Aeronautical Terms

A-RNAV

Advanced Area Navigation

A-SMGCS

Advanced Surface Movement Guidance and Control System

A/FD

Airport/Facility Directory—obsolete. Changed to Chart Supplement.

AAC

Aircraft Administration Communications

AAUP

Attention All Users Page

AC

Advisory Circular

ACARS

Aircraft Communications Addressing and Reporting System

ACAS

Airborne Collision Avoidance System

Airworthiness Directive

ADCs

Air Data Computer

ADDS

Aviation Digital Data Services

ADF

Automatic Direction Finder

Automatic Dependent Surveillance

ADS-B

Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast

AEG

Aircraft Evaluation Group

AER

Approach End of Runway

AFCS

Automatic Flight Control System

AFM

Airplane Flight Manual or Aircraft Flight Manual

AFMS

Aircraft Flight Manual Supplements

AFS

Aircraft Flight Safety

AFSS

Automated Flight Service Station

AGL

Above Ground Level

AIM

Aeronautical Information Manual

AIP

Aeronautical Information Publication

AIR

Aircraft Certification Service

AIRMET

Airman’s Meteorological Information

AIS

Airmen’s Information System

ALAR

Approach and Landing Accident Reduction

AMASS

Airport Movement Area Safety System

ANP

Actual Navigation Performance

ANR

Advanced Navigation Route

AOA

Airport Operating Area

AOC

Aircraft Operational Communications

AOCC

Airline Operations Control Center

AP

Autopilot System

APC

Auxiliary Performance Computer

APT WP

Airport Waypoint

APV

Approach With Vertical Guidance

ARFF

Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting

ARSR

Air Route Surveillance Radar

ARTCC

Air Route Traffic Control Center

ARTS

Automated Radar Terminal System

ASDA

Accelerate-Stop Distance Available

ASDAR

Aircraft To Satellite Data Relay

ASDE-3

Airport Surface Detection Equipment-3

ASDE-X

Airport Surface Detection Equipment-X

ASOS

Automated Surface Observing System

ASR

Airport Surveillance Radar

ASRS

Aviation Safety Reporting System

ATA

Air Transport Association

ATC

Air Traffic Control

ATC-TFM

Air Traffic Control Traffic Flow Management

ATCAA

Air Traffic Control Assigned Airspace

ATCRBS

Air Traffic Control Radar Beacon System

ATCS

Air Traffic Control Specialist

ATCSCC

Air Traffic Control System Command Center

ATCT

Airport Traffic Control Tower

ATD

Along-Track Distance

ATIS

Automatic Terminal Information Service

ATM

Air Traffic Management

ATS

Air Traffic Service

ATT

Attitude Retention System

AVN

Office of Aviation System Standards

AWC

Aviation Weather Center

AWOS

Automated Weather Observing System

AWSS

Automated Weather Sensor System

Baro-VNAV

Barometric Vertical Navigation

BRITE

Bright Radar Indicator Tower Equipment

CAA

Civil Aeronautics Administration

CARF

Central Altitude Reservation Function

CAT

CDI

Course Deviation Indicator

CDL

Configuration Deviation List

CDM

Collaborative Decision Making

CDTI

Cockpit Display of Traffic Information

CDU

Control Display Unit

CENRAP

Center Radar Arts Processing

CFA

Controlled Firing Areas

CFIT

Controlled Flight Into Terrain

CFR

Code of Federal Regulations

CGD

Combined Graphic Display

CNF

Computer Navigation Fix

CNS

Communication,Navigation, and Surveillance

COP

Changeover Point

COTS

Commercial Off The Shelf

CPDLC

Controller Pilot Data Link Communications

CRC

Cyclic Redundancy Check

CRCT

Collaborative Routing Coordination Tool

CRM

Crewmember Resource Management

CRT

Cathode-Ray Tube

CS

Chart Supplement

CTAF

Common Traffic Advisory Frequency

CTD

Controlled Time of Departure

CVFP

Charted Visual Flight Procedure

CWAS

Center Weather Advisories

D-ATIS

Digital Automatic Terminal Information Service

D-CS

Digital Chart Supplement

DA

Density Altitude,Decision Altitude

DACS

Digital Aeronautical Chart Supplement

DBRITE

Digital Bright Radar Indicator Tower Equipment

DDA

Derived Decision Altitude

DEM

Digital Elevation Model

DER

Departure End of The Runway

DF

Direction Finding

DH

Decision Height

DME

Distance Measuring Equipment

DOT

Department of Transportation

DPs

Departure Procedures

DRVSM

Domestic Reduced Vertical Separation Minimums

DSR

Display System Replacement

DUATS

Direct User Access Terminal System (shut down May 16, 2018).

