ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Airline pilot reveals the meanings of 23 code words passengers don't understand

Here's how to speak "airline" according to airline pilot Patrick Smith. Smith, a long-time Boeing 757 and 767 pilot, explains the meaning of terms such as all-call, direct flight, and ground stop.

  • He compiled a list of commonly misunderstood airline terms for his site,

For most of us, flying is still an inherently mysterious activity.

To shed some light on the world of commercial air travel, Business Insider turned to Patrick Smith for some answers. Smith is not only an author and aviation blogger, but he is also a long-time commercial airline pilot flying Boeing 757 and Boeing 767 jets.

Smith, who wrote "Cockpit Confidential," compiled a glossary of commonly misunderstood airline jargon on his website, AskThePilot.

ADVERTISEMENT

According to Smith, some of the terms are highly technological while others are quite humorous and even a bit absurd. Here's a selection of entries:

"Doors to arrival and crosscheck."

Used in a sample sentence: "

"All-call."

Used in a sample sentence: "

ADVERTISEMENT

"Holding pattern."

Definition: "

"At this time."

Used in a sample sentence: "

Definition: Now. Smith calls this phrase "air travel's signature euphemism."

ADVERTISEMENT

"Flight level."

Used in a sample sentence: "We’ve now reached our cruising altitude of flight level three-three-zero. I’ll go ahead and turn off the seatbelt sign."

Definition: "There’s a technical definition of flight level, but I’m not going to bore you with it," Smith wrote.

According to the long-time airline pilot, flight level is simply a fancy way of saying how many thousands of feet the plane is above sea level.

"Just add a couple of zeroes. Flight level three-three zero is 33,000 feet," he explained.

ADVERTISEMENT

"Last minute paperwork."

Used in a sample sentence: "

"Ground stop."

Used in a sample sentence: "

"Air pocket."

ADVERTISEMENT

Definition: A colloquial term for a jolt of turbulence.

"Equipment."

Used in a sample sentence: "

"Flightdeck."

Definition: Cockpit.

ADVERTISEMENT

"First Officer (Co-Pilot)."

Definition: The first officer or co-pilot is the second in command of the plane and sits on the right side of the cockpit wearing three stripes on his or her shoulder.

"He or she is fully qualified to operate the aircraft in all stages of flight, including takeoffs and landings, and does so in alternating turns with the captain," Smith wrote.

"Final approach."

Used in a sample sentence: "

ADVERTISEMENT

"Deadhead."

Definition: According to Smith, a

"Direct flight."

Definition: Whether or not a flight is "direct" has nothing to do with how many stops it makes on the way to the destination. Instead, a direct flight is defined as a routing where the flight number does not change.

"Nonstop flight."

ADVERTISEMENT

Definition: A flight that doesn't make any stops along the way.

"EFC time."

Used in a sample sentence: "We've been given an EFC time of 15 minutes after the hour."

Definition: EFC time is short for expect further clearance time. It's also sometimes referred to as a release time. The EFC time "

"Wheels-up time."

ADVERTISEMENT

Definition: Wheels-up time "

"The ramp."

Used in a sample sentence: "

Again, this is a relic from the early days of aviation. "

"Alley."

ADVERTISEMENT

Used in a sample sentence: "We're waiting for another plane to move out of the alley."

Definition: It's a passageway between terminals or ramps.

"Apron."

Definition: According to Smith, the apron is pretty much any expanse of pavement that's not a taxiway or a runway. This includes areas where planes are parked or serviced.

"Final and immediate boarding call."

ADVERTISEMENT

Definition: "A flamboyant way of telling slow-moving passengers to get their asses in gear," Smith wrote. "It provides more urgency than just 'final call' or 'last call.'"

"Area of weather."

Used in a sample sentence: "Due to an area of weather over New Jersey, we'll be turning southbound toward Philadelphia."

Definition: According to Smith, this usually means a thunderstorm or a zone of heavy precipitation.

"The floor area."

ADVERTISEMENT

Used in a sample sentence: "Please check the floor area around your seat for personal items."

Definition: The floor.

JOIN OUR PULSE COMMUNITY!

Unblock notifications in browser settings.
ADVERTISEMENT

Eyewitness? Submit your stories now via social or:

Email: eyewitness@pulse.ng

Recommended articles

Here's everything to know about being a virgin on your wedding night

Here's everything to know about being a virgin on your wedding night

7 do's and don’ts of the Holy month of Ramadan

7 do's and don’ts of the Holy month of Ramadan

Top 5 sweetest celebrity mother-child relationships that stand out for us

Top 5 sweetest celebrity mother-child relationships that stand out for us

International Women's Day: 5 Nigerian female celebrities championing women’s rights

International Women's Day: 5 Nigerian female celebrities championing women’s rights

Top 5 female directors in Nollywood

Top 5 female directors in Nollywood

6 things that will break a Muslim's fast during Ramadan

6 things that will break a Muslim's fast during Ramadan

5 benefits of fasting during Ramadan

5 benefits of fasting during Ramadan

5 reasons Easter was more fun when we were children

5 reasons Easter was more fun when we were children

Dos and don’ts of supporting Muslims during Ramadan

Dos and don’ts of supporting Muslims during Ramadan

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT