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Glossary of
Avionics Terms
& Acronyms
A
Offering the Finest
in Avionics Products
& Service.
Phone: 800-257-0726
The AlliedSignal
Glossary of Avionics
Terms & Acronyms
A Handy Compendium of Terms and Acronyms
Associated with the Avionics Industry
AVIONICS GLOSSARY
CONTENTS OF GLOSSARY
A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3
B . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12
C . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14
D . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21
E . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26
F . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30
G . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34
H . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37
I . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38
J . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42
K . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42
L . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43
M . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
N . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
P . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
Q . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
R . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
S . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
T . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
U . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78
V . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79
W . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81
X-Z. . . . . . . . . . . . . 83
A
3D, 4D
4096 Code
A300
A310
A319
A320
A330
A340
AAAE
AAC
AAL
AAMP
AAS
AAT
AATT
A/B
Autobrake
A-BPSK
ABRV
Abbreviation
ABS
Absolute
Absolute
Altitude
AC
A/C
Aircraft
ACAC
ACARS
ACAS
ACC
ACCC
Acclrm
Accelerometer
ACE
ACI
ACI-NA
ACIPS
ACK
ACM
ACMF
ACMP
ACMS
ACNSS
Advanced Communication/Navigation/Surveillance
System
ACP
ACR
ACS
ACU
A/D
Analog-To-Digital
ADA
ADC
ADF
ADI
ADIRS
ADIRU
ADLP
ADM
ADMS
ADP
ADRAS
ADS
ADSB
ADSEL
ADSP
ADSU
AECU
AED
AEEC
AEP
AERA
AES
AFC
AFCAS
AFCEA
AFCS
AFD
AFDC
AFDS
AFEPS
AFIS
AFS
AFSK
A/G
Air-Ground
AGACS
AGARS
AGC
AGL
AGS
Air/Ground System
AHOE
AHRS
AI
Alternative Interrogator
AID
AIDS
AIEM
AIL
Aileron
AIMS
AIP
AIRCOM
AIR DATA
Those parameters that can be derived from knowledge of the air mass surrounding the aircraft.
Airways
AIS
AISC
AIV
A/L
Autoland
ALC
ALS
ALT
Altitude
Ring
ALTS
Altitude Select
ALU
AM
Amplitude Modulation. A signal where the car rier signal is varied in amplitude to encode voice or data
information.
AMASS
AMC
AMCP
AME
AMI
AMLCD
AMOSS
AMP
AMPL
Amplifier
AMS
AMS(R)S
AMSS
AMTOSS
AMU
AMUX
Audio Multiplexer
A/N
Alphanumeric
Aneroid
Capsule
ANC
ANP
ANPRM
ANS
ANSI
ANT
Antenna
ANTC
AOA
Angle Of Attack
AOC
AOCC
AODC
AODE
AOG
Aircraft On Ground
AOHE
AOPA
AOPG
AOR
A/P
APA
Autopilot Amplifier
APALS
APANGPRIG
APB
APC
APEX
APP
Approach Control
APPR
Approach
APU
APUC
AQP
A-QPSK
AQS
ARA
ARES
ARINC
Aeronautical Radio,Inc.
ARF
ARP
ARS
ARSR
ART
ARTCC
ARTS
ASA
ASCPC
ASD
ASDE
ASDL
ASECNA
ASG
ASI
ASIC
ASM
ASP
ASPP
A-SMGCS
ASR
ASRS
ASSTC
ASSV
ASTA
A/T
Autothrottle
10
AT
ATA
ATC
ATCA
ATCC
ATCRBS
ATCSCC
ATCSS
Air Traffic Control Signaling System. A system to provide information between the pilot and air traffic control using the VHF communications transceiver in
conjunction with data link equipment.
ATCT
ATE
AT&E
ATFM
ATIS
ATLAS
ATM
ATN
ATNP
ATOMS
ATP
ATR
ATS
ATSC
ATSU
ATS Unit
11
ATT
Attitude
AUX
Auxiliary
AVIC
AVLAN
AVM
AVOL
AVPAC
AVR
AVSAT
AWO
AWOP
AWOS
AWPG
B
B717
B737
B747
B767
B767ER
B777
B7x7
BA
British Airways
Bandwidth
The difference between the highest and lowest frequency components of a signal.
BAP
BARO
Barometric
12
B CRS
Back Course
BCS
BDI
BDS
Beam Width
The beam width is the width of the beam as measured at the half-power points of the radiated signal
(WXR).
Bearing
BER
BFE
BFO
BGI
BI
Burn-in
Binary
BIST
Bit
BIT
Built-In-Test
BITE
BLK
(1) Block
(2) Black
13
BMV
BNR
Binary
BOM
Bill of Material
BOP
Boresighting
BP
BPCU
BPSK
BRG
Bearing
BRT
Brightness
BSCU
BSU
BTB
BTMU
BU
Backup
BusAv
Business Aviation
Byte
C
CAA
CAAC
CAASD
C/A Code
CAC
CACP
14
CAD
CAE
CAGE
CAH
CAI
Calibrated
Airspeed
CALSEL
A variation of the SELCAL system in which the SELCAL signal is combined with a special gating tone to
produce an automatic function by the receiver. This
system is only a proposal and not yet implemented.
CAM
CAMI
CAPT
Captain
Carrier
CAS
CAT
CAT I
CAT II
CAT III a
Operational performance Category III a. An ILS facility providing operation with no decision height limit
to and along the surface of the runway with external
visual reference during final phase of landing and
with a runway visual range of not less than 200
meters (700 feet).
15
CAT III b
Operational performance Category III b. An ILS facility providing operation with no decision height limit
to and along the surface of the runway without
reliance on external visual reference;and subsequently taxiing with external visual range of not less than
50 meters (150 feet).
CAT III c
Operational performance Category III c. An ILS facility providing operation with no decision height limit
to and along the surface of the runway and taxiways
without reliance on external visual reference.
CBA
C-BAND
CCB
CCD
CCIR
CCITT
CCW
Counterclockwise
CD
Chrominance Difference
CDG
CDI
CDP
CDR
CDTI
CDU
CEPT
CF
Change Field
CFDIU
CFDS
CFIT
16
CFMU
CFS
CHG
Charge
CHI
CHIS
CHOL
CI
CIDIN
CIDS
CIE
CIP
CLB
Climb
CLK
Clock
Cloud
Droplets
CLR
Clear
CMC
CMCF
CMCS
CMD
Command
CMM
CMN
CMOS
CMS
CMU
CNDB
CNES
17
C/NO
CNS
Communication,Navigation,Surveillance
CNS/A
Communications,Navigation,and
Surveillance/Airborne
CNS/ATM
Communications,Navigation,andSurveillance/Air
Traffic Management
Coasted
Track
CODEC
Coder/Decoder
COMAC
COMM
Communications
Compass
Locator
COMP
Compressor
CON
Continuous
Cone of
Confusion
Consolan
Contour
Contour or iso-counter refers to a weather radar display presentation that blanks the echo returns in the
center of a storm cell. The area blanked out is called
contour and corresponds to the return levels that
exceed a predetermined threshold.
CONUS
Correction
(SSEC)
18
Corrective
Advisory
COTS
Commercial Off-The-Shelf
CPA
CPC
CPCI
Computer Program Configuration Item. A CPCI number identifies the configuration of a computer software program.
CPDLC
CPE
CPI
CPM
CPN
CPRSR
Compressor
CPS
CPU
CR
CRADA
CRES
CRC
CRPA
CRS
Course
CRT
CRZ
Cruise
CSC
CSCP
CSDB
19
CSDS
CSEU
CSMM
CSMU
C/SOIT
Communications/Surveillance Operational
Implementation Team
CSU
CTA
CTAI
CTAS
CTC
CTL
Control
CTMO
CTOL
CTR
Control zone
CTRD
CTS
Clear To Send
CU
Control Unit
CVR
CVRCP
CW
C&W
CWI
CWP
CWS
20
D
DA
Descent Advisor
D/A
Digital-to-Analog
DABS
DADC
DADS
DAL
DARC
DARP
DARPA
Data Link
D-ATIS
dB
Decibel
DBi
DBi
dBm
DBw
DBU
DC
Direct Current
DC10
DCC
DCCR
DCD
21
DCE
DCGF
DCMF
DCMS
DCN
DCP
DCPC
DCU
DCV
DDA
DDD
DDM
DDP
DDS
DDT
DECCA
Decimal
ded
Dedicated
DEFDARS
DEFL
Deflection
22
DEG
Degree
Demand
Mode
Destination
DEV
Deviation
DFA
DFCS
DFDAF
DFDAU
Digital Flight Data Acquisition Unit. The DFDAU samples,conditions and digitizes the flight data.
DFDR
DFDU
DFIDU
DFIU
DFU
DFW
DGNSS
DGPS
DGSS
DH
DI
Data Interrupt
DIA
DIAS
DID
DIP
23
DIR
Director
Directed
Mode
DISCH
Discharge
DITS
DL
Data Link
DLC
DLGF
DLM
DLODS
DLP
DLS
DLU
Download Unit
DMA
DME
Distance Measuring Equipment. A system that provides distance information from a ground station to
an aircraft.
DME/N
DME/P
DMM
DMS
DMU
DOC
Documentation
DOD
Department of Defense
DOP
Dilution of Precision
Doppler
Effect
DOT
Department of Transportation
24
DOTS
Downlink
The radio transmission path downward from the aircraft to the earth.
DPR
DPSK
DRER
Drift Angle
DRMS
DRN
DSARC
DSB
DSDU
DSF
DSNS
DSP
DSR
DTD
DTE
DT & E
DTMF
DTU
DU
Display Unit
Dual Mode
DME
DUATS
25
Duplex
A communication operation that uses the simultaneous operation of the transmit and receive equipment
at two locations.
DVM
Digital Voltmeter
DX
Distance
Dynamic
Pressure
Dynamic
RAM
E
EADI
EAI
Engine Anti-Ice
EANPG
EAP
EAROM
EARTS
EASIE
EATCHIP
EATMS
EC
Event Criterion
ECAC
ECAM
ECEF
Earth-Centered,Earth-Fixed
Echo
ECL
ECMP
26
ECP
ECS
ECSL
ECSMC
ECSR
ED
EICAS Display
EDA
EDAC
EDC
EDCT
EDI
EDIF
EDIU
EDMS
EDP
EDU
EEC
EEPROM
EEU
EFD
EFIP
EFIS
EFIS CP
EGNOS
27
EGT
EHSI
EHV
Electro-Hydraulic Valve
EIA
EICAS
EIS
EISA
EIU
ELAN
ELC
ELEC
Electrical
ELM
ELMS
ELS
ELT
EMC
EMER
Emergency
EMI
Electro-Magnetic Interference
EMS
ENG
Engine
ENQ
Enquire
EOT
End-Of-Text
EP
EPC
EPCS
E-Plane
28
EPLD
EPR
EPROM
EQUIP
Equipment
Equivalent
Airspeed
(EAS)
ERP
ERSDS
ERU
ESA
ESAS
E-Scan
Electronic Scanning
ESD
Electrostatic Discharge
ESDS
ESID
ESIS
ESR
Energy Storage/Control
ESS
ESSD
ETA
ETD
ETI
ETM
ETMS
ETOP
ETRC
29
ETX
End-of-transmission
EUR
European
Eurocae
EUROCONTROL
EVS
F
FAA
FAC
FADEC
FAF
FAI
FAATC
FADE
FADEC
FANS
Fan Marker
FAR
FAST
FBL
Fly By Light
FBW
Fly By Wire
FCAF
FCC
30
FCDC
Flight Critical dc
FCP
FD
FDAF
FDAU
FDB
FDDI
FDE
FDEP
FDH
FDI
FDM
FDMA
FDR
FDRS
FEATS
FEC
FF
FGC
FHA
FHW
FIFO
FIR
FIS
31
FL
FLCH
FLIR
FLOPAC
FLPRN
Flaperon
FLRE
Flare
FLT
Flight
FLT CTRL
Flight Control
FLT INST
Flight Instrument
FLW
FM
Frequency Modulation
FMA
FMC
FMCF
FMCS
FMCW
FMEA
FMP
FMS
FMSG
FMU
FNS
F/O
FOC
32
FOM
Figure of Merit
FPA
FPAC
FPC
FPGA
FPM
FPV
FQIS
FQPU
Framing
Pulse
Free Scan
Mode
FREQ
Frequency
Frequency
Agile
(1) Function in 860E-5 (-005/-006) to allow tuning 2by-5 inputs from on-board FMCS/PNCS systems.
Channeling may be as often as every 5 seconds. The
6-wire output data is modified for input to an FMCS
or PNCS.
(2) The ability of a receiver-transmitter to rapidly and
continually shift operating frequency.
