air brake (aerodynamic component). A device that can be extended from the structure of an airplane to produce a large amount of parasite drag. Air brakes allow an airplane to increase its descent angle without building up an excessive amount of speed.
Also called dive brakes, air brakes differ from flaps in that they produce no useful lift.
air-breathing engine (heat engine). An engine that requires an intake of air to supply the oxygen it needs to operate.
Reciprocating and turbine engines are both air-breathing engines, but most rockets carry an oxidizing agent with their fuel. The oxidizing agent furnishes the needed oxygen.
air capacitor (electrical component). A capacitor that uses air as the dielectric. A variable tuning capacitor in a radio is an example of an air capacitor.
air carrier. An organization or person involved in the business of transporting people or cargo by air for compensation or hire.
14 CFR Part 1: “A person who undertakes directly by lease, or other arrangement, to engage in air transportation.”
Air Carrier District Office. See ACDO.
air commerce. The portion of the transportation industry that deals with the carriage of people or cargo by air for compensation or hire. 14 CFR Part 1: “Interstate, overseas, or foreign air commerce or the transportation of mail by aircraft or any operation or navigation of aircraft within the limits of any Federal airway or any operation or navigation of aircraft which directly affects, or which may endanger safety in, interstate, overseas, or foreign air commerce.”
air conditioning. The process of treating the air in a building or compartment to control its temperature, humidity, cleanliness, and velocity of its movement. Air conditioning in an aircraft also includes the pressurization of the air inside the cabin.
air-cooled engine. A reciprocating engine whose excess heat is removed by transferring it directly into the air flowing over the engine.
The cylinders of an air-cooled engine are fitted with fins to increase the surface area exposed to the air.
air-cooled oil cooler. An oil-to-air heat exchanger in the lubrication system of an aircraft engine. Heat is removed from the oil and transferred into the air flowing through the cooler.
air-cooled turbine blades. Hollow blades on the turbine wheel of certain high-power gas turbine engines. These blades are cooled by compressor bleed air flowing through them.
air cooling. The removal of unwanted heat by transferring it directly into the air that flows over the component.
air-core transformer (electrical transformer). A transformer containing two or more coils wound on a core of paper or other nonmagnetic material. Air-core transformers are normally used for radio-frequency alternating current.
aircraft. Any weight-carrying device designed to be supported by the air. Airplanes, helicopters, gliders, and balloons are all types of aircraft. 14 CFR Part 1: “A device that is used or intended to be used for flight in the air.”
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