A
Aircraft (JAR - FCL License)

A/C
Air conditioner Unit

A/G
Aircraft. Air Craft

A/T
Automatic throttle.

AAIM
Aircraft Autonomous Integrity Monitor

ABAS
Aircraft Based Augmenting System.

ABC
Aluminum-Brass-Chrome. Three main components used in the production of engines that do not have rings. Engines with aluminum piston, chrome or nickel ...

ABL
Advanced Bimetallic Liner. A Specialized form of ABN. Instead of a single-material plating,single-step, the ABL Plating process is based on a layered ...

ABN
Aluminum-Brass-Nickel. The components used in the production of non-ringed engines. These engines use an aluminum piston, and a nickel plated brass sl...

ABOVE GROUND LEVEL (AGL).
Distance between the aircraft and the ground Synonyms: radar altitude;

ABSOLUTE
Fixed reference, as opposed to moving reference.

AC
Advisory circular

ACARS
Airline Communication and Reporting System.

ACAS
Airborne Collision Avoidance System

ACC
Area Control Center.

ACCELARATION
Rate of change of velocity, either scalar or vector, often with subscripts such as ENU or XYZ to denote the coordinate frame; time derivative of veloc...

ACCELERATION EAST
Aircraft acceleration in true east direction; Symbols: A sub E; Typical Units: ft/s-squared; Dimensions: Length / Time-squared;

ACCELERATION NORTH
Aircraft acceleration in true north direction; Symbols: A sub N; Typical Units: ft/s-squared; Dimensions: Length / Time-squared;

ACCELEROMETER
An inertial device for measuring acceleration, usually in three orthogonal axes (lateral X, longitudinal Y, and vertical Z); accelerometers usually co...

ACCEPT
To allow to proceed, for example with a position update, usually by an operator; Compare: reject

ACCIDENT
Occurrence associated with the operation of an aircraft which takes place between the time any person boards the aircraft with the intention of flight...

ACCURACY
Measure of exactness, possibly expressed in percent; Compare: precision

ACG
ATM/CNS Consulting Group (Euro control)

ACI
Airport Council International

ACQUIRE
To begin reception of useful data

ACT
active, activated, activation message

ACTIVATE
To begin performing a mission objective, such as flying along a radial of a radio station; usually refers to a mode of radio navigation, such flying a...

AD
Directive; Maintenance or modification ordered by FAA.

ADB
Aerodrome

ADC
Air Data Computer

ADCUS
Advise customs

ADD
Architecture Description Document

ADDR
Air data computer

ADF
Automatic Direction Finder

ADI
Attitude direction indicator

ADIZ
Automatic Direction Finder

ADLP
Airborne Data Link Processor

ADMINISTRATOR
means the Federal Aviation Administrator or any person to whom he has delegated his authority in the matter concerned

ADS
Automatic dependent surveillance

ADS-A
Automatic Dependent Surveillance

ADS-B
Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast

ADS-C
Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Contract

ADVERSE YAW
Yaw generated when the ailerons are used. The lifting wing generates more drag, causing the plane to yaw toward it.

ADVISORY
Automatic Direction Finding

AEA
Association of European Airlines

AECMA
Association of European Aerospace Industries

AEROBATICS
Acrobatic or stunt maneuvers in the air such as loops, rolls, and others.

AERODYNAMIC COEFFICENTS
means non-dimensional coefficients for aerodynamic forces and moments

AES
Aircraft Earth station

AFB
Air Force Base

AFCS
Automatic flight control system

AFD
Adaptive flight displays

AFDS
Autopilot flight director system

AFIS
Automated flight information system (AlliedSignal)

AFM
Airplane Flight Manual

AFT
Towards the rear. Used such as: "...with an aft center of gravity...."

AFTER RUN OIL
A lubricant designed to displace unburned fuel in the engine after running. The fuel can accelerate corrosion on some engine parts. By using an after ...