FRP
FRPA
FSE
FSEU
FSIC
FSM
FSS
FT
Functional Test
FTE
FW
Failure Warning
33
FWC
FWD
Forward
FWS
FY
Fiscal Year
G
GA
(1)Go-Around
(2) General Aviation
GAAS
Galium Arsenide
GAMA
GANS
GBST
GCA
GCAS
GCB
GCS
GCU
GDLP
GDOP
GDP
GECAS
GEN
Generator
GEO
GEOS
GES
GG
Graphics Generator
34
GH
Ground Handling
GHz
Gigahertz
GIB
GIC
GICB
Ground-Initiated Comm-B
GIGO
Garbage-In Garbage-Out
GIS
Glidepath
Glideslope
GLONASS
GLS
GLU
GM
Guidance Material
GMC
GMPLS
GMT
GND
Ground
GNE
GNLU
GNR
GNSS
GNSSP
GNSSU
GNSS Unit
35
Goniometer
GOS
Grade of Service
GPADIRS
GPIB
GPNS
GPS
GPSSU
GPU
GPWC
GPWS
Gradient
Gray Code
Ground Wave A radio wave that travels along the earths surface.
GRP
GS
(1) Glideslope
(2) Ground Speed
G/S
Glideslope
GSE
GSP
GSV
GT
Greater Than
36
GTA
GTC
GTR
GUI
Graphic/User Interface
GVE
GWS
Gyroscope
H
HDBK
Handbook
HDG
Heading
HDLC
HDOP
HDP
Heading
HF
HFDL
HFS
High-Frequency System
HGA
HHLD
Heading Hold
HIL
HIRF
HLCS
HLE
HLL
37
HMI
HMOS
HOW
Hand-Over Word
HP
High Pressure
HPA
hPa
hecto Pascal
HPC
H-Plane
HPR
HPSOV
HPT
HSI
HSL
Heading Select
HSR
HUD
Heads Up Display
HVPS
HW
Hardware
HX
Heat Exchanger
HYD
Hydraulic
HYDIM
Hz
I
IACSP
IAF
38
IAOPA
IAP
IAPS
IAS
IATA
IC
(1) Intercabinet
(2) Integrated Circuit
ICAO
ICC
ICD
ICNIA
ICU
IDC
Indicator Display/Control
Ident
IDG
IDS
IEC
IED
IEEE
IF (if)
Intermediate Frequency. A frequency to which a signal is shifted as an in-between step in the reception
or transmission of a signal.
IFALPA
IFATCA
IFPS
39
IFR
IGES
IGV
ILM
ILS
Instrument Landing System. The system provides lateral,along-course and vertical guidance to aircraft
attempting a landing.
IMA
IMC
IMPATT
Diode
IMTEG
IND
Indicator
INU
IAS
Indicated Airspeed is the speed indicated by a differential pressure airspeed indicator which measures the
actual pressure differential in the pitot-static head. It
is the actual instrument indication for a given flight
condition.
Indicated
Altitude
INMARSAT
I/O
INPH
Interphone
INS
Inertial Navigation System. A self-contained,deadreckoning system that senses the acceleration along
the three axes of the aircraft and calculates the distance traveled from a reference point. Accuracy of
the system decreases with respect to time.
INST
Instrument
Intruder
40
IOC
ION
Institute of Navigation
IOR
IOT & E
IP
Intermediate Pressure
IPB
IPC
IPD
IPL
IPT
IRP
IRS
IRU
ISA
ISDN
ISDOS
ISLN
Isolation
ISO
Iso-Contour
Refer to contour
ISPA
ISPACG
ISSS
ISU
ITM
41
ITO
Indium-Tin Oxide
ITS
ITT
ITU
IV
Isolation Valve
ITWS
J
JAA
JAL
JAR
JAR-AWO
JFET
JPO
J/S
JTAG
JTIDS
K
KAL
Key
KGLS
kHz
kb/s
KBU
Keyboard Unit
KPS
42
kts
Knots
kVA
Kilovolt-ampere
L
L
Left
L1
L1011
L2
LAAS
LAC
LADGPS
LAN
LAT
Latitude
L-Band
LCC
LCD
LCP
LCSTB
LD
Lower Data
LDCC
LDGPS
LDU
LED
Leg
LF
LGA
LH
Lufthansa
43
LHP
LIB
Left Inboard
LISN
LLP
Left Lower Plug. Identifies the plug on the rear connector of an avionics unit.
LLWAS
L/M
List of Materials
LMM
LMP
Left Middle Plug. Identifies the plug on the rear connector of an avionics unit.
