Definitions and Acronyms

Question 1

Aerodrome

Answer 1

A defined area (including buildings and installations) on land or water, or on any fixed, offshore or floating structure intended to be used either wholly or in part for the arrival, departure or surface movement of aircraft.

Question 2

Aerodrome traffic zone

Answer 2

Airspace of defined dimensions established around an aerodrome for the protection of aerodrome traffic

Question 3

Aerodrome traffic

Answer 3

All traffic on the manoeuvring area of an aerodrome and all aircraft flying in the vicinity of an aerodrome. An aircraft operating in the vicinity of an aerodrome includes but is not limited to aircraft leaving, or entering an aerodrome traffic circuit.

Question 4

Air ground communication

Answer 4

Two way communication between aircraft and stations or locations on the surface of the earth.

Question 5

Aeronautical Mobile Service

Answer 5

A mobile service between aeronautical stations and aircraft stations, or between aircraft stations, in which survival craft stations may participate; emergency position indicating radio beacon stations may also participate in this service on designated distress and emergency frequencies.

Question 6

Aerodrome Elevation

Answer 6

The elevation of the highest point of the landing area

Question 7

Aeronautical Station

Answer 7

A land station in the aeronautical mobile service. In certain instances, an aeronautical station may be located for example, on board ship or platform at sea.

Question 8

Aircraft station

Answer 8

A mobile station in the aeronautical mobile service, other than a survival craft station, located on board an aircraft.

Question 9

Apron

Answer 9

A defined area, intended to accommodate aircraft for purposes of loading or unloading passengers, mail or cargo, fuelling, parking or maintenance.

Question 10

Elevation

Answer 10

The vertical distance of a point or level on, or affixed to the earth, measured from mean sea level.

Question 11

Flight level

Answer 11

A surface of constant atmospheric pressure, which is related to a specific pressure datum 1013.25hPa, and is separated from other such surfaces by specific pressure intervals.

Question 12

Flight plan

Answer 12

Specified information provided to air traffic services units relative to an intended flight or portion of a flight of an aircraft.

Question 13

Height

Answer 13

The vertical distance of a level, a point or an object considered as a point, measured from a specified datum.

Question 14

Holding point

Answer 14

1. A specified location, identified by visual or other means, in the vicinity of which the position of an aircraft in flight is maintained in accordance with air traffic control clearances.
2. A speech abbreviation used in rtf phraseology having the same meaning as Runway Holding Position or Intermediate Holding Position as defined in CAP 168 Licensing of Aerodromes.

Question 15

IFR Flight

Answer 15

A flight conducted in accordance with the instrument flight rules.

Question 16

IMC

Answer 16

Instrument meteorological conditions

Meteorological conditions expressed in terms of visibility, distance from cloud, and ceiling, less than the minima specified for Visual meteorological conditions.

Question 17

Manoeuvring Area

Answer 17

That part of an aerodrome to be used for the takeoff, landing and taxiing of aircraft, excluding aprons.

Question 18

Runway

Answer 18

A defined rectangular area on a land aerodrome prepared for the landing and take off of aircraft.

Question 19

Taxiway

Answer 19

A defined path on a land aerodrome established for the taxiing of aircraft and intended to provide a link between one part of the aerodrome and another.

Question 20

Threshold

Answer 20

The beginning of that portion of the runway useable for landing.

Question 21

VFR Flight

Answer 21

A flight conducted in accordance with the visual flight rules.

Question 22

VMC

Answer 22

Visual meteorological conditions

Question 23

ACC

Answer 23

Area Control Centre

Question 24

AFTN

Answer 24

Aeronautical Fixed Telecommunications Network

Question 25

AIRPROX

Answer 25

Air proximity Where two aircraft have, or have deemed to have come, too close or are in such a position relative to one another that the safety of those aircraft may be compromised.