AFTN
Aeronautical Fixed Telecommunication Network

AGA
Aerodromes and Ground Aids (AIP)

AGATE
Advanced General Aviation Transport Experiments (NASA)

AGDL
Air-Ground Data Link

AGL
Above Ground Level. Used in reference to altitude, e.g. 5000 ft AGL. See also MSL.

AGLO
Above Ground Level

AGR
Automatic flight control Sys.

AGR SLANT RANGE
Straight-line distance from the aircraft to a point on the ground;

AHOV
Approach to hover

AHRS
Attitude-heading reference system.

AI
Altitude indicator

AIC
Aeronautical Information Circular

AIDING
A process by which one or more sensors provide data to another sensor to produce results better than any single sensor; aiding occurs at the data sour...

AILERON
A control surface on fixed-wing aircraft, usually mounted on the aft edge of wings, that controls roll, and is controlled by the wheel; Symbols: delta...

AILERONS
Hinged control surfaces on usually the wing which can change the wing`s lifting properties. Often located near the tips. Used to bank the aircraft. Th...

AIM
ATFM Information Message

AIM (AIRMANS` INFORMATION MANUAL)
A primary FAA publication whose purpose is to instruct airmen about operating in the US airspace system.

AIP
Aeronautical Information Publication

AIR CARRIER
Person who undertakes directly, by lease, or other arrangement, to engage in air transportation.

AIR DATA
Values computed from pitot, static and temperature measurements, usually by means of a digital computer; ARINC 575 defines outputs.

AIR DATA COMPUTER (ADC)
A primary navigation data source. A navigation sensor based on atmospheric data sensors; usually measures static pressure, dynamic pressure, and outsi...

AIR DATA DEAD RECKONING (ADDR)
Dead reckoning navigation based on simple instruments as source (barometric altimeter, magnetic compass, airspeed indicator, known wind conditions); s...

AIR DEFENSE IDENTIFICATION ZONE(ADIZ)
The area of airspace over land or water, extending upward from the surface, within which the ready identification, the location, and the control of ai...

AIR GROUND RANGING (AGR)
Straight-line distance from the aircraft to a point on the ground;

AIR ROUTE TRAFFIC CONTROL CENTER(ARTCC) OR CENTER
Facility established to provide air traffic control service to aircraft operating on IFR flight plans within controlled airspace and principally durin...

AIR TAXI
An aircraft operator who conducts operations for hire or compensation in accordance with FAR Part 135 in an aircraft with 30 or fewer passenger seats ...

AIR TRAFFIC
means aircraft operating in the air or on an airport surface, exclusive of loading ramps and parking areas

AIR TRAFFIC CLEARANCE
means an authorization by air traffic control, for the purpose of preventing collision between known aircraft, for an aircraft to proceed under specif...

AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL
means a service operated by appropriate authority to promote the safe, orderly, and expeditious flow of air traffic

AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL (ATC)
A service operated by the appropriate authority to promote the safe, orderly, and expeditious flow of air traffic.

AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL (ATC).
Standard aviation term

AIR TRANSPORTATION
means interstate, overseas, or foreign air transportation or the transportation of mail by aircraft. Alert Area. An alert area is established to infor...

AIR-MASS FLIGHT PATH ANGLE
Angle in vertical plane of earth speed vector and groundspeed vector; occasional definition for flight path angle; Compare: earth-referenced flight pa...

AIRAC
Aeronautical Information Regulation and Control

AIRBORNE GROCER
A device for barrage-jamming of Wurzburgs. Extremely vulnerable to being homed onto.

AIRCRAFT
means a device that is used or intended to be used for flight in the air

AIRCRAFT (AC)
A craft that flies in the air; either fixed or rotary wing.

AIRCRAFT ENGING
means an engine that is used or intended to be used for propelling aircraft. It includes turbo superchargers, appurtenances, and accessories necessary...

AIRFOIL
The shape of the wing when looking at its profile. Usually a raindrop type shape.

AIRFRAME
means the fuselage, booms, nacelles, cowlings, fairings, airfoil surfaces (including rotors but excluding propellers and rotating airfoils of engines)...

