ADAerodrome
Aerodrome
A defined area on land or water intended wholly or partly for the arrival, departure and surface movement of aircraft.
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Aviationglossary
Essential abbreviations, markings and terms for aerodromes, airspace, meteorology, navigation and club activities.
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Abbreviation · meaning · explanationAerodrome & ground operations
8ARPAerodrome Reference Point
Aerodrome reference point
The officially designated geographical point representing the location of an aerodrome.
RWYRunway
Runway
A defined rectangular area on an aerodrome prepared for the landing and take-off of aircraft.
TWYTaxiway
Taxiway
A defined path on an aerodrome intended for aircraft taxiing and linking different parts of the aerodrome.
THRThreshold
Runway threshold
The beginning of the portion of the runway usable for landing.
TGLTouch-and-Go Landing
Touch-and-go landing
A training manoeuvre in which an aircraft lands, remains in motion and immediately takes off again.
PPRPrior Permission Required
Prior permission required
Indicates that use of an aerodrome, site or service must be agreed with its operator in advance.
AFISAerodrome Flight Information Service
Aerodrome flight information service
Provides information and alerting service to aerodrome traffic; AFIS is not an air traffic control unit.
Airspace
16AIPAeronautical Information Publication
Aeronautical Information Publication
An official State publication containing aeronautical information of a lasting character essential to air navigation.
AIRACAeronautical Information Regulation and Control
Aeronautical information regulation and control
A system of common effective dates, normally on a 28-day cycle, for advance publication of operationally significant changes.
NOTAMNotice to Airmen
Operational aeronautical notice
A notice about the establishment, condition or change of a facility, service, procedure or hazard whose timely knowledge is essential to flight operations.
AUPAirspace Use Plan
Airspace Use Plan
The daily plan describing the allocation and availability of temporarily reserved or restricted areas and conditional routes.
UUPUpdated Airspace Use Plan
Updated Airspace Use Plan
An operational update to the AUP reflecting changes to airspace activation or release.
CTRControl Zone
Control zone
Controlled airspace extending upwards from the surface, normally protecting traffic around an aerodrome.
TMATerminal Control Area
Terminal control area
A control area normally established around one or more major aerodromes and the convergence of arrival and departure routes.
ATZAerodrome Traffic Zone
Aerodrome traffic zone
Airspace of defined dimensions established around an aerodrome for the protection of aerodrome traffic.
TRATemporary Reserved Area
Temporary reserved area
Airspace temporarily reserved for a specific activity; other traffic may transit only under the published conditions and coordination.
TSATemporary Segregated Area
Temporary segregated area
Airspace temporarily segregated for the exclusive use of specified participants; other traffic is not permitted while active.
DDanger Area
Danger area
Airspace of defined dimensions within which activities dangerous to flight may exist at specified times.
RRestricted Area
Restricted area
Airspace within which the flight of aircraft is restricted in accordance with specified conditions.
PProhibited Area
Prohibited area
Airspace within which the flight of aircraft is prohibited.
AGLAbove Ground Level
Above ground level
Vertical distance measured relative to the ground surface beneath the aircraft or specified point.
AMSLAbove Mean Sea Level
Above mean sea level
Vertical distance measured relative to the adopted mean sea level datum.
FLFlight Level
Flight level
A surface of constant atmospheric pressure referenced to the standard setting of 1013.25 hPa and expressed in hundreds of feet.
Meteorology
9METARAerodrome Routine Meteorological Report
Routine aerodrome weather report
A coded observation of current weather conditions at an aerodrome, issued at regular intervals.
SPECIAerodrome Special Meteorological Report
Special aerodrome weather report
A special aerodrome report issued when specified significant weather changes occur.
TAFAerodrome Forecast
Aerodrome forecast
A coded forecast of expected meteorological conditions at an aerodrome for a specified period.
CAVOKVisibility, cloud and present weather better than prescribed conditions
Visibility, cloud and present weather above prescribed criteria
A code used when visibility, cloud and present weather meet the prescribed favourable conditions.
VRBVariable
Variable direction
In weather reports, indicates wind whose direction cannot be represented by one steady value.
QNHAltimeter setting referenced to mean sea level
QNH altimeter setting
An altimeter setting that indicates aerodrome elevation on the ground and altitude above mean sea level in flight.
QFEAtmospheric pressure at aerodrome elevation
QFE altimeter setting
A setting that makes the altimeter read zero at the selected aerodrome reference elevation and height above it in flight.
SIGMETSignificant Meteorological Information
Significant meteorological information
Operational information about observed or expected en-route weather phenomena that may affect flight safety.
AIRMETInformation for low-level aircraft operations
Information for low-level aircraft operations
Information concerning en-route weather phenomena that may affect the safety of low-level aircraft operations.
Flight, navigation & communication
10VFRVisual Flight Rules
Visual flight rules
The rules and procedures applicable to a flight conducted under visual flight rules.
IFRInstrument Flight Rules
Instrument flight rules
The rules and procedures applicable to a flight conducted under instrument flight rules.
VMCVisual Meteorological Conditions
Visual meteorological conditions
Visibility, distance from cloud and ceiling conditions equal to or better than the prescribed minima.
IMCInstrument Meteorological Conditions
Instrument meteorological conditions
Weather conditions expressed in visibility, distance from cloud and ceiling that are below the minima specified for VMC.
ATCAir Traffic Control
Air traffic control
A service provided to prevent collisions and to maintain an orderly and expeditious flow of air traffic.
FPLFlight Plan
Flight plan
Specified information provided to air traffic services units concerning an intended flight or portion of a flight.
DCTDirect
Direct
Indicates a route or clearance directly between two points without following an intermediate published route.
HDGHeading
Heading
The direction in which the longitudinal axis of an aircraft is pointed, usually expressed in degrees.
GNSSGlobal Navigation Satellite System
Global navigation satellite system
The generic term for satellite systems providing position, velocity and time information used for navigation.
UTCCoordinated Universal Time
Coordinated Universal Time
The international time standard used in aviation; also identified by Z or “Zulu” in radiotelephony.
Licences & club activities
8GAGeneral Aviation
General aviation
Civil aviation operations other than scheduled commercial air transport and specified specialised operations.
ULUltralight
Ultralight aircraft
A light aircraft class whose exact category, mass limits and requirements depend on the applicable rules.
PPGPowered Paraglider
Powered paraglider
A paraglider powered by a propeller unit carried by the pilot or mounted on a wheeled chassis.
RCRadio Control
Radio-controlled model
A flying model controlled remotely by radio link between a transmitter and an onboard receiver system.
F5JFAI Electric Thermal Duration Glider Class
Electric thermal duration glider class
A competition class for radio-controlled gliders with limited electric-motor use, scored on duration, launch height and landing accuracy.
PPL(A)Private Pilot Licence — Aeroplanes
Private pilot licence — aeroplanes
A pilot licence allowing non-remunerated privileges on aeroplanes within the applicable ratings and limitations.
LAPL(A)Light Aircraft Pilot Licence — Aeroplanes
Light aircraft pilot licence — aeroplanes
A European pilot licence granting privileges on specified light aeroplanes within defined limitations.
PICPilot-in-Command
Pilot-in-command
The pilot designated as being in command and charged with the safe conduct of the flight.