Abbreviations and Acronyms in Aviation

Here is a list of common abbreviations and acronyms which are used throughout the Aeronautical Information Manual. This list is included in all of our courses, including the PPL and CPL ground school courses.

AAE………………………………………. above aerodrome elevation
AAIR…………….. Annual Airworthiness Information Report
AAS……………………………………. aerodrome advisory service
ABAS………………………..aircraft-based augmentation system
AC ………………………………………………….. Advisory Circular
ACA………………………………………………..Arctic Control Area
ACARS……………… aircraft communications addressing and reporting system
ACAS………………………airborne collision avoidance system
ACC…………………………………………………. area control centre
A-CDM………………. Airport Collaborative Decision Making
ACSC……………………. aircraft critical surface contamination
AD ………………………………………….Airworthiness Directive
ADB……………………………………… aviation document booklet
ADCUS ………………………………………………“Advise customs”
ADF ………………………………………. automatic direction finder
ADIZ…………………………………air defence identification zone
ADS …………………………..automatic dependence surveillance
ADS-B……….. automatic dependent surveillance – broadcast
ADS-C…………..automatic dependent surveillance – contract
ADS WPR …………………… automatic dependent surveillance waypoint position report(ing)
AFCGS …………….. automatic flight control guidance system
AFCS ………………………………automatic flight control system
AFM ……………………………………………..aircraft flight manual
AFN…………………… air traffic services facilities notification
AFS ………………………………………..aeronautical fixed service
AFTN …..Aeronautical Fixed Telecommunications Network
AGL ………………………………………………….above ground level
AGN………………………………………………aircraft group number
AIC ……………………………..aeronautical information circular
AIM …………………….Aeronautical Information Management (NAV CANADA)
AIP ……………………….Aeronautical Information Publication
AIRAC………………Aeronautical Information Regulation and Control
AIREP …………………………………………………………… air report
AIS ………………………………aeronautical information service
ALR…………………………………………………. aircraft load rating
ALSF-2 ……………………….approach lighting with sequenced flashers–CAT II
ALT …………………………………………………………………. altitude
ALTRV ……………………………………………. altitude reservation
AM ……………………………………………..amplitude modulation
AMA……………………………………………area minimum altitude
AME…………………………………aircraft maintenance engineer
AMIS……………………aircraft movement information service
AMSL…………………………………………….above mean sea level
ANS ……………………………………………… air navigation system
ANSP………………………………. air navigation service provider
AOC……………………………………………. air operator certificate
AOC……………………………………..Aviation Operations Centre
AOE ……………………………………………………….airport of entry
AOM……………………………………… airport operations manual
APAPI……………………. abbreviated precision approach path indicator
APREQ…………………………………………………………….. approval request
APRT ……………………………………………………………………………… airport
APV …………………………..approach procedure with vertical guidance
ARCAL……………………… aircraft radio control of aerodrome lighting
ARFF…………………………..Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting
ARP ……………………………………….aerodrome reference point
ASDA………………………….. accelerate-stop distance available
ASDE………………………..airport surface detection equipment
ASL ………………………………………………………. above sea level
ATA ……………………………………………… actual time of arrival
ATC …………………………………………………….air traffic control
ATF …………………………………….aerodrome traffic frequency
ATFM………………………………….air traffic flow management
ATIS ……………………automatic terminal information service
ATM ………………………………………….. air traffic management
ATN…………………aeronautical telecommunications network
ATPL ………………………………….airline transport pilot licence
ATS …………………………………………………… air traffic service
AU ……………………………………………….. approach UNICOM
AVASI…………… abbreviated visual approach slope indicator
AVGAS……………………………………………….. aviation gasoline
AVOPS………………………………….Aviation Operations Centre
AWOS…………………..automated weather observation system
AWWS…………………………………..Aviation Weather Web Site
baro-VNAV………………………..barometric vertical navigation
BCST …………………………………………………………….. broadcast
BOTA…………………………………. Brest oceanic transition area
BPL ………………………………………………..balloon pilot licence
BVLOS …………………………………. beyond visual line-of-sight
C …………………………………………………………………..Celsius
CADORS ………………………Civil Aviation Daily Occurrence
