175 precaution
potential /p.ten..l/ adjective capa-
ble of being, but not yet in existence . A designated fire zone is a region where a potential fire risk may exist. . potential danger possible future danger . noun voltage . Precipitation static develops due to friction between the aircraft sur-face and precipitation causing the air-craft to become charged to a high potential.
pound /paυnd/ noun a unit of weight equal to 16 ounces or 453.592 grams. Abbreviation lb
powder /paυd./ noun a substance made of ground or otherwise finely dis-persed solid particles . Dry chemical fire-extinguishers contain a non-toxic powder.
power /paυ./ noun energy or force power-assisted /paυ. .s.st.d/
adjective . power-assisted controls
controls which require less human
effort to move power dive /paυ. da.v/ noun a steep dive made by an aircraft with its engines at high power to increase the speed
powered /paυ.d/ adjective driven by something such as a type of energy or motor . system powered by electricity
power line /paυ. la.n/ noun a thick cable, supported by pylons, which car-ries electricity for long distances
powerplant /paυ.plɑnt/ noun an
engine used to move a vehicle or air-craft . Additional strength is required for the powerplant attachment point.
(NOTE: The word also written power plant.)
‘…by replacing the Rotax engine with a four-stroke Jabiru powerplant, the aircraft designers claim the aircraft will be provided with more power and increased all-round performance’ [Flight International 16–22 July 1997]
power supply /paυ. s.pla./ noun
an electrical circuit that provides partic-ular direct current voltage and current levels from an alternating current source for use in other electrical circuits
. If the power supply from the amplifier to the gauge fails, the needle slowly falls to zero.
PPI abbreviation plan position indica-tor
PPL abbreviation Private Pilot’s Licence
PPR abbreviation prior permission required
PR abbreviation public relations
practicable /prkt.k.b(.)l/ adjec-tive capable of being put into practice or effect . Some military aircraft use brak-ing parachutes but this is not practica-ble on civil aircraft.
practical /prkt.k(.)l/ adjective
referring to practice or action rather than theory . For practical purposes, any straight line drawn on a Lambert’s conformal projection represents a great circle.
practice /prkt.s/ noun 1. habitual or customary behaviour . It is common practice for pilots to take turns to sleep on long-haul flights. 2. a performance or operation . in practice when actu-ally done, in reality . Frequency modu-lation (FM) in theory has a limitless number of sidebands, but in practice only the first eight pairs are significant.
. verb US same as practise
‘…if the aircraft has been standing overnight or longer, check the drains for water. This should, of course, be normal practice’ [Civil Aviation Authority, General Aviation Safety Sense Leaflet]