AT THE AIRPORT
Air Traffic Controller A person who works in the Control Tower and gives instructions to pilots to help them take off, fly and land safely.
Apron An outside area where planes can be parked. At Glossingham Airport, all aprons are next to the hangars.
Control Tower (often just called The Tower) A tall building which has good views of the runway and taxiways. This is where the air traffic controllers work.
Crew Room A room for pilots to relax in. The crew room used by Mr Little and Dusty is right next to Charlie’s hangar
Hangar A large shed which houses planes.
Runway A long strip of ground (or water for sea planes!) used for take-offs and landings. Runways are typically made of tarmac, concrete or grass.
Taxiway The path for planes to get to and from the runway, and to facilities such as the fuel pumps.
Plants which grow in the verges around Glossingham Airport include:
Dandelion Clocks – the fluffy, white ball of seeds on a dandelion.
Old Man’s Beard – a common name for the beard-like clusters of feathery, grey-white seedheads on the Clematis Vitalba (also known as Traveller’s Joy).
IN THE AIR
Circuit A rectangular track in the sky, normally at 1000 ft above ground level and based around the runway. Pilots can fly circuits when they want to practice take-offs and landings.
Heading The direction a plane is flying. If pilots need to turn left or right, they call it “changing the heading”.
Mayday A word used over the radio if there’s an emergency during a flight. It means that a pilot is in trouble and needs help.
IN AND ON THE PLANE
Airframe An aeroplane’s body.
Cockpit The section at the front of the plane where the pilot sits.
Flight planner A basic navigation computer which works a bit like a satnav. The pilot types in the destination and any points they want to pass on the way, then the flight planner works out the route. The route is displayed on a screen which the pilot can then follow.
Heading Bug A brightly coloured marker which can be moved around a compass. This makes it easier for pilots to see which way they need to be heading.
Nose Wheel The front wheel underneath the nose of an aeroplane.
Towbar A metal rod which fits onto the front of an aeroplane so that it can be pulled or pushed into position.
AEROBATIC MANOEUVRES
Barrel Roll While the aeroplane is moving forward, the pilot tips one wing until the plane rotates all the way round and back to where it started.
Loop -the-Loop The pilot starts by diving the aeroplane to build up speed. They then pull back on the stick which points the nose up; the plane goes in a complete vertical circle, ending up back where it started. At the top of the circle the pilot is upside down!
Stall turn The pilot dives the aeroplane to build up speed. They then pull back on the stick and the plane flies straight up towards the sky until it runs out of speed. At that point the pilot applies full rudder to turn the plane left or right – the plane then cartwheels in the sky to point the nose down before diving back towards earth.
