Aeronautical Terms beginning with W
Waypoints
Area navigation waypoints are specified geographical locations,or fixes,used to define an area navigation route or the flight path of an aircraft employing area navigation. Waypoints may be any of the following types:predefined,published,floating, user-defined,fly-by,or fly-over.
Waypoint (WP)
A predetermined geographical position used for route/instrument approach definition, progress reports,published VFR routes,visual reporting points or points for transitioning and/or circumnavigating controlled and/or special use airspace,that is defined relative to a VORTAC station or in terms of latitude/longitude coordinates.
Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS)
A method of navigation based on GPS. Ground correction stations transmit position corrections that enhance system accuracy and add vertical navigation (VNAV) features.
Wake Turbulence
Wingtip vortices that are created when an airplane generates lift. When an airplane generates lift, air spills over the wingtips from the high pressure areas below the wings to the low pressure areas above them. This flow causes rapidly rotating whirlpools of air called wingtip vortices or wake turbulence.
Waste Gate
A controllable valve in the tailpipe of an aircraft reciprocating engine equipped with a turbocharger. The valve is controlled to vary the amount of exhaust gases forced through the turbocharger turbine.
Weathervane
The tendency of the aircraft to turn into the relative wind.
Weight
A measure of the heaviness of an object. The force by which a body is attracted toward the center of the Earth (or another celestial body) by gravity. Weight is equal to the mass of the body times the local value of gravitational acceleration. One of the four main forces acting on an aircraft. Equivalent to the actual weight of the aircraft. It acts downward through the aircraft’s center of gravity toward the center of the Earth. Weight opposes lift.
Weight And Balance
The aircraft is said to be in weight and balance when the gross weight of the aircraft is under the max gross weight, and the center of gravity is within limits and will remain in limits for the duration of the flight.
Wheelbarrowing
A condition caused when forward yoke or stick pressure during takeoff or landing causes the aircraft to ride on the nosewheel alone.
Wind Correction Angle
Correction applied to the course to establish a heading so that track will coincide with course.
Wind Direction Indicators
Indicators that include a wind sock, wind tee, or tetrahedron. Visual reference will determine wind direction and runway in use.
Wind Shear
A sudden, drastic shift in windspeed, direction, or both that may occur in the horizontal or vertical plane.
Windmilling
When the air moving through a propeller creates the rotational energy.
Windsock
A truncated cloth cone open at both ends and mounted on a freewheeling pivot that indicates the direction from which the wind is blowing.
Wing
Airfoil attached to each side of the fuselage and are the main lifting surfaces that support the airplane in flight.
Wing Area
The total surface of the wing (square feet), which includes control surfaces and may include wing area covered by the fuselage (main body of the airplane), and engine nacelles.
Wing Span
The maximum distance from wingtip to wingtip.
Wing Twist
A design feature incorporated into some wings to improve aileron control effectiveness at high angles of attack during an approach to a stall.
Wingtip Vortices
The rapidly rotating air that spills over an airplane’s wings during flight. The intensity of the turbulence depends on the airplane’s weight, speed, and configuration. It is also referred to as wake turbulence. Vortices from heavy aircraft may be extremely hazardous to small aircraft.
WAAS
See wide area augmentation system.
Warning area
An area containing hazards to any aircraft not participating in the activities being conducted in the area. Warning areas may contain intensive military training, gunnery exercises, or special weapons testing.
Waypoint
A designated geographical location used for route definition or progress-reporting purposes and is defined in terms of latitude/longitude coordinates.
WCA
See wind correction angle.
Weather and radar processor (WARP)
A device that provides real-time, accurate, predictive and strategic weather information presented in an integrated manner in the National Airspace System (NAS).
Weight
The force exerted by an aircraft from the pull of gravity.
Wide area augmentation system (WAAS)
A differential global positioning system (DGPS) that improves the accuracy of the system by determining position error from the GPS satellites, then transmitting the error, or corrective factors, to the airborne GPS receiver.
Wind correction angle (WCA)
The angle between the desired track and the heading of the aircraft necessary to keep the aircraft tracking over the desired track.
Work
A measurement of force used to produce movement.
Waypoint
A designated geographical location used for route definition or progress-reporting purposes and is defined in terms of latitude/longitude coordinates.
