Acronyms

225 acronyms, abbreviations, memory aids, and V-speeds used across Windsock360.

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3P

Memory aid
Perceive, Process, Perform
A model for practicing risk management in flight.

5P

Memory aid
Plan, Plane, Pilot, Passengers, Programming
A checklist for reviewing risk at decision points in a flight.

A

AATD

Advanced Aviation Training Device
An ATD approved for more training credit than a BATD (AC 61-136).

AC

Advisory Circular
FAA guidance, numbered by the regulation part it supports, like AC 61-65.

ACS

Airman Certification Standards
What the knowledge and practical tests measure, area by area and task by task.

AD

Airworthiness Directive
A mandatory FAA notice to fix an unsafe condition on an aircraft or part.

ADC

Air Data Computer
Turns pitot and static pressure into airspeed, altitude, and vertical speed on a glass panel.

ADF

Automatic Direction Finder
Points to an NDB.

ADM

Aeronautical Decision-Making
A systematic way to choose the best action for the circumstances.

ADS-B

Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast
Broadcasts the aircraft's GPS position; required in much controlled airspace.

AFH

Airplane Flying Handbook
FAA-H-8083-3: the FAA handbook for flight maneuvers and procedures.

AFM

Airplane Flight Manual
The FAA-approved manual for a specific airplane. See also POH.

AGL

Above Ground Level
Height above the terrain below.

AHRS

Attitude and Heading Reference System
The solid-state sensors that feed attitude and heading to a glass panel.

AIH

Aviation Instructor's Handbook
FAA-H-8083-9: the source for the Fundamentals of Instructing.

AIM

Aeronautical Information Manual
The FAA's guide to flight procedures and ATC.

AIRMET

Airmen's Meteorological Information
An advisory for weather hazardous mainly to light aircraft: IFR conditions, turbulence, icing.

AKTR

Airman Knowledge Test Report
Your knowledge test score sheet, with the ACS codes for missed questions.

AME

Aviation Medical Examiner
A doctor designated by the FAA to issue medical certificates.

AMEL

Airplane Multiengine Land
A category and class rating.

AMT

Aviation Maintenance Technician
A certificated mechanic.

ANDS

Memory aid
Accelerate North, Decelerate South
Magnetic compass acceleration error on east and west headings.

AOA

Angle of Attack
The angle between the wing's chord line and the relative wind.

AOPA

Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association

APV

Approach with Vertical Guidance
Has a glidepath but is not a precision approach, like LPV or LNAV/VNAV.

ARROW

Memory aid
Airworthiness, Registration, Radio license, Operating limitations, Weight and balance
Documents that must be on board.

ASEL

Airplane Single-Engine Land
A category and class rating.

ASI

Airspeed Indicator

ATC

Air Traffic Control

ATD

Aviation Training Device
A BATD or AATD, approved under AC 61-136 with a letter of authorization.

ATIS

Automatic Terminal Information Service
A recorded broadcast of airport weather and information.

ATOMATOFLAMES

Memory aid
Airspeed, Tachometer, Oil pressure, Manifold pressure, Altimeter, Temperature, Oil temperature, Fuel gauge, Landing gear position, Anticollision lights, Magnetic compass, ELT, Seat belts
Instruments and equipment required for day VFR (14 CFR 91.205).

ATP

Airline Transport Pilot
The highest pilot certificate.

AVEF

Memory aid
Assigned, Vectored, Expected, Filed
The lost-communications route, in priority order.

AWOS

Automated Weather Observing System

B

BATD

Basic Aviation Training Device

C

CAL

Computer-Assisted Learning

CAT

Clear Air Turbulence
Turbulence away from clouds, often near the jet stream.

CDI

Course Deviation Indicator
The needle showing where the course is.

CFI

Certificated Flight Instructor

CFII

Certificated Flight Instructor, Instrument
A CFI with an instrument instructor rating.

CFIT

Controlled Flight Into Terrain
Flying a working airplane into the ground, water, or an obstacle.

CFR

Code of Federal Regulations
Title 14 (14 CFR) holds the aviation regulations.

CG

Center of Gravity

CH

Compass Heading
Magnetic heading corrected for deviation.

CO

Carbon monoxide
An odorless gas from exhaust; causes hypemic hypoxia.

CO2

Carbon dioxide

CRAFT

Memory aid
Clearance limit, Route, Altitude, Frequency, Transponder
The order for copying an IFR clearance.

