ATC and Aviation Terminology – Vocabulary Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards covering airspace terms, flight rules, navigation aids, ATC phrases, and common radiotelephony terminology from the notes.

AGL

Above Ground Level; altitude expressed in feet above the ground or airport surface, excluding loading ramps and parking areas.

Altitude

Height of a point or object expressed in feet; can be given as AGL or MSL.

Air traffic clearance

ATC authorization to proceed to prevent collision between known aircraft.

VFR*

Visual Flight Rules; flight conducted by visual reference, with separation provided by the pilot when weather allows.

IFR

Instrument Flight Rules; flight conducted by instruments with ATC separation; requires ATC clearance in controlled airspace.

IFR clearance

ATC authorization to operate under IFR within controlled airspace; exceptions only in emergencies or with amended clearance.

ADC*

Air Traffic Control; a service to promote the safe, orderly, and expeditious flow of air traffic.

ATCF

Air Traffic Control Specialist; a person authorized to provide air traffic control service.

CFA*

Firing Area; a type of special use airspace where activities are controlled to eliminate hazards to nonparticipating aircraft and protect people and property on the ground.

UTC*

Coordinated Universal Time; the global time standard used in aviation.

DME*

Distance Measuring Equipment; measures the slant range distance from the aircraft to the DME navigational aid in nautical miles.

FL

Flight Level; a level of constant atmospheric pressure referenced to 29.92 inHg; expressed in hundreds of feet (eg, FL250 = 25,000 ft).

GA

General Aviation; civil aviation excluding most air carriers and large operators.

GPS

Global Positioning System; space-based navigation system providing position, velocity, and time globally.

IFR conditions

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

VFR vs IFR

IFR relies on instruments for navigation with ATC separation; VFR relies on the pilot's visual reference for separation.

ILS*

Instrument Landing System; a precision approach system with localizer, glide slope, outer and middle markers, and approach lights.

ATC advises

Prefix used when non-control information is relayed to an aircraft by someone other than an ATC.

END

Vance AFB

OKC

OK City Will Rogers Arpt

TUL

Tulsa Int’l

MLC

McAlester

ADM

Ardmore

PNC

Ponca City

RVS

Tulsa Jones

SWO

Stillwater

IRW

Will Rogers VORTAC

PWA

Wiley Post

ABI

Abilene

AMA

Amarillo

AUS

Austin

BRO

Brownsville

HOU

Houston Hobby

CRP

Corpus Christi

GLS

Galveston

DAL

Dallas Love

DFW

Dallas Fort Worth

IAH

Houston Intercontinental

Air Commerce Act of 1926

First Federal Gov Regulation of Civil Aviationestablished safety standards and aimed to encourage growth in the aviation industry.

Civil Aeronautics Act 1938

Legislation that created the Civil Aeronautics Authority, regulating airline operations and promoting air safety.

Grand Canyon Crash-

A 1956 mid-air collision involving a TWA and a United Airlines aircraft over the Grand Canyon, leading to significant changes in air traffic control regulations and safety protocols.

Federal Aviation Act

of 1958, which established the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and consolidated the regulation of civil aviation in the United States.

Deparment of trans Federal Avi Administration

1967 nation established to oversee air safety and regulate aviation policy in the US.

Hijackings

1960’s - 1970’s are unauthorized seizures of an aircraft, often carried out with the intention of using it for ransom or political purposes.

A system in transistion

1970 - 1980 refers to the changes and developments occurring in air traffic management, aimed at enhancing safety and efficiency in aviation.

The Airline Deregulation Act

of 1978 removed government control over airline routes and fares, allowing for increased competition and lower prices for consumers.

The Air Traffic Controller Strike

of 1981 was a significant labor dispute between air traffic controllers and the federal government, resulting in the termination of thousands of striking workers and changes in the management of air traffic services.

TSA

2002 is a U.S. government agency responsible for ensuring the security of travelers through airport screening processes, including baggage checks and passenger screening procedures.

F

Foxtrot

H

Hotel

I

India

J

Juliett

K

Kilo

L

Lima

M

Mike

O

Oscar

P

Papa

Q

Quebec

R

Romeo

S

Sierra

T

Tango

U

Uniform

V

Victor

W

Whiskey

X

X-ray

Y

Yankee

Z

Zulu