AIRPLANE
means an engine-driven fixed-wing aircraft heavier than air, that is supported in flight by the dynamic reaction of the air against its wings

AIRPORT
An area on land or water that is used or intended to be used for the landing and takeoff of aircraft and includes its buildings and facilities, if any...

AIRPORT TRAFFIC CONTROL TOWER(ATCT)
A terminal facility that uses air/ground communications, visual signaling, and other devices to provide ATC services to aircraft operating in the vici...

AIRSHIP
means an engine-driven lighter-than-air aircraft that can be steered

AIRSPEED
The speed of an aircraft relative to its surrounding air mass. See: calibrated airspeed; indicated airspeed; true airspeed.

AIRSPEED (AS, A/S)
See Also: state data, true airspeed, indicated airspeed, calibrated airspeed; Symbols: V sub A/S; Typical Units: kt, ft/s; Dimensions: Length / Time;

AIRSPEED INDICATOR
An onboard instrument which registers velocity through the air, in miles per hour or in knots.

AIRY
A standard model for computing earth data

AIS
Aeronautical Information Service

ALIGHNMENT
A basic control to a data source from controls and displays to align a device. Also a procedure to align physical devices, usually navigation sensors,...

ALL-WEATHER FIGHTER/INTERCEPTOR
-equipped jet fighter airplane which can operate at night or in the worst weather.

ALS
approach light system.

ALT
Altitude

ALTERNATE AIRPORT
means an airport at which an aircraft may land if a landing at the intended airport becomes inadvisable

ALTIDUTE GAIN (KALTINT)
A guidance control law parameter, generated by the vertical guidance modes; varies control authority of the altitude integral in vertical guidance, to...

ALTIMETER
An onboard instrument which senses air pressure in order to gauge altitude.

ALTIMETER SETTING
The barometric pressure reading used to adjust a pressure altimeter for variations in existing atmospheric pressure or to the standard altimeter setti...

ALTINTVAL
Altitude integral input

ALTITUDE
Height, usually with respect to the terrain below (radar altitude, feet above closest dirt) or fixed earth reference (barometric altitude, feet above ...

ALTITUDE ENGINE
means a reciprocating aircraft engine having a rated takeoff power that is producible from sea level to an established higher altitude

ALTITUDE ERROR
A basic output from guidance to flight director, indicating the difference between actual altitude and desired altitude; Symbols: DELTA h; Typical Uni...

ALTITUDE ERROR SCALE FACTOR(KZSF)
A guidance control law parameter, generated by the vertical guidance modes; varies control authority of vertical guidance

ALTITUDE INTEGRAL INPUT (ALTINTVAL).
A guidance control law parameter, generated by the vertical guidance modes; a reference altitude for reducing steady-state errors in altitude error Ty...

ALTITUDE INTEGRAL LIMIT (INTMAGLIM).
A guidance control law parameter, generated by the vertical guidance modes; limits the magnitude of altitude integral value Typical Units: ft; Dimensi...

ALTN
Alternate

ALTP
Airline Transport Pilot`s License)

AM
Amplitude modulation

AMC
Acceptable Means of Compliance

AME
Aviation Medical Examiner (U.S.)

AMIE
AIS Met Information Equipment (Swiss Computer Self Briefing System)

AMLCD
Active-matrix liquid crystal display.

AMPHIBIAN
An aircraft that can fly off of water or land. The wheels retract into the hull or floats, depending upon the type of aircraft. An amphibian can land ...

AMS
Aero Medical Services

AMSL
Above mean sea level

ANGEL OF ATTACK
The difference between pitch and the air-referenced flight path angle; the angle between the aircraft center line and the airspeed vector in the verti...

ANGEL OF ATTACK (AOA)
The angle between the chord line of the wing of an aircraft and the relative wind.

ANGLE OF ATTACK
The angle that the wing penetrates the air. As the angle of attack increases so does lift, up to a point (and drag).

ANGULAR ACCELERATION
Rate of change of angular velocity, either scalar or vector, often with subscripts such as XYZ to denote the coordinate frame; time derivative of angu...

