List of aviation, aerospace and aeronautical abbreviations

A glossary of abbreviations used in relation to aviation, in alphabetical order.

A

Abbreviation	Term
A/C	Aircraft
A/D	Aerodrome
ACAS	Airborne Collision Avoidance System
ACARS	Aircraft Communication and Addressing Reporting System
ACI	Airports Council International
ACFT	Aircraft
ACMS	Aircraft Condition Monitoring System
ACC	Active Clearance Control
AD	Airworthiness Directive
ADC	Air Data Computer
ADF	Automatic Direction Finder
ADI	Altitude Director Indicator
ADS	Automatic Dependent Surveillance
ADV	German Airports Association
AFCS	Automatic Flight Control System
AFDS	Autopilot Flight Director System
AFE	Above Field Elevation
AFS	Aeronautical Fixed Service
AFT	Aircraft
AFTN	Aeronautical Fixed Telecommunication Network
AGL	Above ground level
AHRS	Attitude Heading Reference System
AIP	Aeronautical Information Publication
AIRAC	Aeronautical Information Regulation and Control
ALS	Approach Lighting System
AMSL	Above Mean Sea Level
ANSP	Air Navigation Service Provider
AOA	Angle of Attack
AOC	Air Operator's Certificate
AOM	Airport/Aerodrome Operating Minima
AP	Autopilot
APU	Auxiliary Power Unit
A/P	airplane (US), aeroplane (ICAO)
AR	Authorization Required
ARINC	Aeronautical Radio Inc.
ARTCC	Air Route Traffic Control Centers
ASDA	Association for Scientific Development of Air Traffic Management in Europe
ASAS	Airborne Separation Assurance System
ASI	Airspeed Indicator
ASL	Above sea level
ASM	Airspace management
ATA	Air Traffic Association
ATC	Air Traffic Control
ATFM	Air Traffic Flow Management
ATIS	Automatic Terminal Information Service
ATM	Air Traffic Management
ATN	Aeronautical Telecommunication Network
ATPL	Airline Transport Pilot Licence
ATS	Air Traffic Services

B

Abbreviation	Term
BC	Back Course
BPR	Bypass Ratio

C

Abbreviation	Term
CAA	Civil Aviation Authority
CAS	Calibrated airspeed
CDU	Control/Display Unit
CDI	Course Deviation Indicator
CFIT	Controlled Flight Into Terrain
CG	Center of Gravity
CMV	Converted Meteorological Visibility
CPDLC	Controller Pilot Data Link Communications
CTAF	Common Traffic Advisory Frequency
CVR	Cockpit Voice Recorder

D

Abbreviation	Term
DA/H	Decision Altitude / Height (rel. to THR) See Instrument Landing System
DER	Departure End of Runway / Designated Engineering Representative
DG	Directional Gyro
DLR	German Aerospace Center / Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e.V.
DME	Distance Measuring Equipment
DR	Dead reckoning

E

Abbreviation	Term
EAS	Equivalent airspeed
EASA	European Aviation Safety Agency
EBOT	Estimated off-blocktime
ECAM	Electronic Centralised Aircraft Monitor
ECET	End of civil evening twilight
EFIS	Electronic Flight Instrument System
EGT	Exhaust Gas Temperature
EICAS	Engine Indicator and Crew Alert System
E-LSA	Experimental light-sport aircraft
ELT	Emergency Locator Transmitter
EPR	Engine Pressure Ratio
ESA	Emergency Safe Altitude
ETP	Equal Time Point
EUROCAE	European Organisation for Civil Aviation Equipment

F

Abbreviation	Term
FAA	U.S. Department of Transportations' Federal Aviation Administration
FADEC	Full Authority Digital Engine Control
FAF	Final Approach Fix
FANS	Future Air Navigation System
FAP	Final Approach Point
FATO	Final Approach and Take Off
FD	Flight Director
FDR	Flight Data Recorder (also known as black box)
FEP	Final End Point
FIR	Flight Information Region	FOO	Flight Operation Officer
FL	Flight Level
FMC	Flight Management Computer (same as FMS)
FMS	Flight Management System
FPL	Filed Flight Plan
FSF	Flight Safety Foundation
FSS	Flight Service Station

G

Abbreviation	Term
GCA	Ground-controlled approach
GLOC	g-Induced Loss of Consciousness, where g is acceleration relevant to the acceleration caused by gravity
GND	Ground
GP	Glide Path
GPS	Global Positioning System
GPWS	Ground Proximity Warning System
EGPWS	Enhanced Ground Proximity Warning System
G/A or GA	Go-Around
G/S	Glideslope
GS	Groundspeed
GSE	Ground Support Equipment

H

Abbreviation	Term
H	Heavy
HDG	Heading
HL	Height loss
HLD	Hold (Hold altitude or speed or something else) (same as maintain, but not maintenance!)
HPA	Human Powered Aircraft
HSI	Horizontal Situation Indicator
HUD	Head-up display
HYD	Hydraulic
HYDIM	Hydraulic Interface Module

I

Abbreviation	Term
IAF	Initial approach fix
IAP	Instrument approach procedure
IAS	Indicated airspeed
IATA	International Air Transport Association
ICAO	International Civil Aviation Organization
ICO	Idle cut-off
IDT	Identify (XPDR)
IF	Intermediate Approach Fix
IFATCA	International Federation of Air Traffic Controllers' Associations
IFR	Instrument Flight Rules
ILS	Instrument Landing System
IMC	Instrument Meteorological Conditions
INS	Inertial Navigation System
IRS	Inertial Reference System
ISA	International Standard Atmosphere
ISIS	Integrated Standby Instrument System
ISFD	Integrated Standby Flight Display
ITT	Interstage Turbine Temperature

