A specific measured distance from the datum to points on the aircraft is called which term?

• A. Span
• B. Datum line
• C. Station number
• D. Chord

Answer: (C)

In aircraft measurements, every feature’s location is referenced from a fixed point or plane called the datum. The spot along the aircraft is identified by a station, which is the distance from that datum to the feature. The station is given a number—the station number—to label that specific location. So the term that describes the measured distance from the datum to points on the aircraft is the station (identified by its station number).

Span refers to the wing’s width across, not distance from the datum. The datum line is the reference line itself, not the distance. Chord is the straight-line distance from the leading edge to the trailing edge of a wing section, not the distance from the datum to a point.