Glossary

General · 372

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FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

ACROBATIC FLIGHT

An intentional maneuver involving an abrupt change in an aircraft's attitude, an abnormal attitude, or abnormal acceleration not necessary for normal flight.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

ACROBATIC FLIGHT [ICAO]

Maneuvers intentionally performed by an aircraft involving an abrupt change in its attitude, an abnormal attitude, or an abnormal variation in speed.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

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

Tell me what you plan to do.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

ADVISORY

Advice and information provided to assist pilots in the safe conduct of flight and aircraft movement.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

ADVISORY CIRCULAR (AC)

An FAA publication, advisory and descriptive in nature, which is not regulatory.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

ADVISORY FREQUENCY

The appropriate frequency to be used for Airport Advisory Service.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

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

A procedure used by the military to transfer fuel from one aircraft to another during flight.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

Aerodynamic coefficients

non-dimensional coefficients for aerodynamic forces and moments.

14 CFR § 1.1

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)

A facility in Silver Spring, MD, established by FAA to operate a central aeronautical information service for the collection, validation, and dissemination of aeronautical data in support of the activities of government, industry, and the aviation community. The information is published in the National Flight Data Digest.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

Air carrier

a person who undertakes directly by lease, or other arrangement, to engage in air transportation.

14 CFR § 1.1

AIR CARRIER DISTRICT OFFICE

An FAA field office serving an assigned geographical area, staffed with Flight Standards personnel serving the aviation industry and the general public on matters related to the certification and operation of scheduled air carriers and other large aircraft operations.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

Air commerce

interstate, overseas, or foreign air commerce or the transportation of mail by aircraft or any operation or navigation of aircraft within the limits of any Federal airway or any operation or navigation of aircraft which directly affects, or which may endanger safety in, interstate, overseas, or foreign air commerce.

14 CFR § 1.1

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 or equipment for disseminating weather information, for signaling, for radio‐directional finding, or for radio or other electrical communication, and any other structure or mechanism having a similar purpose for guiding or controlling flight in the air or the landing and takeoff of aircraft.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

AIR TAXI

Used to describe a helicopter/VTOL aircraft movement conducted above the surface but normally not above 100 feet AGL. The aircraft may proceed either via hover taxi or flight at speeds more than 20 knots. The pilot is solely responsible for selecting a safe airspeed/altitude for the operation being conducted.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

Air transportation

interstate, overseas, or foreign air transportation or the transportation of mail by aircraft.

14 CFR § 1.1

AIRBORNE

An aircraft is considered airborne when all parts of the aircraft are off the ground.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

AIRBORNE DELAY

Amount of delay to be encountered in airborne holding.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

Aircraft engine

an engine that is used or intended to be used for propelling aircraft. It includes turbosuperchargers, appurtenances, and accessories necessary for its functioning, but does not include propellers.

14 CFR § 1.1

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

The highest point of an airport's usable runways measured in feet from mean sea level.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

AIRPORT LIGHTING

Various lighting aids that may be installed on an airport. Types of airport lighting include:

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

AIRPORT REFERENCE POINT (ARP)

The approximate geometric center of all usable runway surfaces.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

AIRPORT RESERVATION OFFICE

Office responsible for monitoring the operation of slot controlled airports. It receives and processes requests for unscheduled operations at slot controlled airports.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

Airship

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

14 CFR § 1.1

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

The starting of an aircraft engine while the aircraft is airborne, preceded by engine shutdown during training flights or by actual engine failure.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

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

A service provided to notify appropriate organizations regarding aircraft in need of search and rescue aid and assist such organizations as required.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

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 slant range errors.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

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

The barometric pressure reading used to adjust a pressure altimeter for variations in existing atmospheric pressure or to the standard altimeter setting (29.92).

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

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]

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

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

an unmanned rocket that:

14 CFR § 1.1

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 bilateral agreement between the United States and a foreign country or jurisdiction.

14 CFR § 1.1

Armed Forces

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

14 CFR § 1.1

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

The ARTCC having jurisdiction for the impacted airport.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

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

The time an aircraft touches down on arrival.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

AUTOMATED PROBLEM DETECTION (APD)

An Automation Processing capability that compares trajectories in order to predict conflicts.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

AUTOMATED WEATHER SYSTEM

Any of the automated weather sensor platforms that collect weather data at airports and disseminate the weather information via radio and/or landline. The systems currently consist of the Automated Surface Observing System (ASOS) and Automated Weather Observation System (AWOS).

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

AUTOMATIC TERMINAL INFORMATION SERVICE [ICAO]

The provision of current, routine information to arriving and departing aircraft by means of continuous and repetitive broadcasts throughout the day or a specified portion of the day.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

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

a rotor that serves either to counteract the effect of the main rotor torque on a rotorcraft or to maneuver the rotorcraft about one or more of its three principal axes.