Reporting System
CAE ……………………………………………..control area extension
CAME…………………………..Civil Aviation Medical Examiner
CAP …………………………………………………….Canada Air Pilot
CARs…………………………….. Canadian Aviation Regulations
CARAC … Canadian Aviation Regulation Advisory Council
CARC …………………… Civil Aviation Regulatory Committee
CARS………………………. community aerodrome radio station
CASARA………….. Civil Air Search and Rescue Association
CAT ………………………………………………… clear air turbulence
CAT I, II, III …………………………………………Category I, II, III
CAVOK……………………………………. ceiling and visibility OK
CDA…………………………………..Canadian Domestic Airspace
CDA………………….. departure clearance readback (data link)
CDFA…………………………….. constant descent final approach
CDI ………………………………………. course deviation indicator
CFA …………………………………………. common frequency area
CFB …………………………………………….. Canadian Forces base
CFS ………………………………………Canada Flight Supplement
CFIT ……………………………………controlled flight into terrain
CG ……………………………………………………..centre of gravity
CLD …………………… departure clearance message (data link)
CLDN …………………Canadian Lightning Detection Network
CMA…………………………………….Central Monitoring Agency
CMAC ……………..Canadian Meteorological Aviation Centre
CMC ……………………………..Canadian Meteorological Centre
CMNPS ……….. Canadian minimum navigationperformance specifications
CMNPSA…….. Canadian minimum navigation performance specifications airspace
CMU…………..communications management unit (data link)
CNS …………………communications, navigation, surveillance
CNOP……………… Canadian NOTAM Operating Procedures
CPDLC ……………. controller-pilot data link communications
C of A ……………………………………certificate of airworthiness
C of R………………………………………. certificate of registration
CPL ………………………………………….commercial pilot licence
C.R.C. …………………….. Consolidated Regulations of Canada
CRFI…………………………….Canadian Runway Friction Index
CTA ……………………………………………………………..contol area
CTAISB…..Canadian Transportation Accident Investigation and Safety Board
CVFR……………………………………………………. controlled VFR
CWAS…………………..Canada Water Aerodrome Supplement
CZ ……………………………………………………………control zone
DA …………………………………………………….. decision altitude
DADS ……………………………..digital altimeter display system
DAH…………….. Designated Airspace Handbook (TP 1820E)
D-ATIS ………………………………………………….. data link ATIS
DCL …………………………………departure clearance (data link)
DCPC…………………… direct controller-pilot communications
DF ……………………………………………………… direction finder
DH ………………………………………………………. decision height
DLM …………………………………………………. data link mandate
DME ………………………………..distance measuring equipment
TC AIM March 25, 2021
40 GEN
DND ……………………………..Department of National Defence
DR ……………………………………….dead reckoning navigation
DRCO ……………………dial-up remote communications outlet
DT ………………………………………………..daylight saving time
DTW……………………………. downwind termination waypoint
DVFR…………………………………….. defence visual flight rules
D-VOLMET………………………………………data link VOLMET
E ………………………………………………………………………. east
EAD…………………………………………..European AIS Database
EASA…………………………. European Aviation Safety Agency
EAT ………………………………………….. expected approach time
ECAC……………………… European Civil Aviation Conference
ECCC………………Environment and Climate Change Canada
EET …………………………………………….estimated elapsed time
EFC ………………………………. expected further clearance time
ELT ………………………………….emergency locator transmitter
EMAS……………………. engineered material arresting system
EMI …………………………………… electromagnetic interference
ERS …………………………………. Emergency Response Service
ESCAT Plan…………………Emergency Security Control of Air Traffic Plan
EST …………………………………………… Eastern Standard Time
EST (NOTAM)……………………….. estimated time (NOTAM)
ETA ………………………………………….estimated time of arrival
ETD ……………………………………..estimated time of departure
ETE ……………………………………………estimated time en route
EWH………………………………………………..eye-to-wheel height
FAA …………………… Federal Aviation Administration (USA)
FACF………………………………………..final approach course fix
FAF ………………………………………………….. final approach fix
FANS ………………………………… future air navigation systems
FARs………………………. Federal Aviation Regulations (USA)
FATO ……………………………. final approach and take-off area
FAWP………………………………………..final approach waypoint
FD ……………….. upper level wind and temperature forecast
FDE …………………………………… fault detection and exclusion
