ASOG Article of the Month | September 2022
ASOG Author | Patrick Ryan
The learning curve never stops for those who use aircraft professionally. Increasing our knowledge and undertaking professional development is something to enjoy, but it's also something we, as non-rated aircrew members, should take seriously.
One of the essential elements of this ASO learning curve is having a good understanding of Airmanship. According to the FAA, Airmanship is defined as:
- A sound understanding with the principles of flight.
- The capability to operate an airplane with competence and precision both on the ground and in the air.
- The exercise of sound judgment results in optimal operational safety and efficiency.
One of the starting points of developing one's Airmanship is understanding the world of aircraft, i.e., the different types and classifications.
Simply put, an airplane (manned or unmanned) is a platform that can fly by obtaining help from the air. It respond to the force of gravity by using either static lift or the dynamic lift of an airfoil.
The primary factors that categorize the different aircraft types are Lighter-Than-Air (Aerostat) and Heavier-Than-Air (Aerodyne). The next level of classification is Non-Engine and Engine aircraft.
From this point, aircraft designs, technology, and capabilities differ in many aspects and categories. As shown in the figure below, aircraft types take on their unique technical characteristics, i.e., from Kite to Balloon; Fixed-Wing to Rotary-Wing, Amphibian, or Float; Propeller Propulsion to Rocket Propulsion; Tethered or Non-Tethered; Manned and Unmanned and more.
So now you know…Short & Sweet. An airplane is just not a fixed-wing aircraft or helicopter, and Lighter-than-Air is just not Blimps, but they all are part of a connect classification system. As mentioned before, as non-rated aircrew members, we should constantly improve our professional aviator skills & knowledge for safety and effectiveness reasons. In this case, Airmanship 101 – Aircraft Types & Classification.
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