| P |
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| |
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PACAF |
Pacific Air Forces (USAF) |
|
PAH |
PanzerAbwehrHubschrauber (anti-tank helicopter, Eurocopter Tiger variant)
|
|
PAN |
generally broadcast radio code indicating uncertainty or alert but not an
emergency serious enough for a Mayday call |
|
PAPI |
precision approach path indicator |
|
PAR |
(1) phased array radar or (2) precision approach radar |
|
passenger load factor |
is
calculated by dividing seat-kilometres used by seat kilometres available
and expressing it as a percentage |
|
pa |
passenger |
|
payload |
in
commercial aircraft, relates to revenue-earning cargo, passengers, baggage
or mail; in military aircraft, total disposable load which may include weapons,
cargo, passengers and any removable mission equipment |
|
P&W |
Pratt & Whitney |
|
PBN |
Pilatus Britten-Norman Ltd (UK, now B-N Group Ltd) |
|
PBW |
power-by-wire (use solely of electrical power to move control surfaces or
perform other mechanical tasks) |
|
PCB |
(1) plenum chamber burning (R-R) or (2) printed circuit board |
|
PCTA |
plastic-cased telescoped ammunition |
|
PCU |
power control unit |
|
PDF |
precision direction finder |
|
PE |
Procurement Executive (UK-MoD) |
|
PFA |
Popular Flying Association (UK) |
|
PFCS |
primary flight computer system |
|
PFD |
primary flight display |
|
PFP |
Partnership For Peace (NATO) |
|
PGM |
precision-guided munition |
|
phased array |
radar which operates by electronically scanning the beam in one or both
axes while the antenna remains stationary |
|
PHI |
precision and heading (or homing) indicator |
|
PI |
practice interception |
|
PIC |
pilot in command |
|
plum |
wake of hot air and gas emitted by a helicopter jetpipe or wake from jet
engine at high power on the ground |
|
pneumatic de-icing |
method of throwing ice off, for example, aircraft wing leading edges, by
alternately pumping up and down a flexible surface coating |
|
PNVS |
pilot night vision system |
|
point defence |
defence
of specific area, city or installation |
|
POL |
petroleum, oil, lubricants |
|
power loading |
aircraft
MTOGW divided by total thrust at take-off |
|
power train |
a complete mechanical drive system, for example that which transmits power
from an engine to the rotor system of a helicopter |
|
PPI |
plan position indicator |
|
PPL |
private pilot's licence |
|
P3I |
pre-planned product improvement (US) |
|
PR |
public relations or photo-reconnaissance |
|
PRF |
pulse repetition frequency (radar) |
|
primary flight display |
main
display screen showing all data for aircraft flight path control |
|
propfan |
new technology propeller family, normally with many thin, sharp-edged, scimitar-shaped
blades and often contra-rotating |
|
proprotor |
large propeller capable of tilting for both forward and vertical flight,
as in the V-22 Osprey |
|
psi |
pounds/square inch |
|
PSP |
pierced steel planking (interlocking mild steel plates used for temporary
runway or hardstanding) |
|
PSR |
post-strike reconnaissance |
|
PTT |
Part Task Trainer (US) |
|
PV |
private venture |
|
PWR |
passive warning radar |
| |
|
| Q |
|
| |
|
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QFE |
atmospheric pressure at aerodrome elevation |
|
QFI |
Qualified Flying Instructor (RAF) |
|
QNE |
altimeter reading at airfield when subscale is set to 1013.2 millibars,
ie pressure height of airfield |
|
QNH |
altimeter subscale setting to destination airfield altitude -- equivalent
MSL pressure as calculated by destination ATC |
|
QRA |
Quick-Reaction Alert (RAF) |
| |
|
| R |
|
| |
|
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RAAWS |
radar altimeter & altitude warning system |
|
radius of action |
measure of the maximum distance an aircraft can fly from its base with a
normal combat load and return without refuelling (figure varies considerably
according to mission profile) |
|
RAeS |
Royal Aeronautical Society |
|
RAF |
Royal Air Force |
|
RAFVR |
Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve |
|
R&D |
research and development |
|
R&M |
reliability and maintainability |
|
RALS |
remote augmentation lift system (aka 'bleed-and-burn') |
|
RAM |
radar-absorbent material or random access memory |
|
ramp weight |
maximum weight of aircraft before flight, comprising MTOGW plus fuel allowance
for run-up & taxi |
|
range gating |
limiting
radar to detect targets only within narrow upper and lower range limits
|
|
RAP |
rocket-assisted projectile |
|
RAPIDS |
radar passive identification system |
|
RARO |
remote aerial refuelling operation |
|
RAS |
rectified airspeed, ie, IAS corrected for position error |
|
RAT |
ram-air turbine |
|
RATO |
rocket-assisted take-off (often erroneously referred to as JATO) |
|
RATOG |
rocket-assisted take-off gear |
|
RAuxAF |
Royal Auxiliary Air Force |
|
RAWS |
(1) radar altitude warning system or (2) radar attack & warning system
|
|
R/C |
radio control |
|
RCC |
Rescue Co-ordination Centre |
|
RCM |
Radio CounterMeasures |
|
RCS |
radar cross-section |
|
RDT&E |
research, development, test and evaluation |
|
reaction-control jet |
small
nozzles at aircraft extremities taking high-pressure bleed air from main
engine on V/STOL types to control attitude and trajectory at low speed |
|
reciprocal |
heading 180° from that intended |
|
redundancy |
having two or more means of continuing to function should primary system
fail |
|
revenue passengers |
those who pay 25% or more of the normal applicable fare |
|
RF |
radio frequency |
|
RFP |
Request for Proposals |
|
RFQ |
Request for Quotations |
|
RG/RS/RW |
Reconnaissance Group/Squadron/Wing (USAF) |
|
RHAW |
radar homing and warning |
|
RHWR |
radar homing & warning receiver |
|
RHWS |
radar homing & warning system |
|
RIC |
Reconnaissance Interpretation Centre |
|
RIO |
radar intercept officer |
|
RNAV or R/Nav |
navigation
system which calculates position, distance and time from groups of airways
beacons |
|
ROC |
rate of climb |
|
RP |
(1) rocket projectile (UK) or (2) Rocket Propelled |
|
RPG |
rounds per gun |
|
RPM |
revolutions per minute |
|
RPRV |
remotely-piloted research vehicle |
|
RPV |
remotely-piloted vehicle |
|
RQF/RQS/RQW |
Rescue Flight/Squadron/Wing (USAF) |
|
RRC |
Rapid Reaction Corps (NATO) |
|
RRF |
Rapid Reaction Force (NATO) |
|
RRITA |
Rapid Response Intra-Theater Airlifter (USAF) |
|
RS/RW |
Reconnaissance Squadron/Wing (USAF) |
|
RSA |
Réseau du Sport de l'Air (France) |
|
RSS |
relaxed static stability (reduced or negative longitudinal static stability)
|
|
RTB |
return to base |
|
RTF |
Radiotelephone (ICAO) |
|
ruddervator |
moving flight control surface of butterfly tail which combines functions
of rudder and elevator |
|
RV |
(1) re-entry vehicle or (2) RendezVous |
|
RVR |
runway visual range |
|
RW |
Reconnaissance Wing (USAF) |
|
RWR |
radar-warning receiver |