FE ………………………………………………………..flight engineer
FIC ………………………………………… flight information centre
FIR …………………………………………flight information region
FISE……………………………flight information service en route
FL ……………………………………………………………..flight level
FLAS …………………………………flight level allocation scheme
FM ……………………………………………..frequency modulation
FMC……………………………………flight management computer
FMS ……………………………………….flight management system
FP ………………………………………………………………flight plan
fpm ……………………………………………………..flash per minute
FPUI …………………………………….flight plan unique identifier
FPV …………………………………………………….first-person view
FRT ……………………………………………..fixed radius transition
FSM ……………………….flight system management (data link)
FSS ……………………………………………….flight service station
FSTD …………………………….flight simulation training device
FTE ……………………………………………….flight technical error
GBAS………………………..ground-based augmentation system
GEO…………….geostationary earth orbit (or geosynchronous equatorial orbit)
GEO…………………………………….. geosynchronous earth orbit
GES ………………………………………………..ground earth station
GFA ……………………………………………….graphic area forecast
GHz ………………………………………………………………. gigahertz
GLONASS………..global orbiting navigation satellite system
GMU………………………………………………GPS monitoring unit
GNSS……………………………global navigation satellite system
GOTA ………………………………Gander oceanic transition area
GP ……………………………………………………………….glide path
GPL …………………………………………………. glider pilot licence
GPS ……………………………………….. global positioning system
GPWS ………………………… ground proximity warning system
GS …………………………………………………………….. glide slope
GYP ……………………………………………. gyroplane pilot permit
HAA ………………………………………….height above aerodrome
HAT…………………………………………. height above touchdown
HDG …………………………………………………………………heading
HF ………………………………………………………. high frequency
HFDL…………………………………………………………HF data link
Hg …………………………………………………………………mercury
HIAL ……………………………..high intensity approach lighting
HIRO ……………………………high-intensity runway operations
HLA………………………………………………….high-level airspace
HMU…………………………………………… height monitoring unit
hPa …………………………………………………………….hectopascal
HPL ……………………………………….horizontal protection limit
hr ……………………………………………………………………… hour
HSI ……………………………………horizontal situation indicator
Hz …………………………………………………………………….. hertz
IAF ………………………………………………….initial approach fix
IAP ………………………………..instrument approach procedure
IAS …………………………………………………..indicated airspeed
IAWP ……………………………………… initial approach waypoint
ICAO……………….. International Civil Aviation Organization
IF …………………………………………………….. intermediate fix
IFF ………………………………………identification, friend or foe
IFR …………………………………………….instrument flight rules
IFSS …………………………… international flight service station
IFT ……………………………………………… instrument flight test
ILS ……………………………………… instrument landing system
IMC ……………………….instrument meteorological conditions
INF ……………………………………………….inland navigation fix
INS ………………………………………..inertial navigation system
INTXN ………………………………………………………..intersection
IRS ………………………………………….inertial reference system
IRU ………………………………………………inertial reference unit
ISA …………………………. International Standard Atmosphere
IWP ……………………………… intermediate approach waypoint
J or JET………………………………………………. high-level airway
JRCC……………………………..joint rescue co-ordination centre
kg ………………………………………………………………..kilogram
kHz ……………………………………………………………….. kilohertz
KIAS………………………………………… knots indicated airspeed
kN ……………………………………………………………. kilonewton
kt ……………………………………………………………………… knot
LAAS…………………………….. local-area augmentation system
LAHSO………………………….Land and Hold Short Operations
LAWO…………………….. limited aviation weather observation
lb …………………………………………………………………….pound
LDA ………………………………………..landing distance available
LED ……………………………………………….. light-emitting diode
LEO ………………………………………………………..low earth orbit
LF ……………………………………………………….. low frequency
LIAL………………………………. low intensity approach lighting
LIDAR…………………………………..light detection and ranging
LLA ………………………………………………….. low-level airspace
LOC…………………………………………………………………localizer
LNAV…………………………………………………. lateral navigation
LP ………. localizer performance without vertical guidance
LPV …………….localizer performance with vertical guidance
LRNS………………………………… long range navigation system
LVOP ………………………………… low visibility operations plan
