Atlas/ Glossary
Reference · 1159 terms
Aviation glossary.
Compiled from primary US-government sources — 14 CFR § 1.1 / § 1.2 / § 1.3 (the legal definitions of the FARs), the FAA handbook glossaries (PHAK / AFH / IFH / IPH / AIH / etc.), and a small TallyAero supplement for V-speeds and other terms not in CFR. Every entry cites the agency surface it was extracted from. No definitions invented.
General · 372
- ACKNOWLEDGE ACKNOWLEDGE — Let me know that you have received and understood this message
Let me know that you have received and understood this message.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- ACROBATIC FLIGHT ACROBATIC FLIGHT
- An intentional maneuver involving an abrupt change in an aircraft's attitude, an abnormal attitude, or abnormal acceleration not necessary…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- ACROBATIC FLIGHT [ICAO] ACROBATIC FLIGHT [ICAO]
- Maneuvers intentionally performed by an aircraft involving an abrupt change in its attitude, an abnormal attitude, or an abnormal variatio…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- ADMINISTRATOR ADMINISTRATOR
- The Federal Aviation Administrator or any person to whom he/she has delegated his/her authority in the matter concerned.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- ADVISE INTENTIONS ADVISE INTENTIONS — Tell me what you plan to do
Tell me what you plan to do.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- ADVISORY ADVISORY
- Advice and information provided to assist pilots in the safe conduct of flight and aircraft movement.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- ADVISORY CIRCULAR (AC) ADVISORY CIRCULAR (AC) — - An FAA publication, advisory and descriptive in nature, which is not regulatory
- An FAA publication, advisory and descriptive in nature, which is not regulatory.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- ADVISORY FREQUENCY ADVISORY FREQUENCY — - The appropriate frequency to be used for Airport Advisory Service
- The appropriate frequency to be used for Airport Advisory Service.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- ADVISORY SERVICE ADVISORY SERVICE
- Advice and information provided by a facility to assist pilots in the safe conduct of flight and aircraft movement.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- AERIAL REFUELING AERIAL REFUELING — - A procedure used by the military to transfer fuel from one aircraft to another during flight
- A procedure used by the military to transfer fuel from one aircraft to another during flight.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- Aerodynamic coefficients Aerodynamic coefficients — non-dimensional coefficients for aerodynamic forces and moments
non-dimensional coefficients for aerodynamic forces and moments.
14 CFR § 1.1
- AERONAUTICAL CHART [ICAO] AERONAUTICAL CHART [ICAO]
- A representation of a portion of the earth, its culture and relief, specifically designated to meet the requirements of air navigation.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- AERONAUTICAL INFORMATION SERVICES (AIS) AERONAUTICAL INFORMATION SERVICES (AIS)
- A facility in Silver Spring, MD, established by FAA to operate a central aeronautical information service for the collection, validation, …
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- Air carrier Air carrier — a person who undertakes directly by lease, or other arrangement, to engage in air transportation
a person who undertakes directly by lease, or other arrangement, to engage in air transportation.
14 CFR § 1.1
- AIR CARRIER DISTRICT OFFICE AIR CARRIER DISTRICT OFFICE
- An FAA field office serving an assigned geographical area, staffed with Flight Standards personnel serving the aviation industry and the g…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- Air commerce Air commerce
interstate, overseas, or foreign air commerce or the transportation of mail by aircraft or any operation or navigation of aircraft within th…
14 CFR § 1.1
- AIR NAVIGATION FACILITY AIR NAVIGATION FACILITY
- Any facility used in, available for use in, or designed for use in, aid of air navigation, including landing areas, lights, any apparatus …
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- AIR TAXI AIR TAXI
- Used to describe a helicopter/VTOL aircraft movement conducted above the surface but normally not above 100 feet AGL. The aircraft may pro…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- Air transportation Air transportation — interstate, overseas, or foreign air transportation or the transportation of mail by aircraft
interstate, overseas, or foreign air transportation or the transportation of mail by aircraft.
14 CFR § 1.1
- AIRBORNE AIRBORNE — - An aircraft is considered airborne when all parts of the aircraft are off the ground
- An aircraft is considered airborne when all parts of the aircraft are off the ground.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- AIRBORNE DELAY AIRBORNE DELAY — - Amount of delay to be encountered in airborne holding
- Amount of delay to be encountered in airborne holding.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- Aircraft engine Aircraft engine
an engine that is used or intended to be used for propelling aircraft. It includes turbosuperchargers, appurtenances, and accessories necess…
14 CFR § 1.1
- AIRCRAFT SURGE LAUNCH AND RECOVERY AIRCRAFT SURGE LAUNCH AND RECOVERY
- Procedures used at USAF bases to provide increased launch and recovery rates in instrument flight rules conditions. ASLAR is based on:
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- AIRPORT ELEVATION AIRPORT ELEVATION — - The highest point of an airport's usable runways measured in feet from mean sea level
- The highest point of an airport's usable runways measured in feet from mean sea level.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- AIRPORT LIGHTING AIRPORT LIGHTING — - Various lighting aids that may be installed on an airport
- Various lighting aids that may be installed on an airport. Types of airport lighting include:
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- AIRPORT REFERENCE POINT (ARP) AIRPORT REFERENCE POINT (ARP) — - The approximate geometric center of all usable runway surfaces
- The approximate geometric center of all usable runway surfaces.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- AIRPORT RESERVATION OFFICE AIRPORT RESERVATION OFFICE
- Office responsible for monitoring the operation of slot controlled airports. It receives and processes requests for unscheduled operations…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- Airship Airship — an engine-driven lighter-than-air aircraft that can be steered
an engine-driven lighter-than-air aircraft that can be steered.
14 CFR § 1.1
- AIRSPEED AIRSPEED
- The speed of an aircraft relative to its surrounding air mass. The unqualified term “airspeed” means one of the following:
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- AIRSTART AIRSTART
- The starting of an aircraft engine while the aircraft is airborne, preceded by engine shutdown during training flights or by actual engine…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- AIRWAY BEACON AIRWAY BEACON
- Used to mark airway segments in remote mountain areas. The light flashes Morse Code to identify the beacon site.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- ALERTING SERVICE ALERTING SERVICE
- A service provided to notify appropriate organizations regarding aircraft in need of search and rescue aid and assist such organizations a…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- ALONG-TRACK DISTANCE (ATD) ALONG-TRACK DISTANCE (ATD)
- The horizontal distance between the aircraft's current position and a fix measured by an area navigation system that is not subject to sla…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- ALTERNATE AIRPORT ALTERNATE AIRPORT
- An airport at which an aircraft may land if a landing at the intended airport becomes inadvisable.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- ALTIMETER SETTING ALTIMETER SETTING
- The barometric pressure reading used to adjust a pressure altimeter for variations in existing atmospheric pressure or to the standard alt…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- ALTITUDE ALTITUDE
- The height of a level, point, or object measured in feet Above Ground Level (AGL) or from Mean Sea Level (MSL).
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- ALTITUDE [ICAO] ALTITUDE [ICAO]
- The vertical distance of a level, a point or an object considered as a point, measured from mean sea level (MSL).
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- Altitude engine Altitude engine
a reciprocating aircraft engine having a rated takeoff power that is producible from sea level to an established higher altitude.
14 CFR § 1.1
- Amateur rocket Amateur rocket — an unmanned rocket that:
an unmanned rocket that:
14 CFR § 1.1
- Approved , unless used with reference to another person, Approved , unless used with reference to another person,
approved by the FAA or any person to whom the FAA has delegated its authority in the matter concerned, or approved under the provisions of a…
14 CFR § 1.1
- Armed Forces Armed Forces
the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard, including their regular and reserve components and members serving without compone…
14 CFR § 1.1
- ARMY AVIATION FLIGHT INFORMATION BULLETIN ARMY AVIATION FLIGHT INFORMATION BULLETIN
- A bulletin that provides air operation data covering Army, National Guard, and Army Reserve aviation activities.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- ARRIVAL CENTER ARRIVAL CENTER — - The ARTCC having jurisdiction for the impacted airport
- The ARTCC having jurisdiction for the impacted airport.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- ARRIVAL DELAY ARRIVAL DELAY
- A parameter which specifies a period of time in which no aircraft will be metered for arrival at the specified airport.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- ARRIVAL TIME ARRIVAL TIME — - The time an aircraft touches down on arrival
- The time an aircraft touches down on arrival.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- AUTOMATED PROBLEM DETECTION (APD) AUTOMATED PROBLEM DETECTION (APD) — - An Automation Processing capability that compares trajectories in order to predict conflicts
- An Automation Processing capability that compares trajectories in order to predict conflicts.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- AUTOMATED WEATHER SYSTEM AUTOMATED WEATHER SYSTEM
- Any of the automated weather sensor platforms that collect weather data at airports and disseminate the weather information via radio and/…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- AUTOMATIC TERMINAL INFORMATION SERVICE [ICAO] AUTOMATIC TERMINAL INFORMATION SERVICE [ICAO]
- The provision of current, routine information to arriving and departing aircraft by means of continuous and repetitive broadcasts througho…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- AUTOROTATION AUTOROTATION
- A rotorcraft flight condition in which the lifting rotor is driven entirely by action of the air when the rotorcraft is in motion.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- Auxiliary rotor Auxiliary rotor
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…
14 CFR § 1.1
- AVAILABLE LANDING DISTANCE (ALD) AVAILABLE LANDING DISTANCE (ALD)
- The portion of a runway available for landing and roll‐out for aircraft cleared for LAHSO. This distance is measured from the landing thre…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- Balloon Balloon
a lighter-than-air aircraft that is not engine driven, and that sustains flight through the use of either gas buoyancy or an airborne heater…
14 CFR § 1.1
- BELOW MINIMUMS BELOW MINIMUMS
- Weather conditions below the minimums prescribed by regulation for the particular action involved; e.g., landing minimums, takeoff minimum…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- BEYOND VISUAL LINE OF SIGHT (BVLOS) BEYOND VISUAL LINE OF SIGHT (BVLOS)
- The operation of a UAS beyond the visual capability of the flight crew members (i.e., remote pilot in command [RPIC], the person manipulat…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- BLAST FENCE BLAST FENCE — - A barrier that is used to divert or dissipate jet or propeller blast
- A barrier that is used to divert or dissipate jet or propeller blast.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- BLAST PAD BLAST PAD
- A surface adjacent to the ends of a runway provided to reduce the erosive effect of jet blast and propeller wash.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- Brake horsepower Brake horsepower — the power delivered at the propeller shaft (main drive or main output) of an aircraft engine
the power delivered at the propeller shaft (main drive or main output) of an aircraft engine.
14 CFR § 1.1
- BROADCAST BROADCAST — - Transmission of information for which an acknowledgement is not expected
- Transmission of information for which an acknowledgement is not expected.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- BROADCAST [ICAO] BROADCAST [ICAO]
- A transmission of information relating to air navigation that is not addressed to a specific station or stations.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- BUFFER AREA BUFFER AREA
- As applied to an MVA or MIA chart, a depicted 3 NM or 5 NM radius MVA/MIA sector isolating a displayed obstacle for which the sector is es…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- CALCULATED LANDING TIME CALCULATED LANDING TIME
- A term that may be used in place of tentative or actual calculated landing time, whichever applies.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- Calibrated airspeed Calibrated airspeed
the indicated airspeed of an aircraft, corrected for position and instrument error. Calibrated airspeed is equal to true airspeed in standar…
14 CFR § 1.1
- CALL FOR RELEASE CALL FOR RELEASE
- Wherein the overlying ARTCC requires a terminal facility to initiate verbal coordination to secure ARTCC approval for release of a departu…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- CALL UP CALL UP
- Initial voice contact between a facility and an aircraft, using the identification of the unit being called and the unit initiating the ca…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- Canard Canard
the forward wing of a canard configuration and may be a fixed, movable, or variable geometry surface, with or without control surfaces.
14 CFR § 1.1
- Canard configuration Canard configuration
a configuration in which the span of the forward wing is substantially less than that of the main wing.
14 CFR § 1.1
- CARDINAL ALTITUDES CARDINAL ALTITUDES
- “Odd” or “Even” thousand‐foot altitudes or flight levels; e.g., 5,000, 6,000, 7,000, FL 250, FL 260, FL 270.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- Category B, with respect to transport category rotorcraft, Category B, with respect to transport category rotorcraft,
single-engine or multiengine rotorcraft which do not fully meet all Category A standards. Category B rotorcraft have no guaranteed stay-up a…
14 CFR § 1.1
- CEILING CEILING
- The heights above the earth's surface of the lowest layer of clouds or obscuring phenomena that is reported as “broken,” “overcast,” or “o…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- CEILING [ICAO] CEILING [ICAO]
- The height above the ground or water of the base of the lowest layer of cloud below 6,000 meters (20,000 feet) covering more than half the…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- CHART SUPPLEMENT CHART SUPPLEMENT
- A series of civil/military flight information publications issued by FAA every 56 days consisting of the Chart Supplement U.S., Chart Supp…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- CHART SUPPLEMENT ALASKA CHART SUPPLEMENT ALASKA
- A flight information publication designed for use with appropriate IFR or VFR charts which contains data on all airports, seaplane bases, …
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- CHARTED VFR FLYWAYS CHARTED VFR FLYWAYS
- Charted VFR Flyways are flight paths recommended for use to bypass areas heavily traversed by large turbine‐powered aircraft. Pilot compli…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- Civil aircraft Civil aircraft — aircraft other than public aircraft
aircraft other than public aircraft.
14 CFR § 1.1
- CIVIL AIRCRAFT OPERATION (CAO) CIVIL AIRCRAFT OPERATION (CAO) — - Aircraft operations other than public use
- Aircraft operations other than public use.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- CLIMBOUT CLIMBOUT — - That portion of flight operation between takeoff and the initial cruising altitude
- That portion of flight operation between takeoff and the initial cruising altitude.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- CLOSED RUNWAY CLOSED RUNWAY
- A runway that is unusable for aircraft operations. Only the airport management/military operations office can close a runway.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- COASTAL FIX COASTAL FIX
- A navigation aid or intersection where an aircraft transitions between the domestic route structure and the oceanic route structure.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- COLD TEMPERATURE CORRECTION COLD TEMPERATURE CORRECTION
- A correction in feet, based on height above airport and temperature, that is added to the aircraft's indicated altitude to offset the effe…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- COMMON ROUTE COMMON ROUTE
- That segment of a North American Route between the inland navigation facility and the coastal fix.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- COMPASS ROSE COMPASS ROSE
- A circle, graduated in degrees, printed on some charts or marked on the ground at an airport. It is used as a reference to either true or …
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- COMPOSITE FLIGHT PLAN COMPOSITE FLIGHT PLAN
- A flight plan which specifies VFR operation for one portion of flight and IFR for another portion. It is used primarily in military operat…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- CONFORMANCE REGION CONFORMANCE REGION
- A volume, bounded laterally, vertically, and longitudinally, within which an aircraft must be at a given time in order to be in conformanc…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- CONNECTION CONNECTION
- A virtual connection between the ground system and the aircraft for the exchange of CPDLC messages.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- CONSOLAN CONSOLAN — - A low frequency, long‐distance NAVAID used principally for transoceanic navigations
- A low frequency, long‐distance NAVAID used principally for transoceanic navigations.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- CONSTRAINT SATISFACTION POINT (CSP) CONSTRAINT SATISFACTION POINT (CSP)
- Meter Reference Elements (MREs) that are actively scheduled by TBFM. Constraint satisfaction occurs when the Scheduled Time of Arrival gen…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- CONTINUE CONTINUE
- When used as a control instruction should be followed by another word or words clarifying what is expected of the pilot. Example: “continu…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- CONVECTIVE SIGMET CONVECTIVE SIGMET
A weather advisory concerning convective weather significant to the safety of all aircraft. Convective SIGMETs are issued for tornadoes, lin…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- CORRECTION CORRECTION — - An error has been made in the transmission and the correct version follows
- An error has been made in the transmission and the correct version follows.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- Crewmember Crewmember — a person assigned to perform duty in an aircraft during flight time
a person assigned to perform duty in an aircraft during flight time.
14 CFR § 1.1
- CREWMEMBER (UAS) CREWMEMBER (UAS)
- A person assigned to perform an operational duty. A UAS crewmember includes the remote pilot in command, the person manipulating the contr…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- Critical altitude Critical altitude
the maximum altitude at which, in standard atmosphere, it is possible to maintain, at a specified rotational speed, a specified power or a s…
14 CFR § 1.1
- CRITICAL ENGINE CRITICAL ENGINE
- The engine which, upon failure, would most adversely affect the performance or handling qualities of an aircraft.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- CROSSWIND COMPONENT CROSSWIND COMPONENT — - The wind component measured in knots at 90 degrees to the longitudinal axis of the runway
- The wind component measured in knots at 90 degrees to the longitudinal axis of the runway.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- CRUISE CLIMB CRUISE CLIMB
- A climb technique employed by aircraft, usually at a constant power setting, resulting in an increase of altitude as the aircraft weight d…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- CRUISING LEVEL [ICAO] CRUISING LEVEL [ICAO] — - A level maintained during a significant portion of a flight
- A level maintained during a significant portion of a flight.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- DEAD RECKONING DEAD RECKONING
- Dead reckoning, as applied to flying, is the navigation of an airplane solely by means of computations based on airspeed, course, heading,…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- DEFENSE VISUAL FLIGHT RULES DEFENSE VISUAL FLIGHT RULES
- Rules applicable to flights within an ADIZ conducted under the visual flight rules in 14 CFR part 91.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- DELAY COUNTDOWN TIMER (DCT) DELAY COUNTDOWN TIMER (DCT)
- The display of the delay that must be absorbed by a flight prior to crossing a Meter Reference Element (MRE) to meet the TBFM Scheduled Ti…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- DEPARTURE SEQUENCING PROGRAM DEPARTURE SEQUENCING PROGRAM
- A program designed to assist in achieving a specified interval over a common point for departures.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- DEPARTURE TIME DEPARTURE TIME — - The time an aircraft becomes airborne
- The time an aircraft becomes airborne.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- DESCENT SPEED ADJUSTMENTS DESCENT SPEED ADJUSTMENTS
- Speed deceleration calculations made to determine an accurate VTA. These calculations start at the transition point and use arrival speed …
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- DESIRED TRACK DESIRED TRACK
- The planned or intended track between two waypoints. It is measured in degrees from either magnetic or true north. The instantaneous angle…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- DISTRESS DISTRESS
- A condition of being threatened by serious and/or imminent danger and of requiring immediate assistance.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- DIVERSION (DVRSN) DIVERSION (DVRSN)
- Flights that are required to land at other than their original destination for reasons beyond the control of the pilot/company, e.g. perio…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- DRAG CHUTE DRAG CHUTE
- A parachute device installed on certain aircraft which is deployed on landing roll to assist in deceleration of the aircraft.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- DROP ZONE DROP ZONE
- Any pre-determined area upon which parachutists or objects land after making an intentional parachute jump or drop.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- DUE REGARD DUE REGARD
- A phase of flight wherein an aircraft commander of a State‐operated aircraft assumes responsibility to separate his/her aircraft from all …
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- DYNAMIC DYNAMIC — - Continuous review, evaluation, and change to meet demands
- Continuous review, evaluation, and change to meet demands.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- Early ETOPS Early ETOPS
ETOPS type design approval obtained without gaining non-ETOPS service experience on the candidate airplane-engine combination certified for …
14 CFR § 1.1
- EMBEDDED ROUTE TEXT EMBEDDED ROUTE TEXT
- An EDST notification that an ADR/ADAR/AAR has been applied to the flight plan. Within the route field, sub-fields consisting of an adapted…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- EN ROUTE DESCENT EN ROUTE DESCENT — - Descent from the en route cruising altitude which takes place along the route of flight
- Descent from the en route cruising altitude which takes place along the route of flight.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- Enhanced flight visibility (EFV) Enhanced flight visibility (EFV)
the average forward horizontal distance, from the cockpit of an aircraft in flight, at which prominent topographical objects may be clearly …
14 CFR § 1.1
- ESTIMATED (EST) ESTIMATED (EST)
-When used in NOTAMs “EST” is a contraction that is used by the issuing authority only when the condition is expected to return to service p…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- ESTIMATED TIME EN ROUTE ESTIMATED TIME EN ROUTE — - The estimated flying time from departure point to destination (lift‐off to touchdown)
- The estimated flying time from departure point to destination (lift‐off to touchdown).
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- ESTIMATED TIME OF ARRIVAL ESTIMATED TIME OF ARRIVAL
- The time the flight is estimated to arrive at the gate (scheduled operators) or the actual runway on times for nonscheduled operators.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- Extended Operations (ETOPS) Extended Operations (ETOPS)
an airplane flight operation, other than an all-cargo operation in an airplane with more than two engines, during which a portion of the fli…
14 CFR § 1.1
- FAA-RECOGNIZED IDENTIFICATION AREA (FRIA) FAA-RECOGNIZED IDENTIFICATION AREA (FRIA)
- A defined geographic area where persons can operate UAS without remote identification, provided they maintain visual line of sight.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- FEATHERED PROPELLER FEATHERED PROPELLER
- A propeller whose blades have been rotated so that the leading and trailing edges are nearly parallel with the aircraft flight path to sto…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- FERRY FLIGHT FERRY FLIGHT — - A flight for the purpose of:
- A flight for the purpose of:
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- FILED EN ROUTE DELAY FILED EN ROUTE DELAY
- Any of the following preplanned delays at points/areas along the route of flight which require special flight plan filing and handling tec…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- FINAL GUARD SERVICE FINAL GUARD SERVICE
- A value added service provided in conjunction with LAA/RAA only during periods of significant and fast changing weather conditions that ma…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- Final takeoff speed Final takeoff speed
the speed of the airplane that exists at the end of the takeoff path in the en route configuration with one engine inoperative.
14 CFR § 1.1
- FIRST PERSON VIEW FIRST PERSON VIEW — - UAS operation in which imagery is transmitted to the UAS pilot by an onboard UA camera
- UAS operation in which imagery is transmitted to the UAS pilot by an onboard UA camera.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- FIRST TIER CENTER FIRST TIER CENTER — - An ARTCC immediately adjacent to the impacted center
- An ARTCC immediately adjacent to the impacted center.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- Flame resistant Flame resistant
not susceptible to combustion to the point of propagating a flame, beyond safe limits, after the ignition source is removed.
14 CFR § 1.1
- Flap extended speed Flap extended speed — the highest speed permissible with wing flaps in a prescribed extended position
the highest speed permissible with wing flaps in a prescribed extended position.
14 CFR § 1.1
- Flash resistant Flash resistant — not susceptible to burning violently when ignited
not susceptible to burning violently when ignited.
14 CFR § 1.1
- FLIGHT INFORMATION SERVICE FLIGHT INFORMATION SERVICE
- A service provided for the purpose of giving advice and information useful for the safe and efficient conduct of flights.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- FLIGHT LEVEL FLIGHT LEVEL
A level of constant atmospheric pressure related to a reference datum of 29.92 inches of mercury. Each is stated in three digits that repres…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- FLIGHT LEVEL [ICAO] FLIGHT LEVEL [ICAO]
- A surface of constant atmospheric pressure which is related to a specific pressure datum, 1013.2 hPa (1013.2 mb), and is separated from ot…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- FLIGHT LINE FLIGHT LINE
- A term used to describe the precise movement of a civil photogrammetric aircraft along a predetermined course(s) at a predetermined altitu…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- FLIGHT MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS FLIGHT MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS
- A computer system that uses a large data base to allow routes to be preprogrammed and fed into the system by means of a data loader. The s…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- FLIGHT PATH FLIGHT PATH — - A line, course, or track along which an aircraft is flying or intended to be flown
- A line, course, or track along which an aircraft is flying or intended to be flown.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- FLIGHT RECORDER FLIGHT RECORDER
- A general term applied to any instrument or device that records information about the performance of an aircraft in flight or about condit…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- Flight simulation training device (FSTD) Flight simulation training device (FSTD) — a full flight simulator or a flight training device
a full flight simulator or a flight training device.
