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Aviation and Air Transport

Specialty Knowledge entries in Aviation and Air Transport.

Dedicated cargo freighter aircraft

Air Cargo

What Air Cargo Is Air cargo refers to freight transported by aircraft rather than by truck, rail, or ship. It is the fastest major freight transportation mode, moving goods across long distances in hours rather than days or weeks, but it is also typically the most expensive option per unit of weight, reserving air cargo

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Air cargo is freight transported by aircraft, used for shipments requiring the fastest possible transit time or involving high-value, time-sensitive, or perishable goods.

Air traffic control approach room with radar displays

Air Traffic Control

What Air Traffic Control Does Air traffic control directs the movement of aircraft to maintain safe separation and keep traffic flowing efficiently, covering aircraft on the ground at airports, departing and arriving aircraft near airports, and aircraft cruising between destinations. Controllers communicate with pilots by radio, issuing instructions on altitude, heading, and speed to keep

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Air traffic control is the ground-based service that directs aircraft movement in the air and on the ground to maintain safe separation and efficient flow of traffic.

Mechanic performing maintenance on an aircraft jet engine

Aircraft Maintenance

Purpose of Aircraft Maintenance Aircraft maintenance covers the inspection, repair, and servicing activities required to keep an aircraft safe and airworthy throughout its operational life. Unlike many other vehicles, aircraft maintenance follows strict, legally mandated schedules rather than being left to owner discretion, reflecting the severe consequences of mechanical failure during flight. Levels of Maintenance

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Aircraft maintenance is the inspection, repair, and servicing of aircraft performed on a defined schedule to ensure continued airworthiness and safety.

Airport terminal where airport operations coordinate passenger flow

Airport Operations

What Airport Operations Covers Airport operations encompasses the full range of activities needed to run an airport safely and efficiently, including managing runways and taxiways, coordinating ground handling services for arriving and departing aircraft, overseeing terminal passenger flow, and ensuring security screening processes run smoothly. It requires close coordination among the airport operator, airlines, air

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Airport operations is the set of activities required to run an airport safely and efficiently, including runway management, ground handling, security, and terminal services.

Fuel truck used to refuel an aircraft with aviation fuel

Aviation Fuel

Types of Aviation Fuel Aviation fuel comes in two main categories suited to different aircraft engine types. Jet fuel, a kerosene-based fuel most commonly designated Jet A, powers the turbine engines used by commercial airliners, business jets, and most helicopters. Aviation gasoline, commonly called avgas, is a specially formulated high-octane gasoline used in the piston

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Aviation fuel is specialized fuel formulated for use in aircraft engines, including jet fuel for turbine-powered aircraft and aviation gasoline for piston-engine aircraft.

Flight data recorder used to analyze safety data

Aviation Safety Management System

What a Safety Management System Is A safety management system, commonly abbreviated SMS, is a formal, organization-wide framework that airlines and other aviation organizations use to identify hazards, assess and manage risk, and continuously monitor and improve safety performance. Rather than relying solely on reacting to incidents after they occur, an SMS aims to proactively

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An aviation safety management system is a formal, organization-wide framework for identifying hazards, managing risk, and continuously improving safety performance within an airline or aviation organization.

Commercial airliner operated by a scheduled airline

Commercial Aviation

What Commercial Aviation Covers Commercial aviation encompasses the airlines and operators that carry passengers and cargo for payment, including scheduled passenger service, dedicated cargo carriers, and charter operations. It is distinct from general aviation, which covers private, recreational, and non-revenue flying, and from military aviation, which serves defense purposes. Scheduled Versus Charter Service Scheduled airlines

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Commercial aviation is the sector of air transport that carries passengers and cargo for compensation using scheduled and chartered flights operated by airlines.

Pilot in the flight deck, working from a flight plan prepared by a dispatcher

Flight Dispatch

Role of Flight Dispatch Flight dispatch is responsible for planning each flight before departure, including selecting the most efficient and safe route given current weather and airspace conditions, calculating the fuel load required, and verifying the aircraft’s weight and balance fall within safe limits. Dispatchers work closely with pilots to finalize the flight plan before

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Flight dispatch is the aviation function responsible for planning flights, including route selection, fuel calculation, and weight and balance, and for jointly authorizing each flight's release with the pilot in command.

Airport departure board showing connecting flights at a hub airport

Hub-and-Spoke System

How the Hub-and-Spoke System Works In a hub-and-spoke network, an airline operates a central hub airport where flights from many smaller cities, the spokes, converge. Passengers traveling between two spoke cities typically connect through the hub rather than flying directly, allowing the airline to serve far more city pairs than it could if it operated

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The hub-and-spoke system is an airline route network design in which flights are concentrated through central hub airports rather than connecting most city pairs directly.

Aircraft operated by a low-cost carrier airline

Low-Cost Carrier

What Defines a Low-Cost Carrier A low-cost carrier, often abbreviated LCC, is an airline business model built around offering lower base fares than traditional full-service network airlines by reducing operating costs and unbundling services that were traditionally included in the ticket price. Passengers typically pay separately for checked baggage, seat selection, and onboard food and

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A low-cost carrier is an airline that offers generally lower fares than traditional network airlines by operating with a simplified fleet, point-to-point routing, and unbundled pricing for optional services.