14 CFR § 1.1

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 threshold to the hold‐short point.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

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

Weather conditions below the minimums prescribed by regulation for the particular action involved; e.g., landing minimums, takeoff minimums.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

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 manipulating the controls, and visual observer [VO]), if used to see the aircraft with vision unaided by any device other than corrective lenses, spectacles, and contact lenses.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

BLAST FENCE

A barrier that is used to divert or dissipate jet or propeller blast.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

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

the power delivered at the propeller shaft (main drive or main output) of an aircraft engine.

14 CFR § 1.1

BROADCAST

Transmission of information for which an acknowledgement is not expected.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

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

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 established. A portion of a buffer area can also be inclusive of a MVA/MIA sector polygon boundary.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

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

the indicated airspeed of an aircraft, corrected for position and instrument error. Calibrated airspeed is equal to true airspeed in standard atmosphere at sea level.

14 CFR § 1.1

CALL FOR RELEASE

Wherein the overlying ARTCC requires a terminal facility to initiate verbal coordination to secure ARTCC approval for release of a departure into the en route environment.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

CALL UP

Initial voice contact between a facility and an aircraft, using the identification of the unit being called and the unit initiating the call.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

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

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

“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,

single-engine or multiengine rotorcraft which do not fully meet all Category A standards. Category B rotorcraft have no guaranteed stay-up ability in the event of engine failure and unscheduled landing is assumed.

14 CFR § 1.1

CEILING

The heights above the earth's surface of the lowest layer of clouds or obscuring phenomena that is reported as “broken,” “overcast,” or “obscuration,” and not classified as “thin” or “partial.”

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

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 sky.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

CHART SUPPLEMENT

A series of civil/military flight information publications issued by FAA every 56 days consisting of the Chart Supplement U.S., Chart Supplement Alaska, and Chart Supplement Pacific.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

CHART SUPPLEMENT ALASKA

A flight information publication designed for use with appropriate IFR or VFR charts which contains data on all airports, seaplane bases, and heliports open to the public including communications data, navigational facilities, airport diagrams, certain special notices, and non-regulatory procedures. Also included in this publication are selected entries needed to support the unique geographical operational conditions of Alaska. This publication is issued in one volume for the state of Alaska.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

CHARTED VFR FLYWAYS

Charted VFR Flyways are flight paths recommended for use to bypass areas heavily traversed by large turbine‐powered aircraft. Pilot compliance with recommended flyways and associated altitudes is strictly voluntary. VFR Flyway Planning charts are published on the back of existing VFR Terminal Area charts.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

Civil aircraft

aircraft other than public aircraft.

14 CFR § 1.1

CIVIL AIRCRAFT OPERATION (CAO)

Aircraft operations other than public use.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

CLIMBOUT

That portion of flight operation between takeoff and the initial cruising altitude.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

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

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

A correction in feet, based on height above airport and temperature, that is added to the aircraft's indicated altitude to offset the effect of cold temperature on true altitude.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

COMMON ROUTE

That segment of a North American Route between the inland navigation facility and the coastal fix.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

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 magnetic direction.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

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 operations.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

CONFORMANCE REGION

A volume, bounded laterally, vertically, and longitudinally, within which an aircraft must be at a given time in order to be in conformance with the Current Plan Trajectory for that aircraft. At a given time, the conformance region is determined by the simultaneous application of the lateral, vertical, and longitudinal conformance bounds for the aircraft at the position defined by time and aircraft's trajectory.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

CONNECTION

A virtual connection between the ground system and the aircraft for the exchange of CPDLC messages.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

CONSOLAN

A low frequency, long‐distance NAVAID used principally for transoceanic navigations.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

CONSTRAINT SATISFACTION POINT (CSP)

Meter Reference Elements (MREs) that are actively scheduled by TBFM. Constraint satisfaction occurs when the Scheduled Time of Arrival generated for each metered flight conforms to all the scheduling constraints specified at all the applicable CSPs.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

CONTINUE

When used as a control instruction should be followed by another word or words clarifying what is expected of the pilot. Example: “continue taxi,” “continue descent,” “continue inbound,” etc.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

CONVECTIVE SIGMET

A weather advisory concerning convective weather significant to the safety of all aircraft. Convective SIGMETs are issued for tornadoes, lines of thunderstorms, embedded thunderstorms of any intensity level, areas of thunderstorms greater than or equal to VIP level 4 with an area coverage of 4/10 (40%) or more, and hail 3/4 inch or greater.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

CORRECTION

An error has been made in the transmission and the correct version follows.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

Crewmember

a person assigned to perform duty in an aircraft during flight time.

