Fixed-wing aircraft

Fixed-wing aircraft

It is worth noting that the air industry's insurers base their calculations on the "number of deaths per journey" statistic while the industry itself generally uses the "number of deaths per kilometre" statistic in press releases. [ [http://space.newscientist.com/article/mg16321985.200-flight-into-danger.html Flight into danger - 07 August 1999 - New Scientist Space ] ]

Causes

The majority of aircraft accidents are a result of human error on the part of the pilot(s) or controller(s). After human error, mechanical failure is the biggest cause of air accidents, which sometimes also can involve a human component; e.g., negligence of the airline in carrying out proper maintenance. Adverse weather is the third largest cause of accidents. Icing, downbursts, and low visibility are often major contributors to weather related crashes. Birds have been ranked as a major cause for large rotor bursts on commercial turboprop engines, spurring extra safety measures to keep birds away. Technological advances such as ice detectors also help pilots ensure the safety of their aircraft.

Environmental impact

ee also

* Aircraft
* Aircraft flight mechanics
* Aviation
* Aviation history
* List of altitude records reached by different aircraft types
* Rotorcraft
* Decalage

Notes

References

* In 1903 when the Wright brothers used the word "aeroplane" it meant wing, not the whole aircraft. See text of their patent. [http://www.google.com/patents?vid=USPAT821393&id=h5NWAAAAEBAJ&dq=821,393|U.S. U.S. Patent 821,393] — Wright brothers' patent for "Flying Machine"
* Blatner, David. "The Flying Book : Everything You've Ever Wondered About Flying On Airplanes". ISBN 0-8027-7691-4

External links

* [http://www.airliners.net/info/ Airliners.net]
* [http://www.aerospaceweb.org/ Aerospaceweb.org]
* [http://travel.howstuffworks.com/airplane.htm How Airplanes Work - Howstuffworks.com]


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Look at other dictionaries:

  • fixed-wing aircraft — noun An aircraft in which the wings are attached to the fuselage, as opposed to eg a helicopter with rotating ‘wings or propellers • • • Main Entry: ↑fix * * * fixed wing aircraft «FIHKST WIHNG», an aircraft with wings attached to the fuselage,… …   Useful english dictionary

  • fixed-wing aircraft — aeroplane aer *o*plane aeroplane a [ e]r*o*plane , n. [a[ e]ro + plane.] (A[ e]ronautics) 1. A light rigid plane used in a[ e]rial navigation to oppose sudden upward or downward movement in the air, as in gliding machines; specif., such a plane… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • fixed-wing aircraft — An airplane or glider whose wing is rigidly attached to the structure, or is otherwise adjustable. The term is used to refer to monoplanes, biplanes, triplanes, and, in fact, all conventional aircraft that are neither balloons, airships,… …   Aviation dictionary

  • fixed-wing aircraft — /fɪkst ˌwɪŋ ˈɛəkraft/ (say fikst .wing airkrahft) noun any aircraft which gains lift by means of fixed aerofoils …  

  • fixed-wing — ☆ fixed wing [fikst′wiŋ΄ ] adj. designating an aircraft having its wings fastened to the fuselage, as distinguished from a helicopter …   English World dictionary

  • fixed-wing — /fikst wing /, adj. of or pertaining to aircraft that derive lift from the motion of air over aerodynamically designed surfaces that are rigidly and permanently attached to the fuselage. * * * adj. [attrib.] denoting aircraft of the conventional… …   Useful english dictionary

  • fixed-wing — adj. Fixed wing is used with these nouns: ↑aircraft …   Collocations dictionary

  • fixed-wing — /fikst wing /, adj. of or pertaining to aircraft that derive lift from the motion of air over aerodynamically designed surfaces that are rigidly and permanently attached to the fuselage. * * * …   Universalium

  • fixed-wing — adjective denoting aircraft of the conventional type as opposed to those with rotating wings, such as helicopters …   English new terms dictionary

  • Wing — Wing, n. [OE. winge, wenge; probably of Scand. origin; cf. Dan. & Sw. vinge, Icel. v[ae]ngr.] [1913 Webster] 1. One of the two anterior limbs of a bird, pterodactyl, or bat. They correspond to the arms of man, and are usually modified for flight …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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