14 CFR § 1.1
- FLIGHT TERMINATION FLIGHT TERMINATION
- The intentional and deliberate process of terminating the flight of a UA in the event of an unrecoverable lost link, loss of control, or o…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- FLIGHT TEST FLIGHT TEST — - A flight for the purpose of:
- A flight for the purpose of:
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- Flight training device (FTD) Flight training device (FTD)
a replica of aircraft instruments, equipment, panels, and controls in an open flight deck area or an enclosed aircraft cockpit replica. It i…
14 CFR § 1.1
- Flight visibility Flight visibility
the average forward horizontal distance, from the cockpit of an aircraft in flight, at which prominent unlighted objects may be seen and ide…
14 CFR § 1.1
- Foreign air carrier Foreign air carrier
any person other than a citizen of the United States, who undertakes directly, by lease or other arrangement, to engage in air transportatio…
14 CFR § 1.1
- Foreign air commerce Foreign air commerce
the carriage by aircraft of persons or property for compensation or hire, or the carriage of mail by aircraft, or the operation or navigatio…
14 CFR § 1.1
- Foreign air transportation Foreign air transportation
the carriage by aircraft of persons or property as a common carrier for compensation or hire, or the carriage of mail by aircraft, in commer…
14 CFR § 1.1
- FORMATION FLIGHT FORMATION FLIGHT
- More than one aircraft which, by prior arrangement between the pilots, operate as a single aircraft with regard to navigation and position…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- Forward wing Forward wing
a forward lifting surface of a canard configuration or tandem-wing configuration airplane. The surface may be a fixed, movable, or variable …
14 CFR § 1.1
- FREEZE SPEED PARAMETER FREEZE SPEED PARAMETER
- A speed adapted for each aircraft to determine fast and slow aircraft. Fast aircraft freeze on parameter FCLT and slow aircraft freeze on …
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- FREEZE/FROZEN FREEZE/FROZEN
- Terms used in referring to arrivals which have been assigned ACLTs and to the lists in which they are displayed.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- FUEL DUMPING FUEL DUMPING — - Airborne release of usable fuel
- Airborne release of usable fuel. This does not include the dropping of fuel tanks.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- FUEL SIPHONING FUEL SIPHONING — - Unintentional release of fuel caused by overflow, puncture, loose cap, etc
- Unintentional release of fuel caused by overflow, puncture, loose cap, etc.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- Full flight simulator (FFS) Full flight simulator (FFS)
a replica of a specific type; or make, model, and series aircraft cockpit. It includes the assemblage of equipment and computer programs nec…
14 CFR § 1.1
- GENERAL AVIATION GENERAL AVIATION
- That portion of civil aviation that does not include scheduled or unscheduled air carriers or commercial space operations.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- GENERAL AVIATION [ICAO] GENERAL AVIATION [ICAO]
- All civil aviation operations other than scheduled air services and nonscheduled air transport operations for remuneration or hire.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- Glider Glider
a heavier-than-air aircraft, that is supported in flight by the dynamic reaction of the air against its lifting surfaces and whose free flig…
14 CFR § 1.1
- GLOBAL NAVIGATION SATELLITE SYSTEM (GNSS) GLOBAL NAVIGATION SATELLITE SYSTEM (GNSS)
- GNSS refers collectively to the worldwide positioning, navigation, and timing determination capability available from one or more satellit…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- GO AHEAD GO AHEAD — Proceed with your message
Proceed with your message. Not to be used for any other purpose.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- Go-around power or thrust setting Go-around power or thrust setting — the maximum allowable in-flight power or thrust setting identified in the performance data
the maximum allowable in-flight power or thrust setting identified in the performance data.
14 CFR § 1.1
- GROUND SPEED GROUND SPEED — - The speed of an aircraft relative to the surface of the earth
- The speed of an aircraft relative to the surface of the earth.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- Ground visibility Ground visibility
prevailing horizontal visibility near the earth's surface as reported by the United States National Weather Service or an accredited observe…
14 CFR § 1.1
- GROUND-BASED INTERVAL MANAGEMENT-SPACING (GIM GROUND-BASED INTERVAL MANAGEMENT-SPACING (GIM
-S), SPEED ADVISORY- A calculated speed that will allow aircraft to meet the TBFM schedule at en route and TRACON boundary meter fixes.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- Gyrodyne Gyrodyne
a rotorcraft whose rotors are normally engine-driven for takeoff, hovering, and landing, and for forward flight through part of its speed ra…
14 CFR § 1.1
- HEIGHT ABOVE AIRPORT (HAA) HEIGHT ABOVE AIRPORT (HAA)
- The height of the Minimum Descent Altitude above the published airport elevation. This is published in conjunction with circling minimums.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- HELICOPTER HELICOPTER — - A rotorcraft that, for its horizontal motion, depends principally on its engine‐driven rotors
- A rotorcraft that, for its horizontal motion, depends principally on its engine‐driven rotors.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- HELIPAD HELIPAD
- A small, designated area, usually with a prepared surface, on a heliport, airport, landing/takeoff area, apron/ramp, or movement area used…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- Heliport Heliport
an area of land, water, or structure used or intended to be used for the landing and takeoff of helicopters.
14 CFR § 1.1
- HELIPORT REFERENCE POINT (HRP) HELIPORT REFERENCE POINT (HRP) — - The geographic center of a heliport
- The geographic center of a heliport.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- HIGH FREQUENCY HIGH FREQUENCY — - The frequency band between 3 and 30 MHz
- The frequency band between 3 and 30 MHz.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- HIGH FREQUENCY COMMUNICATIONS HIGH FREQUENCY COMMUNICATIONS
- High radio frequencies (HF) between 3 and 30 MHz used for air‐to‐ground voice communication in overseas operations.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- HIGH SPEED TAXIWAY HIGH SPEED TAXIWAY
- A long radius taxiway designed and provided with lighting or marking to define the path of aircraft, traveling at high speed (up to 60 kno…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- HOLDING FIX HOLDING FIX
- A specified fix identifiable to a pilot by NAVAIDs or visual reference to the ground used as a reference point in establishing and maintai…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- HOMING [ICAO] HOMING [ICAO]
- The procedure of using the direction‐finding equipment of one radio station with the emission of another radio station, where at least one…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- HOVER CHECK HOVER CHECK
- Used to describe when a helicopter/VTOL aircraft requires a stabilized hover to conduct a performance/power check prior to hover taxi, air…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- I SAY AGAIN I SAY AGAIN — The message will be repeated
The message will be repeated.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- Idle thrust Idle thrust
the jet thrust obtained with the engine power control level set at the stop for the least thrust position at which it can be placed.
14 CFR § 1.1
- IFR AIRCRAFT IFR AIRCRAFT — - An aircraft conducting flight in accordance with instrument flight rules
- An aircraft conducting flight in accordance with instrument flight rules.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- IFR CONDITIONS IFR CONDITIONS — - Weather conditions below the minimum for flight under visual flight rules
- Weather conditions below the minimum for flight under visual flight rules.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- IFR MILITARY TRAINING ROUTES (IR) IFR MILITARY TRAINING ROUTES (IR)
- Routes used by the Department of Defense and associated Reserve and Air Guard units for the purpose of conducting low‐altitude navigation …
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- IFR over-the-top, with respect to the operation of aircraft, IFR over-the-top, with respect to the operation of aircraft,
the operation of an aircraft over-the-top on an IFR flight plan when cleared by air traffic control to maintain “VFR conditions” or “VFR con…
14 CFR § 1.1
- INFORMATION REQUEST (INREQ) INFORMATION REQUEST (INREQ) — - A request originated by an FSS for information concerning an overdue VFR aircraft
- A request originated by an FSS for information concerning an overdue VFR aircraft.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- INLAND NAVIGATION FACILITY INLAND NAVIGATION FACILITY
- A navigation aid on a North American Route at which the common route and/or the noncommon route begins or ends.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- Instrument Instrument
a device using an internal mechanism to show visually or aurally the attitude, altitude, or operation of an aircraft or aircraft part. It in…
14 CFR § 1.1
- INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS (IMC) INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS (IMC)
- Meteorological conditions expressed in terms of visibility, distance from cloud, and ceiling less than the minima specified for visual met…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- INTEGRATED DEPARTURE/ARRIVAL CAPABILITY (IDAC) INTEGRATED DEPARTURE/ARRIVAL CAPABILITY (IDAC)
- A Tower/TRACON departure scheduling capability within TBFM that allows departures to be scheduled into either an arrival flow or an en rou…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT — - Relating to international flight, it means:
- Relating to international flight, it means:
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- INTERSECTING RUNWAYS INTERSECTING RUNWAYS — - Two or more runways which cross or meet within their lengths
- Two or more runways which cross or meet within their lengths.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- INTERSECTION DEPARTURE INTERSECTION DEPARTURE — - A departure from any runway intersection except the end of the runway
- A departure from any runway intersection except the end of the runway.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- Interstate air transportation Interstate air transportation
the carriage by aircraft of persons or property as a common carrier for compensation or hire, or the carriage of mail by aircraft in commerc…
14 CFR § 1.1
- Intrastate air transportation Intrastate air transportation
the carriage of persons or property as a common carrier for compensation or hire, by turbojet-powered aircraft capable of carrying thirty or…
14 CFR § 1.1
- IRREGULAR SURFACE IRREGULAR SURFACE — - A surface that is open for use but not per regulations
- A surface that is open for use but not per regulations.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- JET BLAST JET BLAST — - The rapid air movement produced by exhaust from jet engines
- The rapid air movement produced by exhaust from jet engines.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- JET ROUTE JET ROUTE
- A route designed to serve aircraft operations from 18,000 feet MSL up to and including flight level 450. The routes are referred to as “J”…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- JETTISONING OF EXTERNAL STORES JETTISONING OF EXTERNAL STORES — - Airborne release of external stores
- Airborne release of external stores; e.g., tiptanks, ordnance.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- LAND-BASED AIR DEFENSE IDENTIFICATION ZONE (ADIZ) LAND-BASED AIR DEFENSE IDENTIFICATION ZONE (ADIZ)
- An ADIZ over U.S. metropolitan areas, which is activated and deactivated as needed, with dimensions, activation dates, and other relevant …
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- LANDING AREA [ICAO] LANDING AREA [ICAO] — - That part of a movement area intended for the landing or take‐off of aircraft
- That part of a movement area intended for the landing or take‐off of aircraft.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- LANDING DISTANCE AVAILABLE (LDA) LANDING DISTANCE AVAILABLE (LDA) — - The runway length declared available and suitable for a landing airplane
- The runway length declared available and suitable for a landing airplane.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- Landing gear extended speed Landing gear extended speed — the maximum speed at which an aircraft can be safely flown with the landing gear extended
the maximum speed at which an aircraft can be safely flown with the landing gear extended.
14 CFR § 1.1
- LANDING SEQUENCE LANDING SEQUENCE — - The order in which aircraft are positioned for landing
- The order in which aircraft are positioned for landing.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- Light-sport aircraft Light-sport aircraft
an aircraft, other than a helicopter or powered-lift that, since its original certification, has continued to meet the following:
14 CFR § 1.1
- LIGHTED AIRPORT LIGHTED AIRPORT — - An airport where runway and obstruction lighting is available
- An airport where runway and obstruction lighting is available.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- Lighter-than-air aircraft Lighter-than-air aircraft
aircraft that can rise and remain suspended by using contained gas weighing less than the air that is displaced by the gas.
14 CFR § 1.1
- LONGITUDINAL SEPARATION LONGITUDINAL SEPARATION
- The longitudinal spacing of aircraft at the same altitude by a minimum distance expressed in units of time or miles.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- LOST LINK (LL) LOST LINK (LL)
- An interruption or loss of the control link, or when the pilot is unable to effect control of the aircraft and, as a result, the UA will p…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- LOST LINK PROCEDURE LOST LINK PROCEDURE
- Preprogrammed or predetermined mitigations to ensure the continued safe operation of the UA in the event of a lost link (LL). In the event…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- LOW ALTITUDE AIRWAY STRUCTURE LOW ALTITUDE AIRWAY STRUCTURE — - The network of airways serving aircraft operations up to but not including 18,000 feet MSL
- The network of airways serving aircraft operations up to but not including 18,000 feet MSL.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- LOW FREQUENCY (LF) LOW FREQUENCY (LF) — - The frequency band between 30 and 300 kHz
- The frequency band between 30 and 300 kHz.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- MACH NUMBER MACH NUMBER — - The ratio of true airspeed to the speed of sound
- The ratio of true airspeed to the speed of sound; e.g., MACH .82, MACH 1.6.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- Main rotor Main rotor — the rotor that supplies the principal lift to a rotorcraft
the rotor that supplies the principal lift to a rotorcraft.
14 CFR § 1.1
- Major alteration Major alteration — an alteration not listed in the aircraft, aircraft engine, or propeller specifications—
an alteration not listed in the aircraft, aircraft engine, or propeller specifications—
14 CFR § 1.1
- Major repair Major repair — a repair:
a repair:
14 CFR § 1.1
- Manifold pressure Manifold pressure
absolute pressure as measured at the appropriate point in the induction system and usually expressed in inches of mercury.
14 CFR § 1.1
- MARKER BEACON MARKER BEACON
- An electronic navigation facility transmitting a 75 MHz vertical fan or boneshaped radiation pattern. Marker beacons are identified by the…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- METER FIX ARC METER FIX ARC
- A semicircle, equidistant from a meter fix, usually in low altitude relatively close to the meter fix, used to help TBFM/ERAM calculate a …
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- METERING AIRPORTS METERING AIRPORTS
- Airports adapted for metering and for which optimum flight paths are defined. A maximum of 15 airports may be adapted.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- MILITARY LANDING ZONE MILITARY LANDING ZONE
- A landing strip used exclusively by the military for training. A military landing zone does not carry a runway designation.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- MINIMUM CROSSING ALTITUDE (MCA) MINIMUM CROSSING ALTITUDE (MCA)
- The lowest altitude at certain fixes at which an aircraft must cross when proceeding in the direction of a higher minimum en route IFR alt…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- MINIMUM RECEPTION ALTITUDE (MRA) MINIMUM RECEPTION ALTITUDE (MRA) — - The lowest altitude at which an intersection can be determined
- The lowest altitude at which an intersection can be determined.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- MINIMUMS MINIMUMS
- Weather condition requirements established for a particular operation or type of operation; e.g., IFR takeoff or landing, alternate airpor…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- Minor alteration Minor alteration — an alteration other than a major alteration
an alteration other than a major alteration.
14 CFR § 1.1
- Minor repair Minor repair — a repair other than a major repair
a repair other than a major repair.
14 CFR § 1.1
- MONITOR MONITOR
(When used with communication transfer) listen on a specific frequency and stand by for instructions. Under normal circumstances do not esta…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- MONITOR ALERT PARAMETER (MAP) MONITOR ALERT PARAMETER (MAP)
- The number designated for use in monitor alert processing by the TFMS. The MAP is designated for each operational sector for increments of…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- MOVING ALTITUDE RESERVATION MOVING ALTITUDE RESERVATION
- An altitude reservation which encompasses en route activities and advances with the mission progress; i.e., the reservation moves with the…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- MULTICOM MULTICOM
- A mobile service not open to public correspondence used to provide communications essential to conduct the activities being performed by o…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- MULTIPLE RUNWAYS MULTIPLE RUNWAYS
- The utilization of a dedicated arrival runway(s) for departures and a dedicated departure runway(s) for arrivals when feasible to reduce d…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- NATIONAL FLIGHT DATA DIGEST (NFDD) NATIONAL FLIGHT DATA DIGEST (NFDD)
- A daily (except weekends and Federal holidays) publication of flight information appropriate to aeronautical charts, aeronautical publicat…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- NATIONAL SEARCH AND RESCUE PLAN NATIONAL SEARCH AND RESCUE PLAN
- An interagency agreement which provides for the effective utilization of all available facilities in all types of search and rescue missio…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- NAVIGATIONAL AID NAVIGATIONAL AID
- Any visual or electronic device airborne or on the surface which provides point‐to‐point guidance information or position data to aircraft…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- NEGATIVE NEGATIVE — “No,” or “permission not granted,” or “that is not correct
“No,” or “permission not granted,” or “that is not correct.”
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- NIGHT [ICAO] NIGHT [ICAO]
- The hours between the end of evening civil twilight and the beginning of morning civil twilight or such other period between sunset and su…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- NON-RESTRICTIVE ROUTING (NRR) NON-RESTRICTIVE ROUTING (NRR)
- Portions of a proposed route of flight where a user can flight plan the most advantageous flight path with no requirement to make referenc…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- NONCOMMON ROUTE/PORTION NONCOMMON ROUTE/PORTION
- That segment of a North American Route between the inland navigation facility and a designated North American terminal.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- NORTH AMERICAN ROUTE NORTH AMERICAN ROUTE
- A numerically coded route preplanned over existing airway and route systems to and from specific coastal fixes serving the North Atlantic.…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- NORTH AMERICAN ROUTE PROGRAM (NRP) NORTH AMERICAN ROUTE PROGRAM (NRP)
- The NRP is a set of rules and procedures which are designed to increase the flexibility of user flight planning within published guideline…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- NORTH PACIFIC NORTH PACIFIC — - An organized route system between the Alaskan west coast and Japan
- An organized route system between the Alaskan west coast and Japan.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- NOT STANDARD NOT STANDARD — - Varying from what is expected or published
- Varying from what is expected or published. For use in NOTAMs only.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- NOTAM [ICAO] NOTAM [ICAO]
- A notice containing information concerning the establishment, condition or change in any aeronautical facility, service, procedure or haza…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- OBSTRUCTION OBSTRUCTION — - Any object/obstacle exceeding the obstruction standards specified by 14 CFR part 77, subpart C
- Any object/obstacle exceeding the obstruction standards specified by 14 CFR part 77, subpart C.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- OBSTRUCTION LIGHT OBSTRUCTION LIGHT
- A light or one of a group of lights, usually red or white, frequently mounted on a surface structure or natural terrain to warn pilots of …
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- OCEANIC TRANSITION ROUTE OCEANIC TRANSITION ROUTE
- An ATS route established for the purpose of transitioning aircraft to/from an organized track system.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- OFFSET PARALLEL RUNWAYS OFFSET PARALLEL RUNWAYS — - Staggered runways having centerlines which are parallel
- Staggered runways having centerlines which are parallel.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- Operate, with respect to aircraft, Operate, with respect to aircraft,
use, cause to use or authorize to use aircraft, for the purpose (except as provided in § 91.13 of this chapter) of air navigation including …
14 CFR § 1.1
- Operational control, with respect to a flight, Operational control, with respect to a flight, — the exercise of authority over initiating, conducting or terminating a flight
the exercise of authority over initiating, conducting or terminating a flight.
14 CFR § 1.1
- OPERATIONS OVER PEOPLE (OOP) OPERATIONS OVER PEOPLE (OOP) — - Operations of small unmanned aircraft over people
- Operations of small unmanned aircraft over people.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- OPERATOR (UAS) OPERATOR (UAS) — - The owner and/or remote pilot of a UAS
- The owner and/or remote pilot of a UAS.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- ORGANIZED TRACK SYSTEM ORGANIZED TRACK SYSTEM
- A series of ATS routes which are fixed and charted; i.e., CEP, NOPAC, or flexible and described by NOTAM; i.e., NAT TRACK MESSAGE.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- OUTER FIX ARC OUTER FIX ARC
- A semicircle, usually about a 50-70 mile radius from a meter fix, usually in high altitude, which is used by CTAS/ERAM to calculate outer …
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- OUTER FIX TIME OUTER FIX TIME
- A calculated time to depart the outer fix in order to cross the vertex at the ACLT. The time reflects descent speed adjustments and any ap…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- Over-the-top Over-the-top — above the layer of clouds or other obscuring phenomena forming the ceiling
above the layer of clouds or other obscuring phenomena forming the ceiling.
14 CFR § 1.1
- OVERLYING CENTER OVERLYING CENTER — - The ARTCC facility that is responsible for arrival/departure operations at a specific terminal
- The ARTCC facility that is responsible for arrival/departure operations at a specific terminal.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- Overseas air commerce Overseas air commerce
the carriage by aircraft of persons or property for compensation or hire, or the carriage of mail by aircraft, or the operation or navigatio…
14 CFR § 1.1
- Overseas air transportation Overseas air transportation
the carriage by aircraft of persons or property as a common carrier for compensation or hire, or the carriage of mail by aircraft, in commer…
14 CFR § 1.1
- Parachute Parachute — a device used or intended to be used to retard the fall of a body or object through the air
a device used or intended to be used to retard the fall of a body or object through the air.
14 CFR § 1.1
- PARALLEL RUNWAYS PARALLEL RUNWAYS
- Two or more runways at the same airport whose centerlines are parallel. In addition to runway number, parallel runways are designated as L…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- Person Person
an individual, firm, partnership, corporation, company, association, joint-stock association, or governmental entity. It includes a trustee,…
14 CFR § 1.1
- PILOT IN COMMAND PILOT IN COMMAND — - The pilot responsible for the operation and safety of an aircraft during flight time
- The pilot responsible for the operation and safety of an aircraft during flight time.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- PILOT INITIATED DOWNLINK (PID) PILOT INITIATED DOWNLINK (PID) — - Any message exchange that originates from the flight deck
- Any message exchange that originates from the flight deck.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- PILOT WEATHER REPORT PILOT WEATHER REPORT — - A report of meteorological phenomena encountered by aircraft in flight
- A report of meteorological phenomena encountered by aircraft in flight.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- Pilotage Pilotage — navigation by visual reference to landmarks
navigation by visual reference to landmarks.
14 CFR § 1.1
- PITCH POINT PITCH POINT
- A fix/waypoint that serves as a transition point from a departure procedure or the low altitude ground-based navigation structure into the…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- PLANS DISPLAY PLANS DISPLAY
- A display available in EDST that provides detailed flight plan and predicted conflict information in textual format for requested Current …
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- PLANVIEW GRAPHICAL USER INTERFACE (PGUI) PLANVIEW GRAPHICAL USER INTERFACE (PGUI) — - A TBFM display that provides a spatial display of individual aircraft track information
- A TBFM display that provides a spatial display of individual aircraft track information.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- Powered parachute Powered parachute
a powered aircraft comprised of a flexible or semi-rigid wing connected to a fuselage so that the wing is not in position for flight until t…
14 CFR § 1.1
- Powered-lift Powered-lift
a heavier-than-air aircraft capable of vertical takeoff, vertical landing, and low speed flight that depends principally on engine-driven li…
14 CFR § 1.1
- PRECIPITATION PRECIPITATION
- Any or all forms of water particles (rain, sleet, hail, or snow) that fall from the atmosphere and reach the surface.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- PROCEDURE TURN [ICAO] PROCEDURE TURN [ICAO]
- A maneuver in which a turn is made away from a designated track followed by a turn in the opposite direction to permit the aircraft to int…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- PROGRESSIVE TAXI PROGRESSIVE TAXI
- Precise taxi instructions given to a pilot unfamiliar with the airport or issued in stages as the aircraft proceeds along the taxi route.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- PROPELLER (PROP) WASH (PROP BLAST) PROPELLER (PROP) WASH (PROP BLAST) — - The disturbed mass of air generated by the motion of a propeller
- The disturbed mass of air generated by the motion of a propeller.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- PROPOSED BOUNDARY CROSSING TIME PROPOSED BOUNDARY CROSSING TIME
- Each center has a PBCT parameter for each internal airport. Proposed internal flight plans are transmitted to the adjacent center if the f…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- PROPOSED DEPARTURE TIME PROPOSED DEPARTURE TIME — - The time that the aircraft expects to become airborne
- The time that the aircraft expects to become airborne.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- Public aircraft Public aircraft
any of the following aircraft when not being used for a commercial purpose or to carry an individual other than a crewmember or qualified no…
14 CFR § 1.1
- PUBLIC AIRCRAFT OPERATION (PAO) PUBLIC AIRCRAFT OPERATION (PAO)
- A UAS operation meeting the qualifications and conditions required for the operation of a public aircraft.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- PUBLISHED ROUTE PUBLISHED ROUTE
- A route for which an IFR altitude has been established and published; e.g., Federal Airways, Jet Routes, Area Navigation Routes, Specified…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- RADIO ALTIMETER RADIO ALTIMETER
- Aircraft equipment which makes use of the reflection of radio waves from the ground to determine the height of the aircraft above the surf…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- RADIO MAGNETIC INDICATOR RADIO MAGNETIC INDICATOR
- An aircraft navigational instrument coupled with a gyro compass or similar compass that indicates the direction of a selected NAVAID and i…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- RADIO-CONTROLLED (RC) RADIO-CONTROLLED (RC)
- The use of control signals transmitted radio to a remotely controlled device, as in radio-controlled model airplanes.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- RANDOM ROUTE RANDOM ROUTE — - Any route not established or charted/published or not otherwise available to all users
- Any route not established or charted/published or not otherwise available to all users.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- READ BACK READ BACK — Repeat my message back to me
Repeat my message back to me.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- RECEIVER AUTONOMOUS INTEGRITY MONITORING (RAIM) RECEIVER AUTONOMOUS INTEGRITY MONITORING (RAIM)
- A technique whereby a civil GNSS receiver/processor determines the integrity of the GNSS navigation signals without reference to sensors o…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- RECONFORMANCE RECONFORMANCE
- The automated process of bringing an aircraft's Current Plan Trajectory into conformance with its track.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- Reference landing speed Reference landing speed
the speed of the airplane, in a specified landing configuration, at the point where it descends through the 50 foot height in the determinat…
14 CFR § 1.1
- REMOTE IDENTIFICATION (RID) REMOTE IDENTIFICATION (RID) — - A system for electronic identification and secure oversight of UAS
- A system for electronic identification and secure oversight of UAS.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- REMOTE PILOT IN COMMAND (RPIC) REMOTE PILOT IN COMMAND (RPIC)
- The RPIC is directly responsible for and is the final authority as to the operation of the unmanned aircraft system.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- RESCUE COORDINATION CENTER (RCC) RESCUE COORDINATION CENTER (RCC)
- A search and rescue (SAR) facility equipped and manned to coordinate and control SAR operations in an area designated by the SAR plan. The…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- ROAD RECONNAISSANCE (RC) ROAD RECONNAISSANCE (RC)
- Military activity requiring navigation along roads, railroads, and rivers. Reconnaissance route/route segments are seldom along a straight…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- Rocket Rocket
an aircraft propelled by ejected expanding gases generated in the engine from self-contained propellants and not dependent on the intake of …
14 CFR § 1.1
- ROTOR WASH ROTOR WASH
- A phenomenon resulting from the vertical down wash of air generated by the main rotor(s) of a helicopter.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- ROTORCRAFT ROTORCRAFT
- A heavier‐than‐air aircraft that depends principally for its support in flight on the lift generated by one or more rotors.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- ROUND-ROBIN FLIGHT PLAN ROUND-ROBIN FLIGHT PLAN
- A single flight plan filed from the departure airport to an intermediary destination(s) and then returning to the original departure airpo…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- ROUTE ACTION NOTIFICATION ROUTE ACTION NOTIFICATION — - EDST notification that an ADR/ADAR/AAR has been applied to the flight plan
- EDST notification that an ADR/ADAR/AAR has been applied to the flight plan.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- ROUTE SEGMENT [ICAO] ROUTE SEGMENT [ICAO]
- A portion of a route to be flown, as defined by two consecutive significant points specified in a flight plan.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- RUNWAY [ICAO] RUNWAY [ICAO] — - A defined rectangular area on a land aerodrome prepared for the landing and takeoff of aircraft
- A defined rectangular area on a land aerodrome prepared for the landing and takeoff of aircraft.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- RUNWAY ENTRANCE LIGHTS (REL) RUNWAY ENTRANCE LIGHTS (REL)
-An array of red lights which include the first light at the hold line followed by a series of evenly spaced lights to the runway edge align…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- RUNWAY GRADIENT RUNWAY GRADIENT
- The average slope, measured in percent, between two ends or points on a runway. Runway gradient is depicted on Government aerodrome sketch…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- RUNWAY OVERRUN RUNWAY OVERRUN
- In military aviation exclusively, a stabilized or paved area beyond the end of a runway, of the same width as the runway plus shoulders, c…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- RUNWAY SAFETY AREA RUNWAY SAFETY AREA
- A defined surface surrounding the runway prepared, or suitable, for reducing the risk of damage to airplanes in the event of an undershoot…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- RUNWAY STATUS LIGHTS (RWSL) SYSTEM RUNWAY STATUS LIGHTS (RWSL) SYSTEM
- The RWSL is a system of runway and taxiway lighting to provide pilots increased situational awareness by illuminating runway entry lights …
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- SAIL BACK SAIL BACK
- A maneuver during high wind conditions (usually with power off) where float plane movement is controlled by water rudders/opening and clos…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- SEA LANE SEA LANE
- A designated portion of water outlined by visual surface markers for and intended to be used by aircraft designed to operate on water.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- Sea level engine Sea level engine — a reciprocating aircraft engine having a rated takeoff power that is producible only at sea level
a reciprocating aircraft engine having a rated takeoff power that is producible only at sea level.