14 CFR § 1.1

CREWMEMBER (UAS)

A person assigned to perform an operational duty. A UAS crewmember includes the remote pilot in command, the person manipulating the controls, and visual observers but may also include other persons as appropriate or required to ensure the safe operation of the UAS (e.g., sensor operator, ground control station operator).

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

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 specified manifold pressure. Unless otherwise stated, the critical altitude is the maximum altitude at which it is possible to maintain, at the maximum continuous rotational speed, one of the following:

14 CFR § 1.1

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

The wind component measured in knots at 90 degrees to the longitudinal axis of the runway.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

CRUISE CLIMB

A climb technique employed by aircraft, usually at a constant power setting, resulting in an increase of altitude as the aircraft weight decreases.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

CRUISING LEVEL [ICAO]

A level maintained during a significant portion of a flight.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

DEAD RECKONING

Dead reckoning, as applied to flying, is the navigation of an airplane solely by means of computations based on airspeed, course, heading, wind direction, and speed, groundspeed, and elapsed time.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

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)

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 Time of Arrival (STA). It is calculated by taking the difference between the frozen STA and the Estimated Time of Arrival (ETA).

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

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

The time an aircraft becomes airborne.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

DESCENT SPEED ADJUSTMENTS

Speed deceleration calculations made to determine an accurate VTA. These calculations start at the transition point and use arrival speed segments to the vertex.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

DESIRED TRACK

The planned or intended track between two waypoints. It is measured in degrees from either magnetic or true north. The instantaneous angle may change from point to point along the great circle track between waypoints.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

DISTRESS

A condition of being threatened by serious and/or imminent danger and of requiring immediate assistance.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

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. periods of significant weather.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

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

Any pre-determined area upon which parachutists or objects land after making an intentional parachute jump or drop.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

DUE REGARD

A phase of flight wherein an aircraft commander of a State‐operated aircraft assumes responsibility to separate his/her aircraft from all other aircraft.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

DYNAMIC

Continuous review, evaluation, and change to meet demands.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

Early ETOPS

ETOPS type design approval obtained without gaining non-ETOPS service experience on the candidate airplane-engine combination certified for ETOPS.

14 CFR § 1.1

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 route or an embedded change in the route are color-coded in cyan with cyan brackets around the sub-field.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

EN ROUTE DESCENT

Descent from the en route cruising altitude which takes place along the route of flight.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

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 distinguished and identified by day or night by a pilot using an enhanced flight vision system.

14 CFR § 1.1

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 prior to the expiration time. Using “EST” lets the user know that this NOTAM has the possibility of returning to service earlier than the expiration time. Any NOTAM which includes an “EST” will be auto-expired at the designated expiration time.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

ESTIMATED TIME EN ROUTE

The estimated flying time from departure point to destination (lift‐off to touchdown).

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

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)

an airplane flight operation, other than an all-cargo operation in an airplane with more than two engines, during which a portion of the flight is conducted beyond a time threshold identified in part 121 or part 135 of this chapter that is determined using an approved one-engine-inoperative cruise speed under standard atmospheric conditions in still air.

14 CFR § 1.1

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

A propeller whose blades have been rotated so that the leading and trailing edges are nearly parallel with the aircraft flight path to stop or minimize drag and engine rotation. Normally used to indicate shutdown of a reciprocating or turboprop engine due to malfunction.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

FERRY FLIGHT

A flight for the purpose of:

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

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 techniques.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

FINAL GUARD SERVICE

A value added service provided in conjunction with LAA/RAA only during periods of significant and fast changing weather conditions that may affect landing and takeoff operations.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

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

UAS operation in which imagery is transmitted to the UAS pilot by an onboard UA camera.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

FIRST TIER CENTER

An ARTCC immediately adjacent to the impacted center.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

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

the highest speed permissible with wing flaps in a prescribed extended position.

14 CFR § 1.1

Flash resistant

not susceptible to burning violently when ignited.

14 CFR § 1.1

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

A level of constant atmospheric pressure related to a reference datum of 29.92 inches of mercury. Each is stated in three digits that represent hundreds of feet. For example, flight level (FL) 250 represents a barometric altimeter indication of 25,000 feet; FL 255, an indication of 25,500 feet.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

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 other such surfaces by specific pressure intervals.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

FLIGHT LINE

A term used to describe the precise movement of a civil photogrammetric aircraft along a predetermined course(s) at a predetermined altitude during the actual photographic run.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

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 system is constantly updated with respect to position accuracy by reference to conventional navigation aids. The sophisticated program and its associated data base ensures that the most appropriate aids are automatically selected during the information update cycle.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

FLIGHT PATH

A line, course, or track along which an aircraft is flying or intended to be flown.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

FLIGHT RECORDER

A general term applied to any instrument or device that records information about the performance of an aircraft in flight or about conditions encountered in flight. Flight recorders may make records of airspeed, outside air temperature, vertical acceleration, engine RPM, manifold pressure, and other pertinent variables for a given flight.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

Flight simulation training device (FSTD)

a full flight simulator or a flight training device.

