PRIVATE AIRPORT Airport that is privately owned and not available to the public without prior permission. They are depicted on aeronautical charts for emergency and landmark purposes.

PRIVATE PILOT CERTIFICATE An FAA-issued pilot certificate permitting carriage of passengers on a not-for-hire basis. Reference 14 CFR part 61.

PROFICIENCY CHECK An evaluation of aeronautical knowledge and flight proficiency. Reference part 61. Upon successful completion of the proficiency check the authorized instructor will endorse the applicant’s logbook indicating the added category/class of equipment that the applicant is authorized to operate.

PROPELLER A device for propelling an aircraft that, when rotated, produces by its action on the air, a thrust approximately perpendicular to its plane of rotation. It includes the control components normally supplied by its manufacturer.

PROPELLER BLAST The volume of air accelerated behind a propeller producing thrust.

PTS See PRACTICAL TEST STANDARDS.

PUBLIC AIRPORT Airport that is available to the aviation public.

PUSHER CONFIGURATION Propeller configuration where the propeller shaft faces the rear of the aircraft. Thrust produced by the propeller pushes the aircraft, rather than pulling it.

RAM-AIR WING Also known as a parafoil. An airfoil designed with an aerodynamic cell structure which is inflated by the wind, forming a classic wing cross-section that generates lift.

RECIPROCATING ENGINE An engine that converts the heat energy from burning fuel into the reciprocating movement of the pistons. This movement is converted into a rotary motion by the connecting rods and crankshaft.

REGISTRATION CERTIFICATE A federal certificate that documents aircraft ownership.

RELATIVE WIND The direction the wind strikes an airfoil.

RIBS The parts of an aircraft wing structure that give the wing its aerodynamic cross section. Fabric covers the ribs and gives the PPC wing its airfoil shape.

RISERS One of several straps that attach the cart to the suspension lines. Sometimes referred to as “V lines,” risers are the intermediate link between the suspension lines and the aircraft.

RISK ELEMENTS The four fundamental areas of exposure to risk: the pilot, the aircraft, the environment, and the type of operation that comprise any given aviation situation.

RISK MANAGEMENT The part of the decision making process which relies on situational awareness, problem recognition, and good judgment to reduce risks associated with each flight.

ROLL The rotation of an aircraft about its longitudinal axis.

ROUNDOUT (FLARE) A pitch-up during landing approach to reduce rate of descent and forward speed prior to touchdown.

RPM Revolutions per minute. A measure of rotational speed. One RPM is one revolution made in one minute.