L

Abbreviation	Term
LCN	Load Classification Number
LCG	Load Classification Group
LHO	Live Human Organs
LLZ	Localizer (ILS)
LM	Land and Marine
LNAV	Lateral Navigation
LOFT	Line Oriented Flight Training
LRU	Line-replaceable unit

M

Abbreviation	Term
MAC	Mid-air collision
MAP	Missed Approach Point
MATS	Manual of Air Traffic Services
MDA/H	Minimum Descent Altitude/Height
MEDEVAC	Medical Evacuation
MEF	Maximum Elevation Figure
METAR	Meteorological Aerodrome Report (METAR)
MLS	Microwave Landing System
MM	Middle Marker
MOC	Minimum Obstacle Clearance
MRO	Maintenance Repair Overhaul
MP	Manifoil Pressure
MSA	Minimum Safe Altitude / Minimum Sector Altitude
MSL	Mean Sea Level
MTOW	Maximum Take-Off Weight
MZFW	Maximum Zero-Fuel Weight

N

Abbreviation	Term
NDB	Non-Directional Beacon

O

Abbreviation	Term
OBS	Omni-Bearing Selector
OCA	Obstacle Clearance Altitude
OCH	Obstacle Clearance Height
OM	Outer Marker
OBE	Overcome By Events
OEM	Original Equipment Manufacturer

P

Abbreviation	Term
PANS-OPS	Procedures for Air Navigation Services – Aircraft Operations
PAPI	Precision Approach Path Indicator
PAR	Precision Approach Radar
PBD	Place Bearing Distance (RNAV waypoint)
PDG	Procedure Design Gradient
PDAS	Public Domain Aeronautical Software
PET	Point of Equal Time
PF	Pilot Flying
PFD	Primary Flight Display
PFAF	Precision Final Approach Fix
PNF	Pilot Not Flying
PSR	Point of Safe Return
PSU	Personal Service Unit

Q

Abbreviation	Term
QFE	the Q-code for: Atmospheric pressure at a/d elevation (or at THR)
QNH	the Q-code for: Altimeter sub-scale setting to obtain elevation when on the ground, i.e. altitude above MSL

R

Abbreviation	Term
RA	Radio Altitude
RAS	Rectified Air Speed
RDH	Reference Datum Height for ILS
RNAV	Area navigation
RNP	Required Navigation Performance
RSR	En-route Surveillance Radar
RTO	Rejected Take-Off
RVR	Runway Visual Range
RVSM	Reduced Vertical Separation Minimum
RWY	Runway

S

Abbreviation	Term
SESAR	Single European Sky ATM Research
SIGMET	Significant Meteorological Advisory
SOC	Start of Climb at Missed Approach
SID	Standard Instrument Departure
SR	Sunrise
SS	Sunset
STAR	Standard Terminal Arrival Route

T

Abbreviation	Term
TAA	Terminal Arrival Area
TACAN	Tactical Air Navigation
TAF	Terminal Aerodrome Forecast
TAM	Total Airport Management
TAS	True airspeed
TAR	Terminal Approach Radar
TCA	Terminal control area
TCAS	Traffic Collision Avoidance System
TCH	Threshold Crossing Height
TERPS	Terminal Procedures
TFR	Temporary Flight Restriction
TGL	Temporary Guidance Leaflet
THR	Runway Threshold
TLD	Time-Limited Dispatch
TOD	Top of Descent
TO/GA	Take-off/go around
TORA	Take-off Run Available
TOW	Take-off weight
TOWS	Take-off warning system
TP	Turning Point at Missed Approach
TRA	Temporary Reserved Airspace
TRACON	Terminal Radar Approach Control
TTAF	Total Time Air Frame
TTSN	Total Time Since New
TTSO	Total Time Since Overhaul
TWR	Tower
TWY	Taxiway

U

Abbreviation	Term
UAV	Unmanned Air Vehicle
UHF	Ultra High Frequency
UIR	Upper Information Region
UTC	Universal Coordinated Time

V

Abbreviation	Term
VASI	Visual Approach Slope Indicator
VDP	Visual Descent Point
VFR	Visual flight rules
VHF	Very High Frequency
VMC	Visual meteorological conditions
VNAV	Vertical Navigation
VOR	VHF omnidirectional range

V speeds

Abbreviation	Term
Va	Maneuvering speed
Vfe	Maximum flaps extended speed
Vle	Maximum landing gear extension speed
Vlo	Maximum landing gear operating speed
Vmo	Maximum operating speed
Vne	Never-exceed speed
Vno	Normal operating speed limit
Vs	stall speed
Vx	Best angle of climb speed
Vy	Best rate of climb speed

W

Abbreviation	Term
WOFW	Weight-off-Wheels, indicates aircraft is off ground since lift off
WONW	Weight-on-Wheels, indicates aircraft is on ground since touch down

X

Abbreviation	Term
XMIT	Transmit
XPDR	Transponder
XPNDR	Transponder

Y

Abbreviation	Term
Y	Yaw or Yaw angle
Y/D	Yaw Damper

Z

Abbreviation	Term
Z	Zulu Time (UTC)
ZFT	Zero-Fuel Time
ZFW	Zero-Fuel Weight

References

• Aerospace acronyms Terms and Glossary
• Aviada Terminaro, verkita de Gilbert R. LEDON, 286 pagxoj.

See also

• Acronyms and abbreviations in avionics
• Aviation Acronyms and Abbreviations