Have you ever found yourself sitting in an uncomfortable chair in the airport, or buckling up in the airplane itself, only to realize that everyone is speaking in some sort of code and you didn’t get the memo?

Airport jargon can be extremely confusing, but if you learn a few of the basic meanings beforehand, then the airport shouldn’t be too much of a foreign experience.

Air travel terms can be broken up into two separate categories: on the ground, and in the air. Let’s start with lingo that you will hear while your feet are still on the ground.

ATC

The ATC is also known as the Air Traffic Control. They are in control of pretty much every aspect that goes into a plane’s flight.

Area of Weather

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Slots, or limits on the planned aircraft operations, are a tool used in the United States and around the world to manage air traffic at extremely busy airports, and to prevent repeated delays that result from too many flights trying to take off or land at the same time. Slot 1 (slŏt) n. A narrow opening; a groove or slit: a slot for coins in a vending machine; a mail slot. A gap between a main and auxiliary airfoil to provide space for airflow and facilitate the smooth passage of air over the wing. An assigned place in a sequence or schedule: a new time slot for a TV program. A position of employment in. During landing we want high lift and high drag, so the flaps and slats will be fully deployed. When the wheels touch down, we want to decrease the lift (to keep the plane on the ground!), so you will often see spoilers deployed on the top of the wing to kill the lift. Spoilers create additional drag to slow down the plane.

If you hear the pilot announce that you are coming to an area of weather and that he has turned the fasten seatbelt sign on, this just means that there is a thunderstorm or heavy rain ahead. He will usually turn the plane to avoid it.

Approach

When you hear the pilot or crew talking about the approach, it means that the plane is beginning its descent for landing.

Airspace

The space over the land or sea area occupied by a certain state or country. A country's airspace is considered part of that country's territory and therefore subject to its authority.

Baggage

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Luggage or other items passengers bring on the airplane. You can carry one piece of small baggage on the airplane, and this is called carry-on. Large baggage is kept in a special part of the airplane.

Baggage Area

The baggage area is the area of the airport that handles baggage carried by passengers. These often have several large moving belts. Passengers wait at the belt for their baggage to move to them.

Concourse

A broad, open area in the airport for the passage or assembly of people.

Concessions

Businesses inside the airport terminal are known as concessions. These usually sell food, drinks or retail goods such as magazines, books, or souvenirs to passengers.

Customs

Before you’re allowed to enter the country, you have to go through customs where you will be met by a customs officer. The custom officer will check if you’re carrying anything illegal into the country like firearms (guns), drugs, etc. The officer will ask you if you “have anything to declare?” If you’re not carrying any forbidden item, you should answer “no.”

Direct Flight

When seeing the term 'direct flight' on your ticket, you probably think that will mean that your flight will take you directly to your destination without stopping, right? Wrong. Direct flight simply means that the flight number will not change, but in many cases your flight will indeed stop. You may even need to change planes completely.

Deplane

Deplane is just a fancy way of saying, get off of the plane and don’t forget your belongings.

De-icing

Removing ice, snow, or frost, usually from aircraft and airfield pavements during snowy weather. This ensures safety and efficiency of operations.

Executive Lounge

A room or a dedicated area at an airport or hotel with comfortable chairs, a coffee bar etc for those travelling first-class.

Gatehouse

You have probably heard someone’s name being called over the intercom, requesting that if they are in the gatehouse that they go to a specific point for whatever reason. The gatehouse is just another way of saying the boarding area where you are waiting for your plane to arrive.

Gate

In air travel, a gate is the entrance to a movable passage much like a tunnel or a bridge leading to the aircraft. This allows passengers to board the plane, and later get off at their destination.

Ground Stop

A ground stop is a procedure in which all aircraft are not permitted to take off or land at a particular airport. This usually takes place during severe storms, heavy air traffic, or sometimes, nearby terrorist attacks. This is a security measure put in effect to avoid accidents. In the event of a ground stop, outbound flights are delayed; incoming flights either circle around or are diverted to other cities. Passengers will be asked to wait in their aircraft (or at the airport) until circumstances improve.