DVA

Diverse Vector Area

E/D

End of Decent

EDCT

Expect Departure Clearance Time

EFB

Electronic Flight Bag

EFC

Expect Further Clearance

EFIS

Electronic Flight Information System

EFV

Enhanced Flight Visibility

EFVS

Enhanced Flight Vision System

EGPWS

Enhanced Ground Proximity Warning Systems

EICAS

Engine Indicating and Crew Alerting System

EMS

Emergency Medical Service

EOPs

Engine Out Procedures

EOVM

Emergency Obstruction Video Map

EPE

Estimated Position Error

ER-OPS

Extended Range Operations

ETA

Estimated Time of Arrival

EV

Enhanced Vision

EVO

Equivalent Visual Operations

EWINS

Enhanced Weather Information System

FAA

Federal Aviation Administration

FAF

Final Approach Fix

FAP

Final Approach Point

FATO

Final Approach and Takeoff Area

FB

Fly-By

FBWP

Fly-By Waypoint

FCC

Federal Communications Commission

FD

Winds and Temperatures Aloft Forecast

FDP

Flight Data Processing

FE

Flight Engineer

FIR

Flight Information Region

FIS

Flight Information System

FIS-B

Flight Information Service-Broadcast

FISDL

Flight Information Services-Data Link

FL

Flight Level

FL CHG

Flight Level Change

FLIR

Forward Looking Infra-Red

FMC

Flight Management Computer

FMS

Flight Management System

FO

Fly-Over

FOM

Flight Operations Manual

FOWP

Fly-Over Waypoint

FPA

Flight Path Angle

FPM

Feet Per Minute

FPV

Flight Path Vector

FSB

Flight Standardization Board

FSDO

Flight Standards District Office

FSL

NOAA Forecast Systems Laboratory

FSS

Flight Service Station

FTE

Flight Technical Error

G/S

Glide Slope

GA

General Aviation

GAMA

General Aviation Manufacturers Association

GBAS

Ground-Based Augmentation System

GBT

Ground-Based Transmitter

GCA

Ground Controlled Approach

GCO

Ground Communication Outlet

GDP

Ground Delay Programs

GDPE

Ground Delay Program Enhancements

GLS

Global Navigation Satellite System Landing System

GNE

Gross Navigation Error

GNSS

Global Navigation Satellite System

GPS

Global Positioning System

GPWS

Ground Proximity Warning System

GS

Groundspeed

GWS

Graphical Weather Service

HAA

Height Above Airport

HAT

Height Above Touchdown

HAZMAT

Hazardous Materials

HEMS

Helicopter Emergency Medical Service

HF

High Frequency

HFDL

High Frequency Data Link

HITS

Highway In The Sky

HSAC

Helicopter Safety Advisory Council

HSI

Horizontal Situation Indicator

HUD

Head-Up Display

IAF

Initial Approach Fix

IAP

Instrument Approach Procedure

IAS

Indicated Air Speed

ICA

Initial Climb Area

ICAO

International Civil Aviation Organization

IF

Intermediate Fix

IFR

Instrument Flight Rules

IIMC

Inadvertent Instrument Meteorological Condition

ILS

Instrument Landing System

IMC

Instrument Meteorological Conditions

INS

Inertial Navigation System

IRU

Inertial Reference Unit

KIAS

Knots Indicated Airspeed

LAAS

Local Area Augmentation System

LAHSO

Land and Hold Short Operations

LDA

Landing Distance Available

LF

Low Frequency

LNAV

Lateral Navigation

LOA

Letter Of Agreement/Letter Of Authorization

LOC

Localizer

LOM

Locator Outer Marker

LPV

Localizer Performance with Vertical Guidance

LTP

Landing Threshold Point

LVL CHG

Level Change

MAA

Maximum Authorized Altitude

MAHWP