Question 26

AIS

Answer 26

Aeronautical Information Service

Question 27

AMSL

Answer 27

Above Mean Sea Level

Question 28

ANO

Answer 28

Air Navigation Order

Question 29

APAPI

Answer 29

Abbreviated Precision Approach Path Indicator

Question 30

ATZ

Answer 30

Aerodrome Traffic Zone

Question 31

CAA

Answer 31

Civil Aviation Authority

Question 32

C/S

Answer 32

Call sign

Question 33

FIR

Answer 33

Flight Information Region

Question 34

FL

Answer 34

Flight Level

Question 35

H24

Answer 35

24 hour ops

Question 36

HEMS

Answer 36

Helicopter Emergency Medical Service

Question 37

IAS

Answer 37

Indicated Airspeed

Question 38

ICAO

Answer 38

International Civil Aviation Organisation

Question 39

METAR

Answer 39

Meteorological Actual Report

Question 40

PAPI

Answer 40

Precision Approach Path Indicator

Question 41

QFE

Answer 41

Altimeter setting that when set will indicated the vertical distance between you and a specified datum on the ground normally the aerodrome elevation.

Question 42

QNH

Answer 42

Altimeter setting that when set will give you your altitude.

Question 43

Altitude

Answer 43

The vertical distance between mean sea level and a point, level or object considered as a point.

Question 44

SAR

Answer 44

Search and Rescue

Question 45

TAF

Answer 45

Terminal Area Forecast

Question 46

TORA

Answer 46

Takeoff Run Available

Question 47

TODA

Answer 47

Take Off Distance Available

Question 48

UHF

Answer 48

Ultra High Frequency

Question 49

VHF

Answer 49

Very High Frequency

Question 50

VASIS

Answer 50

Visual Approach Slope Indicator System

Question 51

Aeronautical radio station

Answer 51

A radio station on the surface which transmits or receives signals for the purpose of assisting aircraft.

Question 52

Alerting service

Answer 52

A service provided to notify appropriate organisations regarding aircraft in need of search and rescue aid, and assist such organisations as required.

Question 53

Alternate Aerodrome

Answer 53

An aerodrome to which an aircraft may proceed when it becomes either impossible or inadvisable to proceed to or to land at the aerodrome of intended landing.

Question 54

Clearway

Answer 54

An area at the end of the takeoff run Available, selected or prepared as a suitable area over which an aircraft may make a portion of its initial climb to a specified height.

Question 55

Cloud ceiling

Answer 55

Cloud ceiling means the height above the ground or water of the base of the lowest layer of cloud below 6000ft which when visible from the aerodrome, is sufficient to obscure more than half the sky.

Question 56

DOC

Answer 56

Designated Operational Coverage The term is used to refer to the combination of the designated operational range and the designated operational height. DOC is that volume of airspace needed operationally in order to provide a particular service and within which the facility is afforded Frequency protection. This term is usually associated with a Frequency assignment to denote the volume of airspace in which it may be used.

Question 57

Mobile surface station

Answer 57

A station in the aeronautical telecommunication service, other than an aircraft station, intended to be used while in motion or during halts at unspecified points.

Question 58

Night

Answer 58

The time between half an hour after sunset and half an hour before sunrise (both times inclusive), sunset and sunrise being determined at surface level.

Question 59

Operational Control Communications

Answer 59

Communications required for the exercise of authority over the initiation, continuation, diversion or termination of a flight in the interest of the safety of the aircraft and the regularity and efficiency of a flight.

Question 60

Rescue coordination centre

Answer 60

A unit responsible for promoting efficient organisation of search and rescue service and for coordinating the conduct of search and rescue operations within a search and rescue region.

Question 61

Visibility

Answer 61

Visibility for aeronautical purposes is the greater of; A. The greatest distance at which a black object of suitable dimensions, situated near the ground, can be seen and recognised when observed against a bright background. B. The greatest distance at which lights in the vicinity of 1000 candelas can be seen and identified against an unlit background.