LMT
LNA
LNAV
Lateral Navigation
LOB
Left Outboard
LOC
Lock-On
LOM
LON
Longitude
LORAN
Long Range Navigation. A system using a ground facility composed of a master station and a slave station.
The airborne receiver computes the position of the
aircraft by using two or more received master-slave
pairs of signals. LORAN-A operates at 1850,1900 and
1950 kHz. LORAN-C operates at 100 kHz. LORAN A
was replaced by LORAN C in 1980.
LORAN C
LOS
Line Of Sight
LPC
44
LPT
LRA
(See RALT)
LRM
LRRA
(See RALT)
LRU
LSB
(1) Lower Sideband. The lower sideband is the difference in frequency between the AM carrier signal and
the modulation signal.
(2) Least Significant Bit
LSD
LSI
LSK
LTP
Left Top Plug. Identifies the plug on the rear connector of an avionics unit.
Lubber Line
LV
LVDT
Linear Voltage Differential Transducer (used with aircraft control surface servos)
LVLCH
Level Change
LVPS
M
m
Meter
m/s
MAC
Mach Number Mach number is the ratio of the true airspeed to the
speed of sound at a particular flight condition. It is
the chief criterion of airflow pattern and is usually
represented by the free-stream steady-state value.
Mag
Magnetic
45
Magnetic
Bearing
Magnetic
North
MAMS
MAR
Marker
Beacon
MASPS
MAT
MAWP
MB
Marker Beacon
MBE
MC
Master Change
MCB
MCC
MCDP
MCDU
MCN
MCP
MCT
MCU
46
MD11
MD90
MDA
MDC
MDCRS
MDS
MDT
MEA
MEC
MEDLL
MEL
MES
MF
Medium Frequency. The portion of the radio spectrum from 300 kHz to 3 MHz.
MFCP
MFD
Multifunction Display
MFDS
MDFU
MFM
MGSCU
MHD
MHz
MIC
47
MIL
Military
MIPS
MKR
Marker
MLS
MLW
MM
Mass Memory
MMI
Man-Machine Interface
MMIC
Mmo
MMR
Multi-Mode Receiver
MNPS
MNT
MO
Magneto-Optical
MOA
MOCA
MOD
(1) Modulator
(2) Modification
(3) Magneto-Optical Drive
Mode A
Mode B
Mode C
Mode D
Mode S
(1) Mode Select (A transponder format to allow discrete interrogation and data link capability.)
(2) Selective interrogation mode of SSR
MODEM
Modulator/Demodulator
MOPR
MOPS
48
MORA
MOS
MOSFET
MOU
Memorandum Of Understanding
MP
MPEL
MROSE
MRR
MS
Millisecond
MSB
MSCP
MSD
MSG
Message
MSI
MSL
MSP
MSSS
MSU
MT
Minimum Time
MTBF
49
MTBR
MTBUR
MTC
MTD
MTF
MTI
MTM
MTMIU
MTTDA
MTTF
Mean Time To Failure. A performance figure calculated by dividing the summation of times to failure for a
sample of failed items by the number of failed items
in the sample. The same item failing N times constitutes N failed items in the sample. This is different
from mean time between failures since no allowance
is given to items that have not failed.
MTTM
MTTMA
MTTR
50
MTTUR
MU
MULT
Multiplier
MUS
MUX
Multiplexer
N
N1
Fan speed
N2
N3
NACA
NADIN
NAS
NASA
NASPALS
NAS/TRB
NAT
NAT SPG
NATCA
NATRSSIG
NATS
NAV
Navigation
51
NAVAID
Navigational Aid
Navigation
Datacard
NAVSTAR
Nautical Mile
(nmi)
NBAA
NC
Numerical Control
N/C
NCA
NCD
No Computed Data
NCR
NCS
ND
NDB
NDI
Non-Developmental Item
NEG
Negative
NERC
NH
NHE
NIC
NIS
Not-In-Service
52
NIST
N-Layer
NL
NLR
NLT
nm
Nautical Mile
NMI
Nautical Mile
NMOS
NMT
NOAA
NOC
Notice Of Change
NO COM
No Communication. A NO COM annunciation indicates that a downlink message has not been acknowledged in an ACARS system.
Noise
NOTAM
Notice to Airmen
NPA
Non-Precision Approach
NPDU
NPRM
NRP
NRZ
Non-Return to Zero
NSEU
NSSL
NTF
NTSB
NVM
Non-Volatile Memory
53
NWA
Northwest Airlines
NWS
O
OAC
OAG
OAT
OBS
Octal
ODAP
ODID
ODL
OEM
OEU
Off-Block Time The time that the aircraft leaves the gate.
