FAA AIM

www.flywithsteve.com Acronym List Updated 12/20/2005

Acronym Definition
AAWU Alaskan Aviation Weather Unit
AC Advisory Circular
ACAR Aircraft Communications Addressing and Reporting System
ADDS Aviation Digital Data Service
ADCUS Advise Customs
ADF Automatic Direction Finder
ADIZ Air Defense Identification Zone
ADS-B Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast
AFB Air Force Base
AFCS Automatic Flight Control System
A/FD Airport/Facility Directory
AFM Aircraft Flight Manual
AFSS Automated Flight Service Station
AHRS Attitude Heading Reference System
AIM Aeronautical Information Manual
AIRMET Airmen's Meteorological Information
ALD Available Landing Distance
ALS Approach Light Systems
AMSL Above Mean Sea Level
ANP Actual Navigation Performance
AOCC Airline Operations Control Center
AP Autopilot System
APV Approach with Vertical Guidance
ARENA Areas Noted for Attention
ARFF IC Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting Incident Commander
ARINC Aeronautical Radio Incorporated
ARO Airport Reservations Office
ARSA Airport Radar Service Area
ARSR Air Route Surveillance Radar
ARTCC Air Route Traffic Control Center
ARTS Automated Radar Terminal System
ASDE-X Airport Surface Detection Equipment - Model X
ASOS Automated Surface Observing System
ASR Airport Surveillance Radar
ATC Air Traffic Control
ATCSCC Air Traffic Control System Command Center
ATCRBS Air Traffic Control Radar Beacon System
ATCT Airport Traffic Control Tower
ATD Along Track (Straight-line) Distance
ATIS Automatic Terminal Information Service
ATT Attitude Retention System
AWC Aviation Weather Center
AWOS Automated Weather Observing System
AWSS Automated Weather Sensor System
AWW Severe Weather Forecast Alert
BBS Bulletin Board System
BC Back Course
C/A Coarse Acquisition
CARTS Common Automated Radar Terminal System (ARTS) (to include ARTS IIIE and ARTS IIE)
CAT Clear Air Turbulence
CD Controller Display
CDI Course Deviation Indicator

1 of 7
 FAA AIM
www.flywithsteve.com Acronym List Updated 12/20/2005
Acronym Definition
CERAP Combined Center/RAPCON
CFA Controlled Firing Area
CFR Code of Federal Regulations
CPDLC Controller Pilot Data Link Communications
CTAF Common Traffic Advisory Frequency
CVFP Charted Visual Flight Procedure
CVRS Computerized Voice Reservation System
CWA Center Weather Advisory
CWSU Center Weather Service Unit
DA Decision Altitude
DCA Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport
DCP Data Collection Package
DF Direction Finder
DH Decision Height
DME Distance Measuring Equipment
DME/N Standard DME
DME/P Precision DME
DOD Department of Defense
DP Instrument Departure Procedure
DPU Data Processor Unit
DRT Diversion Recovery Tool
DUATS Direct User Access Terminal System
DVA Diverse Vector Area
DVFR Defense Visual Flight Rules
DVRSN Diversion
EDCT Expect Departure Clearance Time
EFAS En Route Flight Advisory Service
ELT Emergency Locator Transmitter
EPE Estimate of Position Error
ESV Expanded Service Volume
ETA Estimated Time of Arrival
ETD Estimated Time of Departure
ETE Estimated Time En Route
EWINS Enhanced Weather Information System
EWR Newark International Airport
FA Area Forecast
FAA Federal Aviation Administration
FAF Final Approach Fix
FAWP Final Approach Waypoint
FB Fly-by
FCC Federal Communications Commission
FD Flight Director System
FDC Flight Data Center
FDE Fault Detection and Exclusion
FIR Flight Information Region
FIS Flight Information Service
FISDL Flight Information Services Data Link
FLIP Flight Information Publication
FMS Flight Management System
FMSP Flight Management System Procedure
FO Fly-over
FPNM Feet Per Nautical Mile

