Today’s Aeronautical Terms

The reciprocal of the localizer course for an ILS. When flying a back-course approach, an aircraft approaches the instrument runway from the end at which the localizer antennas are installed.
[Source: Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge]

Sometimes called secondary surveillance radar (SSR), which utilizes a transponder in the aircraft. The ground equipment is an interrogating unit, in which the beacon antenna is mounted so it rotates with the surveillance antenna. The interrogating unit transmits a coded pulse sequence that actuates the aircraft transponder. The transponder answers the coded sequence by transmitting a preselected coded sequence back to the ground equipment, providing a strong return signal and positive aircraft identification, as well as other special data.
[Source: Instrument Flying Handbook]

A time-honored training delivery method based on the learning principle that connections are strengthened with practice.
[Source: Aviation Instructor's Handbook]

A system whereby the heading gyro is “slaved to,” or continuously corrected to bring its direction readings into agreement with a remotely located magnetic direction sensing device (usually a flux valve or flux gate compass).
[Source: Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge]

Takeoff Runway Available
[Source: Instrument Procedures Handbook]

The control of IFR en route traffic within delegated airspace between two or more adjacent approach control facilities. This service is designed to expedite air traffic and reduces air traffic control and pilot communication requirements.
[Source: Instrument Procedures Handbook]