Aeronautical Terms beginning with T
TA
Traffic Advisory
TAA
Terminal arrival area.
TACAN
Tactical air navigation.
Takeoff Distance Available (TODA)
ICAO defines TODA as the length of the takeoff runway available plus the length of the clearway, if provided.
Takeoff Run Available (TORA)
The runway length declared available and suitable for the ground run of an airplane taking off.
Tangent Point (TP)
The point on the VOR/DME RNAV route centerline from which a line perpendicular to the route centerline would pass through the reference facility.
TAS
True Air Speed
TAWS
Terrain Awareness and Warning System.
Taxiway lights
Omnidirectional lights that outline the edges of the taxiway and are blue in color.
Taxiway turnoff lights
Lights that are flush with the runway which emit a steady green color.
TCAS
Traffic Alert Collision Avoidance System.
TCH
Threshold Crossing Height.
TDLS
Terminal Data Link System
TDZ
Touchdown Zone
TDZE
Touchdown Zone Elevation.
TDZL
Touchdown Zone Lights.
TEC
Tower En Route Control.
Technique
The manner in which procedures are executed.
Temporary flight restriction (TFR)
Restriction to flight imposed in order to:
1. Protect persons and property in the air or on the surface from an existing or imminent flight associated hazard;
2. Provide a safe environment for the operation of disaster relief aircraft;
3. Prevent an unsafe congestion of sightseeing aircraft above an incident;
4. Protect the President, Vice President, or other public figures; and,
5. Provide a safe environment for space agency operations.
Pilots are expected to check appropriate NOTAMs during flight planning when conducting flight in an area where a temporary flight restriction is in effect.
Tension
Maintaining an excessively strong grip on the control column, usually resulting in an overcontrolled situation.
Terminal Arrival Area (TAA)
The TAA is controlled airspace established in conjunction with the Standard or Modified T and I RNAV approach configurations. In the standard TAA, there are three areas: straight-in, left base, and right base. The arc boundaries of the three areas of the TAA are published portions of the approach and allow aircraft to transition from the en route structure direct to the nearest IAF (Initial Approach Fix). TAAs will also eliminate or reduce feeder routes, departure extensions, and procedure turns or course reversal.
Terminal instrument approach procedure (TERP)
Prescribes standardized methods for use in designing instrument flight procedures.
Terminal-Very High Frequency Omnidirectional Range Station
A very high frequency terminal omnirange station located on or near an airport and used as an approach aid.
TERP
Terminal Instrument Approach Procedure.
TERPS
U.S. Standard For Terminal Instrument Procedures
Terrain Awareness and Warning System (TAWS)
A timed-based system that provides information concerning potential hazards with fixed objects by using GPS positioning and a database of terrain and obstructions to provide true predictability of the upcoming terrain and obstacles.
TFM
Traffic Flow Management
TFR
Temporary Flight Restriction.
Threshold
The beginning of the part of the runway usable for landing.
Threshold crossing height (TCH)
The theoretical height above the runway threshold at which the aircrafts glide slope antenna would be if the aircraft maintains the trajectory established by the mean ILS glide slope or MLS glide path.
Thrust (aerodynamic force)
The forward aerodynamic force produced by a propeller, fan, or turbojet engine as it forces a mass of air to the rear, behind the aircraft.
Time and speed table
A table depicted on an instrument approach procedure chart that identifies the distance from the FAF to the MAP, and provides the time required to transit that distance based on various groundspeeds.
Timed turn
A turn in which the clock and the turn coordinator are used to change heading a definite number of degrees in a given time.
TIS
Traffic Information Service.
TM
Traffic Management
TMA
Traffic Management Advisor
TOC
Top Of Climb
TOD
Top Of Descent
TODA
Takeoff Distance Available
TOGA
Take-Off/Go Around
Top of Climb (TOC)
An identifiable waypoint representing the point at which cruise altitude is first reached. TOC is calculated based on your current aircraft altitude, climb speed, and cruise altitude. There can only be one TOC waypoint at a time.
Top of Descent (TOD)
Generally utilized in flight management systems, top of descent is an identifiable waypoint representing the point at which descent is first initiated from cruise altitude. TOD is generally calculated using the destination elevation (if available) and the descent speed schedule.
TORA
Takeoff Runway Available
Touchdown RVR
The RVR visibility readout values obtained from sensors serving the runway touchdown zone.
