Aviation Abbreviations

Abbreviations associated with aviation

Abbreviations relating to Unmanned Aircraft Systems (drones) operations, continues to evolve and therefore the Abbreviations and Glossary of Terms sections are not exhaustive. The 3iC list of terms (see below), is a combination of the emerging ICAO definitions and other ‘common use’ terms which are considered to be acceptable alternatives.

The CAA’s Master Glossary of Terms and Abbreviations can be found in CAP 722D.

A

AAIB – Air Accidents Investigation Branch
ACAS – Airborne Collision Avoidance System
AIP – Aeronautical Information Publication
ANO – Air Navigation Order
ANSP – Air Navigation Service Provider
AOC – Air Operator Certificate
ATC – Air Traffic Control
ATM – Air Traffic Management
ATS – Air Traffic Service
ATSU – Air Traffic Service Unit

B

BMFA – British Model Flying Association
BRLOS – Beyond Radio Line of Sight
BRS – Ballistic Recovery Systems
BVLOS – Beyond Visual Line of Sight

C

CA – Congested Area
CAA – Civil Aviation Authority
CAT – Commercial Air Transport
ConOps – Concept of Operations
CPL – Commercial Pilot Licence
CRM – Crew Resource Management
C2 – Command and Control

D

DA – Danger Area
DAA – Detect and Avoid
DAP – Directorate of Airspace Policy

E

EASA – European Aviation Safety Agency
ERF – Emergency Restriction of Flying
EVLOS – Extended Visual Line of Sight

F

FIR – Flight Information Region
FISO – Flight Information Service Officer
FMC – Flight Management Computer
FRTOL – Flight Radio Telephony Operators’ Licence

G

GCS – Ground Control Station

H

HALE – High Altitude Long Endurance
HMI – Human-Machine Interface

I

ICAO – International Civil Aviation Organisation
IFR – Instrument Flight Rules
IMC – Instrument Meteorological Conditions

J

JARUS – Joint Authorities for Rulemaking on Unmanned Systems

M

MAA – Military Aviation Authority
MALE – Medium Altitude Long Endurance
MOD – Ministry of Defence
MOR – Mandatory Occurrence Reporting
MRP MAA – Regulatory Publication(s)
MTOM – Maximum Take-off Mass

N

NAA – National Aviation Authority
NOTAM – Notice to Airmen

P

PfAW – Permission for Aerial Work
PfCO – Permission for Commercial Operations (formerly PfAW)

R

RA (T) – Restricted Area (Temporary)
RCS – Radar Cross Section
RLOS – Radio Line of Sight
RPA – Remotely Piloted Aircraft
RPAS – Remotely Piloted Aircraft System
RPS – Remote Pilot Station
RTF – Radiotelephony
RTS – Release to Service

S

SARPs – Standards and Recommended Practices
SARG – Safety and Airspace Regulation Group
SSR – Secondary Surveillance Radar
SUA – Small Unmanned Aircraft
SUSA – Small Unmanned Surveillance Aircraft

T

TC – Type Certificate
TCB – Type Certification Basis
TCAS – Traffic Collision Avoidance System
TDA – Temporary Danger Area

U

UA – Unmanned Aircraft
UAS – Unmanned Aircraft System(s)
UAS OSC – Unmanned Aircraft System(s) Operating Safety Case
UIR – Upper Flight Information Region

V

VFR – Visual Flight Rules
VLOS – Visual Line of Sight