14 CFR § 1.1
- Second in command Second in command — a pilot who is designated to be second in command of an aircraft during flight time
a pilot who is designated to be second in command of an aircraft during flight time.
14 CFR § 1.1
- SECTOR LIST DROP INTERVAL SECTOR LIST DROP INTERVAL
- A parameter number of minutes after the meter fix time when arrival aircraft will be deleted from the arrival sector list.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- SEPARATION [ICAO] SEPARATION [ICAO] — - Spacing between aircraft, levels or tracks
- Spacing between aircraft, levels or tracks.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- SIGNIFICANT POINT SIGNIFICANT POINT
- A point, whether a named intersection, a NAVAID, a fix derived from a NAVAID(s), or geographical coordinate expressed in degrees of latitu…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- SINGLE DIRECTION ROUTES SINGLE DIRECTION ROUTES
- Preferred IFR Routes which are sometimes depicted on high altitude en route charts and which are normally flown in one direction only.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- SKYSPOTTER SKYSPOTTER
- A pilot who has received specialized training in observing and reporting inflight weather phenomena.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- SLOW TAXI SLOW TAXI — - To taxi a float plane at low power or low RPM
- To taxi a float plane at low power or low RPM.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- Small unmanned aircraft Small unmanned aircraft
an unmanned aircraft weighing less than 55 pounds on takeoff, including everything that is on board or otherwise attached to the aircraft.
14 CFR § 1.1
- SPEED BRAKES SPEED BRAKES — - Moveable aerodynamic devices on aircraft that reduce airspeed during descent and landing
- Moveable aerodynamic devices on aircraft that reduce airspeed during descent and landing.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- SPEED SEGMENTS SPEED SEGMENTS
- Portions of the arrival route between the transition point and the vertex along the optimum flight path for which speeds and altitudes are…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- STAGING/QUEUING STAGING/QUEUING
- The placement, integration, and segregation of departure aircraft in designated movement areas of an airport by departure fix, EDCT, and/o…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- Standard atmosphere Standard atmosphere — the atmosphere defined in U
the atmosphere defined in U.S. Standard Atmosphere, 1962 (Geopotential altitude tables).
14 CFR § 1.1
- STANDARD RATE TURN STANDARD RATE TURN — - A turn of three degrees per second
- A turn of three degrees per second.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- STATE AIRCRAFT STATE AIRCRAFT
- Aircraft used in military, customs and police service, in the exclusive service of any government or of any political subdivision thereof,…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- STATIC RESTRICTIONS STATIC RESTRICTIONS — - Those restrictions that are usually not subject to change, fixed, in place, and/or published
- Those restrictions that are usually not subject to change, fixed, in place, and/or published.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- STEP TAXI STEP TAXI — - To taxi a float plane at full power or high RPM
- To taxi a float plane at full power or high RPM.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- STEP TURN STEP TURN
- A maneuver used to put a float plane in a planing configuration prior to entering an active sea lane for takeoff. The STEP TURN maneuver s…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- STEREO ROUTE STEREO ROUTE
- A routinely used route of flight established by users and ARTCCs identified by a coded name; e.g., ALPHA 2. These routes minimize flight p…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- STOP AND GO STOP AND GO
- A procedure wherein an aircraft will land, make a complete stop on the runway, and then commence a takeoff from that point.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- STOPOVER FLIGHT PLAN STOPOVER FLIGHT PLAN
- A flight plan format which permits in a single submission the filing of a sequence of flight plans through interim full‐stop destinations …
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- STRATEGIC PLANNING STRATEGIC PLANNING — - Planning whereby solutions are sought to resolve potential conflicts
- Planning whereby solutions are sought to resolve potential conflicts.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- SUBSTITUTE ROUTE SUBSTITUTE ROUTE
- A route assigned to pilots when any part of an airway or route is unusable because of NAVAID status. These routes consist of:
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- Supplemental restraint system Supplemental restraint system
any device that is not installed on the aircraft pursuant to an FAA approval, used to secure an individual inside an aircraft when that pers…
14 CFR § 1.1
- Synthetic vision Synthetic vision
a computer-generated image of the external scene topography from the perspective of the flight deck that is derived from aircraft attitude, …
14 CFR § 1.1
- Synthetic vision system means an electronic Synthetic vision system means an electronic — to display a synthetic vision image of the external scene topography to the flight crew
to display a synthetic vision image of the external scene topography to the flight crew.
14 CFR § 1.1
- SYSTEM STRATEGIC NAVIGATION SYSTEM STRATEGIC NAVIGATION
- Military activity accomplished by navigating along a preplanned route using internal aircraft systems to maintain a desired track. This ac…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- TAILWIND TAILWIND
- Any wind more than 90 degrees to the longitudinal axis of the runway. The magnetic direction of the runway must be used as the basis for d…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- Takeoff safety speed Takeoff safety speed
a referenced airspeed obtained after lift-off at which the required one-engine-inoperative climb performance can be achieved.
14 CFR § 1.1
- Takeoff thrust, with respect to turbine engines, Takeoff thrust, with respect to turbine engines,
the jet thrust that is developed under static conditions at a specific altitude and atmospheric temperature under the maximum conditions of …
14 CFR § 1.1
- TARMAC DELAY TARMAC DELAY
- The holding of an aircraft on the ground either before departure or after landing with no opportunity for its passengers to deplane.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- TARMAC DELAY AIRCRAFT TARMAC DELAY AIRCRAFT
- An aircraft whose pilot-in-command has requested to taxi to the ramp, gate, or alternate deplaning area to comply with the Three-hour Tarm…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- TERMINAL AUTOMATION SYSTEMS (TAS) TERMINAL AUTOMATION SYSTEMS (TAS) — - TAS is used to identify the numerous automated tracking systems including STARS and MEARTS
- TAS is used to identify the numerous automated tracking systems including STARS and MEARTS.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- TERRAIN FOLLOWING TERRAIN FOLLOWING
- The flight of a military aircraft maintaining a constant AGL altitude above the terrain or the highest obstruction. The altitude of the ai…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- THAT IS CORRECT THAT IS CORRECT — The understanding you have is right
The understanding you have is right.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- THE RECREATIONAL UAS SAFETY TEST (TRUST) THE RECREATIONAL UAS SAFETY TEST (TRUST)
- The electronically administered free test required for all recreational UAS operators referred to as the aeronautical knowledge and safety…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- THRESHOLD THRESHOLD — - The beginning of that portion of the runway usable for landing
- The beginning of that portion of the runway usable for landing.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- TIMELINE GRAPHICAL USER INTERFACE (TGUI) TIMELINE GRAPHICAL USER INTERFACE (TGUI)
- A TBFM display that uses timelines to display the Estimated Time of Arrival and Scheduled Time of Arrival of each aircraft to specified co…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- TOP OF DESCENT (TOD) TOP OF DESCENT (TOD) — - The point at which an aircraft begins the initial descent
- The point at which an aircraft begins the initial descent.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- TORCHING TORCHING
- The burning of fuel at the end of an exhaust pipe or stack of a reciprocating aircraft engine, the result of an excessive richness in the …
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- TOUCHDOWN [ICAO] TOUCHDOWN [ICAO] — - The point where the nominal glide path intercepts the runway
- The point where the nominal glide path intercepts the runway.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- TOUCHDOWN ZONE [ICAO] TOUCHDOWN ZONE [ICAO]
- The portion of a runway, beyond the threshold, where it is intended landing aircraft first contact the runway.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- TRACEABLE PRESSURE STANDARD TRACEABLE PRESSURE STANDARD
- The facility station pressure instrument, with certification/calibration traceable to the National Institute of Standards and Technology. …
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- TRACK [ICAO] TRACK [ICAO]
- The projection on the earth's surface of the path of an aircraft, the direction of which path at any point is usually expressed in degrees…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- TRAJECTORY TRAJECTORY
- A EDST representation of the path an aircraft is predicted to fly based upon a Current Plan or Trial Plan.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- TRAJECTORY MODELING TRAJECTORY MODELING — - The automated process of calculating a trajectory
- The automated process of calculating a trajectory.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- TRANSMISSOMETER TRANSMISSOMETER
- An apparatus used to determine visibility by measuring the transmission of light through the atmosphere. It is the measurement source for …
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- TRANSMITTING IN THE BLIND TRANSMITTING IN THE BLIND
A transmission from one station to other stations in circumstances where two‐way communication cannot be established, but where it is believ…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- True airspeed True airspeed
the airspeed of an aircraft relative to undisturbed air. True airspeed is equal to equivalent airspeed multiplied by (ρ0/ρ) 1/2 .
14 CFR § 1.1
- TURBOJET AIRCRAFT TURBOJET AIRCRAFT
- An aircraft having a jet engine in which the energy of the jet operates a turbine which in turn operates the air compressor.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- TURBOPROP AIRCRAFT TURBOPROP AIRCRAFT
- An aircraft having a jet engine in which the energy of the jet operates a turbine which drives the propeller.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- TURBULENCE TURBULENCE
- An atmospheric phenomenon that causes changes in aircraft altitude, attitude, and or airspeed with aircraft reaction depending on intensit…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- TURN ANTICIPATION TURN ANTICIPATION — - (maneuver anticipation)
- (maneuver anticipation).
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- UAS TEST SITE UAS TEST SITE — - Independently owned UAS test & research sites, recognized by the FAA
- Independently owned UAS test & research sites, recognized by the FAA.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- ULTRAHIGH FREQUENCY (UHF) ULTRAHIGH FREQUENCY (UHF)
- The frequency band between 300 and 3,000 MHz. The bank of radio frequencies used for military air/ground voice communications. In some ins…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- UNDER THE HOOD UNDER THE HOOD
- Indicates that the pilot is using a hood to restrict visibility outside the cockpit while simulating instrument flight. An appropriately r…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- United States air carrier United States air carrier
a citizen of the United States who undertakes directly by lease, or other arrangement, to engage in air transportation.
14 CFR § 1.1
- Unmanned aircraft Unmanned aircraft
an aircraft operated without the possibility of direct human intervention from within or on the aircraft.
14 CFR § 1.1
- URBAN AIR MOBILITY (UAM) URBAN AIR MOBILITY (UAM)
- A subset of Advanced Air Mobility (AAM), referring to an air transportation system utilizing highly automated aircraft to transport passen…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- URGENCY URGENCY
- A condition of being concerned about safety and of requiring timely but not immediate assistance; a potential distress condition.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- URGENCY [ICAO] URGENCY [ICAO]
- A condition concerning the safety of an aircraft or other vehicle, or of person on board or in sight, but which does not require immediate…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- VERTICAL SEPARATION VERTICAL SEPARATION — - Separation between aircraft expressed in units of vertical distance
- Separation between aircraft expressed in units of vertical distance.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- VERY LOW FREQUENCY (VLF) VERY LOW FREQUENCY (VLF) — - The frequency band between 3 and 30 kHz
- The frequency band between 3 and 30 kHz.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- VFR AIRCRAFT VFR AIRCRAFT — - An aircraft conducting flight in accordance with visual flight rules
- An aircraft conducting flight in accordance with visual flight rules.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- VFR MILITARY TRAINING ROUTES (VR) VFR MILITARY TRAINING ROUTES (VR)
- Routes used by the Department of Defense and associated Reserve and Air Guard units for the purpose of conducting low‐altitude navigation …
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- VFR NOT RECOMMENDED VFR NOT RECOMMENDED
An advisory provided by a flight service station to a pilot during a preflight or inflight weather briefing that flight under visual flight …
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- VFR over-the-top, with respect to the operation of aircraft, VFR over-the-top, with respect to the operation of aircraft,
the operation of an aircraft over-the-top under VFR when it is not being operated on an IFR flight plan.
14 CFR § 1.1
- VISIBILITY [ICAO] VISIBILITY [ICAO]
- The ability, as determined by atmospheric conditions and expressed in units of distance, to see and identify prominent unlighted objects b…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- VISUAL HOLDING VISUAL HOLDING
- The holding of aircraft at selected, prominent geographical fixes which can be easily recognized from the air.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- VISUAL LINE OF SIGHT (VLOS) VISUAL LINE OF SIGHT (VLOS)
- Condition of operations wherein the operator maintains continuous, unaided visual contact with the unmanned aircraft.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS
- Meteorological conditions expressed in terms of visibility, distance from cloud, and ceiling equal to or better than specified minima.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- WIND GRID DISPLAY WIND GRID DISPLAY
- A display that presents the latest forecasted wind data overlaid on a map of the ARTCC area. Wind data is automatically entered and update…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- WIND SHEAR WIND SHEAR
- A change in wind speed and/or wind direction in a short distance resulting in a tearing or shearing effect. It can exist in a horizontal o…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- WIND SHEAR ESCAPE WIND SHEAR ESCAPE
- An unplanned abortive maneuver initiated by the pilot in command (PIC) as a result of onboard cockpit systems. Wind shear escapes are char…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- Winglet or tip fin Winglet or tip fin
an out-of-plane surface extending from a lifting surface. The surface may or may not have control surfaces.
14 CFR § 1.1
Navigation · 215
- ABBREVIATED IFR FLIGHT PLANS ABBREVIATED IFR FLIGHT PLANS
- An authorization by ATC requiring pilots to submit only that information needed for the purpose of ATC. It includes only a small portion o…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- AERODROME AERODROME
- A defined area on land or water (including any buildings, installations and equipment) intended to be used either wholly or in part for th…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- AERONAUTICAL BEACON AERONAUTICAL BEACON
- A visual NAVAID displaying flashes of white and/or colored light to indicate the location of an airport, a heliport, a landmark, a certain…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- AIR ROUTE SURVEILLANCE RADAR AIR ROUTE SURVEILLANCE RADAR
- Air route traffic control center (ARTCC) radar used primarily to detect and display an aircraft's position while en route between terminal…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- AIRCRAFT APPROACH CATEGORY AIRCRAFT APPROACH CATEGORY
- A grouping of aircraft based on a speed of 1.3 times the stall speed in the landing configuration at maximum gross landing weight. An airc…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- Airframe Airframe
the fuselage, booms, nacelles, cowlings, fairings, airfoil surfaces (including rotors but excluding propellers and rotating airfoils of engi…
14 CFR § 1.1
- AIRPLANE AIRPLANE
- An engine‐driven fixed‐wing aircraft heavier than air that is supported in flight by the dynamic reaction of the air against its wings.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- AIRPORT 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 facili…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- AIRPORT ADVISORY AREA AIRPORT ADVISORY AREA
- The area within ten miles of an airport without a control tower or where the tower is not in operation, and on which a Flight Service Stat…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- AIRPORT MARKING AIDS AIRPORT MARKING AIDS
- Markings used on runway and taxiway surfaces to identify a specific runway, a runway threshold, a centerline, a hold line, etc. A runway s…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- AIRPORT ROTATING BEACON AIRPORT ROTATING BEACON
- A visual NAVAID operated at many airports. At civil airports, alternating white and green flashes indicate the location of the airport. At…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- AIRPORT SURVEILLANCE RADAR AIRPORT SURVEILLANCE RADAR
- Approach control radar used to detect and display an aircraft's position in the terminal area. ASR provides range and azimuth information …
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- APPROACH CLEARANCE APPROACH CLEARANCE
- Authorization by ATC for a pilot to conduct an instrument approach. The type of instrument approach for which a clearance and other pertin…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- APPROACH CONTROL FACILITY APPROACH CONTROL FACILITY — - A terminal ATC facility that provides approach control service in a terminal area
- A terminal ATC facility that provides approach control service in a terminal area.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- APPROACH CONTROL SERVICE APPROACH CONTROL SERVICE
- Air traffic control service provided by an approach control facility for arriving and departing VFR/IFR aircraft and, on occasion, en rout…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- APPROACH CONTROL SERVICE [ICAO] APPROACH CONTROL SERVICE [ICAO] — - Air traffic control service for arriving or departing controlled flights
- Air traffic control service for arriving or departing controlled flights.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- APPROACH GATE APPROACH GATE
- An imaginary point used within ATC as a basis for vectoring aircraft to the final approach course. The gate will be established along the …
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- APPROACH RUNWAY VERIFICATION APPROACH RUNWAY VERIFICATION
- A STARS functionality that provides audible and visual alerts to tower and/or TRACON controllers when an aircraft is on its final approach…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- APPROACH SEQUENCE APPROACH SEQUENCE — - The order in which aircraft are positioned while on approach or awaiting approach clearance
- The order in which aircraft are positioned while on approach or awaiting approach clearance.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- APPROACH SPEED APPROACH SPEED
The recommended speed contained in aircraft manuals used by pilots when making an approach to landing. This speed will vary for different se…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- APPROACH/DEPARTURE HOLD AREA APPROACH/DEPARTURE HOLD AREA
- The locations on taxiways in the approach or departure areas of a runway designated to protect landing or departing aircraft. These locati…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- ARC ARC
- The track over the ground of an aircraft flying at a constant distance from a navigational aid by reference to distance measuring equipmen…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- AREA NAVIGATION (RNAV) AREA NAVIGATION (RNAV)
- A method of navigation which permits aircraft operation on any desired flight path within the coverage of ground- or space-based navigatio…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- ARRIVAL/DEPARTURE WINDOW (ADW) ARRIVAL/DEPARTURE WINDOW (ADW)
- A depiction presented on an air traffic control display, used by the controller to prevent possible conflicts between arrivals to, and dep…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- ASSOCIATED ASSOCIATED — - A radar target displaying a data block with flight identification and altitude information
- A radar target displaying a data block with flight identification and altitude information.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- AUTOLAND APPROACH AUTOLAND APPROACH
-An autoland system aids by providing control of aircraft systems during a precision instrument approach to at least decision altitude and p…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- AUTOMATED INFORMATION TRANSFER (AIT) AUTOMATED INFORMATION TRANSFER (AIT)
- A precoordinated process, specifically defined in facility directives, during which a transfer of altitude control and/or radar identifica…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- AUTOMATED TERMINAL PROXIMITY ALERT (ATPA) AUTOMATED TERMINAL PROXIMITY ALERT (ATPA)
- Monitors the separation of aircraft on the Final Approach Course (FAC), displaying a graphical notification (cone and/or mileage) when a p…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- AUTOMATED UNICOM AUTOMATED UNICOM
- Provides completely automated weather, radio check capability and airport advisory information on an Automated UNICOM system. These system…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- AUTOMATIC CARRIER LANDING SYSTEM AUTOMATIC CARRIER LANDING SYSTEM
- U.S. Navy final approach equipment consisting of precision tracking radar coupled to a computer data link to provide continuous informatio…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- AUTOMATIC DEPENDENT SURVEILLANCE AUTOMATIC DEPENDENT SURVEILLANCE
-BROADCAST (ADS‐B)- A surveillance system in which an aircraft or vehicle to be detected is fitted with cooperative equipment in the form of…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- AUTOMATIC DEPENDENT SURVEILLANCE-BROADCAST OUT (ADS AUTOMATIC DEPENDENT SURVEILLANCE-BROADCAST OUT (ADS
-B Out)- The transmitter onboard an aircraft or ground vehicle that periodically broadcasts its GNSS-derived position along with other requi…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- AUTOMATIC DIRECTION FINDER AUTOMATIC DIRECTION FINDER
- An aircraft radio navigation system which senses and indicates the direction to a L/MF nondirectional radio beacon (NDB) ground transmitte…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- BEARING BEARING
- The horizontal direction to or from any point, usually measured clockwise from true north, magnetic north, or some other reference point t…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- BLOCKED BLOCKED
Phraseology used to indicate that a radio transmission has been distorted or interrupted due to multiple simultaneous radio transmissions.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- BREAKOUT BREAKOUT
- A technique to direct aircraft out of the approach stream. In the context of simultaneous (independent) parallel operations, a breakout is…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- Category II operations, with respect to the operation of aircraft, Category II operations, with respect to the operation of aircraft,
a straight-in ILS approach to the runway of an airport under a Category II ILS instrument approach procedure issued by the Administrator or …
14 CFR § 1.1
- Category III operations, with respect to the operation of aircraft, Category III operations, with respect to the operation of aircraft,
an ILS approach to, and landing on, the runway of an airport using a Category III ILS instrument approach procedure issued by the Administra…
14 CFR § 1.1
- CHART SUPPLEMENT PACIFIC CHART SUPPLEMENT PACIFIC
- A flight information publication designed for use with appropriate IFR or VFR charts which contains data on all airports, seaplane bases, …
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- CHARTED VISUAL FLIGHT PROCEDURE APPROACH CHARTED VISUAL FLIGHT PROCEDURE APPROACH
- An approach conducted while operating on an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan which authorizes the pilot of an aircraft to proceed…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- CIRCLE TO RUNWAY (RUNWAY NUMBER) CIRCLE TO RUNWAY (RUNWAY NUMBER)
Used by ATC to inform the pilot that he/she must circle to land because the runway in use is other than the runway aligned with the instrume…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- CLEARANCE LIMIT CLEARANCE LIMIT — - The fix, point, or location to which an aircraft is cleared when issued an air traffic clearance
- The fix, point, or location to which an aircraft is cleared when issued an air traffic clearance.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- CLEARED APPROACH CLEARED APPROACH
ATC authorization for an aircraft to execute any standard or special instrument approach procedure for that airport. Normally, an aircraft w…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- Climbout speed, with respect to rotorcraft, Climbout speed, with respect to rotorcraft,
a referenced airspeed which results in a flight path clear of the height-velocity envelope during initial climbout.