Missed Approach Holding Waypoint

MAP

Missed Approach Point

MAWP

Missed Approach Waypoint

MCA

Minimum Crossing Altitude

MDA

Minimum Descent Altitude

MDH

Minimum Descent Height

MEA

Minimum En Route Altitude

MEL

Minimum Equipment List

METAR

Aviation Routine Weather Report

MF

Medium Frequency

MFD

Multifunction Display

MIA

Minimum IFR Altitude

Mid-RVR

The RVR readout values obtained from sensors located midfield of the runway.

MIT

Miles-In-Trail

MLS

Microwave Landing System

MMWR

Millimeter Wave Radar

MNPS

Minimum Navigation Performance Specifications

MOA

Military Operations Area

MOCA

Minimum Obstruction Clearance Altitude

MORA

Minimum Off Route Altitude

MRA

Minimum Reception Altitude

MSA

Minimum Safe Altitude

MSL

Mean Sea Level

MTA

Minimum Turning Altitude

MTR

Military Training Route

MVA

Minimum Vectoring Altitude

NA

Not Authorized

NACO

National Aeronautical Charting Office

NAS

National Airspace System

NASA

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

NASSI

National Airspace System Status Information

NATCA

National Air Traffic Controllers Association

NAVAID

Navigational Aid

NCAR

National Center for Atmospheric Research

NDB

Nondirectional Beacon

NextGen

Next Generation Air Transportation System

NFDC

National Flight Data Center

NFPO

National Flight Procedures Office

NGA

National Geospatial Intelligence Agency

NIMA

National Imagery and Mapping Agency

NM

Nautical Mile

NMAC

Near Mid-Air Collision

NNEW

Next Generation Network-Enabled

NO A/G

No Air-to-Ground Communication

NOAA

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Non-RNAV DP

A DP whose ground track is based on ground-based NAVAIDS and/or dead reckoning navigation.

NOPAC

North Pacific

NOTAM

Notice To Airmen

NPA

Nonprecision Approach

NPRM

Notice of Proposed Rulemaking

NRP

National Route Program

NRR

Non-Restrictive Routing

NTAP

Notice To Airmen Publication

NTSB

National Transportation Safety Board

NTZ

No Transgression Zone

NVS

NAS voice switch

NWS

National Weather Service

OAT

Outside Air Temperature

OBS

Omni Bearing Selector

OCS

Obstacle Clearance Surface

ODP

Obstacle Departure Procedure

OpsSpecs

Operations Specifications

OROCA

Off-Route Obstruction Clearance Altitude

OSV

Operational Service Volume

PA

Precision Approach

PAR

Precision Approach Radar

PCG

Positive Course Guidance

PDC

Pre-Departure Clearance

PDR

Preferential Departure Route

PF

Pilot Flying

PFAST

Passive Final Approach Spacing Tool

PFD

Primary Flight Display

PI

Principal Inspector

PIC

Pilot In Command

PinS

Point-In-Space

PIREP

Pilot Weather Report

PKI

Public/Private Key Technology

PM

Pilot Monitoring

POH

Pilots Operating Handbook

PRM

Precision Runway Monitor

PT

Procedure Turn

PTP

Point-To-Point

QFE

Transition Height

QNE

Transition Level

QNH

Transition Altitude

RA

Resolution Advisory,Radio Altitude

RAIM

Receiver Autonomous Integrity Monitoring

RAL

Research Applications Laboratory

RCO

Remote Communications Outlet

RDOF

Radio Failure

RJ

Regional Jet

RNAV

Area Navigation

RNAV DP

A DP developed for RNAV-equipped aircraft whose ground track is based on satellite or DME/DME navigation systems.

