A Behind the Scenes Look Into Airline Operations

Airline Operations Supplemental Glossary

Term Description
ACARS Aircraft Communications Addressing and Reporting System
ADS Automatic Dependent Surveillance
ALPA Air Line Pilots Association
AQP Advanced Qualification Program
ARAC Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee
ARINC Aeronautical Radio Incorporated
ASR Airport Surveillance Radar
ASRS Aviation Safety Reporting System
ATC Air Traffic Control
ATCSCC Air Traffic Control System Command Center
BIT(E) Built-ln-Test (Equipment)
CAPT Captain
CAT Clear Air Turbulence
Category I Facility providing operation down to 200 feet decision
CAT I
height and runway visual range not less than 2600 feet.
Category II Facility providing operation down to 100 feet decision
CAT II
height and runway visual range not less than 1200 feet.
Category III Facility providing operation with no decision height
limit to and along the surface of the runway with external visual
CAT II a
reference during final phase of landing and with a runway visual
range not less than 700 feet.
CBT Computer Based Training
CFIT Controlled Flight Into Terrain
CG Center of Gravity
CNS Communications Navigations and Surveillance
CPDLC Controller Pilot Datalink Communications
CRM Crew Resource Management
DEP Departure
DES Descent
DEST Destination
DEV Deviation
DFDAU Digital Flight Data Acquisition Unit
DFDR Digital Flight Data Recorder
DFGS/C Digital Flight Guidance System/Computer
DOT Department of Transportation
DOD Department of Defense
DRU Data Retrieval Unit
DSPY Display (annunciation on CDU)
DTG Distance-to-go
EFIS Electronic Flight Instrument System
EST Estimated
ETA Estimated Time of Arrival
FA Flight Attendant
FAA Federal Aviation Administration
FANS Future Air Navigation Systems
FAR Federal Acquisition Regulation
FL Flight Level
Example, FL310 is an altitude 31,000 feet above sea level; used
FL 310
for altitudes above 18,000 feet.
FMS Flight Management System
FO First Officer
FOQA Flight Operations Quality Assurance
GCA Ground Controlled approach
GMT Greenwich Mean Time (formerly known as Zulu time)
GNSS Global Navigation Satellite System
GPS Global Positioning System
GPWS Ground Proximity Warning System
HUD Head-Up Display
ICAO International Civil Aviation Organization
ILS Instrument Landing System
IMC Instrument Meteorological Conditions
LNAV Lateral Navigation
LOE Line Oriented Evaluation
LOFT Line Oriented Flight Training
MRO Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul
MEL Minimum Equipment List
NATCA National Air Traffic Controllers Association
Network Operational Control Center (title interchangeable with
NOCC
OCC or SOCC)
NWS National Weather Service
Operational Control Center (title interchangeable with NOCC or
OCC
SOCC)
OpSpecs Operation Specifications
PIREPS Pilot Reports
RNAV Area Navigation
RNP Required Navigation Performance
SATCOM Satellite Communications
SMS Safety Management System
System Operational Control Center (title interchangeable with
SOCC
OCC or SOCC)
SIGMET Significant Meteorological Information
SWAP Severe Weather Avoidance Program
TBD To Be Determined
TBO Time Between Overhauls
VFR Visual Flight Rules
VNAV Vertical Navigation