CRM

Crew Resource Management
Using all crew and resources in a multi-pilot cockpit.

CTAF

Common Traffic Advisory Frequency
Where pilots self-announce at an airport without an operating tower.

D

DA

Decision Altitude
On an approach with vertical guidance, where you land or go missed.

DECIDE

Memory aid
Detect, Estimate, Choose, Identify, Do, Evaluate
A decision-making model.

DEPS

Memory aid
Date, Error, Place, Signature
What to log after a VOR check.

DG

Directional Gyro
The heading indicator.

DME

Distance Measuring Equipment
Shows slant-range distance to a station in nautical miles.

DP

Departure Procedure
An ODP or SID.

DPE

Designated Pilot Examiner
Gives practical tests on the FAA's behalf.

DVA

Diverse Vector Area
Where ATC may vector a departure below the MVA.

E

EFC

Expect Further Clearance
The time to expect to leave a hold.

EGT

Exhaust Gas Temperature

ELT

Emergency Locator Transmitter

ETA

Estimated Time of Arrival

F

FAA

Federal Aviation Administration

FAASTeam

FAA Safety Team
Runs safety seminars and the WINGS program.

FADEC

Full Authority Digital Engine Control
A computer that manages the engine.

FAF

Final Approach Fix
Where the final approach segment of a nonprecision approach begins.

FAR

Federal Aviation Regulations
The common name for 14 CFR.

FCC

Federal Communications Commission

FDE

Fault Detection and Exclusion
A GPS feature that finds and drops a bad satellite.

FFS

Full Flight Simulator
Levels A to D.

FIA

Flight Instructor, Airplane
The flight instructor airplane knowledge test.

FIMCC

Flight Instructors Model Code of Conduct

FIRC

Flight Instructor Refresher Course
One way to renew a flight instructor certificate (AC 61-83).

FITS

FAA/Industry Training Standards
The program that brought scenario-based training to general aviation.

FL

Flight Level
Pressure altitude in hundreds of feet: FL250 is 25,000 ft with the altimeter at 29.92.

FLAPS

Memory aid
Fuses, Landing light, Anticollision lights, Position lights, Source of electricity
What night VFR adds to the day VFR list.

FOD

Foreign Object Debris
Loose objects that can damage an aircraft or engine.

FOI

Fundamentals of Instructing
The instructor knowledge test on how people learn and how to teach.

FRAT

Flight Risk Assessment Tool
A scored checklist that rates a flight's risk before you go.

FSDO

Flight Standards District Office
The local FAA office.

FSTD

Flight Simulation Training Device
An FFS or FTD.

FTD

Flight Training Device
Levels 4 to 7.

G

GA

General Aviation
All civil flying other than scheduled airlines.

GFA

Graphical Forecasts for Aviation
The Aviation Weather Center's map of observations and forecasts.

GPS

Global Positioning System

GRABCARD

Memory aid
Generator, Radios, Altimeter, Ball, Clock, Attitude indicator, Rate-of-turn indicator, Directional gyro
What IFR adds to the VFR equipment list (91.205(d)).

GUMPS

Memory aid
Gas, Undercarriage, Mixture, Propeller, Seat belts and switches
A before-landing check.

H

HAT

Height Above Touchdown
DA or MDA minus the touchdown zone elevation.

HIRL

High Intensity Runway Lights

HOTS

Higher-Order Thinking Skills
Analysis, synthesis, and evaluation: the skills behind judgment.

HSI

Horizontal Situation Indicator
A heading indicator and CDI in one.

I

IA

Inspection Authorization
Lets an A&P mechanic do annual inspections and approve major repairs.

IACRA

Integrated Airman Certification and Rating Application
The FAA's online application for certificates and ratings.

IAF

Initial Approach Fix
Where an instrument approach begins.

IAP

Instrument Approach Procedure

IFH

Instrument Flying Handbook
FAA-H-8083-15.

IFR

Instrument Flight Rules

ILS

Instrument Landing System
A localizer and glide slope: a precision approach.

IMC

Instrument Meteorological Conditions
Weather below VFR minimums.

IMSAFE

Memory aid
Illness, Medication, Stress, Alcohol, Fatigue, Emotion
A personal fitness check before each flight.

IPC

Instrument Proficiency Check
Restores instrument currency once it has lapsed.

