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Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge

FAA-H-8083-25C Version October 20, 2025

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Chapter Appendix B

Acronyms, Abbreviations, and NOTAM Contractions

This is a list of common acronyms and abbreviations used in the aviation industry as well as NOTAM contractions. For a more complete list of contractions used in aviation, see FAA Order JO 7340.2 (as amended). Additional information regarding NOTAMs can be found at pilotweb.nas.faa.gov/PilotWeb/.

A

Abbreviation	Meaning
A/C	aircraft
A/FD	airport/facility directory
A/G	air to ground
A/HA	altitude/height
AAF	Army Air Field
AAI	arrival aircraft interval
AAP	advanced automation program
AAR	airport acceptance rate
ABDIS	Automated Data Interchange System Service B
ABN	aerodrome beacon
ABV	above
ACAIS	air carrier activity information system
ACAS	aircraft collision avoidance system
ACC	area control center; Airports Consultants Council
ACCT	accounting records
ACCUM	accumulate
ACD	Automatic Call Distributor
ACDO	Air Carrier District Office
ACF	Area Control Facility
ACFO	Aircraft Certification Field Office
ACFT	aircraft
ACID	aircraft identification
ACI-NA	Airports Council International-North America
ACIP	airport capital improvement plan
ACLS	automatic carrier landing system
ACLT	actual landing time calculated
ACO	Office of Airports Compliance and Field Operations; Aircraft Certification Office
ACR	air carrier
ACRP	Airport Cooperative Research Program
ACS	Airman Certification Standard
ACT	active, activated, or activity
ADA	air defense area
ADAP	Airport Development Aid Program
ADAS	AWOS data acquisition system
ADCCP	advanced data communications control procedure
ADDA	administrative data
ADF	automatic direction finding
ADI	automatic de-ice and inhibitor

Abbreviation	Meaning
ADIN	AUTODIN service
ADIZ	air defense identification zone
ADJ	adjacent
ADL	aeronautical data-link
ADLY	arrival delay
ADO	airline dispatch office
ADP	automated data processing
ADS	automatic dependent surveillance
ADSIM	airfield delay simulation model
ADSY	administrative equipment systems
ADTN	Administrative Data Transmission Network
ADTN2000	Administrative Data Transmission Network 2000
ADVO	administrative voice
ADZD	advised
AEG	Aircraft Evaluation Group
AERA	automated en route air traffic control
AEX	automated execution
AF	airway facilities
AFB	Air Force Base
AFIS	automated flight inspection system
AFP	area flight plan
AFRES	Air Force Reserve Station
AFS	airways facilities sector
AFSFO	AFS field office
AFSFU	AFS field unit
AFSOU	AFS field office unit (standard is AFSFOU)
AFSS	automated flight service station
AFTN	Automated Fixed Telecommunications Network
AGIS	airports geographic information system
AGL	above ground level
AID	airport information desk
AIG	Airbus Industries Group
AIM	Airman’s Information Manual
AIP	airport improvement plan
AIRMET	Airmen’s Meteorological Information
AIRNET	Airport Network Simulation Model
AIS	aeronautical Information service
AIT	automated information transfer
ALP	airport layout plan

Abbreviation	Meaning
ALS	approach light system
ALSFI	ALS with sequenced flashers I
ALSF2	ALS with sequenced flashers II
ALSIP	Approach Lighting System Improvement Plan
ALSTG	altimeter setting
ALT	altitude
ALTM	altimeter
ALTN	alternate
ALTNLY	alternately
ALTRV	altitude reservation
AMASS	airport movement area safety system
AMCC	ADF/ARTCC Maintenance Control Center
AMDT	amendment
AMGR	Airport Manager
AMOS	Automatic meteorological observing system
AMP	ARINC Message Processor; Airport Master Plan
AMVER	automated mutual assistance vessel rescue system
ANC	alternate network connectivity
ANCA	Airport Noise and Capacity Act
ANG	Air National Guard
ANGB	Air National Guard Base
ANMS	automated network monitoring system
ANSI	American National Standards Group
AOA	air operations area
AP	airport; acquisition plan
APCH	approach
APL	airport lights
APP	approach; approach control; Approach Control Office
APS	airport planning standard
AQAFO	Aeronautical Quality Assurance Field Office
ARAC	Army Radar Approach Control (AAF); Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee
ARCTR	FAA Aeronautical Center or Academy
ARF	airport reservation function
ARFF	aircraft rescue and fire fighting
ARINC	Aeronautical Radio, Inc.
ARLNO	Airline Office
ARO	Airport Reservation Office
ARP	airport reference point
ARR	arrive; arrival
ARRA	American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009
ARSA	airport service radar area
ARSR	air route surveillance radar
ARTCC	air route traffic control center
ARTS	automated radar terminal system
ASAS	aviation safety analysis system
ASC	AUTODIN switching center
ASCP	Aviation System Capacity Plan
ASD	aircraft situation display
ASDA	accelerate-stop distance available
ASLAR	aircraft surge launch and recovery
ASM	available seat mile
ASOS	automated surface observing system

