Christina, The Aviation Nerd 
On aircraft which fly at high-level altitudes, pressurization systems are required in order for the occupants to breathe. Pressurization systems are comprised of a balance between providing sufficient oxygen levels to those onboard while placing minimal stress on the aircraft’s structure. With these pressurization systems, there are numerous terms used to address the key components … Read more
At major commercial airports around the world, it is not uncommon for there to be more than one runway in use at a given time. Airport infrastructure such as airport terminals, taxiways, and runways are the key factors for controlling the flow of passengers through the airport. As a result, there are multiple reasons behind … Read more
The Airbus A320 family is considered the most commercially successful narrowbody aircraft of all time. With over 10,000 aircraft produced since the type’s introduction in 1987, the aircraft has evolved in terms of technical specifications and performance. A pivotal element of the aircraft series is the difference between the -100 and -200 variants of the … Read more
The genesis of the regional jet market on a large scale dates back to the early 1990s. The most common player in this market is the Bombardier CRJ series of regional jets. Up until the end of the production run of the CRJ series in 2020, more than 1900 airframes across the range were produced. … Read more
In IFR conditions, navigation is performed via a network of navigational aids (NAVAIDs) which can provide vertical and lateral guidance to an aircraft. In Instrument Meteorological Conditions (IMC), there is a high degree of dependency placed on these NAVAIDs in terms of the safe navigation of the aircraft. NAVAIDs such as VORs are comprised of … Read more
ILS is by far the most commonly available instrument approach available in North America and Europe. The precision and ubiquitous infrastructure of this system make it ideal for instrument approaches. In the late 1970s and early 1980s, a prospective replacement for ILS emerged in the form of a system known as the Microwave Landing System … Read more
Under Instrument Flight Rules (IFR), there are a number of different instrument approaches which may be performed, depending on the airport’s infrastructure and the aircraft’s capabilities. Two forms of instrument approaches are an ILS – short for Instrument Landing System, and LOC – which stands for the localizer. The difference between an ILS and LOC … Read more
When recording specific technical details pertinent to an aircraft and/or components, there are numerous abbreviations used to measure certain maintenance parameters. Two of the most commonly used terms which are often seen on aircraft records are SMOH (Since Major Overhaul) and SFOH (Since Factory Overhaul). The key difference between these two terms is that SMOH … Read more
In air navigation, pilots make use of various forms of navigational aids en route and on approach. Two particular forms of navigational aids are VORs (Very High-Frequency Omnidirectional Radio Range) and NDBs (Non-Directional Beacons). The major difference between the two is the high degree of accuracy of VORs when compared to NDBs. NDBs require the … Read more
In relation to navigational aids, there are various forms of equipment utilized. The various navigational aids available have different functions and operational uses. The key difference between a VOR and VORTAC is that the VORTAC merges the VOR and TACAN stations into one navigational aid. A VORTAC station consists of the two stations (VOR and … Read more
During an in-flight incident, there may be a need for the aircraft to land as soon as possible due to an emergency. In this instance, pilots will select an internationally recognized signal on the transponder to communicate this. This code is 7700 – a code used to indicate an aircraft in a general emergency. This … Read more
The difference between a monocoque and semi-monocoque structure is the way in which they absorb and carry flight loads. A semi-monocoque structure is comprised of structural elements which “carry” the flight loads and stress on the structure of the aircraft. Monocoque structures consist of a design in which only the skin of the aircraft carries … Read more
