'Confusing' airline jargon explained

Do you fail to understand words, like "Ground stop" and "Deadhead," used by pilots and crew during flight? An airline pilot has explained many technical terms that you may find confusing, in his book 'Cockpit Confidential'.

Author Patrick Smith has revealed that deadheading a pilot or flight attendant is one who is repositioning as part of an on-duty assignment, which essentially means that they're flying as passengers while on duty, News.com.au reported.

While flight deck refers to the cockpit, first officer or copilot is second in command on the flight deck, who is fully qualified to operate the aircraft in all stages of flight, including takeoffs and landings, and does so in alternating turns with the captain.

Smith said that holding pattern is a racetrack-shaped course flown during bad weather or traffic delays.

Lastly, when pilots say "there's a ground stop on all flights headed south from here," they mean that departures to one or more destination are curtailed by air traffic control, usually due to a traffic backlog.