Abbreviation	Meaning
ASP	arrival sequencing program
ASPH	asphalt
ASQP	airline service quality performance
ASR	airport surveillance radar
ASTA	airport surface traffic automation
ASV	airline schedule vendor
AT	air traffic
ATA	Air Transport Association of America
ATAS	airspace and traffic advisory service
ATC	air traffic control
ATCAA	air traffic control assigned airspace
ATCBI	air traffic control beacon indicator
ATCCC	Air Traffic Control Command Center
ATCO	Air Taxi Commercial Operator
ATCRB	air traffic control radar beacon
ATCRBS	air traffic control radar beacon system
ATCSCC	Air Traffic Control System Command Center
ATCT	airport traffic control tower
ATIS	automatic terminal information service
ATISR	ATIS recorder
ATM	air traffic management; asynchronous transfer mode
ATMS	advanced traffic management system
ATN	Aeronautical Telecommunications Network
ATODN	AUTODIN terminal (FUS)
ATOMS	air traffic operations management system
ATOVN	AUOTVON (facility)
ATS	air traffic service
ATSCCP	ATS contingency command post
AUTH	authority
AUTOB	automatic weather reporting system
AUTODIN	DoD Automatic Digital Network
AUTOVON	DoD Automatic Voice Network
AVBL	available
AVN	Aviation Standards National Field Office, Oklahoma City
AVON	AUTOVON service
AWIS	airport weather information
AWOS	automatic weather; observing/reporting system
AWP	Aviation Weather Processor
AWPG	aviation weather products generator
AWS	air weather station
AWY	airway
AZM	azimuth

B

Abbreviation	Meaning
BA FAIR	braking action fair
BA NIL	braking action nil
BA POOR	braking action poor
BANS	BRITE alphanumeric system
BART	billing analysis reporting tool (GSA software tool)
BASIC	basic contract observing station
BASOP	military base operations

Abbreviation	Meaning
BC	back course
BCA	benefit/cost analysis
BCN	beacon
BCR	benefit/cost ratio
BDAT	digitized beacon data
BERM	snowbank(s) containing earth/gravel
BLW	below
BMP	best management practices
BND	bound
BOC	Bell Operating Company
bps	bits per second
BRG	bearing
BRI	basic rate interface
BRITE	bright radar indicator terminal equipment
BRL	building restriction line
BUEC	back-up emergency communications
BUECE	back-up emergency communications equipment
BYD	beyond

C

Abbreviation	Meaning
C/S/S/N	capacity/safety/security/noise
CAA	civil aviation authority; Clean Air Act
CAAS	Class A Airspace
CAB	civil aeronautics board
CARF	Central Altitude Reservation Facility
CASFO	Civil Aviation Security Office
CAT	category; clear-air turbulence
CAU	Crypto Ancillary Unit
CBAS	Class B airspace
CBI	computer based instruction
CBSA	Class B surface area
CC&O	customer cost and obligation
CCAS	Class C Airspace
CCC	Communications Command Center
CCCC	staff communications
CCCH	central computer complex host
CCLKWS	counterclockwise
CCS7-NI	Communication Channel Signal-7-Network Interconnect
CCSA	Class C surface area
CCSD	Command Communications Service Designator
CCU	Central Control Unit
CD	clearance delivery; common digitizer
CDAS	Class D Airspace
CDR	cost detail report
CDSA	Class D surface area
CDT	controlled departure time
CDTI	cockpit display of traffic information
CEAS	Class E Airspace
CENTX	central telephone exchange
CEP	capacity enhancement program
CEQ	council on environmental quality

