Glossary

Wing priority order in formation: Altitude (step-down) · Bearing · Closure/separation.

VT-6 course-rules mnemonic to NSE: ATIS / Bingo set / CDI to runway / Descent checklist / Ops check / Navigation review / Talk-Transponder.

Air Education and Training Command Manual

AETCMAN 11-248 — USAF T-6 Primary Flying.

Air Force Manual

AFMAN 11-2T-6V3 is USAF T-6 Operations Procedures (NATOPS analog for USAF).

Anti-G Straining Maneuver

HICK technique — tense skeletal muscles · 'Hii-CK' glottis closure · hold 2.5-3 sec · finish 'ka'.

Light-gun signal from tower. Used for NORDO landing permission at KNGP.

Angle of Attack

Measured in units in the T-6B. Stick shaker at 15.5 · critical 18.0 · on-speed 10.5 (donut).

Airport Surveillance Radar

Approach type — controller talks pilot down by radar.

Air Traffic Control

Generic — Approach, Departure, Tower, Ground, Center.

Automatic Terminal Information Service

Recorded weather + active runway broadcast. Identified by phonetic letter (Information Alpha, Bravo, ...).

Aircrew Training Jacket

Student's training record. Reviewed before every event.

Auxiliary Battery

Backup battery powering standby instruments, backup UHF, fire warning.

Breakup and Rendezvous

Co-altitude rejoin · 200 KIAS contract · radius-of-turn geometry, not airspeed differential.

Before Approach Configuration

Gear down · flaps TO. Set NLT 5 NM from FAF for section approaches.

ELP position perpendicular to landing line · 600-800 ft AGL · gear down, flaps as required.

Backup Flight Instrument

Standby attitude / airspeed / altitude. Self-aligns with countdown.

Emergency aircraft takes lead in formation so non-emergency aircraft can provide mutual support.

Backup Flight Instrument

Same as BFI — different document spelling.

Cleared, Acknowledged, Briefed, Transferred

Pre-maneuver checks for contact maneuvers.

Critical Action Memory Item

Boldface step. Memorized verbatim.

Section recovery mnemonic: Cruise position · Checklists · ATIS (WAR) · Speed adjustments.

Controlled Ejection Area

Pre-designated airspace for controlled / planned ejection. KNGP CEA: 2 NM around CRP VORTAC 170°/20 DME.

Canopy Fracturing System

Detonating cord embedded in canopy. Pulled handle fractures canopy for egress or pre-ejection clearance.

Commander, Naval Air Forces

Issuer of CNAF M-3710.7 — general flight ops manual.

Chief of Naval Air Training

Issuer of the P-series FTIs (P-764 Contact, P-765 INAV, P-766 Form, P-767 VNAV, P-771 IFP).

Common Traffic Advisory Frequency

Self-announce frequency at non-towered fields.

Course Training Standard

Terminal proficiency standard at end of block / stage.

Commander, Training Wing

Wing-level authority (CTW-4 Corpus · CTW-5 Whiting).

Decision Altitude / Minimum Descent Altitude

Approach minimums. DA used for precision · MDA for non-precision.

DD Form 1801

DoD International Flight Plan. Filed via FWB / EFB.

Distance to Engage / Glide Altitude

Used in PEL — climb at 140 KIAS to DEGA, or accelerate if unable.

Equipment mnemonic for ICAO Item 10 — D · I · Y · R · U · G · S (DME · INS · VOR/Mode S · GPS · UHF · GBAS · Surveillance).

Drop on Request

Voluntary attrition from primary flight training.

INAV approach setup: Distance · Radial / runway · Altitude · Frequency · Time.

Electronic Attitude Director Indicator

T-6A glass attitude display. Replaced by PFD in T-6B.

Electronic Horizontal Situation Indicator

T-6A glass HSI display.

Engine Indication and Crew Alerting System

Centralized engine + caution/warning display on the right MFD.

Electronic Kneeboard

ForeFlight + Mission Booklet running on iPad. SNA use is regulated.

Emergency Landing Pattern

360° pattern positioning for power-off touchdown. High Key → Low Key → Base Key → Final.

Emergency Locator Transmitter

Activates on crash impact or manually. Armed for flight.

Final Approach Fix

Where the precision approach begins. Configure to BAC (gear, flaps TO) NLT 5 NM from FAF for section.

