This glossary explains common aircraft listing and ownership terms in plain English.
Common Terms
- Airframe time: Total recorded time on the aircraft structure.
- Annual inspection: Required recurring inspection for many general aviation aircraft.
- Avionics: Electronic flight, navigation, communication, and panel systems.
- Damage history: Prior accident, incident, structural repair, or significant damage record.
- Engine time: Time recorded on the engine, often described since overhaul.
- Logbooks: Maintenance records documenting inspections, repairs, and aircraft history.
- Pre-buy inspection: Buyer-requested inspection before purchase.
- SMOH: Since major overhaul.
- TBO: Time between overhaul.
- Tie-down: Outdoor aircraft parking secured to the ramp.