LWIS…………………………limited weather information system
MA ……………………………………………………..missed approach
MALS…………… medium intensity approach lighting system
MALSF…..medium intensity approach lighting system with sequenced flashing lights
MALSR …….medium intensity approach lighting system with runway alignment indicator lights
MANAB…………………………. Manual of Word Abbreviations
MANAIR…………..Manual of Standards and Procedures for Aviation Weather Forecasts
MANOBS…………Manual of Surface Weather Observations
MANOT ……………………………………… missing aircraft notice
MAP …………………………………………… missed approach point
TC AIM March 25, 2021
41
MASPS ………………….minimum aircraft system performance
GEN
specification
MAWP………………………………….. missed approach waypoint
mb ………………………………………………………………….millibar
MCDU ……………………multipurpose control and display unit
MCTOW…………………maximum certificated takeoff weight
MDA……………………………………… minimum descent altitude
MEA …………………………………….. minimum en route altitude
MEDEVAC……………………………… medical evacuation flight
MEHT……………………….minimum eye height over threshold
MEL………………………………………….minimum equipment list
MEO ……………………………………………….. medium earth orbit
METAR……………..aerodrome routine meteorological report
MF ………………………………………………mandatory frequency
MF ………………………………………………….medium frequency
MFAU……………………………….Military Flight Advisory Unit
MHA………………………………………minimum holding altitude
MHz………………………………………………………………megahertz
MLAT……………………………………………………..multilateration
MLS……………………………………… microwave landing system
MM ………………………………………………………..middle marker
MNPS…………….minimum navigation performance specifications
MNPSA ………………………minimum navigation performance specifications airspace
MOA………………………………………….military operations area
MOC…………………………………..minimum obstacle clearance
MOCA …………………….minimum obstacle clearance altitude
MPa …………………………………………………………….megapascal
mph ……………………………………………………….. miles per hour
MRA…………………………………… minimum reception altitude
MRB……………………………………. magnetic reference bearing
MSA………………………………………….minimum sector altitude
MSL………………………………………………………Mean Sea Level
MTCA………………………………. military terminal control area
MTOW……………………………………maximum take-off weight
MTSAT………………………..multifunctional transport satellite
MU …………………………………….management unit (data link)
MVA ……………………………………minimum vectoring altitude
MVFR…………………………………..marginal visual flight rules
MWO………………………………….. meteorological watch office
N ……………………………………………………………………..north
NAARMO………… North American Approvals Registry and Monitoring Organization
NACp………………….navigation accuracy category—position
NADP ……………………. noise abatement departure procedure
NAR……………………………………………..North American route
NASA ……..National Aeronautics and Space Administration (USA)
NAT ………………………………………………………..North Atlantic
NAT HLA…………………… North Atlantic high-level airspace
NATO ………………………. North Atlantic Treaty Organization
NAVAID …………………………………………………..navigation aid
NCA…………………………………………… Northern Control Area
NCATS ……………. National Civil Air Transportation System
NDA……………………………………Northern Domestic Airspace
NDB…………………………………………… non-directional beacon
NIC ……………………………………navigation integrity category
NM …………………………………………………………..nautical mile
NOHD…………………………. Nominal Ocular Hazard Distance
NO PT……………………………………………….. no procedure turn
NORDO…………………………………………………………… no radio
NPA ……………………………………………non-precision approach
NRP ……………………………… North American Route Program
NSE ………………………………………….. navigation system error
NUCp………………navigation uncertainty category—position
NVIS……………………………………night vision imaging system
NWP…………………………………. numerical weather prediction
OAC………………………………………oceanic area control centre
OAT ……………………………………………outside air temperature
OBST………………………………………………………………. obstacle
O/C …………………………………………..observer-communicator
OCA………………………………………………..oceanic control area
OCL ………………………………………….. obstacle clearance limit
OCL …………………………………… oceanic clearance (data link)
OCS ………………………………………. obstacle clearance surface
ODALS…………….omnidirectional approach lighting system
ODL……………………………………………opposite direction level
ODP ………………………………….. obstacle departure procedure
OEP ………………………………………….. oceanic entry/exit point
OFZ ………………………………………………….. obstacle free zone
OIDS…………………… operational information display system
OKTA ………………………………………………………….. one-eighth
