FAA VOCAB

Above Ground Level (AGL)

Altitude expressed in feet measured above ground

Airport Elevation (Field Elevation)

The highest point of an airports usable runways measured in feet from Mean Sea Level (MSL)

Airport Surveillance Radar (ASR)

Approach control radar used to detect &display an aircraft’s position in the terminal area.

Provides:

• range

• Azimuth info.

Does NOT provide:

• Elevation data

COVERAGE :

Up to 60 miles

Airspeed

The speed of an aircraft relative to its surrounding air mass. The unqualified “airspeed” means one of the following:

A) Indicated Airspeed (IAS) “airspeed” : the speed shown on the aircraft airspeed indicator

B) True Airspeed (TAS) : The airspeed of an aircraft relative to undisturbed air.

• primarily used: flight planning & en route portion of flight

Air Traffic Clearance

An authorization be Air Traffic Control (ATC) for the purpose of preventing collision between known aircraft, for an aircraft to proceed under specified traffic conditions within controlled airspace.

• the pilot-in-command of an aircraft may not deviate from the provisions of a Visual Flight Rules (VFR) or Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) air traffic clearance, except in an emergency or unless an amended clearance has been obtained.

Air Traffic Control (ATC)

A service operated be appropriate authority to promote the safe, orderly & expeditious flow of air traffic

Air Traffic Control Specialist (ATCS)

A person authorized to provide air traffic control service

Air Traffic Service Routes (ATS Routes)

INCLUDES:

• “VOR Federal Airways”

• “ Colored Federal Airways”

• “Jet Routes”

• “RNAV Routes”

Generalized term that does NOT replace but serves only as an overall title when listing the types of routes that compromise the US route structure

Airway

A class E airspace area established in the form of a corridor, the centerline of which is defined be radio navigational aids

Alert Area

A type of Special Use Airspace that may contain high volume of pilot training activities or an unusual type of aerial activity, neither which is hazardous to aircraft

Altimeter (tells pilots their MSL (Mean Sea Level)

A flight instrument that indicates altitude be sensing pressure changes

Altimeter Setting (ALSTG)

The barometric pressure reading used to adjust a pressure altimeter for variants in expiating atmospheric pressure or to the standard altimeter setting (29.92)

Altitude

The height of a level, point, or object measured in feet Above Ground Level (AGL) or from Mean Sea Level (MSL)

Controlled Firing Area (CFA)

A type of Special Use Airspace wherein activities are conducted under conditions so controlled as to eliminate hazards to nonparticipating aircraft and to ensure the safety of persons and property on the ground

Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) (ZULU)

Universal Time

Data Block (Alphanumeric Display)

Letters & numerals used to show identification, altitude, beacon code, & other information concerning a target on a radar display

Distance Measuring Equipment (DME)

Equipment (airborne & ground) used to measure, in nautical miles, the slant range distance of an aircraft form the DME navigational aid

Distance Measuring Equipment Fix (DME Fix)

A geographical position determined be reference to a navigational aid which provides distance & azimuth information

Fix

A geographical position determined by visual reference to the surface, by reference to one or more radio NAVAIDs, by celestial plotting, or by another navigational device

Flight Check (FLC)

A call sign prefix used by FAA aircraft engaged in flight inspection/certification of navigational aids & flight procedures

Flight Level (FL)

A level of constant atmospheric pressure related to a reference datum of 29.92 inches of mercury.

Each is stated in three digits that represent hundreds of feet.

Ex: FL 250 represents a barometric altimeter indication of 25,000 feet

FL 255 = 25,500 feet

Flight Plan (FP)

Specified information relating to the intended flight of an aircraft that is filed orally or in writing with an FSS or an ATC facility

Flow Control

Measures designed to adjust the flow of traffic into a given airspace, along a given route, or bound for a given aerodrome (airport) so as to ensure the most effective utilization of the airspace

General Aviation (GA)

That portion of civil aviation which encompasses all facets aviation, except air carriers holding a certificate of public convenience & necessity from the Civil Aeronautics Board & large aircraft commercial operators

Global Positioning System (GPS)

A space-based radio positioning, navigation, & time-transfer system

PROVIDES:

• highly accurate position

• Velocity info

• Precise time

• A worldwide common grid reference system

Unaffected by weather

Handoff

An action taken to transfer the radar identification of an aircraft form one controller to another if the aircraft will enter the receiving controllers airspace & radio communications with the aircraft will be transferred

Hold Procedure

A predetermined maneuver that keeps aircraft within a special airspace while awaiting further clearance from Air Traffic Control (ATC). Also used during ground operations