ANGULAR POSITION
Amount of rotation about an axis, either scalar or vector, often with subscripts such as XYZ to denote the coordinate frame; time integral of angular ...

ANGULAR VELOCITY
Rate of change of rotation about an axis, either scalar or vector, often with subscripts such as XYZ to denote the coordinate frame; time derivative o...

ANM
ATFM Notification Message

ANNUAL
Mandatory inspection of airframe and power plant that occurs every 12 months.

ANNUNCIATOR
Any one of warning, caution, or advisory; Synonyms: alert;

ANR
Air Navigation Routes

ANS
Active Noise System

ANSP
Air Navigation Services

ANT
Airspace Navigation Team (Euro control)

AO
Aircraft Operator

AOC
Airline Operations Centre

AOPA
Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association

AOR
Aero of Responsibility

AOWIR
Aircraft Operator What-If Reroute (CFMU/IFPS)

AP
Auto Pilot

APERIODIC
A process that executes based on events rather than a fixed rate, it is not synchronized to other processes of interest; Compare: periodic;

APP
Approach (Control)

APPLIANCE
means any instrument, mechanism, equipment, part, apparatus, appurtenance, or accessory, including communications equipment, that is used or intended ...

APPR
Approach

APPROACH (APPR)
To fly towards a point; a basic guidance mode, providing lateral guidance, longitudinal guidance, and vertical guidance to a point at an operator sele...

APPROACH SPEED
The recommended speed contained in aircraft manuals used by pilots when making an approach to landing. This speed will vary for different segments of ...

APPROACH TO HOVER (AHOV)
Hover approach of a rotary wing aircraft.

APPROVED
unless used with reference to another person, means approved by the Administrator

APR
Auxiliary Power Reserve

APRON
A defined area on an airport or heliport intended to accommodate aircraft for purposes of loading or unloading passengers or cargo, refueling, parking...

APU
Auxiliary power unit

ARCID
Aircraft Identification

AREA
The number of square inches (or feet) of the wing. It`s the wingspan multiplied by the wing`s chord. The area of a tapered wing is the wingspan multip...

AREA NAVIGATION (RNAV)
means a method of navigation that permits aircraft operations on any desired course within the coverage of station-referenced navigation signals or wi...

AREA NAVIGATION LOW ROUTE
means an area navigation route within the airspace extending upward from 1,200 feet above the surface of the earth to, but not including, 18,000 feet ...

AREA NAVIGATION ROUTE
means an area navigation route within the airspace extending upward from, and including, 18,000 feet MSL to flight level 450

ARF
Almost Ready to Fly. A prefabricated aircraft.

ARINC
Aeronautical Radio, Inc. A nonprofit corporation owned by member airlines to define form, fit, and function of avionics equipment and to provide radio...

ARINC 419
Digital information transfer characteristics as applied in ARINC 500-series equipment specifications.

ARINC 547
Digital specification for ILS reference sensors.

ARINC 561
Inertial navigation system specifications.

ARINC 568
Inertial sensor DME reference specification.

ARINC 571
Inertial sensor attitude-heading reference system specifications.

ARINC 575
Digital air-data system specifications.

ARINC 700-SERIES
All-digital equipment specifications for new-generation transport category aircraft.

ARINC 743
All-digital specifications for FANS-1 compatibility.

ARM
To strive for a mission objective, such as flying toward a radial of a radio station; usually refers to a mode of radio navigation, such as striving t...

ARMED FORCES
means the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard, including their regular and reserve components and members serving without component s...

ARN
ATS Route Network

ARNS
Aeronautical Radio Navigation Services

ARO
Air Traffic Services Reporting Office (or Airport Reporting Office)

ARP
Airport Reference Point

ARR
Arrival

ASA
Auto land status annunciator.

ASAP
As soon as possible

ASAS
Airborne Separation Assurance system

ASCB
Avionics standard communication bus (Honeywell)

ASDIC
:, (Allied Submarine Investigation Committee), a ship-borne sonic detection system first developed in 1917.