14 CFR § 1.1
- CLOSE PARALLEL RUNWAYS CLOSE PARALLEL RUNWAYS
- Two parallel runways whose extended centerlines are separated by less than 4,300 feet and at least 3000 feet (750 feet for SOIA operations…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- CLOSED TRAFFIC CLOSED TRAFFIC
- Successive operations involving takeoffs and landings or low approaches where the aircraft does not exit the traffic pattern.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- COMPASS LOCATOR COMPASS LOCATOR
- A low power, low or medium frequency (L/MF) radio beacon installed at the site of the outer or middle marker of an instrument landing syst…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- COMPULSORY REPORTING POINTS COMPULSORY REPORTING POINTS
- Reporting points which must be reported to ATC. They are designated on aeronautical charts by solid triangles or filed in a flight plan as…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- COMPUTER NAVIGATION FIX (CNF) COMPUTER NAVIGATION FIX (CNF)
- A Computer Navigation Fix is a point defined by a latitude/longitude coordinate and is required to support Performance-Based Navigation (P…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- CONTACT APPROACH CONTACT APPROACH
An approach wherein an aircraft on an IFR flight plan, having an air traffic control authorization, operating clear of clouds with at least …
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- CONTAMINATED RUNWAY CONTAMINATED RUNWAY
- A runway is considered contaminated whenever standing water, ice, snow, slush, frost in any form, heavy rubber, or other substances are pr…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- CONTINENTAL UNITED STATES CONTINENTAL UNITED STATES — - The 49 States located on the continent of North America and the District of Columbia
- The 49 States located on the continent of North America and the District of Columbia.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- COORDINATES COORDINATES
- The intersection of lines of reference, usually expressed in degrees/minutes/seconds of latitude and longitude, used to determine position…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- COUPLED APPROACH COUPLED APPROACH
- An instrument approach performed by the aircraft autopilot, and/or visually depicted on the flight director, which is receiving position i…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- DECISION ALTITUDE (DA) DECISION ALTITUDE (DA)
- A specified altitude (mean sea level (MSL)) on an instrument approach procedure (ILS, GLS, vertically guided RNAV) at which the pilot must…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- DECISION HEIGHT (DH) DECISION HEIGHT (DH)
- With respect to the operation of aircraft, means the height at which a decision must be made during an ILS or PAR instrument approach to e…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- DEPARTURE CONTROL DEPARTURE CONTROL
- A function of an approach control facility providing air traffic control service for departing IFR and, under certain conditions, VFR airc…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- DEPARTURE VIEWER DEPARTURE VIEWER
- A capability within the Traffic Flow Management System (TFMS) that provides combined displays for monitoring departure by fixes and depart…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- DISPLACED THRESHOLD DISPLACED THRESHOLD
- A threshold that is located at a point on the runway other than the designated beginning of the runway.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- DISTANCE MEASURING EQUIPMENT (DME) DISTANCE MEASURING EQUIPMENT (DME)
- Equipment (airborne and ground) used to measure, in nautical miles, the slant range distance of an aircraft from the DME navigational aid.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- DME FIX DME FIX
- A geographical position determined by reference to a navigational aid which provides distance and azimuth information. It is defined by a …
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- DME SEPARATION DME SEPARATION
- Spacing of aircraft in terms of distances (nautical miles) determined by reference to distance measuring equipment (DME).
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- DYNAMIC RESTRICTIONS DYNAMIC RESTRICTIONS
- Those restrictions imposed by the local facility on an “as needed” basis to manage unpredictable fluctuations in traffic demands.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- EFVS operation EFVS operation
an operation in which visibility conditions require an EFVS to be used in lieu of natural vision to perform an approach or landing, determin…
14 CFR § 1.1
- EMERGENCY LOCATOR TRANSMITTER (ELT) EMERGENCY LOCATOR TRANSMITTER (ELT)
- A radio transmitter attached to the aircraft structure which operates from its own power source on 121.5 MHz and 243.0 MHz. It aids in loc…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- ESTABLISHED ESTABLISHED
- To be stable or fixed at an altitude or on a course, route, route segment, heading, instrument approach or departure procedure, etc.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- EXECUTE MISSED APPROACH EXECUTE MISSED APPROACH
Instructions issued to a pilot making an instrument approach which means continue inbound to the missed approach point and execute the misse…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- FAWP FAWP — - Final Approach Waypoint
- Final Approach Waypoint
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- FEEDER FIX FEEDER FIX
- The fix depicted on Instrument Approach Procedure Charts which establishes the starting point of the feeder route.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- FEEDER ROUTE FEEDER ROUTE
- A route depicted on instrument approach procedure charts to designate routes for aircraft to proceed from the en route structure to the in…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- FINAL FINAL
Commonly used to mean that an aircraft is on the final approach course or is aligned with a landing area.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- FINAL APPROACH COURSE FINAL APPROACH COURSE
- A bearing/radial/track of an instrument approach leading to a runway or an extended runway centerline all without regard to distance.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- FINAL APPROACH FIX FINAL APPROACH FIX
- The fix from which the final approach (IFR) to an airport is executed and which identifies the beginning of the final approach segment. It…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- FINAL APPROACH POINT FINAL APPROACH POINT
- The point, applicable only to a nonprecision approach with no depicted FAF (such as an on airport VOR), where the aircraft is established …
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- FINAL APPROACH SEGMENT [ICAO] FINAL APPROACH SEGMENT [ICAO]
- That segment of an instrument approach procedure in which alignment and descent for landing are accomplished.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- FINAL CONTROLLER FINAL CONTROLLER
- The controller providing information and final approach guidance during PAR and ASR approaches utilizing radar equipment.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- FINAL MONITOR AID FINAL MONITOR AID
- A high resolution color display that is equipped with the controller alert system hardware/software used to monitor the no transgression z…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- FLAMEOUT PATTERN FLAMEOUT PATTERN
- An approach normally conducted by a single‐engine military aircraft experiencing loss or anticipating loss of engine power or control. The…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- FLIGHT PLAN AREA (FPA) FLIGHT PLAN AREA (FPA)
- The geographical area assigned to a flight service station (FSS) for the purpose of establishing primary responsibility for services that …
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- FLIGHT SERVICE STATION (FSS) FLIGHT SERVICE STATION (FSS)
- An air traffic facility which provides pilot briefings, flight plan processing, en route flight advisories, search and rescue services, an…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- GATE HOLD PROCEDURES GATE HOLD PROCEDURES
- Procedures at selected airports to hold aircraft at the gate or other ground location whenever departure delays exceed or are anticipated …
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- GEO MAP GEO MAP — - The digitized map markings associated with the ASR‐9 Radar System
- The digitized map markings associated with the ASR‐9 Radar System.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- GLIDEPATH [ICAO] GLIDEPATH [ICAO] — - A descent profile determined for vertical guidance during a final approach
- A descent profile determined for vertical guidance during a final approach.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- GLIDESLOPE GLIDESLOPE
- Provides vertical guidance for aircraft during approach and landing. The glideslope/glidepath is based on the following:
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- GLIDESLOPE INTERCEPT ALTITUDE GLIDESLOPE INTERCEPT ALTITUDE
- The published minimum altitude to intercept the glideslope in the intermediate segment of an instrument approach. Government charts use th…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM (GPS) GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM (GPS)
- GPS refers to the worldwide positioning, navigation and timing determination capability available from the U.S. satellite constellation. T…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- GO AROUND GO AROUND
Instructions for a pilot to abandon his/her approach to landing. Additional instructions may follow. Unless otherwise advised by ATC, a VFR …
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- GROUND CONTROLLED APPROACH GROUND CONTROLLED APPROACH
- A radar approach system operated from the ground by air traffic control personnel transmitting instructions to the pilot by radio. The app…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- HAZARDOUS WEATHER INFORMATION HAZARDOUS WEATHER INFORMATION
-Summary of significant meteorological information (SIGMET/WS), convective significant meteorological information (convective SIGMET/WST), u…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- HEIGHT ABOVE LANDING (HAL) HEIGHT ABOVE LANDING (HAL)
- The height above a designated helicopter landing area used for helicopter instrument approach procedures.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- HEIGHT ABOVE TOUCHDOWN (HAT) HEIGHT ABOVE TOUCHDOWN (HAT)
- The height of the Decision Height or Minimum Descent Altitude above the highest runway elevation in the touchdown zone (first 3,000 feet o…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- HOT SPOT HOT SPOT
- A location on an airport movement area with a history of potential risk of collision or runway incursion, and where heightened attention b…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- IAWP IAWP — - Initial Approach Waypoint
- Initial Approach Waypoint
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- IF NO TRANSMISSION RECEIVED FOR (TIME) IF NO TRANSMISSION RECEIVED FOR (TIME)
Used by ATC in radar approaches to prefix procedures which should be followed by the pilot in event of lost communications.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- IF/IAWP IF/IAWP
- Intermediate Fix/Initial Approach Waypoint. The waypoint where the final approach course of a T approach meets the crossbar of the T. When…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- IFR TAKEOFF MINIMUMS AND DEPARTURE PROCEDURES IFR TAKEOFF MINIMUMS AND DEPARTURE PROCEDURES
- Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations, part 91, prescribes standard takeoff rules for certain civil users. At some airports, obstructions o…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- ILS CATEGORIES ILS CATEGORIES
- 1. Category I. An ILS approach procedure which provides for approach to a height above touchdown of not less than 200 feet and with runway…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- INERTIAL NAVIGATION SYSTEM (INS) INERTIAL NAVIGATION SYSTEM (INS) — - An RNAV system which is a form of self‐contained navigation
- An RNAV system which is a form of self‐contained navigation.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- INITIAL APPROACH FIX (IAF) INITIAL APPROACH FIX (IAF)
- The fixes depicted on instrument approach procedure charts that identify the beginning of the initial approach segment(s).
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- INITIAL APPROACH SEGMENT [ICAO] INITIAL APPROACH SEGMENT [ICAO]
- That segment of an instrument approach procedure between the initial approach fix and the intermediate approach fix or, where applicable, …
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- INNER MARKER INNER MARKER
- A marker beacon used with an ILS (CAT II) precision approach located between the middle marker and the end of the ILS runway, transmitting…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- INSTRUMENT APPROACH PROCEDURE INSTRUMENT APPROACH PROCEDURE
- A series of predetermined maneuvers for the orderly transfer of an aircraft under instrument flight conditions from the beginning of the i…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- INSTRUMENT LANDING SYSTEM (ILS) INSTRUMENT LANDING SYSTEM (ILS)
- A precision instrument approach system which normally consists of the following electronic components and visual aids:
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- INSTRUMENT RUNWAY INSTRUMENT RUNWAY
- A runway equipped with electronic and visual navigation aids for which a precision or nonprecision approach procedure having straight‐in l…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- INTEGRITY INTEGRITY
- The ability of a system to provide timely warnings to users when the system should not be used for navigation.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- INTERMEDIATE APPROACH SEGMENT [ICAO] INTERMEDIATE APPROACH SEGMENT [ICAO]
- That segment of an instrument approach procedure between either the intermediate approach fix and the final approach fix or point, or betw…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- INTERMEDIATE FIX INTERMEDIATE FIX
- The fix that identifies the beginning of the intermediate approach segment of an instrument approach procedure. The fix is not normally id…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- INTERROGATOR INTERROGATOR
- The ground‐based surveillance radar beacon transmitter‐receiver, which normally scans in synchronism with a primary radar, transmitting di…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- JAMMING JAMMING
- Denotes emissions that do not mimic Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) signals (e.g., GPS and WAAS), but rather interfere with the …
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- LAND AND HOLD SHORT OPERATIONS LAND AND HOLD SHORT OPERATIONS
- Operations that include simultaneous takeoffs and landings and/or simultaneous landings when a landing aircraft is able and is instructed …
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- LANDING AREA LANDING AREA
- Any locality either on land, water, or structures, including airports/heliports and intermediate landing fields, which is used, or intende…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- LANDING DIRECTION INDICATOR LANDING DIRECTION INDICATOR — - A device which visually indicates the direction in which landings and takeoffs should be made
- A device which visually indicates the direction in which landings and takeoffs should be made.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- LANDING MINIMUMS LANDING MINIMUMS
- The minimum visibility prescribed for landing a civil aircraft while using an instrument approach procedure. The minimum applies with othe…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- LATERAL SEPARATION LATERAL SEPARATION
- The lateral spacing of aircraft at the same altitude by requiring operation on different routes or in different geographical locations.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- LOCAL AIRPORT ADVISORY (LAA) LOCAL AIRPORT ADVISORY (LAA)
- A service available only in Alaska and provided by facilities that are located on the landing airport, have a discrete ground-to-air commu…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- LOCALIZER LOCALIZER — - The component of an ILS which provides course guidance to the runway
- The component of an ILS which provides course guidance to the runway.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- LOCALIZER OFFSET LOCALIZER OFFSET — - An angular offset of the localizer aligned within 3° of the runway alignment
- An angular offset of the localizer aligned within 3° of the runway alignment.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- LOCALIZER PERFORMANCE WITH VERTICAL GUIDANCE (LPV) LOCALIZER PERFORMANCE WITH VERTICAL GUIDANCE (LPV)
- A type of approach with vertical guidance (APV) based on WAAS, published on RNAV (GPS) approach charts. This procedure takes advantage of …
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- LOCALIZER TYPE DIRECTIONAL AID (LDA) LOCALIZER TYPE DIRECTIONAL AID (LDA)
- A localizer with an angular offset that exceeds 3° of the runway alignment, used for nonprecision instrument approaches with utility and a…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- LOCALIZER TYPE DIRECTIONAL AID (LDA) PRECISION RUNWAY MONITOR (PRM) APPROACH LOCALIZER TYPE DIRECTIONAL AID (LDA) PRECISION RUNWAY MONITOR (PRM) APPROACH
- An approach, which includes a glideslope, used in conjunction with an ILS PRM, RNAV PRM or GLS PRM approach to an adjacent runway to condu…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- LOCALIZER USABLE DISTANCE LOCALIZER USABLE DISTANCE
- The maximum distance from the localizer transmitter at a specified altitude, as verified by flight inspection, at which reliable course in…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- LOST COMMUNICATIONS LOST COMMUNICATIONS
- Loss of the ability to communicate by radio. Aircraft are sometimes referred to as NORDO (No Radio). Standard pilot procedures are specifi…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- LOW APPROACH LOW APPROACH
- An approach over an airport or runway following an instrument approach or a VFR approach including the go‐around maneuver where the pilot …
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- MAHWP MAHWP — - Missed Approach Holding Waypoint
- Missed Approach Holding Waypoint
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- MAKE SHORT APPROACH MAKE SHORT APPROACH
Used by ATC to inform a pilot to alter his/her traffic pattern so as to make a short final approach.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- MANDATORY ALTITUDE MANDATORY ALTITUDE
- An altitude depicted on an instrument Approach Procedure Chart requiring the aircraft to maintain altitude at the depicted value.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- MAWP MAWP — - Missed Approach Waypoint
- Missed Approach Waypoint
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- MIDDLE MARKER MIDDLE MARKER
- A marker beacon that defines a point along the glideslope of an ILS normally located at or near the point of decision height (ILS Category…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- MINIMUM DESCENT ALTITUDE (MDA) MINIMUM DESCENT ALTITUDE (MDA)
- The lowest altitude, expressed in feet above mean sea level, to which descent is authorized on final approach or during circle‐to‐land man…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- MINIMUM IFR ALTITUDES (MIA) MINIMUM IFR ALTITUDES (MIA)
- Minimum altitudes for IFR operations as prescribed in 14 CFR part 91. These altitudes are published on aeronautical charts and prescribed …
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- MINIMUM OBSTRUCTION CLEARANCE ALTITUDE (MOCA) MINIMUM OBSTRUCTION CLEARANCE ALTITUDE (MOCA)
- The lowest published altitude in effect between radio fixes on VOR airways, off‐airway routes, or route segments which meets obstacle clea…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- MINIMUM VECTORING ALTITUDE (MVA) MINIMUM VECTORING ALTITUDE (MVA)
- The lowest MSL altitude at which an IFR aircraft will be vectored by a radar controller, except as otherwise authorized for radar approach…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- MISSED APPROACH POINT (MAP) MISSED APPROACH POINT (MAP)
- A point prescribed in each instrument approach procedure at which a missed approach procedure must be executed if the required visual refe…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- NAVAID CLASSES NAVAID CLASSES
- VOR, VORTAC, and TACAN aids are classed according to their operational use. The three classes of NAVAIDs are:
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- NAVIGATION REFERENCE SYSTEM (NRS) NAVIGATION REFERENCE SYSTEM (NRS)
- The NRS is a system of waypoints for use within the United States for flight planning and navigation without reference to ground based nav…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- NIGHT NIGHT
- The time between the end of evening civil twilight and the beginning of morning civil twilight, as published in the Air Almanac, converted…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- NO GYRO APPROACH NO GYRO APPROACH
A radar approach/vector provided in case of a malfunctioning gyro‐compass or directional gyro. Instead of providing the pilot with headings …
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- NO TRANSGRESSION ZONE (NTZ) NO TRANSGRESSION ZONE (NTZ)
The NTZ is a 2,000 foot wide zone, located equidistant between parallel runway or SOIA final approach courses, in which flight is normally n…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- NONPRECISION APPROACH PROCEDURE NONPRECISION APPROACH PROCEDURE
- A standard instrument approach procedure in which no electronic glideslope is provided; e.g., VOR, TACAN, NDB, LOC, ASR, LDA, or SDF appro…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- NORMAL OPERATING ZONE (NOZ) NORMAL OPERATING ZONE (NOZ)
- The NOZ is the operating zone within which aircraft flight remains during normal independent simultaneous parallel ILS approaches.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- NUMEROUS TARGETS VICINITY (LOCATION) NUMEROUS TARGETS VICINITY (LOCATION)
A traffic advisory issued by ATC to advise pilots that targets on the radar scope are too numerous to issue individually.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- OBSTACLE OBSTACLE
- An existing object, object of natural growth, or terrain at a fixed geographical location or which may be expected at a fixed location wit…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- OPTION APPROACH OPTION APPROACH
- An approach requested and conducted by a pilot which will result in either a touch‐and‐go, missed approach, low approach, stop‐and‐go, or …
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- OUTER FIX OUTER FIX
- A general term used within ATC to describe fixes in the terminal area, other than the final approach fix. Aircraft are normally cleared to…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- OUTER MARKER OUTER MARKER
- A marker beacon at or near the glideslope intercept altitude of an ILS approach. It is keyed to transmit two dashes per second on a 400 Hz…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- OVERHEAD MANEUVER OVERHEAD MANEUVER
- A series of predetermined maneuvers prescribed for aircraft (often in formation) for entry into the visual flight rules (VFR) traffic patt…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- PARALLEL ILS APPROACHES PARALLEL ILS APPROACHES
- Approaches to parallel runways by IFR aircraft which, when established inbound toward the airport on the adjacent final approach courses, …
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- PARALLEL OFFSET ROUTE PARALLEL OFFSET ROUTE
- A parallel track to the left or right of the designated or established airway/route. Normally associated with Area Navigation (RNAV) opera…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- PERMANENT ECHO PERMANENT ECHO
- Radar signals reflected from fixed objects on the earth's surface; e.g., buildings, towers, terrain. Permanent echoes are distinguished fr…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- PHOTO RECONNAISSANCE PHOTO RECONNAISSANCE
- Military activity that requires locating individual photo targets and navigating to the targets at a preplanned angle and altitude. The ac…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- POSITION REPORT POSITION REPORT — - A report over a known location as transmitted by an aircraft to ATC
- A report over a known location as transmitted by an aircraft to ATC.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- PRACTICE INSTRUMENT APPROACH PRACTICE INSTRUMENT APPROACH
- An instrument approach procedure conducted by a VFR or an IFR aircraft for the purpose of pilot training or proficiency demonstrations.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- PRECISION APPROACH PROCEDURE PRECISION APPROACH PROCEDURE
- A standard instrument approach procedure in which an electronic glideslope or other type of glidepath is provided; e.g., ILS, PAR, and GLS…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- PRECISION APPROACH RADAR PRECISION APPROACH RADAR
- Radar equipment in some ATC facilities operated by the FAA and/or the military services at joint‐use civil/military locations and separate…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- PRECISION OBSTACLE FREE ZONE (POFZ) PRECISION OBSTACLE FREE ZONE (POFZ)
- An 800 foot wide by 200 foot long area centered on the runway centerline adjacent to the threshold designed to protect aircraft flying pre…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- PRECISION RUNWAY MONITOR (PRM) SYSTEM PRECISION RUNWAY MONITOR (PRM) SYSTEM
- Provides air traffic controllers monitoring the NTZ during simultaneous close parallel PRM approaches with precision, high update rate sec…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- PREDICTIVE WIND SHEAR ALERT SYSTEM (PWS) PREDICTIVE WIND SHEAR ALERT SYSTEM (PWS)
- A self‐contained system used on board some aircraft to alert the flight crew to the presence of a potential wind shear. PWS systems typica…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- PRM APPROACH PRM APPROACH
- An instrument approach procedure titled ILS PRM, RNAV PRM, LDA PRM, or GLS PRM conducted to parallel runways separated by less than 4,300 …
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- PROCEDURE TURN PROCEDURE TURN
- The maneuver prescribed when it is necessary to reverse direction to establish an aircraft on the intermediate approach segment or final a…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- PROCEDURE TURN INBOUND PROCEDURE TURN INBOUND
- That point of a procedure turn maneuver where course reversal has been completed and an aircraft is established inbound on the intermediat…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- PROFILE DESCENT PROFILE DESCENT
- An uninterrupted descent (except where level flight is required for speed adjustment; e.g., 250 knots at 10,000 feet MSL) from cruising al…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- Propeller Propeller
a device for propelling an aircraft that has blades on an engine-driven shaft and that, when rotated, produces by its action on the air, a t…
14 CFR § 1.1
- PUBLISHED INSTRUMENT APPROACH PROCEDURE VISUAL SEGMENT PUBLISHED INSTRUMENT APPROACH PROCEDURE VISUAL SEGMENT
- A segment on an IAP chart annotated as “Fly Visual to Airport” or “Fly Visual.” A dashed arrow will indicate the visual flight path on the…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- Q ROUTE Q ROUTE — - `Q' is the designator assigned to published RNAV routes used by the United States
- `Q' is the designator assigned to published RNAV routes used by the United States.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- QUADRANT QUADRANT
- A quarter part of a circle, centered on a NAVAID, oriented clockwise from magnetic north as follows: NE quadrant 000‐089, SE quadrant 090‐…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- QUICK LOOK QUICK LOOK
- A feature of the EAS and STARS which provides the controller the capability to display full data blocks of tracked aircraft from other con…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- RADAR APPROACH RADAR APPROACH
- An instrument approach procedure which utilizes Precision Approach Radar (PAR) or Airport Surveillance Radar (ASR).
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- RADAR APPROACH [ICAO] RADAR APPROACH [ICAO] — - An approach, executed by an aircraft, under the direction of a radar controller
- An approach, executed by an aircraft, under the direction of a radar controller.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- RADAR REQUIRED RADAR REQUIRED
- A term displayed on charts and approach plates and included in FDC NOTAMs to alert pilots that segments of either an instrument approach p…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- RADIAL RADIAL — - A magnetic bearing extending from a VOR/VORTAC/TACAN navigation facility
- A magnetic bearing extending from a VOR/VORTAC/TACAN navigation facility.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- REMOTE AIRPORT INFORMATION SERVICE (RAIS) REMOTE AIRPORT INFORMATION SERVICE (RAIS)
- A temporary service provided by facilities, which are not located on the landing airport, but have communication capability and automated …
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- REMOTE COMMUNICATIONS OUTLET (RCO) REMOTE COMMUNICATIONS OUTLET (RCO)
- An unmanned communications facility remotely controlled by air traffic personnel. RCOs serve FSSs. Remote Transmitter/Receivers (RTR) serv…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- REPORT REPORT
Used to instruct pilots to advise ATC of specified information; e.g., “Report passing Hamilton VOR.”