Flight Crew Information File

Pre-flight read items — current FCIFs must be reviewed prior to flight.

Flight Checklist

T-6B Pocket Checklist (NAVAIR A1-T6BAA-FCL-100). Cockpit reference.

Fuel Control Unit

Mechanical backup to the PMU on the PT6A-68.

VT-6 break mnemonic: Flap (set decel) · Chop (PCL idle) · Pop (out of bank) · Level · Check · Drop (gear).

Flight Management System

T-6B GPS / route nav system. Default route at KNGP: KING4MOA.

Free of All

Section flight is established and free to maneuver as briefed.

Flight Training Instruction

CNATRA P-series stage manuals.

Flying Wing Operating Procedures

Wing-level procedures pamphlet (Whiting equivalent of CTW-4 1552.1).

System failure hand-signal mnemonic when NORDO: Hydraulic · Electrical · Fuel · Oxygen · Engine.

AGSM cadence — 'Hii-CK' glottis closure. See AGSM.

ELP entry: 3,000 ft AGL · 120 KIAS · gear down, flaps UP · ~1/3 down runway.

Head-Up Display

T-6B front cockpit projection. Repeated on rear cockpit center MFD.

Post-ejection mnemonic: Inspect · Inflate LPU · Release raft (over water) · Options · Koch · Avoid parachute / Disentangle / Retrieve.

Integrated Avionics Computer

T-6B has dual IACs.

Internal Communication System

Crew intercom. Loss of ICS triggers special crew coordination (BANG, BANG, BANG cadence for ejection).

Instrument Landing System

Precision approach. Localizer + glideslope.

Pre-flight self-check: Illness · Medication · Stress · Alcohol · Fatigue · Eating.

Indicated Outside Air Temperature

Used for start limitations (≤ 80 °C for normal start) and TOLD.

Emergency voice-report format: Identification · Situation · Position · Intention.

Inter-Seat Sequencer

Ejection sequencing selector. SOLO / BOTH / CMD FWD.

Inter-Turbine Temperature

Hot-section temp. Start max 1,000 °C · transient 870 °C · takeoff 820 °C.

Knock-It-Off

Safety / emergency call ending a formation maneuver. Anyone calls. Distinct from Terminate.

Localizer / DME / DA / Heading / Altitude

ILS / GPS approach mnemonic for setup briefing.

Lateral Navigation (RNAV)

GPS approach lateral-only. T-6B was approved for LNAV in 2016 — verify current approvals.

ELP position: 1,500 ft AGL · 120 KIAS · gear down, flaps TO · abeam IPL.

Life Preserver Unit

Inflatable life preserver in survival vest.

Maximum Elevation Figure

Highest terrain or obstacle in each VFR sectional quadrant.

Multi-Function Display

T-6B has three per cockpit. T-6A has none.

Maneuver Item File

Per-maneuver grading standard. SNA must meet or exceed MIF on each item to pass.

Manual Override

Ejection seat handle that bypasses sequencer at high terrain.

Minimum Safe Altitude

Approach plate ring · 25 NM · gives obstacle clearance.

Gas-generator RPM

Compressor RPM, percent of redline. Ground idle 60-61% · flight idle min 67% · takeoff max 104%.

Naval Air Training and Operating Procedures Standardization

Official Navy flight manual. T-6B NATOPS = NAVAIR A1-T6BAA-NFM-000.

No-Radio. Loss of radio comms. Squawk 7600, follow local NORDO procedures.

Propeller RPM

Percent of redline. Takeoff 100% (PMU governs 100 ± 2 %) · avoid stabilized 62-80% on ground.

Naval Standard Score

Scoring system for primary syllabus events. Drives selection.

Nose Wheel Steering

Engaged for taxi · OFF for takeoff/landing roll above ~30 KIAS.

On-Board Oxygen Generating System

Bleed-air-driven O2 generator. Replaces stored O2 bottle.

Out of Controlled Flight

Departure from controlled flight. Boldface: PCL idle · controls neutral · altitude check · recover from UA.

Out of Controlled Flight

See Procedures.

Operations Duty Officer

Squadron point of contact for the day. Briefs solo students.

Original Equipment Manufacturer

Beechcraft / Textron Aviation Defense for the airframe; P&WC for the engine; Hartzell for the prop.