Abbreviation	Meaning
CERAP	center radar approach control; combined center radar approach control
CESA	Class E surface area
CFC	central flow control
CFCF	Central Flow Control Facility
CFCS	central flow control service
CFR	Code of Federal Regulations
CFWP	central flow weather processor
CFWU	central flow weather unit
CGAS	Class G Airspace; Coast Guard Air Station
CHG	change
CIG	ceiling
CK	check
CL	centerline
CLC	course line computer
CLIN	contract line item
CLKWS	clockwise
CLR	clearance, clear(s), cleared to
CLSD	closed
CLT	calculated landing time
CM	commercial service airport
CMB	climb
CMSND	commissioned
CNL	cancel
CNMPS	Canadian Minimum Navigation Performance Specification Airspace
CNS	consolidated NOTAM system
CNSP	consolidated NOTAM system processor
CO	central office
COE	U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
COM	communications
COMCO	command communications outlet
CONC	concrete
CONUS	Continental United States
CORP	private corporation other than ARINC or MITRE
CPD	coupled
CPE	customer premise equipment
CPMIS	consolidated personnel management information system
CRA	conflict resolution advisory
CRDA	converging runway display aid
CRS	course
CRT	cathode ray tube
CSA	communications service authorization
CSIS	centralized storm information system
CSO	customer service office
CSR	communications service request
CSS	central site system
CTA	controlled time of arrival; control area
CTA/FIR	control area/flight information region
CTAF	common traffic advisory frequency
CTAS	center-TRACON automation system

Abbreviation	Meaning
CTC	contact
CTL	control
CTMA	Center Traffic Management Advisor
CUPS	consolidated uniform payroll system
CVFR	controlled visual flight rules
CVTS	compressed video transmission service
CW	continuous wave
CWSU	Central Weather Service Unit
CWY	clearway

D

Abbreviation	Meaning
DA	direct access; decision altitude/decision height; Descent Advisor
DABBS	DITCO automated bulletin board system
DAIR	direct altitude and identity readout
DALGT	daylight
DAR	Designated Agency Representative
DARC	direct access radar channel
dBA	decibels A-weighted
DBCRC	Defense Base Closure and Realignment Commission
DBE	disadvantaged business enterprise
DBMS	database management system
DBRITE	digital bright radar indicator tower equipment
DCA	Defense Communications Agency
DCAA	dual call, automatic answer device
DCCU	Data Communications Control Unit
DCE	data communications equipment
DCMSND	decommissioned
DCT	direct
DDA	dedicated digital access
DDD	direct distance dialing
DDM	difference in depth of modulation
DDS	Digital Data Service
DEA	Drug Enforcement Agency
DEDS	data entry and display system
DEGS	degrees
DEIS	Draft Environmental Impact Statement
DEP	depart/departure
DEPPROC	departure procedures
DEWIZ	distance early warning identification zone
DF	direction finder
DFAX	digital facsimile
DFI	direction finding indicator
DGPS	Differential Global Positioning Satellite (System)
DH	decision height
DID	direct inward dial
DIP	drop and insert point
DIRF	direction finding
DISABLD	disabled
DIST	distance
DITCO	Defense Information Technology Contracting Office Agency

Abbreviation	Meaning
DLA	delay or delayed
DLT	delete
DLY	daily
DME	distance measuring equipment
DME/P	precision distance measuring equipment
DMN	Data Multiplexing Network
DMSTN	demonstration
DNL	day-night equivalent sound level (also called Ldn)
DOD	direct outward dial
DoD	Department of Defense
DOI	Department of Interior
DOS	Department of State
DOT	Department of Transportation
DOTCC	Department of Transportation Computer Center
DOTS	dynamic ocean tracking system
DP	dew point temperature
DRFT	snowbank(s) caused by wind action
DSCS	digital satellite compression service
DSPLCD	displaced
DSUA	dynamic special use airspace
DTS	dedicated transmission service
DUAT	direct user access terminal
DVFR	defense visual flight rules; day visual flight rules
DVOR	doppler very high frequency omni-directional range
DYSIM	dynamic simulator

E

Abbreviation	Meaning
E	east
EA	environmental assessment
EARTS	en route automated radar tracking system
EB	eastbound
ECOM	en route communications
ECVFP	expanded charted visual flight procedures
EDCT	expedite departure path
EFC	expect further clearance
EFIS	electronic flight information systems
EIAF	expanded inward access features
EIS	environmental impact statement
ELEV	elevation
ELT	emergency locator transmitter
ELWRT	electrowriter
EMAS	engineered materials arresting system
EMPS	en route maintenance processor system
EMS	environmental management system
E-MSAW	en route automated minimum safe altitude warning
ENAV	en route navigational aids
ENG	engine
ENRT	en route
ENTR	entire
EOF	emergency Operating Facility
EPA	Environmental Protection Agency
EPS	Engineered Performance Standards

Abbreviation	Meaning
EPSS	enhanced packet switched service
ERAD	en route broadband radar
ESEC	en route broadband secondary radar
ESF	extended superframe format
ESP	en route spacing program
ESYS	en route equipment systems
ETA	estimated time of arrival
ETE	estimated time en route
ETG	enhanced target generator
ETMS	enhanced traffic management system
ETN	Electronic Telecommunications Network
EVAS	enhanced vortex advisory system
EVCS	emergency voice communications system
EXC	except

F

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