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- REPORTING POINT REPORTING POINT — - A geographical location in relation to which the position of an aircraft is reported
- A geographical location in relation to which the position of an aircraft is reported.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- REPORTING POINT [ICAO] REPORTING POINT [ICAO]
- A specified geographical location in relation to which the position of an aircraft can be reported.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- RNAV APPROACH RNAV APPROACH
- An instrument approach procedure which relies on aircraft area navigation equipment for navigational guidance.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- RNAV VISUAL FLIGHT PROCEDURE (RVFP) RNAV VISUAL FLIGHT PROCEDURE (RVFP)
- An RVFP is a special visual flight procedure flown on an IFR flight plan. It is flown in visual conditions and clear of clouds must be mai…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- RUNWAY CONDITION READING RUNWAY CONDITION READING
- Numerical decelerometer readings relayed by air traffic controllers at USAF and certain civil bases for use by the pilot in determining ru…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- RUNWAY PROFILE DESCENT RUNWAY PROFILE DESCENT
- An instrument flight rules (IFR) air traffic control arrival procedure to a runway published for pilot use in graphic and/or textual form …
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- SAY AGAIN SAY AGAIN
Used to request a repeat of the last transmission. Usually specifies transmission or portion thereof not understood or received; e.g., “Say …
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- SEARCH AND RESCUE SEARCH AND RESCUE
- A service which seeks missing aircraft and assists those found to be in need of assistance. It is a cooperative effort using the facilitie…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- SEGMENTS OF AN INSTRUMENT APPROACH PROCEDURE SEGMENTS OF AN INSTRUMENT APPROACH PROCEDURE
- An instrument approach procedure may have as many as four separate segments depending on how the approach procedure is structured.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- SIMULATED FLAMEOUT SIMULATED FLAMEOUT
- A practice approach by a jet aircraft (normally military) at idle thrust to a runway. The approach may start at a runway (high key) and ma…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- SIMULTANEOUS CLOSE PARALLEL APPROACHES SIMULTANEOUS CLOSE PARALLEL APPROACHES
- A simultaneous, independent approach operation permitting ILS/RNAV/GLS approaches to airports having parallel runways separated by at leas…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- SIMULTANEOUS ILS APPROACHES SIMULTANEOUS ILS APPROACHES
- An approach system permitting simultaneous ILS approaches to airports having parallel runways separated by at least 4,300 feet between cen…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- SINGLE FREQUENCY APPROACH SINGLE FREQUENCY APPROACH
- A service provided under a letter of agreement to military single‐piloted turbojet aircraft which permits use of a single UHF frequency du…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- SPACE LAUNCH AND REENTRY AREA SPACE LAUNCH AND REENTRY AREA
- Locations where commercial space launch and/or reentry operations occur. For pilot awareness, a rocket-shaped symbol is used to depict spa…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- STANDARD TERMINAL ARRIVAL (STAR) STANDARD TERMINAL ARRIVAL (STAR)
- A preplanned instrument flight rule (IFR) air traffic control arrival procedure published for pilot use in graphic and/or textual form. ST…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- STEPDOWN FIX STEPDOWN FIX
- A fix permitting additional descent within a segment of an instrument approach procedure by identifying a point at which a controlling obs…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- SUNSET AND SUNRISE SUNSET AND SUNRISE
- The mean solar times of sunset and sunrise as published in the Nautical Almanac, converted to local standard time for the locality concern…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- SUPPLEMENTAL WEATHER SERVICE LOCATION SUPPLEMENTAL WEATHER SERVICE LOCATION
- Airport facilities staffed with contract personnel who take weather observations and provide current local weather to pilots via telephone…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- SURFACE VIEWER SURFACE VIEWER
- A capability within the Traffic Flow Management System that provides situational awareness for a user-selected airport. The Surface Viewer…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- SURVEILLANCE APPROACH SURVEILLANCE APPROACH
- An instrument approach wherein the air traffic controller issues instructions, for pilot compliance, based on aircraft position in relatio…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- TACTICAL AIR NAVIGATION (TACAN) TACTICAL AIR NAVIGATION (TACAN)
- An ultra‐high frequency electronic rho‐theta air navigation aid which provides suitably equipped aircraft a continuous indication of beari…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- Tandem wing configuration Tandem wing configuration — a configuration having two wings of similar span, mounted in tandem
a configuration having two wings of similar span, mounted in tandem.
14 CFR § 1.1
- TARMAC DELAY REQUEST TARMAC DELAY REQUEST
- A request by the pilot-in-command to taxi to the ramp, gate, or alternate deplaning location to comply with the Three-hour Tarmac Rule.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- TERRAIN AWARENESS WARNING SYSTEM (TAWS) TERRAIN AWARENESS WARNING SYSTEM (TAWS)
- An on-board, terrain proximity alerting system providing the aircrew `Low Altitude warnings' to allow immediate pilot action.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- TETRAHEDRON TETRAHEDRON
- A device normally located on uncontrolled airports and used as a landing direction indicator. The small end of a tetrahedron points in the…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- THRESHOLD CROSSING HEIGHT THRESHOLD CROSSING HEIGHT
- The theoretical height above the runway threshold at which the aircraft's glideslope antenna would be if the aircraft maintains the trajec…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- 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 devel…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- TOUCHDOWN ZONE ELEVATION 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 st…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT PROGRAM ALERT TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT PROGRAM ALERT
- A term used in a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) issued in conjunction with a special traffic management program to alert pilots to the existence…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- TRAFFIC PATTERN TRAFFIC PATTERN
- The traffic flow that is prescribed for aircraft landing at, taxiing on, or taking off from an airport. The components of a typical traffi…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- TRANSITION TRANSITION
- The general term that describes the change from one phase of flight or flight condition to another; e.g., transition from en route flight …
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- TRIAL PLAN TRIAL PLAN
- A proposed amendment which utilizes automation to analyze and display potential conflicts along the predicted trajectory of the selected a…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- UNASSOCIATED UNASSOCIATED
- A radar target that does not display a data block with flight identification and altitude information.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- UNFROZEN UNFROZEN
- The Scheduled Time of Arrival (STA) tags, which are still being rescheduled by the time-based flow management (TBFM) calculations. The air…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- UNICOM UNICOM
- A nongovernment communication facility which may provide airport information at certain airports. Locations and frequencies of UNICOMs are…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- UNPUBLISHED ROUTE UNPUBLISHED ROUTE
- A route for which no minimum altitude is published or charted for pilot use. It may include a direct route between NAVAIDs, a radial, a ra…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- UNRELIABLE (GPS/WAAS) UNRELIABLE (GPS/WAAS)
- An advisory to pilots indicating the expected level of service of the GPS and/or WAAS may not be available. Pilots must then determine the…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- VERTICAL TAKEOFF AND LANDING AIRCRAFT (VTOL) VERTICAL TAKEOFF AND LANDING AIRCRAFT (VTOL)
- Aircraft capable of vertical climbs and/or descents and of using very short runways or small areas for takeoff and landings. These aircraf…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- VISUAL APPROACH VISUAL APPROACH
- An approach conducted on an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan which authorizes the pilot to proceed visually and clear of clouds t…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- VISUAL APPROACH [ICAO] VISUAL APPROACH [ICAO]
- An approach by an IFR flight when either part or all of an instrument approach procedure is not completed and the approach is executed in …
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- VISUAL DESCENT POINT VISUAL DESCENT POINT
- A defined point on the final approach course of a nonprecision straight‐in approach procedure from which normal descent from the MDA to th…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- WAKE TURBULENCE WAKE TURBULENCE
- A phenomenon that occurs when an aircraft develops lift and forms a pair of counter‐rotating vortices.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
ATC · 191
- ADAPTED ROUTES ADAPTED ROUTES
- Departure and/or arrival routes that are adapted in ARTCC ERAM computers to accomplish inter/intrafacility controller coordination and to …
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- ADDITIONAL SERVICES ADDITIONAL SERVICES — - Advisory information provided by ATC which includes but is not limited to the following:
- Advisory information provided by ATC which includes but is not limited to the following:
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL
- A service operated by appropriate authority to promote the safe, orderly and expeditious flow of air traffic.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL SERVICE [ICAO] AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL SERVICE [ICAO] — - A service provided for the purpose of:
- A service provided for the purpose of:
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL SPECIALIST AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL SPECIALIST — - A person authorized to provide air traffic control service
- A person authorized to provide air traffic control service.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- AIR TRAFFIC SERVICE AIR TRAFFIC SERVICE — - A generic term meaning:
- A generic term meaning:
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- AIRBORNE REROUTE (ABRR) AIRBORNE REROUTE (ABRR)
- A capability within the Traffic Flow Management System used for the timely development and implementation of tactical reroutes for airborn…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- AIRCRAFT AIRCRAFT
- Device(s) that are used or intended to be used for flight in the air, and when used in air traffic control terminology, may include the fl…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- AIRCRAFT CLASSES AIRCRAFT CLASSES
- For the purposes of Wake Turbulence Separation Minima, ATC classifies aircraft as Super, Heavy, Large, and Small as follows:
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- AIRCRAFT HAZARD AREA (AHA) AIRCRAFT HAZARD AREA (AHA)
- Used by ATC to segregate air traffic from a launch vehicle, reentry vehicle, amateur rocket, jettisoned stages, hardware, or falling debri…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- AIRCRAFT WAKE CATEGORIES AIRCRAFT WAKE CATEGORIES
- For the purposes of Terminal Wake Turbulence Separation Minima, ATC classifies aircraft as Category A through Category I as follows:
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- AIRPORT SURFACE DETECTION EQUIPMENT (ASDE) AIRPORT SURFACE DETECTION EQUIPMENT (ASDE)
- Surveillance equipment specifically designed to detect aircraft, vehicular traffic, and other objects, on the surface of an airport, and t…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- ALPHANUMERIC DISPLAY ALPHANUMERIC DISPLAY
- Letters and numerals used to show identification, altitude, beacon code, and other information concerning a target on a radar display.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- ALTITUDE READOUT ALTITUDE READOUT
An aircraft's altitude, transmitted via the Mode C transponder feature, that is visually displayed in 100‐foot increments on a radar scope h…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- APPROPRIATE OBSTACLE CLEARANCE MINIMUM ALTITUDE APPROPRIATE OBSTACLE CLEARANCE MINIMUM ALTITUDE — Any of the following:
Any of the following:
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- APPROPRIATE TERRAIN CLEARANCE MINIMUM ALTITUDE APPROPRIATE TERRAIN CLEARANCE MINIMUM ALTITUDE — Any of the following:
Any of the following:
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- ARRESTING SYSTEM ARRESTING SYSTEM
- A safety device consisting of two major components, namely, engaging or catching devices and energy absorption devices for the purpose of …
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- ATC ADVISES ATC ADVISES
- Used to prefix a message of noncontrol information when it is relayed to an aircraft by other than an air traffic controller.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- ATC CLEARS ATC CLEARS
- Used to prefix an ATC clearance when it is relayed to an aircraft by other than an air traffic controller.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- ATC INSTRUCTIONS ATC INSTRUCTIONS
- Directives issued by air traffic control for the purpose of requiring a pilot to take specific actions; e.g., “Turn left heading two five …
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- ATC PREFERRED ROUTE NOTIFICATION ATC PREFERRED ROUTE NOTIFICATION
- EDST notification to the appropriate controller of the need to determine if an ATC preferred route needs to be applied, based on destinati…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- ATC PREFERRED ROUTES ATC PREFERRED ROUTES — - Preferred routes that are not automatically applied by Host
- Preferred routes that are not automatically applied by Host.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- ATC REQUESTS ATC REQUESTS
- Used to prefix an ATC request when it is relayed to an aircraft by other than an air traffic controller.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- ATC SECURITY SERVICES ATC SECURITY SERVICES
- Communications and security tracking provided by an ATC facility in support of the DHS, the DoD, or other Federal security elements in the…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- ATC SECURITY TRACKING ATC SECURITY TRACKING
- The continuous tracking of aircraft movement by an ATC facility in support of the DHS, the DoD, or other security elements for national se…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- ATIS ATIS
Continuous broadcast of recorded aeronautical information at busy terminal areas — winds, ceiling, vis, altimeter, runway in use.
TallyAero curated
- AUTOMATIC ALTITUDE REPORTING AUTOMATIC ALTITUDE REPORTING
- That function of a transponder which responds to Mode C interrogations by transmitting the aircraft's altitude in 100‐foot increments.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- AUTOMATIC DEPENDENT SURVEILLANCE-BROADCAST IN (ADS AUTOMATIC DEPENDENT SURVEILLANCE-BROADCAST IN (ADS
-B In)- Aircraft avionics capable of receiving ADS-B Out transmissions directly from other aircraft, as well as traffic or weather informati…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- AUTOMATIC DEPENDENT SURVEILLANCE-CONTRACT (ADS-C) AUTOMATIC DEPENDENT SURVEILLANCE-CONTRACT (ADS-C)
- A data link position reporting system, controlled by a ground station, that establishes contracts with an aircraft's avionics that occur a…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- AVIATION WATCH NOTIFICATION MESSAGE AVIATION WATCH NOTIFICATION MESSAGE
- The Storm Prediction Center (SPC) issues Aviation Watch Notification Messages (SAW) to provide an area threat alert for the aviation meteo…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- AVIATION WEATHER SERVICE AVIATION WEATHER SERVICE
- A service provided by the National Weather Service (NWS) and FAA which collects and disseminates pertinent weather information for pilots,…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- BLIND SPEED BLIND SPEED
- The rate of departure or closing of a target relative to the radar antenna at which cancellation of the primary radar target by moving tar…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- BLIND SPOT BLIND SPOT
- An area from which radio transmissions and/or radar echoes cannot be received. The term is also used to describe portions of the airport n…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- CATCH POINT CATCH POINT
- A fix/waypoint that serves as a transition point from the high altitude waypoint navigation structure to an arrival procedure (STAR) or th…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- CENTER WEATHER ADVISORY CENTER WEATHER ADVISORY
- An unscheduled weather advisory issued by Center Weather Service Unit meteorologists for ATC use to alert pilots of existing or anticipate…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- CERTIFIED TOWER RADAR DISPLAY (CTRD) CERTIFIED TOWER RADAR DISPLAY (CTRD) — - An FAA radar display certified for use in the NAS
- An FAA radar display certified for use in the NAS.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- CHAFF CHAFF
- Thin, narrow metallic reflectors of various lengths and frequency responses, used to reflect radar energy. These reflectors, when dropped …
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- CLEARANCE LIMIT [ICAO] CLEARANCE LIMIT [ICAO] — - The point to which an aircraft is granted an air traffic control clearance
- The point to which an aircraft is granted an air traffic control clearance.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- CLEARANCE VOID IF NOT OFF BY (TIME) CLEARANCE VOID IF NOT OFF BY (TIME)
Used by ATC to advise an aircraft that the departure release is automatically canceled if takeoff is not made prior to a specified time. The…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- CLEARED AS FILED CLEARED AS FILED
Means the aircraft is cleared to proceed in accordance with the route of flight filed in the flight plan. This clearance does not include th…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- CLEARED FOR TAKEOFF CLEARED FOR TAKEOFF
ATC authorization for an aircraft to depart. It is predicated on known traffic and known physical airport conditions.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- CLEARED THROUGH CLEARED THROUGH
ATC authorization for an aircraft to make intermediate stops at specified airports without refiling a flight plan while en route to the clea…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- CLEARED TO LAND CLEARED TO LAND
ATC authorization for an aircraft to land. It is predicated on known traffic and known physical airport conditions.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- CLOSED LOOP CLEARANCE CLOSED LOOP CLEARANCE
- A vector or reroute clearance that includes a return to route point and updates ERAM to accurately reflect the anticipated route (e.g., a …
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- CODES CODES — - The number assigned to a particular multiple pulse reply signal transmitted by a transponder
- The number assigned to a particular multiple pulse reply signal transmitted by a transponder.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- COMMON POINT COMMON POINT
- A significant point over which two or more aircraft will report passing or have reported passing before proceeding on the same or divergin…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- COMPLY WITH RESTRICTIONS COMPLY WITH RESTRICTIONS
- An ATC instruction that requires an aircraft being vectored back onto an arrival or departure procedure to comply with all altitude and/or…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- CONFIDENCE MANEUVER CONFIDENCE MANEUVER
- A confidence maneuver consists of one or more turns, a climb or descent, or other maneuver to determine if the pilot in command (PIC) is a…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- CONFLICT ALERT CONFLICT ALERT
- A function of certain air traffic control automated systems designed to alert radar controllers to existing or pending situations between …
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- CONFLICT RESOLUTION CONFLICT RESOLUTION
- The resolution of potential conflictions between aircraft that are radar identified and in communication with ATC by ensuring that radar t…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- CONTROLLED TIME OF ARRIVAL CONTROLLED TIME OF ARRIVAL
- Arrival time assigned during a Traffic Management Program. This time may be modified due to adjustments or user options.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- CONTROLLER [ICAO] CONTROLLER [ICAO] — - A person authorized to provide air traffic control services
- A person authorized to provide air traffic control services.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- CONTROLLER PILOT DATA LINK COMMUNICATIONS (CPDLC) CONTROLLER PILOT DATA LINK COMMUNICATIONS (CPDLC)
- A two-way digital communications system that conveys textual air traffic control messages between controllers and pilots using ground or s…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- COOPERATIVE SURVEILLANCE COOPERATIVE SURVEILLANCE
- Any surveillance system, such as secondary surveillance radar (SSR), wide-area multilateration (WAM), or ADS-B, that is dependent upon the…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- COORDINATION FIX COORDINATION FIX
- The fix in relation to which facilities will handoff, transfer control of an aircraft, or coordinate flight progress data. For terminal fa…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- CROSS (FIX) AT (ALTITUDE) CROSS (FIX) AT (ALTITUDE) — Used by ATC when a specific altitude restriction at a specified fix is required
Used by ATC when a specific altitude restriction at a specified fix is required.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- CROSS (FIX) AT OR ABOVE (ALTITUDE) CROSS (FIX) AT OR ABOVE (ALTITUDE)
Used by ATC when an altitude restriction at a specified fix is required. It does not prohibit the aircraft from crossing the fix at a higher…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- CROSS (FIX) AT OR BELOW (ALTITUDE) CROSS (FIX) AT OR BELOW (ALTITUDE)
Used by ATC when a maximum crossing altitude at a specific fix is required. It does not prohibit the aircraft from crossing the fix at a low…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- CRUISING ALTITUDE CRUISING ALTITUDE
- An altitude or flight level maintained during en route level flight. This is a constant altitude and should not be confused with a cruise …
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- CT MESSAGE CT MESSAGE
- An EDCT time generated by the ATCSCC to regulate traffic at arrival airports. Normally, a CT message is automatically transferred from the…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- DELAY ASSIGNMENT (DAS) DELAY ASSIGNMENT (DAS)
- Delays are distributed to aircraft based on the traffic management program parameters. The delay assignment is calculated in 15-minute inc…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- DELAY INDEFINITE (REASON IF KNOWN) EXPECT FURTHER CLEARANCE (TIME) DELAY INDEFINITE (REASON IF KNOWN) EXPECT FURTHER CLEARANCE (TIME)
- Used by ATC to inform a pilot when an accurate estimate of the delay time and the reason for the delay cannot immediately be determined; e…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- DIGITAL TARGET DIGITAL TARGET
- A computer-generated symbol representing an aircraft's position, based on a primary return or radar beacon reply, shown on a digital displ…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- DIGITAL TERMINAL AUTOMATION SYSTEM (DTAS) DIGITAL TERMINAL AUTOMATION SYSTEM (DTAS)
- A system where digital radar and beacon data is presented on digital displays and the operational program monitors the system performance …
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- DIGITIZED TARGET DIGITIZED TARGET
- A computer-generated indication shown on an analog radar display resulting from a primary radar return or a radar beacon reply.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- DIRECT DIRECT
Straight line flight between two navigational aids, fixes, points, or any combination thereof. When used by pilots in describing off‐airway …
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- DISCRETE CODE DISCRETE CODE
- As used in the Air Traffic Control Radar Beacon System (ATCRBS), any one of the 4096 selectable Mode 3/A aircraft transponder codes except…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- DIVERSE VECTOR AREA DIVERSE VECTOR AREA
- In a radar environment, that area in which a prescribed departure route is not required as the only suitable route to avoid obstacles. The…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- DOMESTIC NOTICE DOMESTIC NOTICE
- A special notice or notice containing graphics or plain language text pertaining to almost every aspect of aviation, such as military trai…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- EN ROUTE AUTOMATION SYSTEM (EAS) EN ROUTE AUTOMATION SYSTEM (EAS)
- The complex integrated environment consisting of situation display systems, surveillance systems and flight data processing, remote device…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- EN ROUTE DECISION SUPPORT TOOL (EDST) EN ROUTE DECISION SUPPORT TOOL (EDST)
- An automated tool provided at each Radar Associate position in selected En Route facilities. This tool utilizes flight and radar data to d…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- EN ROUTE MINIMUM SAFE ALTITUDE WARNING (E-MSAW) EN ROUTE MINIMUM SAFE ALTITUDE WARNING (E-MSAW)
- A function of the EAS that aids the controller by providing an alert when a tracked aircraft is below or predicted by the computer to go b…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- ENHANCED FLIGHT VISION SYSTEM (EFVS) ENHANCED FLIGHT VISION SYSTEM (EFVS)
- An EFVS is an installed aircraft system which uses an electronic means to provide a display of the forward external scene topography (the …
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- EXPECT DEPARTURE CLEARANCE TIME (EDCT) EXPECT DEPARTURE CLEARANCE TIME (EDCT)
- The runway release time assigned to an aircraft in a traffic management program and shown on the flight progress strip as an EDCT.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- EXPECT FURTHER CLEARANCE (TIME) EXPECT FURTHER CLEARANCE (TIME) — The time a pilot can expect to receive clearance beyond a clearance limit
The time a pilot can expect to receive clearance beyond a clearance limit.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- EXPEDITE EXPEDITE
Used by ATC when prompt compliance is required to avoid the development of an imminent situation. Expedite climb/descent normally indicates …
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- FAST FILE FAST FILE
- An FSS system whereby a pilot files a flight plan via telephone that is recorded and later transcribed for transmission to the appropriate…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- FILED FILED — - Normally used in conjunction with flight plans, meaning a flight plan has been submitted to ATC
- Normally used in conjunction with flight plans, meaning a flight plan has been submitted to ATC.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- FILED FLIGHT PLAN FILED FLIGHT PLAN
- The flight plan as filed with an ATS unit by the pilot or his/her designated representative without any subsequent changes or clearances.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- FIX BALANCING FIX BALANCING
- A process whereby aircraft are evenly distributed over several available arrival fixes reducing delays and controller workload.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- FLIGHT PLAN FLIGHT PLAN
- Specified information relating to the intended flight of an aircraft that is filed electronically, orally, or in writing with an FSS, thir…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- FLY HEADING (DEGREES) FLY HEADING (DEGREES)
- Informs the pilot of the heading he/she should fly. The pilot may have to turn to, or continue on, a specific compass direction in order t…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- FREEZE HORIZON FREEZE HORIZON
- The time or point at which an aircraft's STA becomes fixed and no longer fluctuates with each radar update. This setting ensures a constan…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- FUEL REMAINING FUEL REMAINING
- A phrase used by either pilots or controllers when relating to the fuel remaining on board until actual fuel exhaustion. When transmitting…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- GRAPHIC PLAN DISPLAY (GPD) GRAPHIC PLAN DISPLAY (GPD)
- A view available with EDST that provides a graphic display of aircraft, traffic, and notification of predicted conflicts. Graphic routes f…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- GROUND CLUTTER GROUND CLUTTER
- A pattern produced on the radar scope by ground returns which may degrade other radar returns in the affected area. The effect of ground c…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- GROUND COMMUNICATION OUTLET (GCO) GROUND COMMUNICATION OUTLET (GCO)
- An unstaffed, remotely controlled, ground/ground communications facility. Pilots at uncontrolled airports may contact ATC and FSS via VHF …
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- GROUND DELAY PROGRAM (GDP) GROUND DELAY PROGRAM (GDP)
- A traffic management process administered by the ATCSCC, when aircraft are held on the ground. The purpose of the program is to support th…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- HAVE NUMBERS HAVE NUMBERS — Used by pilots to inform ATC that they have received runway, wind, and altimeter information only
Used by pilots to inform ATC that they have received runway, wind, and altimeter information only.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- HOLD FOR RELEASE HOLD FOR RELEASE
- Used by ATC to delay an aircraft for traffic management reasons; i.e., weather, traffic volume, etc. Hold for release instructions (includ…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- HOVER TAXI HOVER TAXI
- Used to describe a helicopter/VTOL aircraft movement conducted above the surface and in ground effect at airspeeds less than approximately…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- IDENT IDENT
A request for a pilot to activate the aircraft transponder identification feature. This will help the controller to confirm an aircraft iden…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- IDENT FEATURE IDENT FEATURE
- The special feature in the Air Traffic Control Radar Beacon System (ATCRBS) equipment. It is used to immediately distinguish one displayed…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- IMMEDIATELY IMMEDIATELY — Used by ATC or pilots when such action compliance is required to avoid an imminent situation
Used by ATC or pilots when such action compliance is required to avoid an imminent situation.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- INSTRUMENT DEPARTURE PROCEDURE (DP) INSTRUMENT DEPARTURE PROCEDURE (DP)
- A preplanned instrument flight rule (IFR) departure procedure published for pilot use, in graphic or textual format, that provides obstruc…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- INSTRUMENT FLIGHT RULES (IFR) INSTRUMENT FLIGHT RULES (IFR)