14 CFR § 1.1

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 other failure that compromises the safety of flight.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

FLIGHT TEST

A flight for the purpose of:

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

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 includes the equipment and computer programs necessary to represent aircraft (or set of aircraft) operations in ground and flight conditions having the full range of capabilities of the systems installed in the device as described in part 60 of this chapter and the qualification performance standard (QPS) for a specific FTD qualification level.

14 CFR § 1.1

Flight visibility

the average forward horizontal distance, from the cockpit of an aircraft in flight, at which prominent unlighted objects may be seen and identified by day and prominent lighted objects may be seen and identified by night.

14 CFR § 1.1

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 transportation.

14 CFR § 1.1

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 navigation of aircraft in the conduct or furtherance of a business or vocation, in commerce between a place in the United States and any place outside thereof; whether such commerce moves wholly by aircraft or partly by aircraft and partly by other forms of transportation.

14 CFR § 1.1

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 commerce between a place in the United States and any place outside of the United States, whether that commerce moves wholly by aircraft or partly by aircraft and partly by other forms of transportation.

14 CFR § 1.1

FORMATION FLIGHT

More than one aircraft which, by prior arrangement between the pilots, operate as a single aircraft with regard to navigation and position reporting. Separation between aircraft within the formation is the responsibility of the flight leader and the pilots of the other aircraft in the flight. This includes transition periods when aircraft within the formation are maneuvering to attain separation from each other to effect individual control and during join‐up and breakaway.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

Forward wing

a forward lifting surface of a canard configuration or tandem-wing configuration airplane. The surface may be a fixed, movable, or variable geometry surface, with or without control surfaces.

14 CFR § 1.1

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 parameter MLDI.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

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

Airborne release of usable fuel. This does not include the dropping of fuel tanks.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

FUEL SIPHONING

Unintentional release of fuel caused by overflow, puncture, loose cap, etc.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

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 necessary to represent aircraft operations in ground and flight conditions, a visual system providing an out-of-the-cockpit view, a system that provides cues at least equivalent to those of a three-degree-of-freedom motion system, and has the full range of capabilities of the systems installed in the device as described in part 60 of this chapter and the qualification performance standards (QPS) for a specific FFS qualification level.

14 CFR § 1.1

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]

All civil aviation operations other than scheduled air services and nonscheduled air transport operations for remuneration or hire.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

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 flight does not depend principally on an engine.

14 CFR § 1.1

GLOBAL NAVIGATION SATELLITE SYSTEM (GNSS)

GNSS refers collectively to the worldwide positioning, navigation, and timing determination capability available from one or more satellite constellations. A GNSS constellation may be augmented by ground stations and/or geostationary satellites to improve integrity and position accuracy.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

GO AHEAD

Proceed with your message. Not to be used for any other purpose.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

Go-around power or thrust setting

the maximum allowable in-flight power or thrust setting identified in the performance data.

14 CFR § 1.1

GROUND SPEED

The speed of an aircraft relative to the surface of the earth.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

Ground visibility

prevailing horizontal visibility near the earth's surface as reported by the United States National Weather Service or an accredited observer.

14 CFR § 1.1

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

a rotorcraft whose rotors are normally engine-driven for takeoff, hovering, and landing, and for forward flight through part of its speed range, and whose means of propulsion, consisting usually of conventional propellers, is independent of the rotor system.

14 CFR § 1.1

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

A rotorcraft that, for its horizontal motion, depends principally on its engine‐driven rotors.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

HELIPAD

A small, designated area, usually with a prepared surface, on a heliport, airport, landing/takeoff area, apron/ramp, or movement area used for takeoff, landing, or parking of helicopters.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

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)

The geographic center of a heliport.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

HIGH FREQUENCY

The frequency band between 3 and 30 MHz.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

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

A long radius taxiway designed and provided with lighting or marking to define the path of aircraft, traveling at high speed (up to 60 knots), from the runway center to a point on the center of a taxiway. Also referred to as long radius exit or turn‐off taxiway. The high speed taxiway is designed to expedite aircraft turning off the runway after landing, thus reducing runway occupancy time.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

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 maintaining the position of an aircraft while holding.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

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 of the stations is mobile, and whereby the mobile station proceeds continuously towards the other station.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

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 taxi, or takeoff. Altitude of the hover will vary based on the purpose of the check.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

I SAY AGAIN

The message will be repeated.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

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

An aircraft conducting flight in accordance with instrument flight rules.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

IFR CONDITIONS

Weather conditions below the minimum for flight under visual flight rules.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

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 and tactical training in both IFR and VFR weather conditions below 10,000 feet MSL at airspeeds in excess of 250 knots IAS.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

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 conditions on top”.