IFR (Instrument Flight Rules) Conditions

Weather conditions below the minimum for flight under Visual Flight Rules (VFR)

• Ceiling below 1,000 feet AGL (Above Ground Level)

• Visibility is below 3 status miles

IFR (Instrument Flight Rules) / VFR (Visual Flight Rules) Aircraft

• The pilot using Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) relies on instruments for navigation during poor weather conditions & is provided ATC separation

• The Visual Flight Rules (VFR) pilot relies on their own vision for separation & may or may not use instruments for navigation

Initial Approach Fix (IAF)

The fixed depicted on instrument approach procedure charts that identify the beginning of the initial approach segment

Instrument Depart Procedure (DP)

A preplanned Instrument Flight Rule (IFR) air traffic control departure procedure printed for pilot use in graphic &/or textual form.

• PROVIDE:

  • transition from the terminal to the appropriate en route structure

Instrument Flight Rules (IFR)

Rules governing the procedures for conducting instrument flight. used by pilots & controllers to indicate type of Flight Plan (FP)

Instrument Landing System (ILS)

A precision instrument approach system that normally consists of the following electronic components and visual aids:

• Localizer

• Glideslope

• Outer Marker

• Middle Marker

• Approach Lights

Intersection

A ) A point defined by any combination of courses, radials, or bearings of two or more navigational aids.

B) Used to describe the point where two runways, a runway and a taxiway, or two taxiways cross or meet

Jet Route

A route designed to serve aircraft operations from 18,000 feet Mean Sea Level (MSL) up to and including flight level 450. the routes are referred to as “J” routes with numbering to identify the designated route

Ex: J105

Lateral Separation (non radar)

The lateral spacing of aircraft at the same altitude by requiring operation on different routes or in different geographical locations

Longitudinal Separation ( non radar)

the longitudinal spacing of aircraft at the same altitude by a minimum distance of expressed in units of time or miles

Mach number

The ratio of true airspeed to the speed of sound

Ex: MACH .82 , MACH 1.6

Mayday

The interns radiotelephony distress signal. When repeated three times it indicated imminent and grave danger and that immediate assistance is requested.

Mean Sea Level (MSL)

Altitude expressed in feet measured from mean sea level

Military Operations Area (MOA)

An airspace of defined vertical and lateral dimensions established outside Class A airspace to separate/ segregate certain military activities from Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) traffic and to identify for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) traffic where these activities are conducted

Mode C (radar)

Altitude reporting transponder mode

Movement Area

The runways, taxiways, and other areas of an airport/ heliport which are utilized for taxiing/ hover taxiing, air taxiing, takeoff, and landing of aircraft, exclusive of loading ramps and parking areas. At those airports/ heliports with a tower, specific approval for entry onto the movement area must be obtained form ATC

National Airspace System (NAS)

The common network of US airspace

Navigational Aid (NAVAID)

Any visual or electronic device airborne or on the surface which provides point to point guidance information or position data to aircraft in flight

Non- directional Beacon (NDB)

An L/MF radio beacon transmitting non-directional signals whereby the pilot of an aircraft equipped w direction-finding equipment can determine their bearing to or from the radio beacon and “home” on or track to or from the station

Non-movement Area

Taxiways and apron (ramp) areas not under the control of air traffic

Nonradar

Generally means w/o the use of radar, such as:

• Nonradar Approach: used to describe the instrument approaches which course guidance on final approach may or may not be provided by ATC

• Nonradar Approach Control: an ATC facility providing approach control service w/o the use of radar

• Nonradar Arrival: an aircraft arriving at the airport w/o radar service or at an airport served by a radar facility and reader contact has not been established or has been terminated due to a lack of radar service to the airport

• Nonradar Route: a flight path or route over which the pilot is performing their own navigation. Pilot may be receiving radar separation, radar monitoring, or other ATC services while nonradar route.

• Nonradar Seperation: the spacing of aircraft in accordance w established minima w/o the use of radar example: vertical, lateral, longitudinal deprecation

Positive Control

The separation of of all air traffic within designated airspace by air traffic control

Precision Approach Radar

This equipment may be used to monitor certain nonradar approaches but is primary used to conduct a precision instrument approach wherein the controller issues guidance instructions to the pilot based on the aircraft’s position in relation the the final approach course (azimuth), the glide path (elevation), and the distance (range) form the touchdown point on the runway as displayed on the radar scope

Prohibited Area

Designated airspace within which the flight aircraft is prohibited

Radar

A device which, by measuring the time interval between transmission and reception of radio pulses and correlating the angular orientation of the radiated antenna beam or beams in azimuth and /or elevation, provides info on range, azimuth, and/or elevation of objects in the path of the transmitted pulses

Radar Point Off

An action taken by a controller to transfer the radar identification of an aircraft to another controller if the aircraft will or may enter the airspace or protected airspace of another controller and radio communications will not be transferred

Radar Vectors

Specific headings, issued to the pilot by a controller, to provide navigational guidance based on the use of radar

Restricted Area

Runway (RWY , RY)

A defined rectangular area on a land airport prepared for landing and takeoff.

