstream The rush of air around an aircraft in flight.
Special instructions Guidance, issued to aircrews, with regard to a specific combat operation.
SPINS Special instructions.
Stall A condition in which the airflow over a wing becomes turbulent rather than smooth, causing a sudden loss of lifting power.
Stan/Eval Standardization/Evaluation, the office responsible for monitoring proficiency and job knowledge through periodic written tests and check flights, which is historically loathed by crew members.
Static discharge Explosivelike blast experienced when an electrical charge builds up on an aircraft and suddenly discharges into the surrounding air mass. Usually occurs in or near thunderstorms.
T
Tango Uniform International Phonetic Code for 'tits up,' i.e., broken, or out of commission.
TDY Temporary duty.
TJ Torrejon Air Base, Spain.
TRT Takeoff-rated thrust.
Turboprop A jet engine that spins a propeller.
U
UHF Ultra-high frequency, a frequency band used in most military aircraft communications.
UPT Undergraduate pilot training.
USAF United States Air Force.
UTA Unit training assembly, the weekend period of duty required once per month of guardsmen and reservists. Commonly referred to as 'drill.'
V
VFR Visual flight rules, rules applied to aircraft flying in relatively good weather and not under positive control by a radar or a tracking facility.
VHF Very high frequency, a frequency band used in most civil aircraft communications.
VOR Very high frequency omnidirectional range, a reference to both onboard receivers and ground navigation facilities that allow aircraft to fly specific courses between stations.
W
Wake turbulence Disturbed flow of air left behind after an aircraft wing passes through. Can be violent and long lasting behind large aircraft.
Walk-around inspection External inspection performed by crew members before flight and between flights.
Z
Zero fuel weight (ZFW) The weight of the aircraft plus its passengers and cargo, exclusive of fuel. The maximum fuel load is calculated by subtracting the ZFW from the maximum allowable takeoff weight.
About the Author
Alan Cockrell is a commercial airline pilot. He spent twenty years in the Air Force, the Reserve, and the Air Guard. During the Persian Gulf War he logged almost 1,000 hours as a C-141 aircraft commander. He resides in Huntsville, Alabama.