14 CFR § 1.1

INFORMATION REQUEST (INREQ)

A request originated by an FSS for information concerning an overdue VFR aircraft.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

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

a device using an internal mechanism to show visually or aurally the attitude, altitude, or operation of an aircraft or aircraft part. It includes electronic devices for automatically controlling an aircraft in flight.

14 CFR § 1.1

INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS (IMC)

Meteorological conditions expressed in terms of visibility, distance from cloud, and ceiling less than the minima specified for visual meteorological conditions.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

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 route flow. IDAC provides a mechanism for electronic coordination of departure release times.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

Relating to international flight, it means:

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

INTERSECTING RUNWAYS

Two or more runways which cross or meet within their lengths.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

INTERSECTION DEPARTURE

A departure from any runway intersection except the end of the runway.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

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 commerce:

14 CFR § 1.1

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 more persons, wholly within the same State of the United States.

14 CFR § 1.1

IRREGULAR SURFACE

A surface that is open for use but not per regulations.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

JET BLAST

The rapid air movement produced by exhaust from jet engines.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

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” routes with numbering to identify the designated route; e.g., J105.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

JETTISONING OF EXTERNAL STORES

Airborne release of external stores; e.g., tiptanks, ordnance.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

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 information disseminated via NOTAM.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

LANDING AREA [ICAO]

That part of a movement area intended for the landing or take‐off of aircraft.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

LANDING DISTANCE AVAILABLE (LDA)

The runway length declared available and suitable for a landing airplane.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

Landing gear extended speed

the maximum speed at which an aircraft can be safely flown with the landing gear extended.

14 CFR § 1.1

LANDING SEQUENCE

The order in which aircraft are positioned for landing.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

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

An airport where runway and obstruction lighting is available.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

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

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)

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 perform a predictable or planned maneuver. Loss of command and control link between the Control Station and the aircraft. There are two types of links:

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

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 positive link cannot be established, flight termination must be implemented.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

LOW ALTITUDE AIRWAY STRUCTURE

The network of airways serving aircraft operations up to but not including 18,000 feet MSL.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

LOW FREQUENCY (LF)

The frequency band between 30 and 300 kHz.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

MACH NUMBER

The ratio of true airspeed to the speed of sound; e.g., MACH .82, MACH 1.6.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

Main rotor

the rotor that supplies the principal lift to a rotorcraft.

14 CFR § 1.1

Major alteration

an alteration not listed in the aircraft, aircraft engine, or propeller specifications—

14 CFR § 1.1

Major repair

a repair:

14 CFR § 1.1

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

An electronic navigation facility transmitting a 75 MHz vertical fan or boneshaped radiation pattern. Marker beacons are identified by their modulation frequency and keying code, and when received by compatible airborne equipment, indicate to the pilot, both aurally and visually, that he/she is passing over the facility.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

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 meter time, and determine appropriate sector meter list assignments for aircraft not on an established arrival route or assigned a meter fix.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

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

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)

The lowest altitude at certain fixes at which an aircraft must cross when proceeding in the direction of a higher minimum en route IFR altitude (MEA).

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

MINIMUM RECEPTION ALTITUDE (MRA)

The lowest altitude at which an intersection can be determined.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

MINIMUMS

Weather condition requirements established for a particular operation or type of operation; e.g., IFR takeoff or landing, alternate airport for IFR flight plans, VFR flight, etc.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

Minor alteration

an alteration other than a major alteration.

14 CFR § 1.1

Minor repair

a repair other than a major repair.

14 CFR § 1.1

MONITOR

(When used with communication transfer) listen on a specific frequency and stand by for instructions. Under normal circumstances do not establish communications.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

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 15 minutes.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

MOVING ALTITUDE RESERVATION

An altitude reservation which encompasses en route activities and advances with the mission progress; i.e., the reservation moves with the aircraft or flight.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

MULTICOM

A mobile service not open to public correspondence used to provide communications essential to conduct the activities being performed by or directed from private aircraft.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

MULTIPLE RUNWAYS

The utilization of a dedicated arrival runway(s) for departures and a dedicated departure runway(s) for arrivals when feasible to reduce delays and enhance capacity.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

NATIONAL FLIGHT DATA DIGEST (NFDD)

A daily (except weekends and Federal holidays) publication of flight information appropriate to aeronautical charts, aeronautical publications, Notices to Airmen, or other media serving the purpose of providing operational flight data essential to safe and efficient aircraft operations.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

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 missions.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

NAVIGATIONAL AID

Any visual or electronic device airborne or on the surface which provides point‐to‐point guidance information or position data to aircraft in flight.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

NEGATIVE

“No,” or “permission not granted,” or “that is not correct.”