- Rules governing the procedures for conducting instrument flight. Also a term used by pilots and controllers to indicate type of flight pla…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- INTERMEDIATE LANDING INTERMEDIATE LANDING
- On the rare occasion that this option is requested, it should be approved. The departure center, however, must advise the ATCSCC so that t…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- KNOWN TRAFFIC KNOWN TRAFFIC
- With respect to ATC clearances, means aircraft whose altitude, position, and intentions are known to ATC.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- LAST ASSIGNED ALTITUDE LAST ASSIGNED ALTITUDE — - The last altitude/flight level assigned by ATC and acknowledged by the pilot
- The last altitude/flight level assigned by ATC and acknowledged by the pilot.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- LINE UP AND WAIT (LUAW) LINE UP AND WAIT (LUAW)
- Used by ATC to inform a pilot to taxi onto the departure runway to line up and wait. It is not authorization for takeoff. It is used when …
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- METEOROLOGICAL IMPACT STATEMENT METEOROLOGICAL IMPACT STATEMENT
- An unscheduled planning forecast describing conditions expected to begin within 4 to 12 hours which may impact the flow of air traffic in …
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- METER REFERENCE ELEMENT (MRE) METER REFERENCE ELEMENT (MRE)
- A constraint point through which traffic flows are managed. An MRE can be the runway threshold, a meter fix, or a meter arc.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- METER REFERENCE POINT LIST (MRP) METER REFERENCE POINT LIST (MRP)
- A list of TBFM delay information conveyed to the controller on the situation display via the Meter Reference Point View, commonly known as…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- METERING METERING — -A method of time-regulating traffic flows in the en route and terminal environments
-A method of time-regulating traffic flows in the en route and terminal environments.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- MILITARY AUTHORITY ASSUMES RESPONSIBILITY FOR SEPARATION OF AIRCRAFT (MARSA) MILITARY AUTHORITY ASSUMES RESPONSIBILITY FOR SEPARATION OF AIRCRAFT (MARSA)
- A condition whereby the military services involved assume responsibility for separation between participating military aircraft in the ATC…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- MINIMUM EN ROUTE IFR ALTITUDE (MEA) MINIMUM EN ROUTE IFR ALTITUDE (MEA)
- The lowest published altitude between radio fixes which assures acceptable navigational signal coverage and meets obstacle clearance requi…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- MINIMUM HOLDING ALTITUDE MINIMUM HOLDING ALTITUDE
- The lowest altitude prescribed for a holding pattern which assures navigational signal coverage, communications, and meets obstacle cleara…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- MINIMUM SAFE ALTITUDE WARNING (MSAW) MINIMUM SAFE ALTITUDE WARNING (MSAW)
- A function of the EAS and STARS computer that aids the controller by alerting him/her when a tracked Mode C equipped aircraft is below or …
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- MODE MODE
- The letter or number assigned to a specific pulse spacing of radio signals transmitted or received by ground interrogator or airborne tran…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- MODE C INTRUDER ALERT MODE C INTRUDER ALERT
- A function of certain air traffic control automated systems designed to alert radar controllers to existing or pending situations between …
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- MONITOR ALERT (MA) MONITOR ALERT (MA)
- A function of the TFMS that provides traffic management personnel with a tool for predicting potential capacity problems in individual ope…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- MOSAIC/MULTI-SENSOR MODE MOSAIC/MULTI-SENSOR MODE
- Accepts positional data from multiple approved surveillance sources. Targets are displayed from a single source according to the hierarchy…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- MOVEMENT AREA MOVEMENT AREA
- The runways, taxiways, and other areas of an airport/heliport which are utilized for taxiing/hover taxiing, air taxiing, takeoff, and land…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- MOVING TARGET INDICATOR MOVING TARGET INDICATOR
- An electronic device which will permit radar scope presentation only from targets which are in motion. A partial remedy for ground clutter…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- NEGATIVE CONTACT NEGATIVE CONTACT — Used by pilots to inform ATC that:
Used by pilots to inform ATC that:
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- NON-COOPERATIVE SURVEILLANCE NON-COOPERATIVE SURVEILLANCE
- Any surveillance system, such as primary radar, that is not dependent upon the presence of any equipment on the aircraft or vehicle to be …
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- NONMOVEMENT AREAS NONMOVEMENT AREAS — - Taxiways and apron (ramp) areas not under the control of air traffic
- Taxiways and apron (ramp) areas not under the control of air traffic.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- NONRADAR NONRADAR — - Precedes other terms and generally means without the use of radar, such as:
- Precedes other terms and generally means without the use of radar, such as:
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- OBSTACLE DEPARTURE PROCEDURE (ODP) OBSTACLE DEPARTURE PROCEDURE (ODP)
- A preplanned instrument flight rule (IFR) departure procedure printed for pilot use in textual or graphic form to provide obstruction clea…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- OCEANIC ERROR REPORT OCEANIC ERROR REPORT
- A report filed when ATC observes an Oceanic Error as defined by FAA Order JO 7210.632, Air Traffic Organization Occurrence Reporting.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- OFF COURSE OFF COURSE
A term used to describe a situation where an aircraft has reported a position fix or is observed on radar at a point not on the ATC‐approved…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- OFF-ROUTE OBSTRUCTION CLEARANCE ALTITUDE (OROCA) OFF-ROUTE OBSTRUCTION CLEARANCE ALTITUDE (OROCA)
- A published altitude which provides terrain and obstruction clearance with a 1,000 foot buffer in non-mountainous areas and a 2,000 foot b…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- OUT OF SERVICE/UNSERVICEABLE (U/S) OUT OF SERVICE/UNSERVICEABLE (U/S)
- When a piece of equipment, a NAVAID, a facility or a service is not operational, certified (if required) and immediately “available” for A…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- POSITION SYMBOL POSITION SYMBOL — - A computer‐generated indication shown on a radar display to indicate the mode of tracking
- A computer‐generated indication shown on a radar display to indicate the mode of tracking.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- PRE-DEPARTURE CLEARANCE PRE-DEPARTURE CLEARANCE
- An application with the Terminal Data Link System (TDLS) that provides clearance information to subscribers, through a service provider, i…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- PRE-DEPARTURE REROUTE (PDRR) PRE-DEPARTURE REROUTE (PDRR)
- A capability within the Traffic Flow Management System that enables ATC to quickly amend and execute revised departure clearances that mit…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- PRIMARY RADAR TARGET PRIMARY RADAR TARGET — - An analog or digital target, exclusive of a secondary radar target, presented on a radar display
- An analog or digital target, exclusive of a secondary radar target, presented on a radar display.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- RADAR RADAR
- A device that provides information on range, azimuth, and/or elevation of objects by measuring the time interval between transmission and …
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- RADAR [ICAO] RADAR [ICAO]
- A radio detection device which provides information on range, azimuth and/or elevation of objects.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- RADAR ADVISORY RADAR ADVISORY — - The provision of advice and information based on radar observations
- The provision of advice and information based on radar observations.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- RADAR ARRIVAL RADAR ARRIVAL
- An aircraft arriving at an airport served by a radar facility and in radar contact with the facility.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- RADAR CONTACT [ICAO] RADAR CONTACT [ICAO]
- The situation which exists when the radar blip or radar position symbol of a particular aircraft is seen and identified on a radar display…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- RADAR ENVIRONMENT RADAR ENVIRONMENT — - An area in which radar service may be provided
- An area in which radar service may be provided.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- RADAR IDENTIFICATION RADAR IDENTIFICATION
- The process of ascertaining that an observed radar target is the radar return from a particular aircraft.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- RADAR IDENTIFIED AIRCRAFT RADAR IDENTIFIED AIRCRAFT
- An aircraft, the position of which has been correlated with an observed target or symbol on the radar display.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- RADAR ROUTE RADAR ROUTE
- A flight path or route over which an aircraft is vectored. Navigational guidance and altitude assignments are provided by ATC.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- RADAR SERVICE RADAR SERVICE
- A term which encompasses one or more of the following services based on the use of radar which can be provided by a controller to a pilot …
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- RADAR SERVICE TERMINATED RADAR SERVICE TERMINATED
Used by ATC to inform a pilot that he/she will no longer be provided any of the services that could be received while in radar contact. Rada…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- RADAR SURVEILLANCE RADAR SURVEILLANCE
- The radar observation of a given geographical area for the purpose of performing some radar function.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- RADAR TRAFFIC ADVISORIES RADAR TRAFFIC ADVISORIES
- Advisories issued to alert pilots to known or observed radar traffic which may affect the intended route of flight of their aircraft.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- RECEIVING CONTROLLER RECEIVING CONTROLLER — - A controller/facility receiving control of an aircraft from another controller/facility
- A controller/facility receiving control of an aircraft from another controller/facility.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- RELEASE TIME RELEASE TIME
- A departure time restriction issued to a pilot by ATC (either directly or through an authorized relay) when necessary to separate a depart…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- REQUEST FULL ROUTE CLEARANCE REQUEST FULL ROUTE CLEARANCE
Used by pilots to request that the entire route of flight be read verbatim in an ATC clearance. Such request should be made to preclude rece…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- RESUME OWN NAVIGATION RESUME OWN NAVIGATION
Used by ATC to advise a pilot to resume his/her own navigational responsibility. It is issued after completion of a radar vector or when rad…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- ROUTE SEGMENT ROUTE SEGMENT
- As used in Air Traffic Control, a part of a route that can be defined by two navigational fixes, two NAVAIDs, or a fix and a NAVAID.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- RUNWAY IN USE/ACTIVE RUNWAY/DUTY RUNWAY RUNWAY IN USE/ACTIVE RUNWAY/DUTY RUNWAY
- Any runway or runways currently being used for takeoff or landing. When multiple runways are used, they are all considered active runways.…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- RUNWAY USE PROGRAM RUNWAY USE PROGRAM
- A noise abatement runway selection plan designed to enhance noise abatement efforts with regard to airport communities for arriving and de…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- SAFETY ALERT SAFETY ALERT
- A safety alert issued by ATC to aircraft under their control if ATC is aware the aircraft is at an altitude which, in the controller's jud…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- SAY ALTITUDE SAY ALTITUDE
Used by ATC to ascertain an aircraft's specific altitude/flight level. When the aircraft is climbing or descending, the pilot should state t…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- SAY HEADING SAY HEADING
Used by ATC to request an aircraft heading. The pilot should state the actual heading of the aircraft.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- SEPARATION SEPARATION
- In air traffic control, the spacing of aircraft to achieve their safe and orderly movement in flight and while landing and taking off.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- SEPARATION MINIMA SEPARATION MINIMA
- The minimum longitudinal, lateral, or vertical distances by which aircraft are spaced through the application of air traffic control proce…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- SEVERE WEATHER FORECAST ALERTS SEVERE WEATHER FORECAST ALERTS
- Preliminary messages issued in order to alert users that a Severe Weather Watch Bulletin (WW) is being issued. These messages define areas…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- SHORT RANGE CLEARANCE SHORT RANGE CLEARANCE
- A clearance issued to a departing IFR flight which authorizes IFR flight to a specific fix short of the destination while air traffic cont…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- SLASH SLASH — - A radar beacon reply displayed as an elongated target
- A radar beacon reply displayed as an elongated target.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- SPACE-BASED ADS-B (SBA) SPACE-BASED ADS-B (SBA)
- A constellation of satellites that receives ADS-B Out broadcasts and relays that information to the appropriate surveillance facility. The…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- SPECIAL AIR TRAFFIC RULES (SATR) SPECIAL AIR TRAFFIC RULES (SATR)
- Rules that govern procedures for conducting flights in certain areas listed in 14 CFR part 93. The term “SATR" is used in the United State…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- SPECIAL FLIGHT RULES AREA (SFRA) SPECIAL FLIGHT RULES AREA (SFRA)
- An area in the NAS, described in 14 CFR part 93, wherein the flight of aircraft is subject to special traffic rules, unless otherwise auth…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- SPEED ADJUSTMENT SPEED ADJUSTMENT
- An ATC procedure used to request pilots to adjust aircraft speed to a specific value for the purpose of providing desired spacing. Pilots …
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- SPEED ADVISORY SPEED ADVISORY
- Speed advisories that are generated within Time-Based Flow Management to assist controllers to meet the Scheduled Time of Arrival (STA) at…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- STAND BY STAND BY
Means the controller or pilot must pause for a few seconds, usually to attend to other duties of a higher priority. Also means to wait as in…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- STANDARD INSTRUMENT DEPARTURE (SID) STANDARD INSTRUMENT DEPARTURE (SID)
- A preplanned instrument flight rule (IFR) air traffic control (ATC) departure procedure printed for pilot/controller use in graphic form t…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- STOP ALTITUDE SQUAWK STOP ALTITUDE SQUAWK
Used by ATC to instruct a pilot to turn off the automatic altitude reporting feature of the aircraft transponder and ADS-B Out. It is issued…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- STOP STREAM STOP STREAM — Used by ATC to request a pilot to suspend electronic attack activity
Used by ATC to request a pilot to suspend electronic attack activity.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- SURFACE METERING PROGRAM SURFACE METERING PROGRAM
- A capability within Terminal Flight Data Manager that provides the user with the ability to tactically manage surface traffic flows throug…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- TARGET TARGET
- The indication shown on a display resulting from a primary radar return, a radar beacon reply, or an ADS-B report. The specific target sym…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- TARGET RESOLUTION TARGET RESOLUTION
- A process to ensure that correlated radar targets do not touch. Target resolution must be applied as follows:
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- TAXI PATTERNS TAXI PATTERNS
- Patterns established to illustrate the desired flow of ground traffic for the different runways or airport areas available for use.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- TERMINAL AREA FACILITY TERMINAL AREA FACILITY
- A facility providing air traffic control service for arriving and departing IFR, VFR, Special VFR, and on occasion en route aircraft.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- TERMINAL DATA LINK SYSTEM (TDLS) TERMINAL DATA LINK SYSTEM (TDLS)
- A system that provides Digital Automatic Terminal Information Service (D-ATIS) both on a specified radio frequency and, for subscribers, i…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- TOP ALTITUDE TOP ALTITUDE
- In reference to SID published altitude restrictions, the charted “maintain” altitude contained in the procedure description or assigned by…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- TRACK OF INTEREST RESOLUTION TRACK OF INTEREST RESOLUTION
- A TOI will normally be considered resolved when: the aircraft/object is no longer airborne; the aircraft complies with air traffic control…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- TRAFFIC ADVISORIES TRAFFIC ADVISORIES
- Advisories issued to alert pilots to other known or observed air traffic which may be in such proximity to the position or intended route …
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- TRAFFIC INFORMATION SERVICE-BROADCAST (TIS-B) TRAFFIC INFORMATION SERVICE-BROADCAST (TIS-B)
- The broadcast of ATC derived traffic information to ADS-B equipped (1090ES or UAT) aircraft. The source of this traffic information is der…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT UNIT TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT UNIT
- The entity in ARTCCs and designated terminals directly involved in the active management of facility traffic. Usually under the direct sup…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- TRAFFIC NO FACTOR TRAFFIC NO FACTOR — Indicates that the traffic described in a previously issued traffic advisory is no factor
Indicates that the traffic described in a previously issued traffic advisory is no factor.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- TRAFFIC NO LONGER OBSERVED TRAFFIC NO LONGER OBSERVED
Indicates that the traffic described in a previously issued traffic advisory is no longer depicted on radar, but may still be a factor.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- TRAJECTORY-BASED OPERATIONS (TBO) TRAJECTORY-BASED OPERATIONS (TBO)
- An Air Traffic Management method for strategically planning and managing flights throughout the operation by using Time-Based Management (…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- TRANSFER OF CONTROL TRANSFER OF CONTROL
- That action whereby the responsibility for the separation of an aircraft is transferred from one controller to another.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- TRANSFER OF CONTROL [ICAO] TRANSFER OF CONTROL [ICAO] — - Transfer of responsibility for providing air traffic control service
- Transfer of responsibility for providing air traffic control service.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- TRANSFERRING CONTROLLER TRANSFERRING CONTROLLER — - A controller/facility transferring control of an aircraft to another controller/facility
- A controller/facility transferring control of an aircraft to another controller/facility.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- TRANSPONDER TRANSPONDER
- The airborne radar beacon receiver/transmitter portion of the Air Traffic Control Radar Beacon System (ATCRBS) which automatically receive…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- TRANSPONDER [ICAO] TRANSPONDER [ICAO]
- A receiver/transmitter which will generate a reply signal upon proper interrogation; the interrogation and reply being on different freque…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- UAS TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT (UTM) UAS TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT (UTM)
-The unmanned aircraft traffic management ecosystem that will allow multiple low altitude BVLOS operations and which is separate from, but c…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- UNABLE UNABLE — Indicates inability to comply with a specific instruction, request, or clearance
Indicates inability to comply with a specific instruction, request, or clearance.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- VERIFY SPECIFIC DIRECTION OF TAKEOFF (OR TURNS AFTER TAKEOFF) VERIFY SPECIFIC DIRECTION OF TAKEOFF (OR TURNS AFTER TAKEOFF)
Used by ATC to ascertain an aircraft's direction of takeoff and/or direction of turn after takeoff. It is normally used for IFR departures f…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- VERY HIGH FREQUENCY (VHF) VERY HIGH FREQUENCY (VHF)
- The frequency band between 30 and 300 MHz. Portions of this band, 108 to 118 MHz, are used for certain NAVAIDs; 118 to 136 MHz are used fo…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- VFR CONDITIONS VFR CONDITIONS
Weather conditions equal to or better than the minimum for flight under visual flight rules. The term may be used as an ATC clearance/instru…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- VOICE SWITCHING AND CONTROL SYSTEM (VSCS) VOICE SWITCHING AND CONTROL SYSTEM (VSCS)
- A computer controlled switching system that provides air traffic controllers with all voice circuits (air to ground and ground to ground) …
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- WEATHER ADVISORY WEATHER ADVISORY
- In aviation weather forecast practice, an expression of hazardous weather conditions not predicted in the Aviation Surface Forecast, Aviat…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- WEATHER RADAR PRECIPITATION INTENSITY WEATHER RADAR PRECIPITATION INTENSITY
- Existing radar systems cannot detect turbulence, however, there is a direct correlation between turbulence intensity and precipitation int…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
Abbreviation · 140
- ABEAM ABEAM
An aircraft is “abeam” a fix, point, or object when that fix, point, or object is approximately 90 degrees to the right or left of the aircr…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- ABORT ABORT — To terminate a preplanned aircraft maneuver
To terminate a preplanned aircraft maneuver; e.g., an aborted takeoff.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- AFM AFM — airplane flight manual
airplane flight manual.
14 CFR § 1.2
- AGL AGL — above ground level
above ground level.
14 CFR § 1.2
- ALS ALS — approach light system
approach light system.
14 CFR § 1.2
- APU APU — auxiliary power unit
auxiliary power unit.
14 CFR § 1.2
- ASR ASR — airport surveillance radar
airport surveillance radar.
14 CFR § 1.2
- ATC ATC — air traffic control
air traffic control.
14 CFR § 1.2
- ATS ATS — Air Traffic Service
Air Traffic Service.
14 CFR § 1.2
- CAMP CAMP — continuous airworthiness maintenance program
continuous airworthiness maintenance program.
14 CFR § 1.2
- CAS CAS — calibrated airspeed
calibrated airspeed.
14 CFR § 1.2
- CAT II CAT II — Category II
Category II.
14 CFR § 1.2
- CHASE CHASE
An aircraft flown in proximity to another aircraft normally to observe its performance during training or testing.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- CHOP CHOP — - A form of turbulence
- A form of turbulence.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- CLOUD CLOUD
- A cloud is a visible accumulation of minute water droplets and/or ice particles in the atmosphere above the Earth's surface. Cloud differs…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- CMP CMP — configuration, maintenance, and procedures
configuration, maintenance, and procedures.
14 CFR § 1.2
- DH DH — decision height
decision height.
14 CFR § 1.2
- DME DME — distance measuring equipment compatible with TACAN
distance measuring equipment compatible with TACAN.
14 CFR § 1.2
- EAS EAS — equivalent airspeed
equivalent airspeed.
14 CFR § 1.2
- EFVS EFVS — enhanced flight vision system
enhanced flight vision system.
14 CFR § 1.2
- Equi-Time Point Equi-Time Point
a point on the route of flight where the flight time, considering wind, to each of two selected airports is equal.
14 CFR § 1.2
- ETOPS ETOPS — extended operations
extended operations.
14 CFR § 1.2
- FAA FAA — Federal Aviation Administration
Federal Aviation Administration.
14 CFR § 1.2
- FFS FFS — full flight simulator
full flight simulator.
14 CFR § 1.2
- FIX FIX
- A geographical position determined by visual reference to the surface, by reference to one or more radio NAVAIDs, by celestial plotting, o…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- FLAG FLAG
- A warning device incorporated in certain airborne navigation and flight instruments indicating that:
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- FM FM — fan marker
fan marker.
14 CFR § 1.2
- FSTD FSTD — flight simulation training device
flight simulation training device.
14 CFR § 1.2
- FTD FTD — flight training device
flight training device.
14 CFR § 1.2
- GS GS — glide slope
glide slope.
14 CFR § 1.2
- HERTZ HERTZ
- The standard radio equivalent of frequency in cycles per second of an electromagnetic wave. Kilohertz (kHz) is a frequency of one thousand…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- HIRL HIRL — high-intensity runway light system
high-intensity runway light system.
14 CFR § 1.2
- HOMING HOMING
Flight toward a NAVAID, without correcting for wind, by adjusting the aircraft heading to maintain a relative bearing of zero degrees.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- IAS IAS — indicated airspeed
indicated airspeed.
14 CFR § 1.2
- ICAO ICAO — International Civil Aviation Organization
International Civil Aviation Organization.
14 CFR § 1.2
- ICING ICING — - The accumulation of airframe ice
- The accumulation of airframe ice.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- IFR IFR — instrument flight rules
instrument flight rules.
14 CFR § 1.2
- IFSD IFSD — in-flight shutdown
in-flight shutdown.
14 CFR § 1.2
- ILS ILS — instrument landing system
instrument landing system.
14 CFR § 1.2
- IM IM — ILS inner marker
ILS inner marker.
14 CFR § 1.2
- INT INT — intersection
intersection.
14 CFR § 1.2
- Kite Kite
a framework, covered with paper, cloth, metal, or other material, intended to be flown at the end of a rope or cable, and having as its only…
14 CFR § 1.1
- LDA LDA — localizer-type directional aid
localizer-type directional aid.
14 CFR § 1.2
- LFR LFR — low-frequency radio range
low-frequency radio range.
14 CFR § 1.2
- LMM LMM — compass locator at middle marker
compass locator at middle marker.
14 CFR § 1.2
- LOC LOC — ILS localizer
ILS localizer.
14 CFR § 1.2
- LOM LOM — compass locator at outer marker
compass locator at outer marker.
14 CFR § 1.2
- LORAN LORAN
- An electronic navigational system by which hyperbolic lines of position are determined by measuring the difference in the time of receptio…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- MAA MAA — maximum authorized IFR altitude
maximum authorized IFR altitude.
14 CFR § 1.2
- MALS MALS — medium intensity approach light system
medium intensity approach light system.
14 CFR § 1.2
- MALSR MALSR — medium intensity approach light system with runway alignment indicator lights
medium intensity approach light system with runway alignment indicator lights.
14 CFR § 1.2
- MAYDAY MAYDAY
The international radiotelephony distress signal. When repeated three times, it indicates imminent and grave danger and that immediate assis…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- MCA MCA — minimum crossing altitude
minimum crossing altitude.
14 CFR § 1.2
- MDA MDA — minimum descent altitude
minimum descent altitude.
14 CFR § 1.2
- MEA MEA — minimum en route IFR altitude
minimum en route IFR altitude.
14 CFR § 1.2
- MEL MEL — minimum equipment list
minimum equipment list.
14 CFR § 1.2
- MM MM — ILS middle marker
ILS middle marker.
14 CFR § 1.2
- MOCA MOCA — minimum obstruction clearance altitude
minimum obstruction clearance altitude.
14 CFR § 1.2
- MRA MRA — minimum reception altitude
minimum reception altitude.
14 CFR § 1.2
- MSL MSL — mean sea level
mean sea level.
14 CFR § 1.2
- NDB (ADF) NDB (ADF) — nondirectional beacon (automatic direction finder)
nondirectional beacon (automatic direction finder).
14 CFR § 1.2
- NM NM — nautical mile
nautical mile.
14 CFR § 1.2
- NOPAC NOPAC — North Pacific area of operation
North Pacific area of operation.
14 CFR § 1.2
- NOPT NOPT — no procedure turn required
no procedure turn required.
14 CFR § 1.2
- OEI OEI — one engine inoperative
one engine inoperative.
14 CFR § 1.2
- OM OM — ILS outer marker
ILS outer marker.
14 CFR § 1.2
- OPSPECS OPSPECS — operations specifications
operations specifications.
14 CFR § 1.2
- OUT OUT — The conversation is ended and no response is expected
The conversation is ended and no response is expected.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- OVER OVER — My transmission is ended
My transmission is ended; I expect a response.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- PACOTS PACOTS — Pacific Organized Track System
Pacific Organized Track System.
14 CFR § 1.2
- PAR PAR — precision approach radar
precision approach radar.
14 CFR § 1.2
- PMA PMA — parts manufacturer approval
parts manufacturer approval.
14 CFR § 1.2
- POC POC — portable oxygen concentrator
portable oxygen concentrator.
14 CFR § 1.2
- PTRS PTRS — Performance Tracking and Reporting System
Performance Tracking and Reporting System.
14 CFR § 1.2
- QFE QFE — - The atmospheric pressure at aerodrome elevation (or at runway threshold)
- The atmospheric pressure at aerodrome elevation (or at runway threshold).
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- QNE QNE — - The barometric pressure used for the standard altimeter setting (29
- The barometric pressure used for the standard altimeter setting (29.92 inches Hg.).
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- QNH QNH — - The barometric pressure as reported by a particular station
- The barometric pressure as reported by a particular station.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- RAIL RAIL — runway alignment indicator light system
runway alignment indicator light system.
14 CFR § 1.2
- RBN RBN — radio beacon
radio beacon.
14 CFR § 1.2
- RCLM RCLM — runway centerline marking
runway centerline marking.
14 CFR § 1.2
- RCLS RCLS — runway centerline light system
runway centerline light system.
14 CFR § 1.2
- REIL REIL — runway end identification lights
runway end identification lights.
14 CFR § 1.2
- RFFS RFFS — rescue and firefighting services
rescue and firefighting services.
14 CFR § 1.2
- RNAV RNAV — area navigation
area navigation.
14 CFR § 1.2
- ROGER ROGER
I have received all of your last transmission. It should not be used to answer a question requiring a yes or a no answer.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- ROUTE ROUTE
- A defined path, consisting of one or more courses in a horizontal plane, which aircraft traverse over the surface of the earth.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- RR RR — low or medium frequency radio range station
low or medium frequency radio range station.
