Mahindra GIPPSAERO GA8-TC 320 - Engine Controls and Instruments; Aircraft Performance and Flight Planning Terminology; Weight and Balance Terminology

Section 1
Model GA8-TC 320 General
Page 1-10 5 Feb 2009 C01-01-08
1.3.5. Engine Controls and Instruments
Throttle Lever The lever which the pilot uses to control the engine manifold pressure.
Pitch Lever The lever which the pilot uses to control the engine RPM.
Mixture Control The control that is used to vary the fuel/air ratio available to the engine.
MAP Gauge The instrument that indicates engine inlet Manifold Air Pressure.
Tachometer The instrument that indicates the engine RPM.
1.3.6. Aircraft Performance and Flight Planning Terminology
Climb Gradient The ratio of the change in height during a climb, to the horizontal distance
travelled.
Demonstrated Crosswind Component The crosswind component, during take-off and
landing, for which adequate control of aircraft was actually demonstrated during certication
tests.
1.3.7. Weight and Balance Terminology
Reference Datum An imaginary vertical plane from which all horizontal distances are measured
for balance purposes.
Station A location along the aircraft fuselage usually given in terms of distance from the
reference datum.
Arm The horizontal distance from the reference datum to the centre of gravity (C of G) of an
item.
Moment The product of the weight of an item multiplied by its arm.
Index Unit Moment divided by a constant. Used to simplify balance calcula tions by reducing
the number of digits.
Centre of Gravity (C of G) The point at which an aircraft would balance if suspended. The
distance from the C of G to the reference datum can be found by dividing the total moment by
the total weight of the aircraft.
C of G Arm The arm obtained by adding the aircraft’s individual moments and dividing the sum
by the total weight.
C of G Limits The extreme centre of gravity locations within which the aircraft must be operated
at a given weight.
Useable Fuel The quantity of fuel available for ight planning purposes.
Unusable Fuel The quantity of fuel (determined under adverse fuel ow conditions) that is not
available for ight.
Empty Weight Weight of aircraft with unusable fuel and full oil.
Useful Load Difference between take-off weight and empty weight.
Maximum Take-Off Weight Maximum weight approved for take-off.
Maximum Landing Weight Maximum weight approved for the landing.