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

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 sunrise as may be specified by the appropriate authority.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

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 reference to ground-based NAVAIDs.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

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

A numerically coded route preplanned over existing airway and route systems to and from specific coastal fixes serving the North Atlantic. North American Routes consist of the following:

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

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 guidelines.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

NORTH PACIFIC

An organized route system between the Alaskan west coast and Japan.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

NOT STANDARD

Varying from what is expected or published. For use in NOTAMs only.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

NOTAM [ICAO]

A notice containing information concerning the establishment, condition or change in any aeronautical facility, service, procedure or hazard, the timely knowledge of which is essential to personnel concerned with flight operations.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

OBSTRUCTION

Any object/obstacle exceeding the obstruction standards specified by 14 CFR part 77, subpart C.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

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 the presence of an obstruction.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

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

Staggered runways having centerlines which are parallel.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

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 the piloting of aircraft, with or without the right of legal control (as owner, lessee, or otherwise).

14 CFR § 1.1

Operational control, with respect to a flight,

the exercise of authority over initiating, conducting or terminating a flight.

14 CFR § 1.1

OPERATIONS OVER PEOPLE (OOP)

Operations of small unmanned aircraft over people.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

OPERATOR (UAS)

The owner and/or remote pilot of a UAS.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

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

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 fix times and determine appropriate sector meter list assignments for aircraft on an established arrival route that will traverse the arc.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

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 applicable delay time that must be absorbed prior to crossing the meter fix.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

Over-the-top

above the layer of clouds or other obscuring phenomena forming the ceiling.

14 CFR § 1.1

OVERLYING CENTER

The ARTCC facility that is responsible for arrival/departure operations at a specific terminal.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

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 navigation of aircraft in the conduct or furtherance of a business or vocation, in commerce between a place in any State of the United States, or the District of Columbia, and any place in a territory or possession of the United States; or between a place in a territory or possession of the United States, and a place in any other territory or possession of the United States.

14 CFR § 1.1

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 commerce:

14 CFR § 1.1

Parachute

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

Two or more runways at the same airport whose centerlines are parallel. In addition to runway number, parallel runways are designated as L (left) and R (right) or, if three parallel runways exist, L (left), C (center), and R (right).

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

Person

an individual, firm, partnership, corporation, company, association, joint-stock association, or governmental entity. It includes a trustee, receiver, assignee, or similar representative of any of them.

14 CFR § 1.1

PILOT IN COMMAND

The pilot responsible for the operation and safety of an aircraft during flight time.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

PILOT INITIATED DOWNLINK (PID)

Any message exchange that originates from the flight deck.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

PILOT WEATHER REPORT

A report of meteorological phenomena encountered by aircraft in flight.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

Pilotage

navigation by visual reference to landmarks.

14 CFR § 1.1

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 high altitude waypoint system.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

PLANS DISPLAY

A display available in EDST that provides detailed flight plan and predicted conflict information in textual format for requested Current Plans and all Trial Plans.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

PLANVIEW GRAPHICAL USER INTERFACE (PGUI)

A TBFM display that provides a spatial display of individual aircraft track information.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

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 the aircraft is in motion. The fuselage of a powered parachute contains the aircraft engine, a seat for each occupant and is attached to the aircraft's landing gear.

14 CFR § 1.1

Powered-lift

a heavier-than-air aircraft capable of vertical takeoff, vertical landing, and low speed flight that depends principally on engine-driven lift devices or engine thrust for lift during these flight regimes and on nonrotating airfoil(s) for lift during horizontal flight.

14 CFR § 1.1

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]

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 intercept and proceed along the reciprocal of the designated track.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

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)

The disturbed mass of air generated by the motion of a propeller.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

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 flight time along the proposed route from the departure airport to the center boundary is less than or equal to the value of PBCT or if airport adaptation specifies transmission regardless of PBCT.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

PROPOSED DEPARTURE TIME

The time that the aircraft expects to become airborne.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

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 non-crewmenber:

14 CFR § 1.1

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

A route for which an IFR altitude has been established and published; e.g., Federal Airways, Jet Routes, Area Navigation Routes, Specified Direct Routes.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

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 surface.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

RADIO MAGNETIC INDICATOR

An aircraft navigational instrument coupled with a gyro compass or similar compass that indicates the direction of a selected NAVAID and indicates bearing with respect to the heading of the aircraft.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

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

Any route not established or charted/published or not otherwise available to all users.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

READ BACK

Repeat my message back to me.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

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 or non‐DoD integrity systems other than the receiver itself. This determination is achieved by a consistency check among redundant pseudorange measurements.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

RECONFORMANCE

The automated process of bringing an aircraft's Current Plan Trajectory into conformance with its track.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

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 determination of the landing distance.