WCA
See wind correction angle.
Weather and radar processor (WARP)
A device that provides real-time, accurate, predictive and strategic weather information presented in an integrated manner in the National Airspace System (NAS).
Weight
The force exerted by an aircraft from the pull of gravity.
Wide area augmentation system (WAAS)
A differential global positioning system (DGPS) that improves the accuracy of the system by determining position error from the GPS satellites, then transmitting the error, or corrective factors, to the airborne GPS receiver.
Wind correction angle (WCA)
The angle between the desired track and the heading of the aircraft necessary to keep the aircraft tracking over the desired track.
Work
A measurement of force used to produce movement.
Working or short-term memory
The portion of the brain that receives information from the sensory register. This portion of the brain can store information in memory for only a short period of time. If the information is determined by an individual to be important enough to remember, it must be coded in some way for transmittal to long-term memory.
Wake Turbulence
Wingtip vortices that are created when an airplane generates lift. When an airplane generates lift, air spills over the wingtips from the high pressure areas below the wings to the low pressure areas above them. This flow causes rapidly rotating whirlpools of air called wingtip vortices or wake turbulence.
Warm Front
The boundary area formed when a warm air mass contacts and flows over a colder air mass. Warm fronts cause low ceilings and rain.
Warning Areas
Areas that may contain hazards to nonparticipating aircraft in international airspace. These areas are depicted on aeronautical charts.
Waste Gate
A controllable valve in the tailpipe of an aircraft reciprocating engine equipped with a turbocharger. The valve is controlled to vary the amount of exhaust gases forced through the turbocharger turbine.
Weather Depiction Chart
Details surface conditions as derived from METAR and other surface observations.
Weight
A measure of the heaviness of an object. The force by which a body is attracted toward the center of the Earth (or another celestial body) by gravity. Weight is equal to the mass of the body times the local value of gravitational acceleration. One of the four main forces acting on an aircraft. Equivalent to the actual weight of the aircraft. It acts downward through the aircraft’s center of gravity toward the center of the Earth. Weight opposes lift.
Wind Correction Angle
Correction applied to the course to establish a heading so that track will coincide with course.
Wind Direction Indicators
Indicators that include a wind sock, wind tee, or tetrahedron. Visual reference will determine wind direction and runway in use.
Wind Shear
A sudden, drastic shift in windspeed, direction, or both that may occur in the horizontal or vertical plane.
Winds And Temperature Aloft Forecast (FD)
A twice daily forecast that provides wind and temperature forecasts for specific locations in the contiguous United States.
Wing Area
The total surface of the wing (square feet), which includes control surfaces and may include wing area covered by the fuselage (main body of the airplane), and engine nacelles.
Wing Span
The maximum distance from wingtip to wingtip.
Wing Twist
A design feature incorporated into some wings to improve aileron control effectiveness at high angles of attack during an approach to a stall.
Wings
Airfoils attached to each side of the fuselage and are the main lifting surfaces that support the airplane in flight.
Wingtip Vortices
The rapidly rotating air that spills over an airplane’s wings during flight. The intensity of the turbulence depends on the airplane’s weight, speed, and configuration. Also referred to as wake turbulence. Vortices from heavy aircraft may be extremely hazardous to small aircraft.
Work
The product of force and the distance through which the force acts. Usually expressed in footpounds.
World Aeronautical Charts (Wac) (1:1,000,000)
Provide a standard series of aeronautical charts covering land areas of the world at a size and scale convenient for navigation by moderate speed aircraft. Topographic information includes cities and towns, principal roads, railroads, distinctive landmarks, drainage, and relief. Aeronautical information includes visual and radio aids to navigation, airports, airways, restricted areas, obstructions and other pertinent data.
WND
Wind
WX
Weather
WX DEV
Weather Deviation
Buy from Powell's.
Buy from Barnes & Noble.
Buy from Powell's.
Buy from Barnes & Noble.
Buy from Powell's.
Buy from Barnes & Noble.
Buy from Powell's.
Buy from Barnes & Noble.
Buy from Powell's.
Buy from Barnes & Noble.
Buy from Powell's.
Buy from Barnes & Noble.