Touchdown Zone
The first 3,000 feet of the runway beginning at the threshold. The area is used for determination of Touchdown Zone Elevation in the development of straight-in landing minimums for instrument approaches.
Touchdown Zone Elevation
The highest elevation in the first 3,000 feet of the landing surface. TDZE is indicated on the instrument approach procedure chart when straight-in landing minimums are authorized.
Touchdown Zone Lights
Two rows of transverse light bars disposed symmetrically about the runway centerline in the runway touchdown zone.
Tower En Route Control (TEC)
The control of IFR en route traffic within delegated airspace between two or more adjacent approach control facilities. This service is designed to expedite air traffic and reduces air traffic control and pilot communication requirements.
Tower To Tower
Tower En Route Control Service.
TPP
United States 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.
Track
The actual path made over the ground in flight.
Tracking
Flying a heading that will maintain the desired track to or from the station regardless of crosswind conditions.
TRACON
Terminal Radar Approach Control
Traffic Alert Collision Avoidance System (TCAS).
An airborne system developed by the FAA that operates independently from the ground-based Air Traffic Control system. Designed to increase flight deck awareness of proximate aircraft and to serve as a last line of defense for the prevention of mid-air collisions.
Traffic information service (TIS)
A ground-based service providing information to the flight deck via data link using the S-mode transponder and altitude encoder to improve the safety and efficiency of see and avoid flight through an automatic display that informs the pilot of nearby traffic.
Traffic Management Advisor (TMA)
A software suite that helps air traffic controllers to sequence arriving air traffic.
Transcribed Weather Broadcast (TWEB)
Meteorological and aeronautical data recorded on tapes and broadcast over selected NAVAIDs. Generally, the broadcast contains route-oriented data with specially prepared NWS forecasts, inflight advisories, and winds aloft. It also includes selected current information such as weather reports (METAR/SPECI), NOTAMs, and special notices. Discontinued in the CONUS in September 2018 and in Alaska on Jan 1, 2020.
Transition
A published procedure (DP Transition) used to connect the basic DP to one of several en route airways/jet routes, or a published procedure (STAR Transition) used to connect one of several en route airways/jet routes to the basic STAR.
Transition Altitude (QNH)
The altitude in the vicinity of an airport at or below which the vertical position of an aircraft is controlled by reference to altitudes (MSL).
Transition Height (QFE)
Transition height is the height in the vicinity of an airport at or below which the vertical position of an aircraft is expressed in height above the airport reference datum.
Transition Layer
Transition layer is the airspace between the transition altitude and the transition level. Aircraft descending through the transition layer will set altimeters to local station pressure, while departing aircraft climbing through the transition layer will be using standard altimeter setting (QNE) of 29.92 inches of Mercury, 1013.2 millibars, or 1013.2 hectopascals.
Transition Level (QNE)
The lowest flight level available for use above the transition altitude.
Transition Waypoint
The waypoint that defines the beginning of a runway or en route transition on an RNAV SID or STAR.
Transponder
The airborne portion of the ATC radar beacon system.
Transponder code
One of 4,096 four-digit discrete codes ATC assigns to distinguish between aircraft.
Trend
Immediate indication of the direction of aircraft movement, as shown on instruments.
Trim
Adjusting the aerodynamic forces on the control surfaces so that the aircraft maintains the set attitude without any control input.
True airspeed
Actual airspeed, determined by applying a correction for pressure altitude and temperature to the CAS.
TSE
Total Navigation System Error
TSO
Technical Standard Order
Turn Anticipation
The capability of RNAV systems to determine the point along a course, prior to a turn WP, where a turn should be initiated to provide a smooth path to intercept the succeeding course, and to enunciate the information to the pilot.
Turn Coordinator
A rate gyro that senses both roll and yaw due to the gimbal being canted. Has largely replaced the turn-and-slip indicator in modern aircraft.
Turn WP [Turning Point]
A WP which identifies a change from one course to another.
Turn-And-Slip Indicator
A flight instrument consisting of a rate gyro to indicate the rate of yaw and a curved glass inclinometer to indicate the relationship between gravity and centrifugal force. The turn-and-slip indicator indicates the relationship between angle of bank and rate of yaw. Also called a turn-and-bank indicator.
TWEB
Transcribed Weather Broadcast - Discontinued in the CONUS in September 2018 and in Alaska on Jan 1, 2020.
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