IPH

Instrument Procedures Handbook
FAA-H-8083-16.

ISA

International Standard Atmosphere
15 °C and 29.92 inHg at sea level.

K

KIAS

Knots Indicated Airspeed

L

LAHSO

Land and Hold Short Operations

LNAV

Lateral Navigation
A GPS approach with lateral guidance only, flown to an MDA.

LOA

Letter of Authorization
Sets the training credit an ATD may be used for; valid five years.

LOC

Localizer
The lateral part of an ILS, or a localizer-only approach.

LP

Localizer Performance
A WAAS approach with lateral guidance only, flown to an MDA.

LPV

Localizer Performance with Vertical guidance
A WAAS approach flown to a DA.

LTM

Long-Term Memory

M

MAA

Maximum Authorized Altitude
The highest usable altitude on an airway segment.

MALSR

Medium-intensity Approach Light System with Runway alignment indicator lights

MAP

Missed Approach Point

MBTI

Myers-Briggs Type Indicator
A personality type inventory.

MCA

Minimum Crossing Altitude
The lowest altitude to cross a fix when heading toward a higher MEA.

MDA

Minimum Descent Altitude
On an approach without vertical guidance, the lowest you may go until the runway is in sight.

MEA

Minimum En Route Altitude
Obstacle clearance and nav signal for the whole airway segment.

METAR

Aviation Routine Weather Report
An hourly airport weather observation.

MFD

Multi-Function Display
The map and engine screen on a glass panel.

MH

Magnetic Heading
True heading corrected for variation.

MIRL

Medium Intensity Runway Lights

MOA

Military Operations Area

MOCA

Minimum Obstruction Clearance Altitude
Obstacle clearance for the segment; nav signal only within 22 NM of the VOR.

MRA

Minimum Reception Altitude
The lowest altitude at which you can identify an intersection.

MSA

Minimum Safe Altitude
1,000 ft of obstacle clearance within 25 NM of the charted fix.

MSL

Mean Sea Level
Altitude above sea level.

MVA

Minimum Vectoring Altitude

MVFR

Marginal VFR
Ceiling 1,000 to 3,000 ft or visibility 3 to 5 SM.

N

NAFI

National Association of Flight Instructors

NAS

National Airspace System

NBAA

National Business Aviation Association

NDB

Nondirectional Beacon

NM

Nautical Miles

NOTAM

Notice to Air Missions

NTSB

National Transportation Safety Board
Investigates accidents and finds the probable cause.

O

OAT

Outside Air Temperature

OBS

Omnibearing Selector
The knob that sets the course on a VOR indicator.

ODALS

Omnidirectional Approach Lighting System

ODP

Obstacle Departure Procedure
A departure that keeps you clear of obstacles; no clearance needed to fly it.

OEI

One Engine Inoperative

OROCA

Off-Route Obstruction Clearance Altitude

P

PAMA

Professional Aviation Maintenance Association

PARE

Memory aid
Power idle, Ailerons neutral, Rudder full opposite, Elevator briskly forward
Spin recovery.

PAST

Memory aid
P-factor, Accelerated slipstream, Spiraling slipstream, Torque
Why the left engine is critical on a conventional twin.

PAVE

Memory aid
Pilot, Aircraft, enVironment, External pressures
A checklist for identifying risk before a flight.

PBL

Problem-Based Learning

PFD

Primary Flight Display
The flight instrument screen on a glass panel.

PHAK

Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge
FAA-H-8083-25.

PIC

Pilot in Command
The pilot responsible for and the final authority on the flight.

PIREP

Pilot Weather Report

POH

Pilot's Operating Handbook
The manufacturer's handbook for the airplane. See also AFM.

PT

Procedure Turn
A course reversal on an instrument approach.

PTS

Practical Test Standards
What the ACS replaced for most certificates.

R

RAIM

Receiver Autonomous Integrity Monitoring
GPS self-checking: needs 5 satellites (or 4 with baro-aiding).

REIL

Runway End Identifier Lights

RMI

Radio Magnetic Indicator

RNAV

Area Navigation
Navigating point to point without flying to or from ground stations, usually by GPS.

RNP

Required Navigation Performance

RPM

Revolutions Per Minute

RVR

Runway Visual Range
Visibility along the runway, in feet.

