PJS Aviation Glossary: Aircraft Terms to Know








ETOPS – The acronym for Extended Range Twin Operations, as defined by the FAA. This is a rule that dictates how long a twin-engined aircraft may fly on a single engine to the nearest suitable landing strip or airport.

Tail Number – A tail number is the airplane’s registration number and is used for identification in a similar way that a car’s license plate number is used. It is typically possible to identify an aircraft’s country of origin by the first letter of its tail number. In the United States, that letter is an “N.”

Part 91 – A part 91 flight is any non-revenue generating flight. This can include a flight where the owner of the plane is flying or an empty leg where the aircraft is repositioning. FAA duty time regulations do not apply during part 91 flights.

Check back here often as we’ll be adding more terms to our Aviation Glossary in the near future!

Photo via Greeblie on Flickr