RNP

Required Navigation Performance

RNP AR

Required Navigation Performance Authorization Required

ROC

Required Obstacle Clearance

RSP

Runway Safety Program

RVR

Runway Visual Range

RVSM

Reduced Vertical Separation Minimums

RVV

Runway Visibility Value

RWY

Runway

RWY WP

Runway Waypoint

SA

Situational Awareness

SAAAR

Special Aircraft and Aircrew Authorization Required

SAAR

Special Aircraft and Aircrew Requirements

SAMS

Special Use Airspace Management System

SAR

Search and Rescue

SAS

Stability Augmentation System

SATNAV

Satellite Navigation

SDF

Simplified Directional Facility

SDR

Service Difficulty Reports

SER

Start End of Runway

SIAP

Standard Instrument Approach Procedure

SID

Standard Instrument Departure

SIGMET

Significant Meteorological Information

SM

Statute Mile

SMA

Surface Movement Advisor

SOIA

Simultaneous Offset Instrument Approaches

SOP

Standard Operating Procedure

SPECI

Non-Routine (Special) Aviation Weather Report

SSV

Standard Service Volume

STAR

Standard Terminal Arrival

STARS

Standard Terminal Automation Replacement System

STC

Supplemental Type Certificate

STMP

Special Traffic Management Program

SUA

Special Use Airspace

SUA/ISE

Special Use Airspace/Inflight Service Enhancement

SVFR

Special Visual Flight Rules

SVGS

Synthetic Vision Guidance System

SVS

Synthetic Vision System

SWAP

Severe Weather Avoidance Plan

SWIM

System Wide Information Management

TA

Traffic Advisory

TAA

Terminal Arrival Area

TACAN

Tactical Air Navigation

TAF

Terminal Aerodrome Forecast

TAS

True Air Speed

TAWS

Terrain Awareness and Warning Systems

TB

Track Bar

TCAS

Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance System

TCH

Threshold Crossing Height

TDLS

Terminal Data Link System

TDZ

Touchdown Zone

TDZE

Touchdown Zone Elevation

TEC

Tower En Route Control

TERPS

U.S. Standard For Terminal Instrument Procedures

TFM

Traffic Flow Management

TIS

Traffic Information Service

TIS-B

Traffic Information Service-Broadcast of Touchdown and Lift-Off Area

TM

Traffic Management

TMA

Traffic Management Advisor

TOD

Top Of Descent

TODA

Takeoff Distance Available

TOGA

Take-Off/Go Around

TORA

Takeoff Runway Available

TPP

Terminal Procedures Publication

TRACAB

A new type of air traffic facility that consists of a radar approach control facility located in the tower cab of the primary airport, as opposed to a separate room.

TRACON

Terminal Radar Approach Control

TSE

Total Navigation System Error

TSO

Technical Standard Order

TSOA

Technical Standing Order Authorization

UAT

Universal Access Transceiver

UHF

Ultra High Frequency

UNICOM

Universal Communications

URET

User Request Evaluation Tool

USAF

United States Air Force

USDA

United States Department of Agriculture

V/S

Vertical Speed

VCOA

Visual Climb Over Airport

VDA

Vertical Descent Angle

VDP

Visual Descent Point

VFR

Visual Flight Rules

VGSI

Visual Glide Slope Indicator

VHF

Very High Frequency

VLJ

Very Light Jet

VMC

Visual Meteorological Conditions

Vmini

Minimum Speed IFR.

VNAV

Vertical Navigation

Vnei

Never Exceed Speed-IFR.

VOR

Very High Frequency Omnidirectional Range

VORTAC

Very High Frequency Omnidirectional Range/Tactical Air Navigation

VOT

VOR Test Facility Signal

VPA

Vertical Path Angle

Vref

Reference Landing Speed

VSI

Vertical Speed Indicator

Vso

Stalling Speed or The minimum steady flight speed in the landing configuration

WAAS

Wide Area Augmentation System

WAM

Wide Area Multi-lateration

WP

Waypoint