14 CFR § 1.1

REMOTE IDENTIFICATION (RID)

A system for electronic identification and secure oversight of UAS.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

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)

A search and rescue (SAR) facility equipped and manned to coordinate and control SAR operations in an area designated by the SAR plan. The U.S. Coast Guard and the U.S. Air Force have responsibility for the operation of RCCs.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

ROAD RECONNAISSANCE (RC)

Military activity requiring navigation along roads, railroads, and rivers. Reconnaissance route/route segments are seldom along a straight line and normally require a lateral route width of 10 NM to 30 NM and an altitude range of 500 feet to 10,000 feet AGL.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

Rocket

an aircraft propelled by ejected expanding gases generated in the engine from self-contained propellants and not dependent on the intake of outside substances. It includes any part which becomes separated during the operation.

14 CFR § 1.1

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

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

A single flight plan filed from the departure airport to an intermediary destination(s) and then returning to the original departure airport.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

ROUTE ACTION NOTIFICATION

EDST notification that an ADR/ADAR/AAR has been applied to the flight plan.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

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]

A defined rectangular area on a land aerodrome prepared for the landing and takeoff of aircraft.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

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 aligned with the taxiway centerline, and one additional light at the runway centerline in line with the last two lights before the runway edge.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

RUNWAY GRADIENT

The average slope, measured in percent, between two ends or points on a runway. Runway gradient is depicted on Government aerodrome sketches when total runway gradient exceeds 0.3%.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

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, centered on the extended runway centerline.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

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, overshoot, or excursion from the runway. The dimensions of the RSA vary and can be determined by using the criteria contained within AC 150/5300‐13, Airport Design, Chapter 3. Figure 3-1 in AC 150/5300‐13 depicts the RSA. The design standards dictate that the RSA must be:

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

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 (REL) when the runway is unsafe for entry or crossing, and take-off hold lights (THL) when the runway is unsafe for departure.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

SAIL BACK

A maneuver during high wind conditions (usually with power off) where float plane movement is controlled by water rudders/opening and closing cabin doors.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

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

a reciprocating aircraft engine having a rated takeoff power that is producible only at sea level.

14 CFR § 1.1

Second in command

a pilot who is designated to be second in command of an aircraft during flight time.

14 CFR § 1.1

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]

Spacing between aircraft, levels or tracks.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

SIGNIFICANT POINT

A point, whether a named intersection, a NAVAID, a fix derived from a NAVAID(s), or geographical coordinate expressed in degrees of latitude and longitude, which is established for the purpose of providing separation, as a reporting point, or to delineate a route of flight.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

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

A pilot who has received specialized training in observing and reporting inflight weather phenomena.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

SLOW TAXI

To taxi a float plane at low power or low RPM.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

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

Moveable aerodynamic devices on aircraft that reduce airspeed during descent and landing.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

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 specified. There is one set of arrival speed segments adapted from each transition point to each vertex. Each set may contain up to six segments.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

STAGING/QUEUING

The placement, integration, and segregation of departure aircraft in designated movement areas of an airport by departure fix, EDCT, and/or restriction.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

Standard atmosphere

the atmosphere defined in U.S. Standard Atmosphere, 1962 (Geopotential altitude tables).

14 CFR § 1.1

STANDARD RATE TURN

A turn of three degrees per second.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

STATE AIRCRAFT

Aircraft used in military, customs and police service, in the exclusive service of any government or of any political subdivision thereof, including the government of any state, territory, or possession of the United States or the District of Columbia, but not including any government‐owned aircraft engaged in carrying persons or property for commercial purposes.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

STATIC RESTRICTIONS

Those restrictions that are usually not subject to change, fixed, in place, and/or published.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

STEP TAXI

To taxi a float plane at full power or high RPM.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

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 should only be used upon pilot request.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

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 plan handling and communications.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

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

A flight plan format which permits in a single submission the filing of a sequence of flight plans through interim full‐stop destinations to a final destination.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

STRATEGIC PLANNING

Planning whereby solutions are sought to resolve potential conflicts.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

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

any device that is not installed on the aircraft pursuant to an FAA approval, used to secure an individual inside an aircraft when that person is not properly secured by an FAA-approved safety belt and, if installed, shoulder harness, or an approved child restraint system. It consists of a harness secured around the torso of the individual using the supplemental restraint system and a lanyard that connects the harness to an FAA-approved airframe attachment point inside the aircraft.