OFP
54
OID
OIU
Orientation/Introduction Unit
OLAN
OM
Outer Marker
OMEGA
Omnibearing
OMS
OOOI
On-Block Time The time that the aircraft ar rives at the gate.
OPAS
OPBC
OPR
OPS
OPU
OR
Operational Requirements
OSC
OSI
OTH
OTS
OVRD
Override
55
oxy
Oxygen
P
PA
PAC
PA/CI
PACIS
Paired
Channels
PAL
PAM
PAR
PATA
PAU
PAX
Passenger
PBID
PBX
PC
P-Code
PCB
PCC
PCI
PCIP
Precipitation
56
PCM
PCU
PDC
Pre-Departure Clearance
PDCU
PDDI
P-DME
PDN
PDOP
PDOS
PDR
PDS
PDU
Performance
Index
PED
PET
PF
Power Factor
PFC
PFCS
PFD
(1) Primary Flight Display. An EFIS presentation substituting for the ADI.
(2) Primary Flight Director.
57
PFE
PFR
PGA
PHY
Phase
Modulation
PIO
Processor Input/Output
PIREP
Pilot Report
Pitot Pressure The sum of the static and dynamic pressures and is
the total force per unit area exerted by the air on the
surface of a body in motion.
Pitot Tube
PLA
PLL
PM
Phase Modulation
PMA
PMAT
PMC
PMG
PMOS
PN
Pseudo Noise
PNCS
PNEU
Pneumatic
58
POC
Polled Mode
POR
POS
Position
POS/NAV
Positioning/Navigation
POT
Potentiometer
PPI
PPM
PPS
P/RAT
PRAM
PRAIM
PRELIM
Preliminary Data
PRESS
Pressure
Pressure
Altitude
Preventive
Advisory
PRF
PRI
Primary
PRM
PRN
PROM
Programmable ROM
Protocol
59
PROX
Proximity
PRSOV
P/RST
Press To Reset
PRTR
Printer
PS
Power Supply
PSA
PSDN
PSEU
PSL/PSA
PSPL
PSR
Primary Surveillance Radar. The part of the ATC system that determines the range and azimuth of an aircraft in a controlled air space.
PSS
PSU
PTR
PTSD
PTT
PTU
PVT
Position,Velocity,Time
PWM
Pulse-Width Modulation
PWR
Power
PwxA
60
Q
QAR
QC
Quality Control
QEC
QFE
QNE
QNH
QOP
QOS
Quality of Service
QRH
Quadrantral
Error
R
R
Right
RA
Rabbit Tracks Rabbit Tracks,or running rabbits, refer to the distinctive display produced by another (alien radar) radar
system transmission.
Radar
61
Radar Mile
The time interval (approximately 12.359 microseconds) required for radio waves to travel one nautical
mile and return (total of 2 nmi).
Radial
A line of direction going out from a VOR station measured as a bearing with respect to magnetic north.
Radome
RAI
RAIM
RALT
RAM
RAPPS
RAS
RAT
RBS
Ration by Schedule
R-C
Resistor-Capacitor network
RCC
RCP
RCVR
Receiver
Rd
R&D
RDMI
RDR
Radar
RDSS
RE&D
RECAP
REFL
Reflection
62
Reflectivity
Factor (Z)
Relative
Bearing
REL
Relative
Resolution
Advisory
RET
REU
RF
Radio Frequency. A general term for the range of frequencies above 150 kHz,to the infra-red region (1012
Hertz).
RFI
RFP
RFTP
RFU
RGCSP
RIB
Right Inboard
RIN
RLS
RLY
Relay
R&M
RMI
RMP
RMS
RNAV
RNG
Range
63
RNGA
Range Arc
RNP
RO
Roll Out
ROB
Right Outboard
ROC
Rate Of Climb
ROD
Rate of Descent
ROI
Return On Investment
ROM
ROTHR
RPM
RSP
RT
RTA
RTCA
RTF
Radiotelephony
RTI
Real-Time Interrogate
RTP
RTO
Rejected Takeoff
RTP
RTS
Request To Send
RTU
Runway
Incursion
RVDT
RVR
RVSM
64
RWM
RWY
Runway
RZ
Return to Zero
S
SA
Selective Availability
SAA
SAARU
SAE
SAI
SAMS
SAR
SARPS
SAS
SAT
Static Air Temperature is the total air temperature corrected for the Mach effect. Increases in airspeed
cause probe temperature to rise presenting erroneous
information. SAT is the outside air temperature if the
aircraft could be brought to a stop before measuring
temperatures.
