Aviation Terminology & Abbreviations

Here is a list of basic/common aviation terms and abbreviations. This page is to help you understand certain things being said in my posts and increase your general aviation knowledge. If there is a word or anything else you don't understand, you can comment below or send me a suggestion.


ABBREVIATIONS

• ILS - Instrument Landing System. Used for horizontal and vertical guidance to a given runway. Radio frequancies are emitted from ground stations and picked up my aircraft with the proper equipment.

• METAR - Is a meteorological report that gives coded information such as, winds, temps, cloud coverages, convective activity, etc. Click HERE to view a sample Metar.

• TAF - Another Meteorological report that gives coded information, much like the metar. However, it gives forecasted information for weather. Click HERE for TAF.

• ATC - Air Traffic Control. Provide aircraft seperation, prevent collision and to control the flow of traffic.

• PIC/SIC - Pilot in Command/Second in Command

• DME - Distance Measuring Equipment. Some navigational stations provide DME information to aircraft that are capable of receiving. You must have DME capabilities if above 10,000ft MSL

• VOR - Very-high-frequency Omnidirectional Range. Is a navigational station used for aircraft to navigate safely. Also, used for instrument approaches.

• IFR/VFR - Instrument Flight Rules/Visual Flight Rules. Limitations set for cloud coverages and visibilities to pilots. Rules are different depending on which class of airspace you are in. (Think IFR=bad visibility. VFR=good visibility)

• IMC - Instrument Meteorological Conditions. When weather is poor enough that actual IFR are used.

• Wx - Weather

• MSL - Mean Sea Level. Your height above the ocean. This is most commonly used. 

• Navaid - Navigational Aid. Used for navigation and approaches. Includes VOR/Vortac, DME, NDB, ILS, etc. Can also be a visual aid such as a light house, radio tower, or smoke stack.

TERMS

• Arc - A procedure used to keep your distance and navigate towards a specified radial. Think about flying a partial circle around a spot to get to where you need to be.

• Instrument Approach - A procedure flown by specified instructions to get you aligned to the runway safely and ensures obstacle clearances.

• Foggles/Hood - a device worn on the head that limits your visibility to only your instruments. It is used to simulate IMC

• Localizer - Part of the ILS. Used for lateral guidance to get your aircraft safely to the runway during an IFR approach.

• Glideslope - Part of the ILS. Used for vertical guidance to ensure safe altitude during and IFR approach.

• Vectored - Air Traffic Control will sometimes give you vectors (assigned headings) to fly.

• Radial- Radials are emitted from VOR navagation aids. They correspond with magnetic headings. The 360 radial starts at the VOR and goes in a straight line due North (magnetic). The 090 radial goes East, and so forth. Radials are assigned to prevent confusion of which direction. There are 360 radials on a VOR, each corresponding with the appropriate direction.

• Runway # - The runway number is the magnetic direction in tens. For example, Runway 35 is a magnetic heading of 350, almost due North.

• Airspace - Classification of the air (area and altitude).
• Alpha
• Bravo
• Charlie
• Delta
• Echo - Everywhere Else. Most of America is Class E airspace.
• Golf - Think of it as Government Free. It is completely uncontrolled airspace..

• The Soup - A term used to describe thick fog or clouds as you are flying through them. You are unable to determine which way is up or down and can easily become disoriented and crash. You must rely on your instruments completely while in "The Soup".