2 of 7
 FAA AIM
www.flywithsteve.com Acronym List Updated 12/20/2005
Acronym Definition
FSDO Flight Standards District Office
FSS Flight Service Station
GBAS Ground Based Augmentation System
GEO Geostationary Satellite
GLS GNSS Landing System
GNSS Global Navigation Satellite System
GNSSP Global Navigation Satellite System Panel
GPS Global Positioning System
GRI Group Repetition Interval
GSD Geographical Situation Display
GUS Ground Uplink Station
HAT Height Above Touchdown
HDTA High Density Traffic Airports
HIRL High Intensity Runway Lights
HIWAS Hazardous Inflight Weather Advisory Service
HRR Helicopter Rapid Refueling Procedures
Hz Hertz
IAF Initial Approach Fix
IAP Instrument Approach Procedure
IAS Indicated Air Speed
IAWP Initial Approach Waypoint
ICAO International Civil Aviation Organization
IF Intermediate Fix
IFIM International Flight Information Manual
IFR Instrument Flight Rules
ILS Instrument Landing System
ILS/PRM Instrument Landing System/Precision Runway Monitor
IM Inner Marker
IMC Instrument Meteorological Conditions
INS Inertial Navigation System
IOC Initial Operational Capability
IR IFR Military Training Route
IRU Inertial Reference Unit
ITWS Integrated Terminal Weather System
JFK John F. Kennedy International Airport
kHz Kilohertz
LAA Local Airport Advisory
LAAS Local Area Augmentation System
LAHSO Land and Hold Short Operations
LAWRS Limited Aviation Weather Reporting Station
LDA Localizer Type Directional Aid
LGA LaGuardia Airport
LIRL Low Intensity Runway Lights
LLWAS Low Level Wind Shear Alert System
LLWAS NE Low Level Wind Shear Alert System Network Expansion
LLWAS-RS Low Level Wind Shear Alert System Relocation/Sustainment
LNAV Lateral Navigation
LOC Localizer
LOP Line-of-position
LORAN Long Range Navigation System
LPV Localizer Performance with Vertical Guidance
MAHWP Missed Approach Holding Waypoint

3 of 7
 FAA AIM
www.flywithsteve.com Acronym List Updated 12/20/2005
Acronym Definition
MAP Missed Approach Point
MAWP Missed Approach Waypoint
MDA Minimum Descent Altitude
MEA Minimum En Route Altitude
MEARTS Micro En Route Automated Radar Tracking System
METAR Aviation Routine Weather Report
MHz Megahertz
MIRL Medium Intensity Runway Lights
MLS Microwave Landing System
MM Middle Marker
MOA Military Operations Area
MOCA Minimum Obstruction Clearance Altitude
MWA Mountain Wave Activity
MRA Minimum Reception Altitude
MRB Magnetic Reference Bearing
MSA Minimum Safe Altitude
MSAW Minimum Safe Altitude Warning
MSL Mean Sea Level
MTI Moving Target Indicator
MTOS Mountain Obscuration
MTR Military Training Route
MVA Minimum Vectoring Altitude
MWO Meteorological Watch Office
NACO National Aeronautical Charting Office
NAS National Airspace System
NASA National Aeronautics and Space Administration
NAVAID Navigational Aid
NAVCEN Coast Guard Navigation Center
NCWF National Convective Weather Forecast
NDB Nondirectional Radio Beacon
NEXRAD Next Generation Weather Radar
NFDC National Flight Data Center
NIDS National Institute for Discovery Sciences
NIMA National Imagery and Mapping Agency
NM Nautical Mile
NMAC Near Midair Collision
NOAA National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
NOPAC North Pacific
NoPT No Procedure Turn Required
NOTAM Notice to Airmen
NPA Nonprecision Approach
NRS Navigation Reference System
NSA National Security Area
NSW No Significant Weather
NTAP Notices to Airmen Publication
NTSB National Transportation Safety Board
NTZ No Transgression Zone
NWS National Weather Service
OAT Outside Air Temperature
OBS Omni-bearing Selector
ODP Obstacle Departure Procedure
OIS Operational Information System