OLS ……………………………………….obstacle limitation surface
OPS ……………………………………… obstacle protection surface
OTS ……………………………………………organized track system
OTT ……………………………………………………………over-the-top
PAC ………………………………………………………………….. Pacific
PAL …………………………………………………… peripheral station
PAPI……………………………..precision approach path indicator
PAR ………………………………………….precision approach radar
PAS ………………………………………….. private advisory station
PBN ………………………………… performance-based navigation
PCN …………………… pavement classification number (ICAO)
PDC ………………………….. pre-departure clearance (data link)
PDE ………………………………………………..path definition error
PIC ………………………………………………….. pilot-in-command
PIREP ………………………………………………pilot weather report
PLR ……………………………………………….pavement load rating
PN ………………………………………………. prior notice required
PPC …………………………………………….pilot proficiency check
PPL …………………………………………………private pilot licence
PPR ……………………………………….. prior permission required
PPS ………………………………………….. present position symbol
PRM………………………………………… preferred routes message
PRN ………………………………………………. pseudorandom noise
PSI ……………………………………………pounds per square inch
PSR ……………………………………… primary surveillance radar
PSTN ………………………… public switched telephone network
PT ………………………………………………………. procedure turn
PWS ………………………………….. predictive wind shear system
R ……………………………………………………………………. radial
R …………………………………………………………………….radius
RA ………………………………………………… resolution advisory
RAAS ……………………….remote aerodrome advisory service
RAIM ………………receiver autonomous integrity monitoring
RAMO…………………………..regional aviation medical officer
RASS……………………………… remote altimeter setting source
Rc ……………………………………………..radius of containment
RCAP………………………………….. Restricted Canada Air Pilot
RCD…………………….. departure clearance request (data link)
RCMP……………………………Royal Canadian Mounted Police
RCO ………………………………… remote communications outlet
REDL………………………………………………..runway edge lights
RENL …………………………………………………runway end lights
RESA………………………………………….runway end safety area
RETIL………………………….rapid-exit taxiway indicator lights
RF ……………………………………………………………radius to fix
RLOS………………………………………………… radio line-of-sight
RMI ………………………………………….radio magnetic indicator
RNAV …………………………………………………….area navigation
RNP …………………………….. required navigation performance
RNP APCH ……. required navigation performance approach
RNP AR APCH…………….. required navigation performance
authorization required approach
RNPC ……………required navigation performance capability
RONLY………………………………………………………receiver only
RPA ………………………………………….remotely piloted aircraft
RPAS ……………………………..remotely piloted aircraft system
RPP …………………………………………. recreational pilot permit
RRTU ……………………………………………radio re-transmit unit
RSC ……………………………………….. runway surface condition
RTF ………………………………………..radiotelephony frequency
RTIL ………………………runway threshold identification lights
TC AIM March 25, 2021
42 GEN
RWYCC……………………………………… runway condition code
RVOP………………………….. reduced visibility operations plan
RVR………………………………………………. runway visual range
RVSM …………………….reduced vertical separation minimum
RWS………………………………………reactive wind shear system
S ……………………………………………………………………..south
SA ……………………………………………….selective availability
SAR ……………………………………………………search and rescue
SATCOM………………………………….satellite communications
SATVOICE……………………… satellite voice communications
SBAS ……………………….satellite-based augmentation system
SCA …………………………………………… Southern Control Area
SCDA……………………………stabilized constant descent angle
SDA ……………………………………Southern Domestic Airspace
SELCAL…………………………………….selective calling system
SFOC …………………………special flight operations certificate
SID …………………………………standard instrument departure
SIF ………………………………… selective identification feature
SIGMET ……………….significant meteorological information
SIL ………………………………………………source integrity level
SLOP……………………………..strategic lateral offset procedure
SM …………………………………………………………….statute mile
SNR ………………………………………………..signal-to-noise ratio
SOPs ………………………………..standard operating procedures
SOTA……………………………..Shannon oceanic transition area
SPECI ………………..aerodrome special meteorological report
SPEC VIS ………………..specified takeoff minimum visibility
SPI …………………………………………special position indicator
SPP …………………………………………………student pilot permit