14 CFR § 1.2
- RUNWAY RUNWAY
- A defined rectangular area on a land airport prepared for the landing and takeoff run of aircraft along its length. Runways are normally n…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- RVR RVR — runway visual range as measured in the touchdown zone area
runway visual range as measured in the touchdown zone area.
14 CFR § 1.2
- SALS SALS — short approach light system
short approach light system.
14 CFR § 1.2
- SATCOM SATCOM — satellite communications
satellite communications.
14 CFR § 1.2
- SSALS SSALS — simplified short approach light system
simplified short approach light system.
14 CFR § 1.2
- SSALSR SSALSR — simplified short approach light system with runway alignment indicator lights
simplified short approach light system with runway alignment indicator lights.
14 CFR § 1.2
- SUPPS SUPPS
- Refers to ICAO Document 7030 Regional Supplementary Procedures. SUPPS contain procedures for each ICAO Region which are unique to that Reg…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- TACAN TACAN — ultra-high frequency tactical air navigational aid
ultra-high frequency tactical air navigational aid.
14 CFR § 1.2
- TAS TAS — true airspeed
true airspeed.
14 CFR § 1.2
- TAXI TAXI
- The movement of an airplane under its own power on the surface of an airport (14 CFR section 135.100 [Note]). Also, it describes the surfa…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- TCAS TCAS — a traffic alert and collision avoidance system
a traffic alert and collision avoidance system.
14 CFR § 1.2
- TDZL TDZL — touchdown zone lights
touchdown zone lights.
14 CFR § 1.2
- TRACK TRACK — - The actual flight path of an aircraft over the surface of the earth
- The actual flight path of an aircraft over the surface of the earth.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- TSO TSO — technical standard order
technical standard order.
14 CFR § 1.2
- TVOR TVOR — very high frequency terminal omnirange station
very high frequency terminal omnirange station.
14 CFR § 1.2
- V 1 V 1
the maximum speed in the takeoff at which the pilot must take the first action (e.g., apply brakes, reduce thrust, deploy speed brakes) to s…
14 CFR § 1.2
- V 2 V 2 — takeoff safety speed
takeoff safety speed.
14 CFR § 1.2
- V 2min V 2min — minimum takeoff safety speed
minimum takeoff safety speed.
14 CFR § 1.2
- V A V A — design maneuvering speed
design maneuvering speed.
14 CFR § 1.2
- V B V B — design speed for maximum gust intensity
design speed for maximum gust intensity.
14 CFR § 1.2
- V C V C — design cruising speed
design cruising speed.
14 CFR § 1.2
- V D V D — design diving speed
design diving speed.
14 CFR § 1.2
- V DF / M DF V DF / M DF — demonstrated flight diving speed
demonstrated flight diving speed.
14 CFR § 1.2
- V EF V EF — the speed at which the critical engine is assumed to fail during takeoff
the speed at which the critical engine is assumed to fail during takeoff.
14 CFR § 1.2
- V F V F — design flap speed
design flap speed.
14 CFR § 1.2
- V FC / M FC V FC / M FC — maximum speed for stability characteristics
maximum speed for stability characteristics.
14 CFR § 1.2
- V FE V FE — maximum flap extended speed
maximum flap extended speed.
14 CFR § 1.2
- V FTO V FTO — final takeoff speed
final takeoff speed.
14 CFR § 1.2
- V H V H — maximum speed in level flight with maximum continuous power
maximum speed in level flight with maximum continuous power.
14 CFR § 1.2
- V LE V LE — maximum landing gear extended speed
maximum landing gear extended speed.
14 CFR § 1.2
- V LO V LO — maximum landing gear operating speed
maximum landing gear operating speed.
14 CFR § 1.2
- V LOF V LOF — lift-off speed
lift-off speed.
14 CFR § 1.2
- V MC V MC — minimum control speed with the critical engine inoperative
minimum control speed with the critical engine inoperative.
14 CFR § 1.2
- V MO / M MO V MO / M MO — maximum operating limit speed
maximum operating limit speed.
14 CFR § 1.2
- V MU V MU — minimum unstick speed
minimum unstick speed.
14 CFR § 1.2
- V NE V NE — never-exceed speed
never-exceed speed.
14 CFR § 1.2
- V NO V NO — maximum structural cruising speed
maximum structural cruising speed.
14 CFR § 1.2
- V R V R — rotation speed
rotation speed.
14 CFR § 1.2
- V REF V REF — reference landing speed
reference landing speed.
14 CFR § 1.2
- V S V S — the stalling speed or the minimum steady flight speed at which the airplane is controllable
the stalling speed or the minimum steady flight speed at which the airplane is controllable.
14 CFR § 1.2
- V S 0 V S 0 — the stalling speed or the minimum steady flight speed in the landing configuration
the stalling speed or the minimum steady flight speed in the landing configuration.
14 CFR § 1.2
- V S 1 V S 1 — the stalling speed or the minimum steady flight speed obtained in a specific configuration
the stalling speed or the minimum steady flight speed obtained in a specific configuration.
14 CFR § 1.2
- V SR V SR — reference stall speed
reference stall speed.
14 CFR § 1.2
- V SR 1 V SR 1 — reference stall speed in a specific configuration
reference stall speed in a specific configuration.
14 CFR § 1.2
- V SR O V SR O — reference stall speed in the landing configuration
reference stall speed in the landing configuration.
14 CFR § 1.2
- V SW V SW — speed at which onset of natural or artificial stall warning occurs
speed at which onset of natural or artificial stall warning occurs.
14 CFR § 1.2
- V TOSS V TOSS — takeoff safety speed for Category A rotorcraft
takeoff safety speed for Category A rotorcraft.
14 CFR § 1.2
- V X V X — speed for best angle of climb
speed for best angle of climb.
14 CFR § 1.2
- V Y V Y — speed for best rate of climb
speed for best rate of climb.
14 CFR § 1.2
- VFR VFR — visual flight rules
visual flight rules.
14 CFR § 1.2
- VGSI VGSI — visual glide slope indicator
visual glide slope indicator.
14 CFR § 1.2
- VHF VHF — very high frequency
very high frequency.
14 CFR § 1.2
- WILCO WILCO — I have received your message, understand it, and will comply with it
I have received your message, understand it, and will comply with it.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
Airspace · 103
- ADVANCED AIR MOBILITY (AAM) ADVANCED AIR MOBILITY (AAM)
-A transportation system that transports people and property by air between two points in the NAS using aircraft with advanced technologies,…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- AERONAUTICAL CHART AERONAUTICAL CHART
- A map used in air navigation containing all or part of the following: topographic features, hazards and obstructions, navigation aids, nav…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- AERONAUTICAL INFORMATION MANUAL (AIM) AERONAUTICAL INFORMATION MANUAL (AIM)
- A primary FAA publication whose purpose is to instruct airmen about operating in the National Airspace System of the U.S. It provides basi…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- AIR DEFENSE IDENTIFICATION ZONE (ADIZ) AIR DEFENSE IDENTIFICATION ZONE (ADIZ)
- An area of airspace over land or water in which the ready identification, location, and control of all aircraft (except for Department of …
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- AIR ROUTE TRAFFIC CONTROL CENTER (ARTCC) AIR ROUTE TRAFFIC CONTROL CENTER (ARTCC)
- A facility established to provide air traffic control service to aircraft operating on IFR flight plans within controlled airspace and pri…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- AIR TRAFFIC CLEARANCE AIR TRAFFIC CLEARANCE
- An authorization by air traffic control for the purpose of preventing collision between known aircraft, for an aircraft to proceed under s…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- AIRCRAFT CONFLICT AIRCRAFT CONFLICT
- Predicted conflict, within EDST of two aircraft, or between aircraft and airspace. A Red alert is used for conflicts when the predicted mi…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- AIRCRAFT LIST (ACL) AIRCRAFT LIST (ACL)
- A view available with EDST that lists aircraft currently in or predicted to be in a particular sector's airspace. The view contains textua…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- AIRPORT ARRIVAL RATE (AAR) AIRPORT ARRIVAL RATE (AAR)
- A dynamic input parameter specifying the number of arriving aircraft which an airport or airspace can accept from the ARTCC per hour. The …
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- AIRSPACE CONFLICT AIRSPACE CONFLICT — - Predicted conflict of an aircraft and active Special Activity Airspace (SAA)
- Predicted conflict of an aircraft and active Special Activity Airspace (SAA).
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- AIRSPACE HIERARCHY AIRSPACE HIERARCHY
- Within the airspace classes, there is a hierarchy and, in the event of an overlap of airspace: Class A preempts Class B, Class B preempts …
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- AIRSPACE RESERVATION AIRSPACE RESERVATION
- The term used in oceanic ATC for airspace utilization under prescribed conditions normally employed for the mass movement of aircraft or o…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- AIRWAY AIRWAY
- A Class E airspace area established in the form of a corridor, the centerline of which is defined by radio navigational aids.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- AIRWAY [ICAO] AIRWAY [ICAO]
- A control area or portion thereof established in the form of corridor equipped with radio navigational aids.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- ALERT ALERT
- A notification to a position that there is an aircraft‐to‐aircraft or aircraft‐to‐airspace conflict, as detected by Automated Problem Dete…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- ALTITUDE RESERVATION (ALTRV) ALTITUDE RESERVATION (ALTRV)
- Airspace utilization under prescribed conditions normally employed for the mass movement of aircraft or other special user requirements wh…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- ALTITUDE RESTRICTION ALTITUDE RESTRICTION
- An altitude or altitudes, stated in the order flown, which are to be maintained until reaching a specific point or time. Altitude restrict…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- ATC ASSIGNED AIRSPACE ATC ASSIGNED AIRSPACE
- Airspace of defined vertical/lateral limits, assigned by ATC, for the purpose of providing air traffic segregation between the specified a…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- AUTOMATED PROBLEM DETECTION BOUNDARY (APB) AUTOMATED PROBLEM DETECTION BOUNDARY (APB)
- The adapted distance beyond a facilities boundary defining the airspace within which EDST performs conflict detection.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- AUTOMATED PROBLEM DETECTION INHIBITED AREA (APDIA) AUTOMATED PROBLEM DETECTION INHIBITED AREA (APDIA)
- Airspace surrounding a terminal area within which APD is inhibited for all flights within that airspace.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- B4UFLY B4UFLY
- A free downloadable application, which allows operators to check airspace and local advisories before flying.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- CANADIAN MINIMUM NAVIGATION PERFORMANCE SPECIFICATION AIRSPACE CANADIAN MINIMUM NAVIGATION PERFORMANCE SPECIFICATION AIRSPACE — - That portion of Canadian domestic airspace within which MNPS separation may be applied
- That portion of Canadian domestic airspace within which MNPS separation may be applied.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- CERTIFICATE OF WAIVER OR AUTHORIZATION (COA) CERTIFICATE OF WAIVER OR AUTHORIZATION (COA) — - An FAA grant of approval for a specific flight operation or airspace authorization or waiver
- An FAA grant of approval for a specific flight operation or airspace authorization or waiver.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- Class A Class A — FL180 to FL600
FL180 to FL600. IFR only. ATC clearance required. Mode C transponder + ADS-B Out required.
TallyAero curated
- Class B Class B
Surface to 10,000 ft MSL around the busiest airports. ATC clearance required to enter; private pilot or student endorsement required.
TallyAero curated
- Class C Class C
Surface to 4,000 ft AGL around airports with ATC + radar. Two-way radio + Mode C required for entry.
TallyAero curated
- Class D Class D
Surface to 2,500 ft AGL around airports with operating control tower. Two-way radio required for entry.
TallyAero curated
- Class E Class E
Controlled airspace not A/B/C/D. Most common form is the surface-or-700-AGL transition near non-towered airports.
TallyAero curated
- Class G Class G
Uncontrolled. ATC has no authority; lower-altitude rural airspace. VFR weather minimums lower than controlled airspace.
TallyAero curated
- CLASS G AIRSPACE CLASS G AIRSPACE
- Airspace that is not designated in 14 CFR part 71 as Class A, Class B, Class C, Class D, or Class E controlled airspace is Class G (uncont…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- CLIMB TO VFR CLIMB TO VFR
ATC authorization for an aircraft to climb to VFR conditions within Class B, C, D, and E surface areas when the only weather limitation is r…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- COLLABORATIVE TRAJECTORY OPTIONS PROGRAM (CTOP) COLLABORATIVE TRAJECTORY OPTIONS PROGRAM (CTOP)
- CTOP is a traffic management program administered by the Air Traffic Control System Command Center (ATCSCC) that manages demand through co…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- CONTINGENCY HAZARD AREA (CHA) CONTINGENCY HAZARD AREA (CHA)
- Used by ATC. Areas of airspace that are defined and distributed in advance of a launch or reentry operation and are activated in response …
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- CONTROL SECTOR CONTROL SECTOR
- An airspace area of defined horizontal and vertical dimensions for which a controller or group of controllers has air traffic control resp…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- CONTROLLED AIRSPACE CONTROLLED AIRSPACE
- An airspace of defined dimensions within which air traffic control service is provided to IFR flights and to VFR flights in accordance wit…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- CRUISE CRUISE
Used in an ATC clearance to authorize a pilot to conduct flight at any altitude from the minimum IFR altitude up to and including the altitu…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- DEBRIS RESPONSE AREA (DRA) DEBRIS RESPONSE AREA (DRA)
- Used by ATC. Areas of airspace that may be activated in response to unplanned falling debris in the NAS.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- DEPARTURE CENTER DEPARTURE CENTER — - The ARTCC having jurisdiction for the airspace that generates a flight to the impacted airport
- The ARTCC having jurisdiction for the airspace that generates a flight to the impacted airport.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- DOMESTIC AIRSPACE DOMESTIC AIRSPACE
- Airspace which overlies the continental land mass of the United States plus Hawaii and U.S. possessions. Domestic airspace extends to 12 m…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- DVFR FLIGHT PLAN DVFR FLIGHT PLAN
- A flight plan filed for a VFR aircraft which intends to operate in airspace within which the ready identification, location, and control o…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- FLIGHT INFORMATION REGION FLIGHT INFORMATION REGION
- An airspace of defined dimensions within which Flight Information Service and Alerting Service are provided.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- GROUND STOP (GS) GROUND STOP (GS)
- The GS is a process that requires aircraft that meet a specific criteria to remain on the ground. The criteria may be airport specific, ai…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- HANDOFF HANDOFF
- An action taken to transfer the radar identification of an aircraft from one controller to another if the aircraft will enter the receivin…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- HOLD PROCEDURE HOLD PROCEDURE
- A predetermined maneuver which keeps aircraft within a specified airspace while awaiting further clearance from air traffic control. Also …
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- INTERNATIONAL NOTICE INTERNATIONAL NOTICE
- A notice containing flight prohibitions, potential hostile situations, or other international/foreign oceanic airspace matters. These noti…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- Interstate air commerce Interstate air commerce
the carriage by aircraft of persons or property for compensation or hire, or the carriage of mail by aircraft, or the operation or navigatio…
14 CFR § 1.1
- JUMP ZONE JUMP ZONE
- The airspace directly associated with a Drop Zone. Vertical and horizontal limits may be locally defined.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- LOW ALTITUDE AUTHORIZATION AND NOTIFICATION CAPABILITY (LAANC) LOW ALTITUDE AUTHORIZATION AND NOTIFICATION CAPABILITY (LAANC)
- FAA and industry collaboration which automates the process of obtaining a required authorization for operations in controlled airspace.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- MAXIMUM AUTHORIZED ALTITUDE MAXIMUM AUTHORIZED ALTITUDE
- A published altitude representing the maximum usable altitude or flight level for an airspace structure or route segment. It is the highes…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- METERING FIX METERING FIX
- A fix along an established route from over which aircraft will be metered prior to entering terminal airspace. Normally, this fix should b…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- MILITARY TRAINING ROUTES MILITARY TRAINING ROUTES
- Airspace of defined vertical and lateral dimensions established for the conduct of military flight training at airspeeds in excess of 250 …
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- MOVING AIRSPACE RESERVATION MOVING AIRSPACE RESERVATION
- The term used in oceanic ATC for airspace that encompasses oceanic activities and advances with the mission progress; i.e., the reservatio…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- NATIONAL AIRSPACE SYSTEM NATIONAL AIRSPACE SYSTEM
- The common network of U.S. airspace; air navigation facilities, equipment and services, airports or landing areas; aeronautical charts, in…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- NATIONAL BEACON CODE ALLOCATION PLAN AIRSPACE (NBCAP) NATIONAL BEACON CODE ALLOCATION PLAN AIRSPACE (NBCAP)
- Airspace over United States territory located within the North American continent between Canada and Mexico, including adjacent territoria…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- National defense airspace National defense airspace — airspace established by a regulation prescribed, or an order issued under, 49 U
airspace established by a regulation prescribed, or an order issued under, 49 U.S.C. 40103(b)(3).
14 CFR § 1.1
- NAVIGABLE AIRSPACE NAVIGABLE AIRSPACE
- Airspace at and above the minimum flight altitudes prescribed in the CFRs including airspace needed for safe takeoff and landing.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- NONAPPROACH CONTROL TOWER NONAPPROACH CONTROL TOWER
- Author‐izes aircraft to land or takeoff at the airport controlled by the tower or to transit the Class D airspace. The primary function of…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- NORTH ATLANTIC HIGH LEVEL AIRSPACE (NAT HLA) NORTH ATLANTIC HIGH LEVEL AIRSPACE (NAT HLA)
- That volume of airspace (as defined in ICAO Document 7030) between FL 285 and FL 420 within the Oceanic Control Areas of Bodo Oceanic, Gan…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- NOTICE TO AIRMEN (NOTAM) NOTICE TO AIRMEN (NOTAM)
- A notice containing information (not known sufficiently in advance to publicize by other means) concerning the establishment, condition, o…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- OBSTACLE FREE ZONE OBSTACLE FREE ZONE
- The OFZ is a three-dimensional volume of airspace which protects the transition of aircraft to and from the runway. The OFZ clearing stand…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- OCEANIC PUBLISHED ROUTE OCEANIC PUBLISHED ROUTE
- A route established in international airspace and charted or described in flight information publications, such as Route Charts, DoD En ro…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- OFFSHORE/CONTROL AIRSPACE AREA OFFSHORE/CONTROL AIRSPACE AREA
- That portion of airspace between the U.S. 12 NM limit and the oceanic CTA/FIR boundary within which air traffic control is exercised. Thes…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- POLAR TRACK STRUCTURE POLAR TRACK STRUCTURE — - A system of organized routes between Iceland and Alaska which overlie Canadian MNPS Airspace
- A system of organized routes between Iceland and Alaska which overlie Canadian MNPS Airspace.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- POSITIVE CONTROL POSITIVE CONTROL — - The separation of all air traffic within designated airspace by air traffic control
- The separation of all air traffic within designated airspace by air traffic control.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- PREARRANGED COORDINATION PREARRANGED COORDINATION
- A standardized procedure which permits an air traffic controller to enter the airspace assigned to another air traffic controller without …
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- PREARRANGED COORDINATION PROCEDURES PREARRANGED COORDINATION PROCEDURES
- A facility's standardized procedure that describes the process by which one controller must allow an aircraft to penetrate or transit anot…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- PROTECTED AIRSPACE PROTECTED AIRSPACE
- The airspace on either side of an oceanic route/track that is equal to one‐half the lateral separation minimum except where reduction of p…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- RADAR APPROACH CONTROL FACILITY RADAR APPROACH CONTROL FACILITY
- A terminal ATC facility that uses radar and nonradar capabilities to provide approach control services to aircraft arriving, departing, or…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- RADAR POINT OUT RADAR POINT OUT
- An action taken by a controller to transfer the radar identification of an aircraft to another controller if the aircraft will or may ente…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- REDUCED VERTICAL SEPARATION MINIMUM (RVSM) AIRSPACE REDUCED VERTICAL SEPARATION MINIMUM (RVSM) AIRSPACE
- RVSM airspace is defined as any airspace between FL 290 and FL 410 inclusive, where eligible aircraft are separated vertically by 1,000 fe…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- REFINED HAZARD AREA (RHA) REFINED HAZARD AREA (RHA)
- Used by ATC. Airspace that is defined and distributed after a failure of a launch or reentry operation to provide a more concise depiction…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- REROUTE IMPACT ASSESSMENT (RRIA) REROUTE IMPACT ASSESSMENT (RRIA)
- A capability within the Traffic Flow Management System that is used to define and evaluate a potential reroute prior to implementation, wi…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- RESTRICTED AREA [ICAO] RESTRICTED AREA [ICAO]
- An airspace of defined dimensions, above the land areas or territorial waters of a State, within which the flight of aircraft is restricte…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- Rotorcraft-load combination Rotorcraft-load combination
the combination of a rotorcraft and an external-load, including the external-load attaching means. Rotorcraft-load combinations are designat…
14 CFR § 1.1
- SCHEDULED TIME OF ARRIVAL (STA) SCHEDULED TIME OF ARRIVAL (STA)
- A STA is the desired time that an aircraft should cross a certain point (landing or metering fix). It takes other traffic and airspace con…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- SERVICE SERVICE
- A generic term that designates functions or assistance available from or rendered by air traffic control. For example, Class C service wou…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- SEVERE WEATHER AVOIDANCE PLAN (SWAP) SEVERE WEATHER AVOIDANCE PLAN (SWAP)
- An approved plan to minimize the affect of severe weather on traffic flows in impacted terminal and/or ARTCC areas. A SWAP is normally imp…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- Small unmanned aircraft system (small UAS) Small unmanned aircraft system (small UAS)
a small unmanned aircraft and its associated elements (including communication links and the components that control the small unmanned airc…
14 CFR § 1.1
- SPECIAL ACTIVITY AIRSPACE (SAA) SPECIAL ACTIVITY AIRSPACE (SAA)
- Airspace with defined dimensions within the National Airspace System wherein limitations may be imposed upon operations for national defen…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- SPECIAL GOVERNMENT INTEREST (SGI) SPECIAL GOVERNMENT INTEREST (SGI)
- A near real‐time airspace authorization for part 91 or part 107 UAS, which supports activities that answer significant and urgent governme…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- SPECIAL USE AIRSPACE SPECIAL USE AIRSPACE
- Airspace of defined dimensions identified by an area on the surface of the earth wherein activities must be confined because of their natu…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- SPECIAL VFR CONDITIONS SPECIAL VFR CONDITIONS
- Meteorological conditions that are less than those required for basic VFR flight in Class B, C, D, or E surface areas and in which some ai…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- SPECIAL VFR OPERATIONS SPECIAL VFR OPERATIONS
- Aircraft operating in accordance with clearances within Class B, C, D, and E surface areas in weather conditions less than the basic VFR w…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- STATIONARY AIRSPACE RESERVATION STATIONARY AIRSPACE RESERVATION
- The term used in oceanic ATC for airspace that encompasses activities in a fixed volume of airspace to be occupied for a specified time pe…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- SURFACE AREA SURFACE AREA
- The airspace contained by the lateral boundary of the Class B, C, D, or E airspace designated for an airport that begins at the surface an…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- TERMINAL AREA TERMINAL AREA
- A general term used to describe airspace in which approach control service or airport traffic control service is provided.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- TERMINAL FLIGHT DATA MANAGER (TFDM) TERMINAL FLIGHT DATA MANAGER (TFDM)
- An integrated tower flight data automation system to provide improved airport surface and terminal airspace management. TFDM enhances traf…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- TERMINAL RADAR SERVICE AREA TERMINAL RADAR SERVICE AREA
- Airspace surrounding designated airports wherein ATC provides radar vectoring, sequencing, and separation on a full‐time basis for all IFR…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- TERMINAL SEQUENCING AND SPACING (TSAS) TERMINAL SEQUENCING AND SPACING (TSAS)
- Extends scheduling and metering capabilities into the terminal area and provides metering automation tools to terminal controllers and ter…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- TOWER TOWER
- A terminal facility that uses air/ground communications, visual signaling, and other devices to provide ATC services to aircraft operating…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- TOWER EN ROUTE CONTROL SERVICE TOWER EN ROUTE CONTROL SERVICE
- The control of IFR en route traffic within delegated airspace between two or more adjacent approach control facilities. This service is de…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT INITIATIVE (TMI) TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT INITIATIVE (TMI)
- Tools used to manage demand with capacity in the National Airspace System (NAS.) TMIs can be used to manage NAS resources (e.g., airports,…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- TRAFFIC SITUATION DISPLAY (TSD) TRAFFIC SITUATION DISPLAY (TSD)
- TSD is a computer system that receives radar track data from all 20 CONUS ARTCCs, organizes this data into a mosaic display, and presents …
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- TRAJECTORY OPTIONS SET (TOS) TRAJECTORY OPTIONS SET (TOS)
- A TOS is an electronic message, submitted by the operator, that is used by the Collaborative Trajectory Options Program (CTOP) to manage t…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- TRANSITIONAL AIRSPACE TRANSITIONAL AIRSPACE
- That portion of controlled airspace wherein aircraft change from one phase of flight or flight condition to another.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- TRANSITIONAL HAZARD AREA (THA) TRANSITIONAL HAZARD AREA (THA)
- Used by ATC. Airspace normally associated with an Aircraft Hazard Area within which the flight of aircraft is subject to restrictions.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- ULTRALIGHT VEHICLE ULTRALIGHT VEHICLE
- A single-occupant aeronautical vehicle operated for sport or recreational purposes which does not require FAA registration, an airworthine…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- UNCONTROLLED AIRSPACE UNCONTROLLED AIRSPACE
- Airspace in which aircraft are not subject to controlled airspace (Class A, B, C, D, or E) separation criteria.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- United States, in a geographical sense, United States, in a geographical sense,
(1) the States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the possessions, including the territorial waters, and (2) the airspace of those …
14 CFR § 1.1
- Unmanned aircraft system Unmanned aircraft system
an unmanned aircraft and its associated elements (including communication links and the components that control the unmanned aircraft) that …
14 CFR § 1.1
- VISUAL SEPARATION VISUAL SEPARATION
- A means employed by ATC to separate aircraft in terminal areas and en route airspace in the NAS. There are two ways to effect this separat…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- WAYPOINT WAYPOINT
- A predetermined geographical position used for route/instrument approach definition, progress reports, published VFR routes, visual report…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- WEATHER RECONNAISSANCE AREA (WRA) WEATHER RECONNAISSANCE AREA (WRA)
- A WRA is airspace with defined dimensions and published by Notice to Airmen, which is established to support weather reconnaissance/resear…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
Currency · 47
- AIR TRAFFIC AIR TRAFFIC
- Aircraft operating in the air or on an airport surface, exclusive of loading ramps and parking areas.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- AIR TRAFFIC [ICAO] AIR TRAFFIC [ICAO] — - All aircraft in flight or operating on the maneuvering area of an aerodrome
- All aircraft in flight or operating on the maneuvering area of an aerodrome.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- AIRPORT TRAFFIC CONTROL SERVICE AIRPORT TRAFFIC CONTROL SERVICE
- A service provided by a control tower for aircraft operating on the movement area and in the vicinity of an airport.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- Appliance Appliance
any instrument, mechanism, equipment, part, apparatus, appurtenance, or accessory, including communications equipment, that is used or inten…
14 CFR § 1.1
- BasicMed BasicMed
Alternative to FAA medical for private/recreational/student/sport ops. Requires CMEC, online course, no disqualifying conditions.
