Can You Crack the Secret Language of Pilots?

Put your vocabulary to the test by matching these aviation terms with their proper definitions.

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Aviation terms - combi
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Aviation Terms Quiz

Aviation Term #1: Combi

A: Able to carry both passengers and cargo
B: Series of connecting flights
C: Cleaning crew

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Aviation terms - airplane loading cargo
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Answer: A—Able to carry both passengers and cargo

As in, “A combi plane dropped off mail, two tourists and supplies for the village store.”

Know your way around the kitchen better than a cockpit? Test your knowledge of cooking terms.

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Aviation terms - hobbs meter
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Aviation Term #2: Hobbs meter

A device that can measure:
A: How long an aircraft is in use
B: Distance to the ground
C: Sideways drift

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Aviation terms - Cessna in flight
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Answer: A—Device that can meas­ure how long an aircraft is in use

As in, “Uri watched the Hobbs meter, not wanting to pay for more than two hours of plane rental.”

Can you pass this quiz of 4th grade science questions?

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Aviation terms - incerfa
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Aviation Term #3: Incerfa

Situation of:
A: Alert
B: Distress
C: Uncertainty

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Aviation terms - pilot speaking on radio
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Answer: C—Situation of uncertainty

As in, “An incerfa can be declared if a flight loses radio contact with air-traffic control.”

Too easy? Try your hand at this tricky Canadian trivia.

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Aviation terms - what does taxi mean
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Aviation Term #4: Taxi

A: Get a last-minute seat
B: Tax imposed on goods crossing borders
C: Move along the ground

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Aviation terms - airplane on runway overhead
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Answer: C—Move along the ground

As in, “At last, the delayed airliner taxied away from the terminal.”

Can you name each of these car dashboard lights?

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Aviation terms - what does avionics means
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Aviation Term #5: Avionics

A: Electronic equipment fitted in an aircraft
B: Air ambulances
C: Airplane stunts done for sport or entertainment

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Aviation terms - flight deck of airplane
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Answer: A—Electronic equipment fitted in an aircraft

As in, “Zhiyuan was an avionics engineer interested in improving autopilot technology.”

These printable crossword puzzles will give your brain a good workout.

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Aviation terms - what does bird control mean
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Aviation Term #6: Bird control

A: Steering a light aircraft
B: Keeping birds away from the airport
C: Checking passports

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Aviation terms - flock of birds at sunset
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Answer: B—Keeping birds away from the airport

As in, “Playing recordings of avian distress calls is a proven bird-control strategy.”

Find out how well-versed you are in Canadian slang terms.

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Aviation terms - instrument flight rules
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Aviation Term #7: Instrument flight rules

Regulations for:
A: Maintaining cockpit instruments
B: Relying on instruments instead of visual references
C: Crossing an ocean

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Aviation terms - airplane wing rainy day
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Answer: B—Regulations for relying on instruments instead of visual references

As in, “Pilots must fly under instrument flight rules when the weather makes it hard to see.”

Find out why meteorologists get forecasts wrong (and other fascinating facts about weather prediction).

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Aviation terms - what does ditch mean
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Aviation Term #8: Ditch

A: Accidentally leak sewage
B: Make a forced landing on water
C: Misplace luggage

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Aviation terms - emergency plane landing on water
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Answer: B—Make a forced landing on water

As in, “Arthur, a military flying ace, had once survived ditching in the Pacific.”

Take a look back at some of Reader’s Digest‘s most gripping survival stories.

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Aviation terms - What does overbook mean
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Aviation Term #9: Overbook

A: Accept too many reservations
B: Fly too fast
C: Review a pilot logbook

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Airport - airplane passengers waiting in line
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Answer: A—Accept too many reservations

As in, “Airlines deliberately overbook flights because typically, some passengers don’t show up.”

Here’s what you should know before booking with a budget airline.

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Aviation terms - Ceiling
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Aviation Term #10: Ceiling

A: Overhead controls for air vents and lighting
B: Business-class area
C: Maximum altitude of an aircraft

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Aviation terms - airplane climbing altitude
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Answer: C—Max­imum altitude of an aircraft

As in, U-2 spy planes have such a high ceiling that their pilots wear pressure suits.

Think you know your health lingo? Test your knowledge with this challenging medical trivia.

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Aviation terms - what is buzz-saw noise
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Aviation Term #11: Buzz-saw noise

Sound of:
A: A helicopter rotor
B: Radio static
C: A supersonic fan

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Aviation terms - baby on a plane
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Answer: C—Sound of a supersonic fan

As in, “Rémy’s baby, asleep when he boarded the jet, was soon awakened by buzz-saw noise.”

Don’t miss this expert advice on how to beat jet lag.

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Aviation terms - what does wind shear mean
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Aviation Term #12: Wind shear

A: Wind pressure on the tail
B: Wind-related wear and tear
C: Sudden change in wind speed and direction

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Man buckling seatbelt on airplane
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Answer: C—Sudden change in wind speed and direction

As in, “Wind shear is dangerous for planes.”

Try your hand at these trivia questions only geniuses will get right.

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Aviation terms - aeromodelling
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Aviation Term #13: Aeromodelling

A: Designing flight-attendant uniforms
B: Building and flying model aircraft
C: Using a flight simulator

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Aviation terms - model airplane
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Answer: B—Building and flying model aircraft

As in, “Aeromodelling clubs have fields where enthusiasts can try out their creations.”

Here’s how to cope with a fear of flying.

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Aviation terms - What does stall mean
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Aviation Term #14: Stall

A: Airline employee’s locker
B: Loss of lift and consequent fall
C: Interrupted takeoff

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Aviation terms - flying lessons cockpit
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Answer: B—Loss of lift and consequent fall

As in, “Nabila paid close attention when her flight instructor explained how to recover from a stall.”

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Aviation terms - what does deplane mean
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Aviation Term #15: Deplane

A: Forego air travel in favour of greener alternatives
B: Face a fear of flying
C: Leave an aircraft

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Aviation terms - passengers deplane
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Answer: C—Leave an aircraft

As in, “After deplaning, Makayla realized she’d left her wallet behind.”

Next, put your emergency response skills to the test with our quiz of first aid terms.

Reader's Digest Canada
Originally Published in Reader's Digest Canada

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