SATCOM
SB
Service Bulletin
SBE
SC-186
SCAT
Special Category
SCAT 1
65
SCD
SCDU
SCID
SCIU
SCMU
SCPC
SCS
SCSI
SCU
SD
SDD
SDI
SDM
SDRL
SDU
Search
SEC
Secondary
SED
SEI
SEL
Select
SELCAL
Selective Calling System. A system used in conjunction with HF and VHF communication systems that
allows a ground-based radio operator to call a single
aircraft or group of aircraft without the aircraft personnel monitoring the ground station radio frequency.
66
Sensitivity
Level
Command
SEPC
SEPP
SERNO
Serial Number
SEU
SFE
SG
Signal Generator
SGPNS
SI
SICAS
SICASP
SID
Sidetone
SIF
SIGMETS
SIL
Simplex
SIP
SITA
SIU
67
Skywave
SL
Sensitivity Level
S/L
Sub-Level
Slant Range
SLEP
SLM
SLS
SLV
SMC
SMD
SMGCS
SMI
SMR
SMSO
SMT
SNR
Signal-to-Noise Ratio
SOIT
SOP
SOS
Silicon On Sapphire
SPATE
68
SPC
SPD
Speed
SPE
Speed of
Light
SPI
SPIP
SPKR
Speaker
SPM
Spoking
Spoking refers to a display presentation which radiates outward from the display origin like the spokes
on a wagon wheel.
SPR
SPS
SQ or Sql
Squelch
Squall Line
Squawk
Squelch
Squitter
SR
SwissAir
SRADD
69
SRAM
SRD
SR
Service Request
SRU
SSB
Single Sideband. An AM signal that has a reduced carrier, with the power applied to a single sideband.
Since the bandwidth of the information-carrying signal is reduced,a better signal-to-noise ratio is obtained
at the receiver.
SSCVR
SSEC
SSFDR
SSM
SSR
SSSC
SSU
sta
Station
STAB
Stabilizer
Standard
Atmosphere
Standby Mode A DME mode that applies power to the DME RT but
the unit does not transmit.
STAR
STARS
Static Ports
70
Static
Pressure
Static Ram
Standby
STC
STCA
STCM
STD
Standard
STP
STS
STVS
SUA
SUL
SUO
Superheterodyne
Receiver
Suppressor
Pulse
71
SUT
SV
Space Vehicle
SVC
Service
SVO
Servo
SVT
Servo Throttle
SVU
S/W
Software
sys
System
T
TA
Traffic Advisory
TAC
TACAN
Tach
Tachometer
TACIU
TAG
TAI
Thermal Anti-Icing
Target
TAS
True Airspeed
TAT
(1) Total Air Temperature. The air temperature including heat rise due to compressibility.
(2) True Air Temperature
TATCA
TAU
TAU is the minimum time a flight crew needs to discern a collision threat and take evasive action. It represents the performance envelope (speed and path of
aircraft) divided by the closure rate of any intruder
aircraft (TCAS).
72
TBB
TBD
To Be Determined
TBS
To Be Supplied
TC
Type Certificate
TCA
TCAS
TCAS I
TCAS II
A collision avoidance system providing traffic information (within approximately 30 nmi of the aircraft)
to the flight crew, in addition to the resolution advisories (RA) (for vertical maneuvers only). A TCAS IIequipped aircraft will coordinate with TCAS IIequipped intruder aircraft to provide complementary
maneuvers.
TCC
TCCC
TCM
TCS
TCXO
TDLS
TDM
TDMA
Time Division Multiplex Access. When multiple transmitters are using a single carrier to transmit to a single receiver, the carrier is time shared between each
of the transmitters,so the multiple messages are not
garbled at the receiver.