S

SAFE

Society of Aviation and Flight Educators

SBT

Scenario-Based Training
Teaching through realistic flights that call for decisions.

SE

Single-Engine

SID

Standard Instrument Departure
A published departure that needs an ATC clearance.

SIGMET

Significant Meteorological Information
An advisory for weather hazardous to all aircraft.

SM

Statute Miles

SME

Subject Matter Expert

SOP

Standard Operating Procedure

SPECI

Special weather report
An unscheduled METAR issued when weather changes significantly.

SRM

Single-Pilot Resource Management
Using every resource available to a single pilot.

STAR

Standard Terminal Arrival
A published IFR arrival route.

STM

Short-Term Memory

SUA

Special Use Airspace

T

TACAN

Tactical Air Navigation
Military navaid; civil aircraft use its DME.

TAF

Terminal Aerodrome Forecast
A forecast for the area around an airport.

TAS

True Airspeed

TAWS

Terrain Awareness and Warning System

TC

True Course
The course measured from true north on the chart.

TCAS

Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance System

TCH

Threshold Crossing Height
Glidepath height over the runway threshold.

TDZE

Touchdown Zone Elevation
The highest elevation in the first 3,000 ft of the landing runway.

TEAM

Memory aid
Transfer, Eliminate, Accept, Mitigate
Ways to handle a risk.

TEM

Threat and Error Management

TFR

Temporary Flight Restriction

TH

True Heading
True course corrected for wind.

TPP

Terminal Procedures Publication
The FAA's book of approach plates.

TSA

Transportation Security Administration

TUC

Time of Useful Consciousness
How long you can act usefully after losing oxygen.

U

UHF

Ultra High Frequency

UNOS

Memory aid
Undershoot North, Overshoot South
Compass turning error.

V

VA

V-speed

Also Va

Design maneuvering speed
Full, abrupt control use won't overstress the airplane at or below it. Lower at lighter weight.

VAK

Memory aid
Visual, Auditory, Kinesthetic
Learning styles.

VASI

Visual Approach Slope Indicator

VCOA

Visual Climb Over Airport

VFE

V-speed

Also Vfe

Maximum flap extended speed
Top of the white arc.

VFR

Visual Flight Rules

VHF

Very High Frequency

VLE

V-speed

Also Vle

Maximum landing gear extended speed

VLO

V-speed

Also Vlo

Maximum landing gear operating speed
The fastest you may raise or lower the gear.

Vlof

V-speed
Liftoff speed

VMC

Visual Meteorological Conditions
Weather at or above VFR minimums. (Vmc in lower case is a V-speed.)

Vmc

V-speed
Minimum control speed with the critical engine inoperative
The red radial line on a twin's airspeed indicator.

VNAV

Vertical Navigation

VNE

V-speed

Also Vne

Never-exceed speed
The red line.

VNO

V-speed

Also Vno

Maximum structural cruising speed
Top of the green arc.

VOR

VHF Omnidirectional Range
A ground navaid that sends a radial for every degree.

VORTAC

VOR and TACAN
A VOR with military TACAN; civil aircraft get VOR and DME.

VOT

VOR Test Facility
Broadcasts the 360 radial everywhere to check a VOR receiver.

VR

Virtual Reality
(Vr in lower case is rotation speed.)

Vr

V-speed
Rotation speed

VREF

V-speed

Also Vref

Reference landing approach speed
Often 1.3 VSO.

VS1

V-speed

Also Vs1

Stall speed in a specified configuration
Bottom of the green arc.

VSI

Vertical Speed Indicator

VSO

V-speed

Also VS0, Vso, Vs0

Stall speed in the landing configuration
Bottom of the white arc.

Vsse

V-speed
Safe single-engine speed
The slowest speed for intentionally failing an engine in training.

VX

V-speed

Also Vx

Best angle of climb speed
Most altitude in a given distance.

Vxse

V-speed
Best single-engine angle of climb speed

VY

V-speed

Also Vy

Best rate of climb speed
Most altitude in a given time.

Vyse

V-speed
Best single-engine rate of climb speed
The blue line.

W

WAAS

Wide Area Augmentation System
Corrects GPS for the accuracy LPV approaches need.

WCA

Wind Correction Angle

WINGS

WINGS Pilot Proficiency Program
The FAA Safety Team's proficiency program; a completed phase counts as a flight review.

X

XC

Cross-Country

XPDR

Transponder