TallyAero curated
- BFR BFR
1-hour ground + 1-hour flight every 24 calendar months to act as PIC. Endorsement in logbook by an authorized CFI.
TallyAero curated
- BRAKING ACTION ADVISORIES BRAKING ACTION ADVISORIES
- When tower controllers receive runway braking action reports which include the terms “medium," “poor," or “nil," or whenever weather condi…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- CLEARWAY CLEARWAY
- An area beyond the takeoff runway under the control of airport authorities within which terrain or fixed obstacles may not extend above sp…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- COMMON TRAFFIC ADVISORY FREQUENCY (CTAF) COMMON TRAFFIC ADVISORY FREQUENCY (CTAF)
- A frequency designed for the purpose of carrying out airport advisory practices while operating to or from an airport without an operating…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- CONDITIONS NOT MONITORED CONDITIONS NOT MONITORED
- When an airport operator cannot monitor the condition of the movement area or airfield surface area, this information is issued as a NOTAM…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- Configuration, Maintenance, and Procedures (CMP) document Configuration, Maintenance, and Procedures (CMP) document
a document approved by the FAA that contains minimum configuration, operating, and maintenance requirements, hardware life-limits, and Maste…
14 CFR § 1.1
- CONTROL SLASH CONTROL SLASH
- A radar beacon slash representing the actual position of the associated aircraft. Normally, the control slash is the one closest to the in…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- DIRECTLY BEHIND DIRECTLY BEHIND
- An aircraft is considered to be operating directly behind when it is following the actual flight path of the lead aircraft over the surfac…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- DISCRETE FREQUENCY DISCRETE FREQUENCY
- A separate radio frequency for use in direct pilot‐controller communications in air traffic control which reduces frequency congestion by …
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- FLYAWAY FLYAWAY
- When the pilot is unable to effect control of the aircraft and, as a result, the UA is not operating in a predictable or planned manner.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- IPC IPC
Required when instrument currency lapses beyond 6 + 6 months. Must include all areas of operation per ACS.
TallyAero curated
- JET STREAM JET STREAM — - A migrating stream of high‐speed winds present at high altitudes
- A migrating stream of high‐speed winds present at high altitudes.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- Landing gear operating speed Landing gear operating speed — the maximum speed at which the landing gear can be safely extended or retracted
the maximum speed at which the landing gear can be safely extended or retracted.
14 CFR § 1.1
- Large aircraft Large aircraft — aircraft of more than 12,500 pounds, maximum certificated takeoff weight
aircraft of more than 12,500 pounds, maximum certificated takeoff weight.
14 CFR § 1.1
- LIGHT GUN LIGHT GUN
- A handheld directional light signaling device which emits a brilliant narrow beam of white, green, or red light as selected by the tower c…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- MAXIMUM GROSS OPERATING WEIGHT (MGOW) MAXIMUM GROSS OPERATING WEIGHT (MGOW)
- The maximum gross weight of an aircraft, including fuel and any external objects, at any point during the flight.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- Maximum speed for stability characteristics, V FC /M FC Maximum speed for stability characteristics, V FC /M FC
a speed that may not be less than a speed midway between maximum operating limit speed (V MO /M MO ) and demonstrated flight diving speed (V…
14 CFR § 1.1
- Medical certificate Medical certificate — acceptable evidence of physical fitness on a form prescribed by the Administrator
acceptable evidence of physical fitness on a form prescribed by the Administrator.
14 CFR § 1.1
- MODEL AIRCRAFT MODEL AIRCRAFT
- An unmanned aircraft that is: (1) capable of sustained flight in the atmosphere; (2) flown within visual line of sight of the person opera…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- OPPOSITE DIRECTION AIRCRAFT OPPOSITE DIRECTION AIRCRAFT — - Aircraft are operating in opposite directions when:
- Aircraft are operating in opposite directions when:
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- Portable oxygen concentrator Portable oxygen concentrator
a medical device that separates oxygen from other gasses in ambient air and dispenses this concentrated oxygen to the user.
14 CFR § 1.1
- RADAR CONTACT LOST RADAR CONTACT LOST
Used by ATC to inform a pilot that the surveillance data used to determine the aircraft's position is no longer being received, or is no lon…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- Rated 2 1/2 -minute OEI power , with respect to rotorcraft turbine engines, Rated 2 1/2 -minute OEI power , with respect to rotorcraft turbine engines,
the approved brake horsepower developed under static conditions at specified altitudes and temperatures within the operating limitations est…
14 CFR § 1.1
- Rated 2-minute OEI Power , with respect to rotorcraft turbine engines, Rated 2-minute OEI Power , with respect to rotorcraft turbine engines,
the approved brake horsepower developed under static conditions at specified altitudes and temperatures within the operating limitations est…
14 CFR § 1.1
- Rated 30-minute OEI power , with respect to rotorcraft turbine engines, Rated 30-minute OEI power , with respect to rotorcraft turbine engines,
the approved brake horsepower developed under static conditions at specified altitudes and temperatures within the operating limitations est…
14 CFR § 1.1
- Rated 30-second OEI Power , with respect to rotorcraft turbine engines, Rated 30-second OEI Power , with respect to rotorcraft turbine engines,
the approved brake horsepower developed under static conditions at specified altitudes and temperatures within the operating limitations est…
14 CFR § 1.1
- Rated continuous OEI power , with respect to rotorcraft turbine engines, Rated continuous OEI power , with respect to rotorcraft turbine engines,
the approved brake horsepower developed under static conditions at specified altitudes and temperatures within the operating limitations est…
14 CFR § 1.1
- Rated takeoff thrust, with respect to turbojet engine type certification, Rated takeoff thrust, with respect to turbojet engine type certification,
the approved jet thrust that is developed statically under standard sea level conditions, without fluid injection and without the burning of…
14 CFR § 1.1
- Rating Rating
a statement that, as a part of a certificate, sets forth special conditions, privileges, or limitations.
14 CFR § 1.1
- RECREATIONAL FLYER RECREATIONAL FLYER
- Pilot of a UAS who is operating under 49 USC §44809, Exception for Limited Recreational Operations of Unmanned Aircraft.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- REMOTE PILOT REMOTE PILOT
- Pilot of a UAS who is not operating as a recreational flyer under 49 USC §44809, the Exception for Limited Recreational Operations of Unma…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- RESUME NORMAL SPEED RESUME NORMAL SPEED
Used by ATC to advise a pilot to resume an aircraft's normal operating speed. It is issued to terminate a speed adjustment where no publishe…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- SAME DIRECTION AIRCRAFT SAME DIRECTION AIRCRAFT — - Aircraft are operating in the same direction when:
- Aircraft are operating in the same direction when:
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- SEARCH AND RESCUE FACILITY SEARCH AND RESCUE FACILITY
- A facility responsible for maintaining and operating a search and rescue (SAR) service to render aid to persons and property in distress. …
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- SEE AND AVOID SEE AND AVOID
- When weather conditions permit, pilots operating IFR or VFR are required to observe and maneuver to avoid other aircraft. Right‐of‐way rul…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- SEGMENTED CIRCLE SEGMENTED CIRCLE
- A system of visual indicators designed to provide traffic pattern information at airports without operating control towers.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- SENSE AND AVOID (SAA) SENSE AND AVOID (SAA)
- The capability of an unmanned aircraft to detect (sense) and avoid collisions with other aircraft and all obstacles, whether airborne or o…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- SHORT TAKEOFF AND LANDING AIRCRAFT (STOL) SHORT TAKEOFF AND LANDING AIRCRAFT (STOL)
- An aircraft which, at some weight within its approved operating weight, is capable of operating from a runway in compliance with the appli…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- Small aircraft Small aircraft — aircraft of 12,500 pounds or less, maximum certificated takeoff weight
aircraft of 12,500 pounds or less, maximum certificated takeoff weight.
14 CFR § 1.1
- STOPWAY STOPWAY
- An area beyond the takeoff runway no less wide than the runway and centered upon the extended centerline of the runway, able to support th…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- VISUAL CLIMB OVER AIRPORT (VCOA) VISUAL CLIMB OVER AIRPORT (VCOA)
- A departure option for an IFR aircraft, operating in visual meteorological conditions equal to or greater than the specified visibility an…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- VISUAL OBSERVER (VO) VISUAL OBSERVER (VO)
- A person who is designated by the remote pilot in command to assist the remote pilot in command and the person operating the flight contro…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
Regulatory · 30
- AD AD
Mandatory FAA-issued directive addressing an unsafe condition in a product. Compliance required per the AD's terms.
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- APRON APRON
- A defined area on an airport or heliport intended to accommodate aircraft for purposes of loading or unloading passengers or cargo, refuel…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- APRON [ICAO] APRON [ICAO]
- A defined area, on a land aerodrome, intended to accommodate aircraft for purposes of loading or unloading passengers, mail or cargo, refu…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- Category A, with respect to transport category rotorcraft, Category A, with respect to transport category rotorcraft,
multiengine rotorcraft designed with engine and system isolation features specified in Part 29 and utilizing scheduled takeoff and landing o…
14 CFR § 1.1
- Equivalent airspeed Equivalent airspeed
the calibrated airspeed of an aircraft corrected for adiabatic compressible flow for the particular altitude. Equivalent airspeed is equal t…
14 CFR § 1.1
- ETOPS Significant System ETOPS Significant System
an airplane system, including the propulsion system, the failure or malfunctioning of which could adversely affect the safety of an ETOPS fl…
14 CFR § 1.1
- External load External load — a load that is carried, or extends, outside of the aircraft fuselage
a load that is carried, or extends, outside of the aircraft fuselage.
14 CFR § 1.1
- External-load attaching means External-load attaching means
the structural components used to attach an external load to an aircraft, including external-load containers, the backup structure at the at…
14 CFR § 1.1
- Flammable, with respect to a fluid or gas, Flammable, with respect to a fluid or gas, — susceptible to igniting readily or to exploding
susceptible to igniting readily or to exploding.
14 CFR § 1.1
- FLIGHT CHECK FLIGHT CHECK
- A call sign prefix used by FAA aircraft engaged in flight inspection/certification of navigational aids and flight procedures. The word “r…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- FLIGHT INSPECTION FLIGHT INSPECTION
- Inflight investigation and evaluation of a navigational aid to determine whether it meets established tolerances.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- Flightcrew member Flightcrew member — a pilot, flight engineer, or flight navigator assigned to duty in an aircraft during flight time
a pilot, flight engineer, or flight navigator assigned to duty in an aircraft during flight time.
14 CFR § 1.1
- FRICTION MEASUREMENT FRICTION MEASUREMENT
- A measurement of the friction characteristics of the runway pavement surface using continuous self‐watering friction measurement equipment…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- Gyroplane Gyroplane
a rotorcraft whose rotors are not engine-driven, except for initial starting, but are made to rotate by action of the air when the rotorcraf…
14 CFR § 1.1
- Indicated airspeed Indicated airspeed
the speed of an aircraft as shown on its pitot static airspeed indicator calibrated to reflect standard atmosphere adiabatic compressible fl…
14 CFR § 1.1
- Load factor Load factor
the ratio of a specified load to the total weight of the aircraft. The specified load is expressed in terms of any of the following: aerodyn…
14 CFR § 1.1
- Maintenance Maintenance
inspection, overhaul, repair, preservation, and the replacement of parts, but excludes preventive maintenance.
14 CFR § 1.1
- MAINTENANCE PLANNING FRICTION LEVEL MAINTENANCE PLANNING FRICTION LEVEL
- The friction level specified in AC 150/5320‐12, Measurement, Construction, and Maintenance of Skid Resistant Airport Pavement Surfaces, wh…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- MINIMUM FRICTION LEVEL MINIMUM FRICTION LEVEL
- The friction level specified in AC 150/5320‐12, Measurement, Construction, and Maintenance of Skid Resistant Airport Pavement Surfaces, th…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- Pitch setting Pitch setting
the propeller blade setting as determined by the blade angle measured in a manner, and at a radius, specified by the instruction manual for …
14 CFR § 1.1
- Preventive maintenance Preventive maintenance
simple or minor preservation operations and the replacement of small standard parts not involving complex assembly operations.
14 CFR § 1.1
- SAIB SAIB
FAA advisory — non-mandatory — flagging an emerging issue or service bulletin for owner/operator awareness.
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- Show, unless the context otherwise requires, Show, unless the context otherwise requires, — to show to the satisfaction of the Administrator
to show to the satisfaction of the Administrator.
14 CFR § 1.1
- STC STC
FAA-issued approval of a major change to a type-certified product (avionics retrofit, engine swap, STOL kit, etc.).
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- TCAS I TCAS I
a TCAS that utilizes interrogations of, and replies from, airborne radar beacon transponders and provides traffic advisories to the pilot.
14 CFR § 1.1
- TCAS II TCAS II
a TCAS that utilizes interrogations of, and replies from airborne radar beacon transponders and provides traffic advisories and resolution a…
14 CFR § 1.1
- TCAS III TCAS III
a TCAS that utilizes interrogation of, and replies from, airborne radar beacon transponders and provides traffic advisories and resolution a…
14 CFR § 1.1
- TCDS TCDS
Legal description of an aircraft / engine / propeller type. Lists weights, V-speeds, CG envelope, approved equipment, fuel.
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- Time in service, with respect to maintenance time records, Time in service, with respect to maintenance time records,
the time from the moment an aircraft leaves the surface of the earth until it touches it at the next point of landing.
14 CFR § 1.1
- Weight-shift-control aircraft Weight-shift-control aircraft
a powered aircraft with a framed pivoting wing and a fuselage controllable only in pitch and roll by the pilot's ability to change the aircr…
14 CFR § 1.1
V-speed · 23
- Va Va
Maximum speed at which abrupt full deflection of any single flight control will not exceed the aircraft's structural limits. Decreases with …
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- VECTOR VECTOR — - A heading issued to an aircraft to provide navigational guidance by radar
- A heading issued to an aircraft to provide navigational guidance by radar.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- VERIFY VERIFY — Request confirmation of information
Request confirmation of information; e.g., “verify assigned altitude.”
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- VERTIPAD VERTIPAD
- A small, designated area, usually with a prepared surface, on a vertiport, airport, landing/takeoff area, apron/ramp, or movement area use…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- VERTIPORT VERTIPORT
- An area of land, water, or a structure used or intended to be used to support the landing, takeoff, taxiing, parking, and storage of power…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- Vfe Vfe — Top of the white arc
Top of the white arc. Above this speed, flaps are not approved for extension.
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- VISIBILITY VISIBILITY
- The ability, as determined by atmospheric conditions and expressed in units of distance, to see and identify prominent unlighted objects b…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- Vle Vle — Maximum speed at which the aircraft may operate with the gear extended
Maximum speed at which the aircraft may operate with the gear extended. POH-specific.
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- Vlo Vlo — Maximum speed at which the gear may be extended or retracted
Maximum speed at which the gear may be extended or retracted. POH-specific.
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- Vmca Vmca
Multi-engine: minimum speed at which directional control can be maintained with the critical engine inoperative. Marked red radial on the AS…
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- Vmcg Vmcg
Transport-category: minimum speed during the takeoff run at which directional control can be maintained with the critical engine inoperative…
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- Vne Vne
The redline. Operating above Vne risks structural failure or flutter. Marked by the red radial line on the airspeed indicator.
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- Vno Vno — Top of the green arc / bottom of the yellow arc
Top of the green arc / bottom of the yellow arc. Operations in the yellow are smooth-air-only.
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- VOR VOR
- A ground‐based electronic navigation aid transmitting very high frequency navigation signals, 360 degrees in azimuth, oriented from magnet…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- VORTAC VORTAC
- A navigation aid providing VOR azimuth, TACAN azimuth, and TACAN distance measuring equipment (DME) at one site.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- VORTICES VORTICES
- Circular patterns of air created by the movement of an airfoil through the air when generating lift. As an airfoil moves through the atmos…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- VOT VOT
- A ground facility which emits a test signal to check VOR receiver accuracy. Some VOTs are available to the user while airborne, and others…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- Vr Vr
Speed at which the pilot rotates the aircraft for liftoff. Per POH, varies with weight + flap setting.
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- Vref Vref — Reference approach speed at the threshold — typically 1
Reference approach speed at the threshold — typically 1.3 × Vs0 at landing weight.
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- Vs Vs — Stall speed in landing configuration
Stall speed in landing configuration. Bottom of the green arc on the ASI.
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- Vs0 Vs0 — Stall speed in landing configuration — gear and flaps fully extended
Stall speed in landing configuration — gear and flaps fully extended. Bottom of the white arc.
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- Vx Vx — Speed that yields maximum altitude gain per unit of horizontal distance
Speed that yields maximum altitude gain per unit of horizontal distance. Use to clear an obstacle.
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- Vy Vy
Speed that yields maximum altitude gain per unit of time. Use when no obstacle but you want altitude fast.
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Safety · 16
- AIR DEFENSE EMERGENCY AIR DEFENSE EMERGENCY
- A military emergency condition declared by a designated authority. This condition exists when an attack upon the continental U.S., Alaska,…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- Commercial operator Commercial operator
a person who, for compensation or hire, engages in the carriage by aircraft in air commerce of persons or property, other than as an air car…
14 CFR § 1.1
- EMERGENCY EMERGENCY — A distress or an urgency condition
A distress or an urgency condition.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- EMERGENCY AUTOLAND SYSTEM EMERGENCY AUTOLAND SYSTEM
- This system, if activated, will determine an optimal airport, plot a course, broadcast the aircraft's intentions, fly to the airport, land…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- EMERGENCY DESCENT MODE EMERGENCY DESCENT MODE
- This automated system senses conditions conducive to hypoxia (cabin depressurization). If an aircraft is equipped and the system is activa…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- FLAMEOUT FLAMEOUT — - An emergency condition caused by a loss of engine power
- An emergency condition caused by a loss of engine power.
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- FLIGHT STANDARDS DISTRICT OFFICE FLIGHT STANDARDS DISTRICT OFFICE
- An FAA field office serving an assigned geographical area and staffed with Flight Standards personnel who serve the aviation industry and …
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT [ICAO] INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT [ICAO]
- Any airport designated by the Contracting State in whose territory it is situated as an airport of entry and departure for international a…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- MAN PORTABLE AIR DEFENSE SYSTEMS (MANPADS) MAN PORTABLE AIR DEFENSE SYSTEMS (MANPADS)
- MANPADS are lightweight, shoulder-launched, missile systems used to bring down aircraft and create mass casualties. The potential for MANP…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- MINIMUM FUEL MINIMUM FUEL
- Indicates that an aircraft's fuel supply has reached a state where, upon reaching the destination, it can accept little or no delay. This …
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- REMOTE COMMUNICATIONS AIR/GROUND FACILITY REMOTE COMMUNICATIONS AIR/GROUND FACILITY
- An unmanned VHF/UHF transmitter/receiver facility which is used to expand ARTCC air/ground communications coverage and to facilitate direc…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- RESOLUTION ADVISORY RESOLUTION ADVISORY
- A display indication given to the pilot by the Traffic alert and Collision Avoidance System (TCAS II) recommending a maneuver to increase …
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- SAFETY LOGIC SYSTEM SAFETY LOGIC SYSTEM
- A software enhancement to ASDE-3, ASDE-X, and ASSC, that predicts the path of aircraft landing and/or departing, and/or vehicular movement…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- SPECIAL EMERGENCY SPECIAL EMERGENCY
- A condition of air piracy or other hostile act by a person(s) aboard an aircraft which threatens the safety of the aircraft or its passeng…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- TRAFFIC ALERT AND COLLISION AVOIDANCE SYSTEM (TCAS) TRAFFIC ALERT AND COLLISION AVOIDANCE SYSTEM (TCAS)
- An airborne collision avoidance system based on radar beacon signals which operates independent of ground‐based equipment. TCAS‐I generate…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- VIDEO MAP VIDEO MAP
- An electronically displayed map on the radar display that may depict data such as airports, heliports, runway centerline extensions, hospi…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
Weather · 7
- AIRMET AIRMET
Advisory of weather phenomena potentially hazardous to all aircraft. Sierra (IFR/mtn obscuration), Tango (turbulence), Zulu (icing).
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- ASOS ASOS
FAA / NWS automated weather station. Provides current wind / vis / ceiling / temp / dewpoint / altimeter via radio + landline.
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- AWOS AWOS — FAA-installed automated weather station
FAA-installed automated weather station. Reports vary by class (AWOS-A, A/V, I, II, III, IV).
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- METAR METAR
Routine surface weather observation issued hourly (or specially when conditions change). FAA / ICAO standard format.
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- PIREP PIREP
Pilot-submitted in-flight weather report. UA = routine; UUA = urgent (severe icing, severe turbulence, hail, etc.).
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- SIGMET SIGMET
A weather advisory issued concerning weather significant to the safety of all aircraft. SIGMET advisories cover severe and extreme turbulenc…
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
- TAF TAF
Forecast of conditions within 5 SM of an airport, valid 24-30 hours, issued every 6 hours. Change groups: FM / BECMG / TEMPO / PROB.
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Roles · 5
- AME AME — Physician designated by the FAA to issue medical certificates (Class 1, 2, or 3)
Physician designated by the FAA to issue medical certificates (Class 1, 2, or 3).
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- DAR DAR
Private-citizen designee authorized by the FAA to issue airworthiness certificates and conformity inspections.
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- DPE DPE
Private citizen designated by the FAA to administer practical tests (checkrides) for pilot certificates and ratings.
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- PIC PIC
The pilot responsible for and the final authority over the operation of the aircraft. Logged when manipulating controls + appropriately rate…
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- SIC SIC
Pilot designated to assume PIC duties in the event of incapacitation. Logged per § 61.55 / § 61.51(f).
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Equipment · 2
- ADS-B Out ADS-B Out — Required in Mode C airspace since 2020-01-01
Required in Mode C airspace since 2020-01-01. Broadcasts position via 1090ES or UAT.
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- ELT ELT
Activates on impact, transmits a distress signal on 121.5 / 406 MHz. Battery life + operational test required.
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Performance · 2
- Density altitude Density altitude
Pressure altitude corrected for non-standard temperature. The altitude at which the air density equals today's actual conditions.
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- Pressure altitude Pressure altitude
Altitude indicated by an altimeter set to 29.92 in Hg. The altitude reference for high-altitude operations and performance charts.
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Approach · 2
Operations · 2
- NOTAM NOTAM
Time-critical aeronautical information. Categories: D (dissemination), FDC (flight data center, regulatory), Pointer, SAA, Military.
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- TFR TFR
Time- and area-bound airspace restriction. Common types: presidential movement, sporting events, firefighting, hazards, disaster relief.
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No matching terms.
Methodology.
Each term in this glossary is hand-curated and cites a primary US-government source — a CFR section, AC, AIM chapter, or FAA Order. Where a calculator or decoder exists, we link to it. The glossary grows with the things pilots actually search for; it is not encyclopedic.