National Airspace System (NAS).  The common network of United States airspace. air navigation facilities, equipment and services, airports or landing areas; sectional charts, information and services; rules, regulations and procedures, technical information; and manpower and material. 

National Security Area (NSA). Area consisting of airspace of defined vertical and lateral dimensions established at locations where there is a requirement for increased security and safety of ground facilities. Pilots are requested to voluntarily avoid flying through the depicted NSA. When it is necessary to provide a greater level of security and safety, flight in NSAs may be temporarily prohibited. Regulatory prohibitions are disseminated via NOTAMs. 

National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). A United States Government independent organization responsible for investigations of accidents involving aviation, highways, waterways, pipelines, and railroads in the United States. NTSB is charged by congress to investigate every civil aviation accident in the United States. 

NAVAID.  Naviagtional aid. 

NAV/COM.  Navigation and communication radio. 

Newton’s Third Law of Motion.  Whenever one body exerts a force on another, the second body always exerts on the first, a force that is equal in magnitude but opposite in direction. 

Nontowered Airport. An airport that does not have an operating control tower. Two-way radio communications are not required at uncontrolled airports, although it is good operating practice for pilots to transmit their intentions on the specified frequency. 

NOTAM.  See Notice to Airmen. 

Notice to Airmen. A notice containing information concerning facilities, services, or procedures, the timely knowledge of which is essential to personnel concerned with flight operations. 

Notice To Airman (NOTAM).  Notice to Airman that is regulatory in nature. 

Octane.  The rating system of gasoline with regard to its antidetonating qualities. 

Operating limitations.  Limitations published by aircraft manufacturers to define limitations on maneuvers, flight load factors, speeds and other limits. Presented in the aircraft in the form of placards and printed in the limitations section of the aircraft flight manual. 

Overcontrolling. Using more movement in the control column than is necessary to achieve the desired pitch-and- bank condition. 

Overshooting. The act of over flying an intended spot for landing or flying through a course intended for intercept. 

Overspeed.  A condition in which an engine has produced more rpm than the manufacturer recommends, or a condition in which the actual engine speed is higher than the desired engine speed as set on the propeller control. 

Overtemp. A condition in which a device has reached a temperature above that approved by the manufacturer or any exhaust temperature that exceeds the maximum allowable for a given operating condition or time limit. Can cause internal damage to an engine. 

Parallel runways. Two or more runways at the same airport whose centerlines are parallel. In addition to runway number, parallel runways are designated as L(left) and R(right) or if three parallel runways exist, L(left), C (center) and R(right). 

Parasite drag. That part of total drag created by the design or shape of PPC parts. Parasite drag increases with an increase in airspeed. 

Pattern altitude. The common altitude used for aircraft maneuvering in the traffic pattern. Usually 1,000 above the airport surface. 

Personality tendencies.  Personal traits and characteristics of an individual that are set at a very early age and extremely resistant to change. 

P-factor.  A tendency for an aircraft to yaw to the left due to the descending propeller blade on the right producing more thrust than the ascending blade on the left. This occurs when the aircraft’s longitudinal axis is in a climbing attitude in relation to the relative wind. The P-factor would be to the right if the aircraft had a counterclockwise rotating propeller. 

PIC. See pilot in command. 

Pilotage. Navigational technique based on flight by reference to ground landmarks. 

Pilot in command.  The pilot responsible for the operation and safety of an aircraft. 

