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Small airplane, aerodynamic, Cessna in the plane, what is the correct way to call a small size aircraft?
Faced with a dilemma that we come across very often AvGeek when hearing the word PLANE, it is time to know what is the correct way to call for example a beautiful Cessna 172.
What the RAE says
The Royal Spanish Academy of Language, as an entity dedicated to the promulgation of regulations aimed at promoting language unity among all Spanish-speaking territories in order to guarantee a common standard, dice:
female. Small and underpowered aircraft.
As we can see, the definition of the RAE is very ambiguous, since the size of said small plane is not precisely defined, its power or how many engines it has and this is why this term generates rejection among aviation professionals, fans and pilots.
plane
The etymology of the word plane comes from the French avionette, one of the first terms used in aviation and is composed of the prefix avión that comes from the Latin avis which means birds and the diminutive suffix eta.
What ICAO says
The International Civil Aviation Organization does not contemplate the term light aircraft in any of its annexes, but yes the term small plane.
In the Annex 8 on "Airworthiness", it is indicated that a small plane is:
Small aircraft of maximum certificated take-off mass greater than 750 kg (1.650 pounds) but less than 5.700 kilos (12.500 pounds).
With this definition we can say that in technical aeronautical terms, small plane is not a term that exists or is used.
What the regulation says
Colombian regulations were consulted, Ecuador and Chile as examples, In none of them was the word or definition of "plane" found., but do the following related terms to represent a small size aircraft:
Aerodyne
aircraft heavier than air, sustained in flight primarily by virtue of aerodynamic forces.
Airplane (airplane)
aircraft heavier than air, propelled by mechanical means, that is sustained in flight due to dynamic reactions of the air on its wings and other fixed surfaces, under certain conditions.
Then, How do you say?
There's no wrong way to say it, both light aircraft and light aircraft are correct based on what is indicated by the RAE and the regulation.
The problem is that the general public and even the press, they say plane to any plane regardless of its size and weight.
Notes have been seen where an ATR is mentioned as a small plane or that a Cessna Citation is also mentioned, just for not being big like a Jumbo Boeing 747.
All this is born for lack of aeronautical culture, in the end, it's not wrong to say plane, although technically and following the technical regulations that regulate aviation this term does not exist, only use it when you really need to use it, in small aircraft of no more than 5.700 kilos of weight.
And you, How do you call a Cessna 172?
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The word "plane" sounds almost derogatory to me, Something like saying I'm "Argentinucho"
The RAE is not the authorized entity, to decide, on technical aspects and ingenierile apparatus, about a technical aspect of a word, they pick up the colloquial of these, and what the people take as their own, That is why the word "plane", does not appear as proprietary to ICAO and the FAA, or EASA people who want to support I absorb for me. among others, in the ICAO glossary of terms, less appears. Therefore, For me it is a grammatical aberration and I do not accept it. We are clear on Large Aircraft and Small Aircraft and in the Airworthiness Standards it is even clearer. Thanks. OHFG
It should be by name, Cessna 172 o Piper p 40 , etc etc as the case of the aircraft
ON MY LICENSES IT CLEARLY SAYS ;Plane Pilot;
plane say those who do not speak the aeronautical language
The problem goes through the abuse of the term plane in my view.
Plane because it is a piston and the plane because it is a turbine, a practical way
Although the definition of a small plane does not indicate the type of engine.
The FAA does not classify aircraft by their parts, it is by their weight, it does not matter if it is a high or low plane., the twin-engine or single-engine, only if it is light, medium weight or heavy category.
The F4U corsair or the mustang P 51 or the BF109 would be war planes?
So a Douglas DC-3, DC-4, DC-6 o DC-7, a super constellation or a B29 just to name some would be ….. Airplanes ??????
I want to read this answer.
Then…. avionako= large aircraft, no?
Airplanes
Small plane or plane or plane.
I still do not understand the origin of this "dispute". The word has been well established in the Spanish language since the origins of aviation, and the reason that this does not exist in the regulations in Spanish, it's because simply, our regulations are translations of US regulations. These chose to call "big plane" to those who were not "little", while in France it was decided to apply the diminutive to small ones when large planes began to emerge. And as explained below, is just one of the many aeronautical technology words derived from French that exist in Spanish. https://www.aviacioncivil.com.ve/que-es-un-avion-pequeno-o-ligero-o-a-que-se-le-puede-llamar-avioneta/
Strongly agree, the dispute arises from the misuse of the word and because it is not found as such in the ICAO Annexes.
how do i tell him… plane!!!! ?️