oxide /.ksa.d/ noun a compound of an element with oxygen . When alu-minium surfaces are exposed to the atmosphere, a thin invisible oxide skin forms immediately that protects the metal from further oxidation.
oxidise /.ks.da.z/, oxidize verb to
form an oxide by the reaction of oxygen with another chemical substance . Over a period of time, the metal is oxidised by contact with air.
oxygen /.ks.d.n/ noun a colour-less, odourless gas, which is essential to human life, constituting 21% by volume of the Earth’s atmosphere . Our bodies can get oxygen through the lungs. . At very high altitudes the flying pilot must be on oxygen at all times, unless an air-craft dispensation has been obtained.
(NOTE: The atomic number of oxygen is 8.)
ozone /.υz.υn/ noun a poisonous form of oxygen found naturally in the atmosphere which is toxic to humans at concentrations above 0.1 parts per mil-lion . The maximum concentration of ozone is between 20 and 25 km above the Earth’s surface. Symbol O3
P
PA abbreviation public address Pacific Standard Time /p.s.f.k stnd.d ta.m/ noun the time zone of the west coast area of the USA and Can-
ada, 8 hours behind Greenwich Mean Time pack /pk/ noun 1. a detachable sys-
tem . Circuit packs consist of basic decision-making elements, referred to as logic gates, each performing combi-national operations. . A power pack system is one in which most of the major components, with the exception of the actuators and, in some systems, the pumps, are included in a self-contained unit. 2. a small package containing a set number of items . The survival pack includes heliographs, sea marker dyes, day/night distress flares and parachute flares.
pad /pd/ noun same as helipad pair /pe./ noun two matched items, similar in appearance and function . A brake control valve usually contains four elements, one pair for the brakes on each side of the aircraft, to provide duplicated control.
pancake /pnke.k/ (informal) noun same as pancake landing . verb to make a pancake landing, or cause an aircraft to make a pancake landing
pancake landing /pnke.k lnd../ noun a landing in which an aircraft drops suddenly straight to the ground from a low altitude, usually because of engine failure
panel /pn(.)l/ noun 1. a flat, often rectangular piece of the skin of the air-craft . Access to the engine compart-ment is normally via hinged cowling panels. 2. a board with switches, dials, control knobs, etc. . The pilot is trained to scan an instrument panel.
panic /pn.k/ noun a sudden over-powering fear or terror . In order to prevent mass panic amongst passengers in an emergency situation, crew may have to use force.
PAPI abbreviation precision approach path indicator
PAR abbreviation precision approach radar
parachute /pr..ut/ noun a device used to slow down free fall from an air-craft, consisting of a light piece of fab-ric attached by cords to a harness and worn or stored folded until used in descent
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