14 CFR § 1.1

Synthetic vision

a computer-generated image of the external scene topography from the perspective of the flight deck that is derived from aircraft attitude, high-precision navigation solution, and database of terrain, obstacles and relevant cultural features.

14 CFR § 1.1

Synthetic vision system means an electronic

to display a synthetic vision image of the external scene topography to the flight crew.

14 CFR § 1.1

SYSTEM STRATEGIC NAVIGATION

Military activity accomplished by navigating along a preplanned route using internal aircraft systems to maintain a desired track. This activity normally requires a lateral route width of 10 NM and altitude range of 1,000 feet to 6,000 feet AGL with some route segments that permit terrain following.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

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 determining the longitudinal axis.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

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,

the jet thrust that is developed under static conditions at a specific altitude and atmospheric temperature under the maximum conditions of rotorshaft rotational speed and gas temperature approved for the normal takeoff, and limited in continuous use to the period of time shown in the approved engine specification.

14 CFR § 1.1

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

An aircraft whose pilot-in-command has requested to taxi to the ramp, gate, or alternate deplaning area to comply with the Three-hour Tarmac Rule.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

TERMINAL AUTOMATION SYSTEMS (TAS)

TAS is used to identify the numerous automated tracking systems including STARS and MEARTS.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

TERRAIN FOLLOWING

The flight of a military aircraft maintaining a constant AGL altitude above the terrain or the highest obstruction. The altitude of the aircraft will constantly change with the varying terrain and/or obstruction.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

THAT IS CORRECT

The understanding you have is right.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

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 test, under 49 USC §44809 (g).

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

THRESHOLD

The beginning of that portion of the runway usable for landing.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

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 constraint points. The TGUI can also display pre-departure and scheduled aircraft.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

TOP OF DESCENT (TOD)

The point at which an aircraft begins the initial descent.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

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 fuel air mixture.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

TOUCHDOWN [ICAO]

The point where the nominal glide path intercepts the runway.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

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

The facility station pressure instrument, with certification/calibration traceable to the National Institute of Standards and Technology. Traceable pressure standards may be mercurial barometers, commissioned ASOS or dual transducer AWOS, or portable pressure standards or DASI.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

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 from North (True, Magnetic, or Grid).

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

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

The automated process of calculating a trajectory.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

TRANSMISSOMETER

An apparatus used to determine visibility by measuring the transmission of light through the atmosphere. It is the measurement source for determining runway visual range (RVR).

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

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 believed that the called stations may be able to receive the transmission.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

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

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

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

An atmospheric phenomenon that causes changes in aircraft altitude, attitude, and or airspeed with aircraft reaction depending on intensity. Pilots report turbulence intensity according to aircraft's reaction as follows:

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

TURN ANTICIPATION

(maneuver anticipation).

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

UAS TEST SITE

Independently owned UAS test & research sites, recognized by the FAA.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

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 instances this may go as low as 225 MHz and still be referred to as UHF.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

UNDER THE HOOD

Indicates that the pilot is using a hood to restrict visibility outside the cockpit while simulating instrument flight. An appropriately rated pilot is required in the other control seat while this operation is being conducted.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

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

an aircraft operated without the possibility of direct human intervention from within or on the aircraft.

14 CFR § 1.1

URBAN AIR MOBILITY (UAM)

A subset of Advanced Air Mobility (AAM), referring to an air transportation system utilizing highly automated aircraft to transport passengers or cargo in urban/suburban areas.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

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]

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 assistance.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

VERTICAL SEPARATION

Separation between aircraft expressed in units of vertical distance.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

VERY LOW FREQUENCY (VLF)

The frequency band between 3 and 30 kHz.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

VFR AIRCRAFT

An aircraft conducting flight in accordance with visual flight rules.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

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 and tactical training under VFR below 10,000 feet MSL at airspeeds in excess of 250 knots IAS.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

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 rules is not recommended. To be given when the current and/or forecast weather conditions are at or below VFR minimums. It does not abrogate the pilot's authority to make his/her own decision.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

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]

The ability, as determined by atmospheric conditions and expressed in units of distance, to see and identify prominent unlighted objects by day and prominent lighted objects by night.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

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)

Condition of operations wherein the operator maintains continuous, unaided visual contact with the unmanned aircraft.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

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

A display that presents the latest forecasted wind data overlaid on a map of the ARTCC area. Wind data is automatically entered and updated periodically by transmissions from the National Weather Service. Winds at specific altitudes, along with temperatures and air pressure can be viewed.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

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 or vertical direction and occasionally in both.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

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 characterized by maximum thrust climbs in the low altitude terminal environment until wind shear conditions are no longer detected.

FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

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