In Range

If you hear them announcing that your flight is now 'in range' that means that the plane is in the process of landing, but hasn’t touched ground yet. This announcement is to give you a heads up to get ready to board the plane, though how long it will take for the plane to actually land and be ready for passengers is never an exact science.

Jetway

A jetway is a specially designed movable walkway, much like a bridge or a corridor leading into an aircraft. This allows passengers to board or disembark a plane.

Knots

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A knot is one nautical mile per hour (approx: 1.151 MPH).

Kiosk

An airport kiosk is an interactive, computerized device where people can get information or services. These are usually located throughout an airport terminal for easy access. A kiosk may be consulted about flight status, flight schedules or other inquiries. Some kiosks may be set up with a keyboard and mouse, while others may provide a user-friendly touch screen. Not all kiosks are computerized. Some are simply free-standing booths or tables manned by salespeople, where passengers can buy magazines, snacks or souvenirs.

Long-haul flight (N)

A flight that travels a long distance in one go for example a long-haul flight would be flying from New York to Sydney.

Nonstop Flight

This is the flight that you were looking for above. This flight will take you exactly where you want to go, without stopping or causing you to change planes and lose your comfortable position.

People Mover / Moving Walkway

A people mover, moving walkway (British term) or moving sidewalk (American term) is an automated mechanism that carries people across a distance of several meters. It's often utilized in airports and looks like a flat, horizontal escalator. Moving walkways are often very helpful for passengers carrying lots of luggage.

Pushback

Pushback is the procedure for pushing an aircraft backward and away from an airport gate, normally using vehicles called pushback tractors.

Ramp

Typically, a ramp is an inclined plane that allows transit between two areas that have different levels. In an airport, this word refers to a staircase with wheels, which is used to load or unload an airplane. The word is also used in sea travel, referring to an inclined walkway installed between the vessel and the port.

Runway

The part of the airport where airplanes take off or land.

Slot

The scheduled time for take-off and arrival by an aircraft.

Tarmac

The surfacing material used for airport runways, usually consisting of compressed stone or iron slag coated with tar. The term is short for 'tarmacadam'.

'Tarmacadam' is an improvement on a road-making method called macadamisation, developed by in Scottish road engineer John Loudon McAdam in the 1800s. Macadamisation basically involves layers of stone coated with a binder or cement; Tarmacadam uses a specialized tar for a flatter surface.

Transit Lounge

A room or designated area at an international travel airport where passengers wait for their flight to another country.

Take-Off

When an airplane leaves the ground, the act is termed as take-off.

Terminal

The main building of an airport that is used by passengers and cargo.

Tower

In an airport, the word 'tower' usually refers to the Air Traffic Control Tower (ATCT). This is a ground-based center that provides direction for aircraft, whether on the runway or in the air. From the towers, Air traffic controllers give instructions to pilots in the aircraft; these directions are for facilitating the flow of traffic, assisting pilots with relevant information, and for preventing accidents.

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The amount of lift generated by a wing depends on the shape of the airfoil, the wing area, and the aircraft velocity.

During takeoff and landing the airplane's velocity is relatively low. To keep the lift high (to avoid objects on the ground!), airplane designers try to increase the wing area and change the airfoil shape by putting some moving parts on the wings' leading and trailing edges. The part on the leading edge is called a slat, while the part on the trailing edge is called a flap. The flaps and slats move along metal tracks built into the wings. Moving the flaps aft (toward the tail) and the slats forward increases the wing area. Pivoting the leading edge of the slat and the trailing edge of the flap downward increases the effective camber of the airfoil, which increases the lift. In addition, the large aft-projected area of the flap increases the drag of the aircraft. This helps the airplane slow down for landing.

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The next time you fly in an airliner, watch the wings during takeoff and landing. On takeoff, we want high lift and low drag, so the flaps will be set downward at a moderate setting. During landing we want high lift and high drag, so the flaps and slats will be fully deployed. When the wheels touch down, we want to decrease the lift (to keep the plane on the ground!), so you will often see spoilers deployed on the top of the wing to kill the lift. Spoilers create additional drag to slow down the plane.

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• Parts of an Airplane:
• Flaps and Slats:
• Gradual Climb:

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