R Romeo

reconnaissance - In aviation, to fly over and look closely at an area below to gather information about it.

RADAR (Radio Detection And Ranging) - A device which measures the time interval between transmission and reception of radio pulses and correlating the angular orientation of the radiated antenna beam(s),in azimuth and/or elevation of objects in the path of the transmitted pulses.

radar controller - The controller in charge of a sector.

radar feeds - Electronic data transmitted at regular intervals to a radar scope or system.

radar hand-off controller - A person who supports the radar and associate controllers during peak air traffic flow.

radar surveillance - The radar observation of a given geographical area for the purpose of performing some radar function.

radial - A magnetic bearing extending from a VOR/VORTAC navigation facility.

radiation fog - Fog characteristically resulting when radiational cooling of the earth's surface lowers the air temperature near the ground to or below its initial dew point on calm, clear nights.

radiative - An object capable of emitting radiant energy in the form of waves or particles.

radio frequency - A frequency that is useful for radio usually between 10 kHz and 300,000 MHz.

ramp - In general, any paved or prepared area around a hangar or runway for parking airplanes. A defined area on an airport or heliport intended to accommodate aircraft for purposes of loading or unloading passengers or cargo, refueling, parking, or maintenance.

rampers - Ramp personnel at an airport who service an aircraft upon its arrival and during pushback.

range - see RGE

RAREP (Radar Weather Report) - This weather report issued each hour describes areas of precipitation along with information on the type of precipitation, the precipitation's intensity, and its direction and speed of movement.

read-back - Repeating a message in order to confirm its correctness.

regimes of flight - A way of placing aircraft into different categories based on their speeds. The regimes of flight are subsonic, transonic, supersonic and hypersonic.

regional airline - A commuter airline.

relative humidity - The ratio of the existing amount of water vapor in the air at a given temperature to the maximum amount that could exist at that temperature; usually expressed as a percent.

research - A carefully planned and performed investigation, searching for previously unknown facts.

RGE (range) - The total distance an aircraft can fly using a given rate of fuel consumption; the total distance a signal can be received via radio communications.

roll - A rotational motion in which the aircraft turns around its longitudinal axis. Pushing the control stick to the left will raise the aileron on the left wing and lower the aileron on the right wing. This will cause the airplane to roll to the left. The pilot will see the left wing tip fall and the right wing tip rise.

Romeo - Designator for the letter "R" in the International Phonetic Alphabet.

rotational motion - The turning of an object, like an airplane, around an axis, or a propeller around a hub. Pitch, roll and yaw are the rotational motions of an airplane around the lateral, longitudinal and vertical axes.

rotor waves - An altocumulus cloud formation that can be found in the lee of a mountain or similar barrier. The air rotates around a horizontal axis, creating turbulence.

RVR (Runway Visual Range) - RVR is horizontal visual range, not slant visual range. It is based on the measurement of a transmissometer made near the touchdown point of the instrument runway and is reported in hundreds of feet.

rudder - A control surface on the trailing edge of the vertical part of the tail that is used to make the aircraft yaw. The rudder is controlled by rudder pedals. Pushing the left rudder pedal will tilt the rudder to the left. This will cause the nose of the aircraft to turn to the left.

run-up area - An area located just before the takeoff line of a runway where aircraft await clearance.

runway - A defined rectangular area on a land airport prepared for the landing and takeoff run of aircraft along its length.

runway capacity - The maximum number of operations that can be handled on a particular runway.

runway configuration - The arrangement of approach and takeoff runways.

runway incursion - Any occurrence at an airport involving an aircraft, vehicle, person, or object on the ground that creates a collision hazard or results in loss of separation with an aircraft taking off, intending to take off, landing or intending to land.