ASF
Air Safety Foundation (AOPA-USA)

ASL
Above sea level

ASM
Air Space Management

ASPECT RATIO
The wingspan divided by the chord. Aspect ratio is important where a wing`s efficiency is concerned. A short aspect ratio (short wings) is better for ...

ASPH
Asphalt Runway

ASPIDISTRA
Codename for the ground transmitters operating the DARTBOARD interference system

ASR
means airport surveillance radar.

ASTRONOMICAL LATITUDE
Latitude measured with respect to vector of apparent gravity; Compare: geocentric latitude, geodetic latitude; Symbols: Phi sub A; Typical Units: rad,...

ASV
Air to Surface Vessel. An airborne or ship borne radar used to detect surfaced U-boats and other surface vessels.

ATA
Actual Time of Arrival

ATC
Air Traffic Control. A service operated by appropriate authority to promote the safe, orderly and expeditious flow of air traffic.

ATCO
Air Traffic Control

ATD
Actual Time of Departure

ATE
Actual Time Enroute

ATFM
Air Traffic Flow Management

ATI AND ATR
ARINC form factors.

ATIR
Air Traffic Incident Report ("Near-Miss Report")

ATIS
Automatic Terminal Information Service

ATM
Air traffic management.

ATMOSPHERIC DATA
Air Traffic Control

ATN
Air Traffic Management

ATP
Airline Transport Pilot (the "highest" grade of pilot certificate)

ATPL
Airline Transport Pilot (`s License)

ATS
Air Traffic Services

ATSP
Air Traffic Service Provider

ATTIDUDE HEADING REFERENCE SYSTEM(AHRS)
Combines information from a Magnetic Heading Sensor with self-contained aircraft acceleration data to provide attitude, heading, position, body inerti...

ATTITUDE
The primary aircraft angles in the state vector; pitch, roll, and yaw;

ATTITUDE INDICATOR
A vacuum powered instrument which displays pitch and roll movement about the lateral and longitudinal axes.

ATV
Adjustable Travel Volume. Used on many radio transmitters to limit, or extend, maximum throw of a servo. ATV can indicate having a single adjustment w...

AUDIO PANEL
Electronic device used to switch between radios.

AUFKL„RUNG
Reconnaissance

AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL
A standard model for computing earth data

AUTOGYRO
An aircraft equipped with a rotating wing, or rotor, to sustain itself in the air, and a propeller to move forward.

AUTOMATIC DIRECTION FINDING(ADF)
A basic guidance mode, providing lateral guidance to a radio station. Equipment that determines bearing to a radio station;

AUTOMATIC FLIGHT CONTROL SYSTEM(AFCS)
An automated system for controlling the primary flight controls, often with built-in functions for guidance and flight director, and sometimes radio n...

AUTOMATIC TERMINAL INFORMATIONSERVICE (ATIS)
The continuous broadcast of recorded non control information in selected terminal areas. Its purpose is to improve controller effectiveness and to rel...

AUTOPILOT
A method of an automatic flight control system which controls primary flight controls to meet specific mission requirments,I.E. maintain a heading or ...

AUTOROTATION
means a rotorcraft flight condition in which the lifting rotor is driven entirely by action of the air when the rotorcraft is in motion

AUX FUEL
Auxiliary fuel tanks.

AUXILIARY ROTER
means a rotor that serves either to counteract the effect of the main rotor torque on a rotorcraft or to maneuver the rotorcraft about one or more of ...

AVERAGING FILTER
A filter for combining multiple data sources, usually of the same type, by adding with weighted averages; a simple average of the data sources; Compar...

AVGAS
Aviation Gasoline (piston aircraft fuel)

AVM
Avionics monitor

AWACS
Airborne Warning And Control System. An electronically very souped-up Boeing 707. (Pronounced "AY-wax.")

AWY
Airway

AXIS
The line around which a body rotates.

AZIMUTH
An angle in the horizontal plane, usually measured with respect to body coordinates