Operational Risk Management

Pre-flight risk scoring matrix. 'ORM 321' = engine-out approach decision gates (300/200/100 ft AGL).

Person At Controls

Whichever crewmember is currently flying. Distinct from PIC.

Precision Approach Radar

Ground-controlled precision approach. Controller calls glideslope + course corrections.

Power-Attitude-Trim

P-A-T sequence on every transition. Power first, attitude second, trim last.

Power Control Lever

The 'throttle'. Electrical primary (PMU) · mechanical backup (FCU). MAX / IDLE detents.

Pocket Checklist

Different from PCL (Power Control Lever). NAVAIR A1-T6BAA-FCL-100. Cockpit reference.

Precautionary Emergency Landing

Engine running but unreliable. Default action: turn to nearest suitable field · climb/accel to intercept ELP · gear/flaps/SB UP.

Stepped-up · 30-60° bearing · 500 ft separation. Allows emergency aircraft freedom to maneuver / CFS / eject.

Primary Flight Display

T-6B integrated attitude / airspeed / altitude / HSI display.

T-6B PFD nav source selection — VOR / FMS / GPS.

Parachute Landing Fall

Five-points-of-contact roll on landing under parachute.

Power Management Unit

Single-channel digital engine controller for the PT6A-68. PMU OFF reverts to FCU mechanical backup.

Practice PEL

PEL flown for training. ATC-approved on workload basis.

Pre-Stalling, Spinning, and Aerobatic Checklist

Run before any stall / spin / OCF / aerobatic maneuver. 3 items.

Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-68

T-6 engine. Free-turbine turboprop. 1,250 SHP rated · flat-rated 1,100 SHP installed.

Runway Duty Officer

Field watchstander. Required for closed-tower ops and OLF operation.

Stall recovery mnemonic: Reduce AOA · Max power · Level wings · Ball centered.

Search and Rescue

Recovery forces for downed aircrew. Coast Guard / Navy / civilian.

Two aircraft (Section Leader + Wingman).

Approach / level-off mnemonic: Time · Turn · Time · Transition · Twist · Talk.

Student Naval Aviator

The student. Also IUT (Instructor Under Training).

Hijack / Lost comms / Emergency transponder codes.

Seat Survival Kit

Survival pack in ejection seat. ADU = Auto Deployment Unit.

Specific Skill Requirement

Items that must be completed / demonstrated in a block.

Start Ready

Advisory light indicating PCL position and ignition conditions met to start.

B&R rendezvous cue: if Lead's vertical stab moves right of bisecting outboard wing, stick goes right.

Tactical Callsign

Inter-flight callsign (e.g., 'Angry') · Lead stays 'Angry One One' regardless of physical lead position.

Tactical (inter-flight) frequency for formation. Distinct from ATC.

Trim Aid Device

Automatic rudder trim to counter PT6A torque/P-factor. Off below 100 KIAS, on above.

Time / Begin / Altitude

Reporting points and procedures use Time + Position + Altitude.

Traffic Collision Avoidance System

Active TAS-only system. Tested at startup.

Pre-maneuver: Configuration · Checklist · Clearing turn.

Takeoff and Landing Data

Computed values from Quad-Fold using IOAT and PA — min torque at 60 KIAS, abort speeds, distance.

Training Time Out

Crewmember-called pause when overwhelmed or task-saturated.

Training Wing

TW-4 (Corpus) · TW-5 (Whiting). Also written TRAWING-4 / -5.

Up Front Control Panel

Center pedestal panel for radio / nav / page selection.

Post-ejection 'Options' sub-mnemonic: Visor · Oxygen mask · Gloves · SSK · LeMoinge slots/toggles.

Mandatory ATC reports (AIM 5-3-3) — VFR/IFR transition · Altitude change · Cancel IFR · Approach · TAS change · OROCA · Reaching · Safety of flight.

Max Gear / Flap Down Speed

150 KIAS (combined per the EP & OP card).

Max Operating Speed / Mach

316 KIAS · 0.67 Mach.

Ground-based azimuth / distance NAVAID. Approach type uses radials and DME.

ATIS mnemonic: Winds · Altimeter · Runway.

Wing-Tip Distance

Pattern spacing unit. Roughly the lateral distance from runway centerline equal to the wingspan length on the ground.