Asymmetrical airfoil.  An airfoil section that is not the same on both sides of the chord line. 

ATC.  Air traffic control. 

ATIS.  See Automatic Terminal Information Service. 

Attitude. The position of an aircraft as determined by the relationship of its axes and a reference, usually the earth’s horizon. 

Attitude of pilot. A personal motivational predisposition to respond to persons, situations, or events in a given manner that can, nevertheless, be changed or modified through training as sort of a mental shortcut to decision-making. 

Attitude management of pilot. The ability to recognize hazardous attitudes in oneself and the willingness to modify them as necessary through the application of an appropriate antidote thought. 

Automated flight service station.  An FAA air traffic facility that provides pilot briefings, en route radio communications, and VFR search-and-rescue services. 

Automated Surface Observing System (ASOS).  Weather reporting system which provides surface observations every minute via digitized voice broadcasts and printed reports. 

Automated Weather Observing System (AWOS). Automated weather reporting system consisting of various sensors, a processor, a computer- generated voice subsystem, and a transmitter to broadcast weather data. 

Automatic Terminal Information Service (ATIS).  The continuous broadcast (by radio or telephone) of recorded noncontrol, essential but routine information in selected terminal areas. 

Aviation Medical Examiner (AME).  A medical doctor authorized to perform aviation medical exams for aviators. 

Axes of an aircraft. Three imaginary lines that pass through an aircraft’s center of gravity. The axes can be considered as imaginary axes around which the aircraft turns. The three axes pass through the center of gravity at 90° angles to each other. The axis from nose to tail is the longitudinal axis, the axis that passes side to side along the wingspan is the lateral axis and the axis that passes vertically through the center of gravity is the vertical axis. 

Ballistic parachute system (BPS). An optional parachute system activated by the pilot where the parachute is extracted for the WSC by a rocket. 

Balloon.  The result of a roundout (flare) that is too aggressive during landing, causing the aircraft to climb. 

Bank attitude.  The angle of the lateral axis relative to the horizon. 

Base leg.  A flight path at right angles to the landing runway off its approach end. The base leg normally extends from the downwind leg to the intersection of the extended runway centerline. 

Battens.  The airfoil ribs of a WSC that are removed to fold up the wing. 

Best-angle-of-climb speed (V$_{X}$).  The speed at which the aircraft produces the most gain in altitude in a given distance. 

Best glide. The airspeed at which the aircraft glides the furthest for the least altitude lost when in non-powered flight. 

Best-rate-of-climb speed (V$_{Y}$).  The speed at which the aircraft produces the most gain in altitude in a given amount of time. 

BPS.  See ballistic parachute system. 

Calibrated airspeed (CAS).  Indicated airspeed corrected for installation error and instrument error. Although manufacturers attempt to keep airspeed errors to a minimum, it is not possible to eliminate all errors throughout the airspeed operating range. This error is generally greatest at low airspeeds. In the cruising and higher airspeed ranges, indicated airspeed and calibrated airspeed are approximately the same. Refer to the airspeed calibration chart to correct for possible airspeed errors. 

Camber. The curvature of a wing when looking at a cross section. A wing has upper camber on its top surface and lower camber on its bottom surface. 

Carburetor. (1) Pressure: A hydromechanical device employing a closed feed system from the fuel pump to the discharge nozzle. It meters fuel through fixed jets according to the mass airflow through the throttle body and discharges it under a positive pressure. Pressure carburetors are distinctly different from float-type carburetors, as they do not incorporate a vented float chamber or suction pickup from a discharge nozzle located in the venturi tube. (2) Float-type: Consists essentially of a main air passage through which the engine draws its supply of air, a mechanism to control the quantity of fuel discharged in relation to the flow of air, and a 