4 of 7
 FAA AIM
www.flywithsteve.com Acronym List Updated 12/20/2005
Acronym Definition
OM Outer Marker
ORD Chicago O'Hare International Airport
PA Precision Approach
PAPI Precision Approach Path Indicator
PAR Precision Approach Radar
PAR Preferred Arrival Route
PC Personal Computer
P/CG Pilot/Controller Glossary
PFD Personal Flotation Device
PinS Point-in-Space
PIREP Pilot Weather Report
POB Persons on Board
POI Principal Operations Inspector
PPS Precise Positioning Service
PRM Precision Runway Monitor
PT Procedure Turn
RA Resolution Advisory
RAA Remote Advisory Airport
RAIM Receiver Autonomous Integrity Monitoring
RAIS Remote Airport Information Service
RBDT Ribbon Display Terminals
RCAG Remote Center Air/Ground
RCC Rescue Coordination Center
RCLS Runway Centerline Lighting System
RCO Remote Communications Outlet
RD Rotor Diameter
REIL Runway End Identifier Lights
RFM Rotorcraft Flight Manual
RLIM Runway Light Intensity Monitor
RMI Radio Magnetic Indicator
RNAV Area Navigation
RNP Required Navigation Performance
RVR Runway Visual Range
RVSM Reduced Vertical Separation Minimum
SAM System Area Monitor
SAR Search and Rescue
SAS Stability Augmentation System
SBAS Satellite-based Augmentation System
SCAT-1 DGPS Special Category I Differential GPS
SDF Simplified Directional Facility
SFL Sequenced Flashing Lights
SFR Special Flight Rules
SIAP Standard Instrument Approach Procedure
SID Standard Instrument Departure
SIGMET Significant Meteorological Information
SM Statute Mile
SMGCS Surface Movement Guidance Control System
SNR Signal-to-noise Ratio
SOIA Simultaneous Offset Instrument Approaches
SOP Standard Operating Procedure
SPC Storm Prediction Center
SPS Standard Positioning Service

5 of 7
 FAA AIM
www.flywithsteve.com Acronym List Updated 12/20/2005
Acronym Definition
STAR Standard Terminal Arrival
STARS Standard Terminal Automation Replacement System
STMP Special Traffic Management Program
SWSL Supplemental Weather Service Locations
TA Traffic Advisory
TAA Terminal Arrival Area
TAC Terminal Area Chart
TACAN Tactical Air Navigation
TAF Aerodrome Forecast
TAS True Air Speed
TCAS Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance System
TCH Threshold Crossing Height
TD Time Difference
TDWR Terminal Doppler Weather Radar
TDZL Touchdown Zone Lights
TEC Tower En Route Control
TIBS Telephone Information Briefing Service
TIS Traffic Information Service
TIS-B Traffic Information Service-Broadcast
TLS Transponder Landing System
TPP Terminal Procedures Publications
TRSA Terminal Radar Service Area
TSO Technical Standard Order
TWEB Transcribed Weather Broadcast
TWIB Terminal Weather Information for Pilots System
UFO Unidentified Flying Object
UHF Ultrahigh Frequency
U.S. United States
USCG United States Coast Guard
UTC Coordinated Universal Time
UWS Urgent Weather SIGMET
VAR Volcanic Activity Reporting
VASI Visual Approach Slope Indicator
VCOA Visual Climb Over the Airport
VDA Vertical Descent Angle
VDP Visual Descent Point
VFR Visual Flight Rules
VGSI Visual Glide Slope Indicator
VHF Very High Frequency
VIP Video Integrator Processor
VMC Visual Meteorological Conditions
VMINI Instrument flight mimum speed, utilized in complying with minimum limit speed requirements for
instrument flight
VNAV Vertical Navigation
VNE Never exceed speed
VNEI Instrument flight never exceed speed, utilized instead of VNE for compliance with maximum limit
speed requirements for instrument flight
VOR Very High Frequency Omni-directional Range
VORTAC VHF Omni-directional Range/Tactical Air Navigation
VOT VOR Test Facility
VR VFR Military Training Route

6 of 7
 FAA AIM
www.flywithsteve.com Acronym List Updated 12/20/2005
Acronym Definition
The reference landing approach speed, usually about 1.3 times Vso plus 50 percent of the wind
VREF gust speed in excess of the mean wind speed.
The stalling speed or the minimum steady flight speed in the landing configuration at maximum
VSO weight.
VTF Vector to Final
VV Vertical Visibility
VY Speed for best rate of climb
VYI Instrument climb speed, utilized instead of VY for compliance with the climb requirements for
instrument flight
WA AIRMET
WAAS Wide Area Augmentation System
WAC World Aeronautical Chart
WFO Weather Forecast Office
WGS-84 World Geodetic System of 1984
WMO World Meteorological Organization
WMS Wide-Area Master Station
WMSC Weather Message Switching Center
WMSCR Weather Message Switching Center Replacement
WP Waypoint
WRS Wide-Area Ground Reference Station
WS SIGMET
WSO Weather Service Office
WSP Weather System Processor
WST Convective Significant Meteorological Information
WW Severe Weather Watch Bulletin

7 of 7