SSALR………simplified short approach lighting system with runway alignment indicator lights
SSALS ……………..simplified short approach lighting system
SSB ……………………………………………………….single sideband
SSR ………………………………….. secondary surveillance radar
STAR……………………………………….standard terminal arrival
STOL aircraft ………………..short takeoff and landing aircraft
SVFR………………………………………………..special VFR flight
SVM …………………………………………….service volume model
SVN…………………………………………..satellite vehicle number
T ……………………………………………………………………….true
TA ……………………………………………………… traffic advisory
TAA………………………………………………..terminal arrival area
TAC ………………………………………………….terminal area chart
TACAN…………………………………… tactical air navigation aid
TAF ………………………………………………… aerodrome forecast
TAS …………………………………………………………. true airspeed
TATC…………….. Transportation Appeal Tribunal of Canada
TAWS…………………… terrain awareness and warning system
TC ………………………………………………….. Transport Canada
TC AIM……….Transport Canada Aeronautical Information Manual
TCCA…………………………… Transport Canada Civil Aviation
TCA ……………………………………………… terminal control area
TCAS I/II………..traffic alert and collision avoidance system
TCH …………………………………………threshold crossing height
TCU ……………………………………………….terminal control unit
TDOA ………………………………………time difference of arrival
TDZ ……………………………………………………..touchdown zone
TDZE…………………………………….. touchdown zone elevation
TDZL………………………………………. touchdown zone lighting
TIBA…………………. traffic information broadcast by aircraft
TLOF ……………………………………touchdown and lift-off area
TMI …………………………………….track message identification
TOD…………………………………………………………top of descent
TODA …………………………………….take-off distance available
TORA ………………………………………….. take-off run available
TP …………………………………. Transport Canada publication
TRA……………………………………………………..tower radar area
TRB……………………………………………true reference bearings
TRP ……………………………………………………..tower radar plan
TSB …………………….Transportation Safety Board of Canada
TSE ……………………………………………………total system error
TSO ………………………………………..Technical Standard Order
TSR …………………………………….. terminal surveillance radar
TWR…………………………………………………………control tower
UAS ……………………………………….unmanned aircraft system
UAV …………………………………………….. unmanned air vehicle
ULP …………………………………………….. ultralight pilot permit
UHF……………………………………………….. ultrahigh frequency
UNICOM………………………………..universal communications
USB ……………………………………………………….upper sideband
UTC……………………………………Coordinated Universal Time
VAA…………………………………………….. volcanic ash advisory
VAAC ………………………………… volcanic ash advisory centre
VAGS……………………….Visual Alignment Guidance System
VAS …………………………………………. vehicle advisory service
VASI ……………………………….visual approach slope indicator
VASIS …………………..visual approach slope indicator system (generic term)
VCOA ………………………………… visual climb over the airport
VCS …………………………………………….vehicle control service
VDF ………………………………………………VHF direction finder
VDI ………………………………………vertical deviation indicator
VDL……………………………………………………. VHF digital link
VDR………………………………………………………VHF data radio
VFR ……………………………………………………visual flight rules
VGSS …………………………………… voice generator sub-system
VHF………………………………………………..very high frequency
VLF …………………………………………………very low frequency
VLOS………………………………………………..visual line-of-sight
VMC……………………………..visual meteorological conditions
VNAP………………………..vertical noise abatement procedure
VNAV………………………………………………. vertical navigation
VNC…………………………………………….. VFR navigation chart
VOLMET………………….in-flight meteorological information
VOR……………………………………. VHF omnidirectional range
VORTAC ……………………. combination of VOR and TACAN
VPA …………………………………………………..vertical path angle
VTA………………………………………….VFR terminal area chart
VTOL aircraft………….. vertical takeoff and landing aircraft
W …………………………………………………………………………west
WAAS……………………………wide area augmentation system
WAFC…………………………………… world area forecast centre
WAFS …………………………………..world area forecast system
WMO……………………… World Meteorological Organization
WP ………………………………………………………………waypoint
WPR ……………………………….. waypoint position report(ing)
WS …………………………………………………………… wind shear
zulu (Z)………………………………Coordinated Universal Time

© Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada, represented by the Minister of
Transport (2020) This information has been reproduced with the permission of
Transport Canada.