Numbered in relation to their magnetic direction rounded off to the nearest 10 degrees

Special Use Airspace (SUA)

Airspace of defined dimensions identified by an area on the surface of the earth wherein activities must be confined bc of their nature and/ or wherein limitations may be imposed upon aircraft operations that are not a part of those activities

Squawk

Activate specific codes on the aircraft transponder

Stabilizer

Located in the tail section of the aircraft. The Vertical Stabilizer is in the upright position, while the Horizontal Stabilizer is in a horizontal position. They are manipulated by the pilot in order to control the aircraft

Tactical Air Navigation (TACAN)

An ultra-high frequency electronic rho-theta air navigation aid that provides suitably equipped aircraft a continuous indication of bearing and distance to the TACAN station

Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance System (TCAS)

And airborne collision avoidance system based on radar beacon signals that operates independent of ground-based equipment

Transponder

Automatically receives radio signals form interrogators on the ground & selectively replies w a specific reply pulse or pulse group only to those interrogations being received on the mode to which it is set to respond

Vertical Separation

Separation established be assignment of diff altitudes or flight levels

Very High Frequency Omni Directional Range Navigational Aid (VOR)

A ground-based electronic navigation aid transmitting very high frequency navigation signals, 360 degrees in azimuth, oriented from magnetic north

Very High frequency omnidirectional Range/Tactical Air Navigation (VORTAC)

A navigation aid providing VOR azimuth, TACAN azimuth, and TACAN distance measuring equipment (DME) at one site

Visual Flight Rules (VFR)

Rules that govern the procedures for conducting flight under visual conditions. Used by pilots and controllers to indicate type of flight plan

VFR Conditions

Exist when

• ceiling is at or above 1,000 feet AGL

• Visibility is at least 3 statue miles

Video Map

An electronically displayed map on the radar display that may depict data

Visibility (VIS)

The ability, as determined by atmospheric conditions and expressed in units of distance, to see and identify prominent unlighted objects by day and prominent lighted objects by night

Visual separation

A means employed by ATC to separate aircraft in terminal areas

Voice Switching and Control System (VSCS) a computer-controlled switching system that provides air traffic controllers with all voice circuits necessary for air traffic control

Waypoint

A predetermined geographical position used for route/instrument approach definition that is defined relative to a VORTAC or in terms of latitude/ longitude coordinates

Department of Transportation (DOT)

Oversees the formulation of national transportation policy and promotes intermodal transportation

Under the leadership of

• Office of the Secretary (OST)

Air Traffic Organization (ATO)

The operational arm of the FAA

Flight Services Program Operations (FSPO)

Manages flight service functions in:

• Alaska (government personnel)

• The contiguous US (CONUS), PR, and Hawaii ( managed by Leídos)

Chief Operating Officer (COO)

ATO ( Air Traffic Organization) is under

Flight Service Station (FSS)

Are air traffic facilities that have no direct control authority over either Instrumental Flight Rules (IFR) or Visual Flight Rules (VFR) traffic

• They do NOT control traffic

• PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITY:

  • provide pilot briefings

  • Receiving and processing IFR AND VFR flight plans

Air Traffic Control System Command Center (ATCSCC)

Monitors and manages the flow of air traffic throughout the NAS

Traffic Management Units (TMUs)

Monitor and balance traffic flows within their area of responsibility in accordance w traffic management devices

Tunneling

Arriving

Capping

Departing

Time Based Flow Management (TBFM)

Is a decision support tool that provides metering and trajectory modeling capability and enhances and optimizes the FAA’s departure scheduling capabilities

Traffic Management Initiatives (TMIs)

Are techniques used to manage demand w capacity in the NAS

Hold Procedure

A predetermined maneuver that keeps an aircraft within a specified airspace while awaiting further clearance form air traffic control.

• also used during ground operations

Holding Fix

A specified fix identifiable to a pilot by NAVAIDs or visual reference to the ground used as a reference point in establishing and maintaining the position of an aircraft while holding

Clearance limit

The fix, point, or location to which an aircraft is cleared when issued an air traffic’s clearance

Expect Further Clearance (EFC)

the time a pilot can expect to receive clearance beyond a clearance limit