A
A&E-Airworthiness and Evaluation
AAP- Airborne Aperture Photogrammetry
AACUS-Autonomous Aerial Cargo/Utility System
AARGM-Advanced Anti Radiation Guided Missile
AATD-Advanced Aviation Training Device
ABCCC-Airborne Battlefield Command and Control Center
ABM-Anti Ballistic Missile
ACAS-Airborne Collision Avoidance System
ACE-Airspace Coordination Element
ACFT-Aircraft
ACM-Air Combat Maneuvering
ACN-Altitude in Chart Units
ACP-Automated Chart Plotter
ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL – A type of cruise control that uses sensors to automatically adjust vehicle speed to maintain a safe following distance from vehicles ahead. Used in some newer cars.
ADDITIONAL DIRECTIONAL LIGHTS – Lights, usually mounted on the front bumper or fender, that supplement the low beam headlights for improved illumination of the road ahead and to the sides.
ADF-Automatic Direction Finder
ADIZ-Air Defense Identification Zone
AGL-Above Ground Level
AIMP-Airspace Infrastructure Modernization Plan
AIRCRAFT FLIGHT MANUAL – A document, approved by the FAA, that contains procedures, limitations, and performance data for a specific make and model of aircraft.
AIRMET-Airmen’s Meteorological Information
AIRCRAFT CERTIFICATION-The process by which a civil aviation authority determines that an aircraft meets the agency’s standards for airworthiness.
AIRCRAFT REGISTRATION-The process by which an aircraft is registered with a civil aviation authority.
ALERFA-Alert Phase
ALNOT-Alert Notice
ALTIMETER – An instrument that measures and displays altitude above a predetermined pressure setting, usually sea level pressure.
AMBIENT LIGHT SENSOR – A device that automatically adjusts interior and/or exterior lighting levels based on the amount of light present in the surrounding area.
AMDT-Amendment
ANGS-Air National Guard Station
ANNEXES-Attachments
ANCHOR POINT – The location to which a child safety seat is secured by the vehicle’s Lap/Shoulder Belt or Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH) system.
ANNUNCIATOR – A panel containing warning lights and/or audible alerts that advise the pilot of conditions that may require action.
ANTI-ICE – A system or material used to prevent ice buildup on aircraft surfaces.
APCH transfers-Approach transfers
APPROACH PLATE – A chart that depicts procedures and other information an aircraft crew needs in order to execute an instrument approach to a runway.
ARFF-Airport Rescue and Fire Fighting
ARM-Armed
ASR-Approach Surveillance Radar
ATC-Air Traffic Control
ATCT-Air Traffic Control Tower
ATCSCC-Air Traffic Control System Command Center
AVN-Aviation
AWOS-Automated Weather Observation System
AWR-Airport Weather Report
AWW-Alert Windshear
B
BVLOS: Beyond visual line of sight
C
CAA: Civil Aviation Authority (UK)
CCD: Charge-coupled device
CFIT: Controlled flight into terrain
COA: Certificate of Authorization
COMSEC: Communications Security
COPTRZ: Commercial Operators of Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems
CTR: Class B airspace in the United States that has special rules to protect aircraft from collisions
D
DAT: Detect and avoid technology
DH: Decision height
DJI: Da-Jiang Innovations Science and Technology Co., Ltd.
DoA: Department of Aviation (US)
DoD: Department of Defense (US)
DRDO: Defence Research and Development Organisation (India)
E
EASA: European Aviation Safety Agency
EMC: Electromagnetic compatibility
ETA: Estimated time of arrival
F
FAA: Federal Aviation Administration (US)
FLIR: Forward looking infrared
FOD: Foreign object damage
FTZ: Flight training zone
G
GPS: Global Positioning System
GRP: Glass reinforced plastic
H
HAI: Humanitarian Association of the International Civil Aviation Organization
HF: High frequency
HPRF: High power radiofrequency
I
ICAO: International Civil Aviation Organization
ID/IQ: Indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity
IFR: Instrument flight rules
IMC: Instrument meteorological conditions
IPU: In-flight piloting unit
IRS: Inertial reference system
ISR: Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance
ITAR: International Traffic in Arms Regulations
J
JATO: Jet-assisted take-off
JUAS: Joint Unmanned Aerial Systems Centre of Excellence (UK)
L
LOS: Line of sight
LPV: Localizer performance with vertical guidance
LZ: Landing zone
M
MALE: Medium altitude long endurance
MANPADS: Man-portable air defense systems
MATO: Modular airborne firefighting system
MOSS: Military operations in urbanized terrain-suppression of enemy air defenses
MoD: Ministry of Defence (UK)
MOTL: Mean time between failures
MTBF: Mean time between failures
MTOW: Maximum take-off weight
N
NATO: North Atlantic Treaty Organization
NDT: Non-destructive testing
NEMs: Nano-, micro- and minielectromechanical systems
NFZ: No-fly zone
NVG: Night vision goggles
O
OEW: Operating empty weight
OGA: Other government agency
ONR: Office of Naval Research (US)
OPSEC: Operations security
P
PAE ISR: A division of PAE that provides intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance services
PID: Proportional–integral–derivative controller
PMUA: Powered micro unmanned aircraft
PNV: Positive navigation and velocity
POI: Point of interest
PRC: People’s Republic of China
Q
QRA: Quick reaction alert
R
RCS: Radar cross-section
RF: Radio frequency
RFI: Request for information
RPAS: Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (Europa)
RTB: Return to base
S
SARH: Semi-active radar homing
SATCOM: Satellite communications
SCADA: Supervisory control and data acquisition
SEAD: Suppression of enemy air defenses
SIGINT: Signals intelligence
SMRUAS: Small military remotely piloted aircraft system
SOAR: Special operations aviation regiments
STOL: Short take-off and landing
SUAV: Small Unmanned Aerial Vehicle
SWaP: Size, weight and power
T
TALI: Tactical air launcher for interference
TANSTAAFL: There ain’t no such thing as a free lunch
TCAS: Traffic collision avoidance system
U
UAE: United Arab Emirates
UAV: Unmanned aerial vehicle (US) / Unmanned aircraft system (Europa)
UK MoD: UK Ministry of Defence
ULS: Ultralight supervised
UMRUAS: Micro remotely piloted aircraft system
USAF: United States Air Force
UTF: Universal test fixture
UUV: Unmanned underwater vehicle
V
V2V: Vehicle to vehicle
V2I: Vehicle to infrastructure
VLOS: Visual line of sight
VTOL: Vertical take-off and landing
W
WMD: Weapons of mass destruction
X
X/Y coordinate system: A two-dimensional Cartesian coordinate system
Y
Z
ZPG: Zero population growth