TDOP
73
TDR
Transponder
TEC
Thermo-Electric Cooler
TEI
TEMP
Temperature
Temperature
Probe
TERPS
TF1
TF2
TF3
TFM
TFM-ART
TFT
TG
Transmission Gate
TGC
Threat
TIS
TK
Track Angle
TKE
T/L
Top-Level
TLA
TLM
Telemetry Word
TLS
TMA
Terminal Airspace
TMAC
74
TMC
TMCF
TMCS
TMS
TMU
TO
Take Off
TOC
TOD
Top Of Descent
TO/FROM
Indicator
TOGA
TOR
Terms of Reference
Touch-down
TOW
Time Of Week
TP
Telecommunications Processor
TPMU
TPR
Transponder
TR
T/R
TRA
TRAC
75
Track
TRACON
TRACS
Traffic
Advisory
Traffic
Density
Transceiver
Transponder
TRK
Track
TRP
TRR
TRSB
76
TRU
True Airspeed The true velocity of the aircraft through the surrounding air mass.
True Altitude
True Bearing
True North
TSA
TSE
TSM
TSO
TTFF
TTL
TTR
TCAS II Receiver/Transmitter
TTS
TTY
Teletypewriter
TURB
Turbulence
Turbulence
The US National Weather Service defines light turbulence as areas where wind velocity shifts are 0 to 19
feet per second (0 to 5.79 metres per second) and
moderate turbulence as wind velocity shifts of 19 to
35 feet per second (5.79 to 10.67 metres per second).
TVBC
TVC
TWDL
TWIP
77
TWP
TWT
TX
U
UART
UAL
United Airlines
UB
Utility Bus
UBI
UCS
UD
UFDR
UHF
Ultra-High Frequency. The portion of the radio spectrum from 300 MHz to 3 GHz.
ULB
ULD
UMT
Universal Mount
Unpaired
Channel
Uplink
UPS
USAF
USB
USGIC
USTB
Unstabilized
UTC
78
UUT
UV
UW
Unique Word
V
V1
V2
VA
Volt-Amperes
VAC
Volts AC
VAP
VAPS
VAU
VBV
VCCS
VCD
VCO
VDC
VDL
VDOP
VDR
Vertical Speed The rate of change of pressure altitude,usually calibrated in hundreds of feet per minute.
VFO
VFOP
VFR
VHF
Very High Frequency. The portion of the radio spectrum from 30 to 300 MHz.
VHS
79
VHSIC-2
VIGV
VISTA
VIU
V/L
VOR/Localizer
VLSI
VLV
Valve
V/M
Voltmeter
Vmo
The maximum airspeed at which an aircraft is certified to operate. This can be a fixed number or a function of configuration (gear, flaps,etc.) or altitude, or
both.
VNAV
Vertical Navigation
VNR
Voispond
VOR
VHF Omnidirectional Radio Range. A system that provides bearing information to an aircraft.
VOR/DME
VOR/MB
VOR/marker beacon
VORTAC
VOS
Velocity Of Sound
VOX
Voice Transmission
VPN
VR
VRAM
VS
Vertical Speed
VSAT
80
VSCF
VSCS
VSI
VSV
VSWR
Voltage-Standing Wave Ratio. The ratio of the amplitude of the voltage (or electric field) at a voltage maximum to that of an adjacent voltage minimum. Vswr
is a measurement of the mismatch between the load
and the transmission line.
VTO
Volumetric Top-Off
VTOL
W
WAAS
WADGNSS
WADGPS
WAFS
WAI
Wing Anti-Ice
WARC-92
WARC-MOB
Waypoint
WCP
WD
Wind Direction
WES
WEU
81
WFA
WGS
WGS-72
WGS-84
WhisperShout
WIP
Work In Progress
WMA
WMI
WMS
WMT
WXR Mount
WN
Week Number
WORD
WOW
Weight On Wheels
WP
Working Paper
WPT
Waypoint
WRC
WRS
WRT
WXR Receiver/Transmitter
WWW
WX
Weather
WXI
WXR Indicator
WXP
WXR
WYPT
Waypoint Altitude
82
X
X-BAND
Channel
X.25
XCVR
Transceiver
XFR
Transfer
XLTR
Translator
XM
External Master
XMIT
Transmit
XMTR
Transmitter
XPD
XPDR
Transponder
Y
Yagi Antenna An antenna with its maximum radiation parallel to
the long axis of its array, consisting of a driven dipole,
a parasitic dipole reflector, and one parasitic dipole
director or more.
YSAS
YD
Yaw Damper
Z
Z
ZFW
Z-Marker
83
AlliedSignal
Electronic & Avionics Systems
400 North Rogers Road
Olathe,Kansas
66062-1212
Phone: (913) 782-0400
FAX: 913-791-1302
1998 AlliedSignal Inc.
3/98 006-18100-0000 .7K Printed in the U.S.A.