fuselage
/ˈfjusəˌlɑdʒ/The main body of an aircraft, which holds the crew, passengers and cargo.
Example: A dent appeared in the fuselage after the collision with a bird.
B216 words · Upper-intermediate
Aviation & Maritime vocabulary — B2
Aviation and maritime vocabulary for how aircraft and vessels operate, including the fuselage, altimeter and transponder of a plane, and the ballast and hull of a ship.
16 questions
Words in this set
16altimeter
/ælˈtɪmətər/An instrument that measures an aircraft's height above the ground or sea level.
Example:
The altimeter showed they were still climbing.
transponder
/trænˈspɑndər/A device on an aircraft that sends signals to help air traffic control track its position.
Example:
Controllers lost the plane briefly when its transponder failed.
de-icing
The process of removing ice from an aircraft's surface before it can safely take off.
Example:
The flight was delayed for de-icing in the cold weather.
ballast
/ˈbæləst/Heavy material carried in a ship to keep it stable and balanced.
Example:
The ship took on extra ballast before the rough crossing.
bilge
The lowest part of a ship's hull, where water collects and must be pumped out.
Example:
The pump kept the bilge clear of seawater.
stern
/stɜrn/The rear, or back, part of a ship.
Example:
Passengers waved from the stern as the ship left port.
hull
/hʌl/The main outer body of a ship or boat.
Example:
Barnacles had grown thick on the ship's hull.
landing gear
The wheels and supports a plane uses to land and taxi.
Example:
The pilot lowered the landing gear before final approach.
throttle
/ˈθrɑtəl/A control that increases or decreases an engine's power.
Example:
She pushed the throttle forward to gain more speed.
flight plan
The route and details filed before an aircraft departs.
Example:
The flight plan was refiled twice because of the weather.
draught
/dræft/How deep a ship sits in the water.
Example:
Her draught is too great for that harbour at low tide.
charter
/ˈtʃɑrtər/The hiring of a whole aircraft or ship.
Example:
The charter cost less than forty scheduled tickets.
bunkering
The supplying of fuel to a ship.
Example:
Bunkering takes eleven hours and has to be booked.
holding pattern
A circular route flown while waiting to land.
Example:
Forty minutes in a holding pattern burned the reserve fuel.
ballast water
Water taken on board to keep a ship stable.
Example:
Ballast water has to be treated before it is discharged.
