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Aviation Terminology
Aviation Terminology
The aviation industry, like many others, has a secret language all of its
own. Unlike most it is more than just jargon; it is a truly international
language which enables a message sent from, lets say, Lagos in Nigeria
to be understood by its recipient in, for example, Osaka in Japan, even
though neither side may be familiar with the others normal language.
Much of this is laid down by bodies such as IATA (the International Air
Transport Association) and although the basis of this international
language is English it is far from being just a simple adaptation of a few
key words. The standardisation of language was one of the most
significant steps towards making aviation a truly global business in the
aftermath of the Second World War.
3-letter codes
Aviation terms
Airimp
Regulatory bodies
The information in this section will give you the basics that you need to
know to work in an airport, however when you get to your Department,
there will be more terms and jargon to get used to. As with any language
it cannot all be learnt in a day, but you will get used to it very quickly.
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Aviation Terminology
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Aviation Terminology
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
MON
TUE
WED
THU
FRI
SAT
SUN
MO
TU
WE
TH
FR
SA
SU
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
MONTH CODES
As you may expect, there are similar codes for months.
ED ACKER, WHILE
CHAIRMAN OF AIR FLORIDA
January
February
March
April
May
June
JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
1
2
3
4
5
6
July
August
September
October
November
December
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
NOV
DEC
Whenever you are writing dates, the standard format that you
should use is DDMMYY.
7
8
9
10
11
12
This means that the 1st of January 2004 would be written as 01JAN04.
THE AIRPORT RUNWAY IS THE MOST IMPORTANT MAINSTREET IN ANY TOWN. - NORM CRABTREE
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Aviation Terminology
TIP
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
Alpha
Bravo
Charlie
Delta
Echo
Foxtrot
Golf
Hotel
India
Juliet
Kilo
Lima
Mike
N
O
P
Q
R
S
T
U
V
W
X
Y
Z
November
Oscar
Papa
Quebec
Romeo
Sierra
Tango
Uniform
Victor
Whiskey
X-ray
Yankee
Zulu
You must make yourself familiar with the phonetic alphabet as not only
will you have to use it, but other people will expect you to understand
it when they use it.
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Aviation Terminology
A RECESSION IS WHEN
YOU HAVE TO TIGHTEN
YOUR BELT; DEPRESSION IS
WHEN YOU HAVE NO BELT
TO TIGHTEN. WHEN YOU'VE
LOST YOUR TROUSERS YOU'RE IN THE AIRLINE
BUSINESS.
SIR ADAM THOMSON
Aviation Terms
These are common terms used at all airport locations in the Ireland.
They are mainly airport related and you will hear them used every day.
Airside and Landside
All airports in the Ireland (and most airports throughout the world) are
divided in to two areas:
Airside
Where access is restricted to employees who are security pass holders
and arriving or departing passengers
Landside
Which is more or less the public areas of an airport, although there
may be restricted access to parts of Landside. Customs restrictions
apply to Airside and it is an offence to bring certain items such as Duty
Free goods landside except as a passenger.
ATC
Air Traffic Control There is local ATC, national ATC and nowadays a
European ATC based in Brussels known as Eurocontrol. They all
work together to ensure safe and efficient use of airspace.
Slot Time(s)
The time allocated to an aircraft by ATC (normally Brussels) which is
when the aircraft must be airborne in order to slot into the air traffic
flows. There is usually a tolerance on either side of this, but ATC slots
should never be taken lightly!
Leg, Sector or Route
Where the aircraft will fly to after it leaves the current airport. Leg and
Sector usually refer to the next destination; Route may be used if the
aircraft is due to stop at another airport before reaching its final
destination.
THE AIRPORT RUNWAY IS THE MOST IMPORTANT MAINSTREET IN ANY TOWN. - NORM CRABTREE
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Aviation Terminology
RUNNING AN AIRLINE IS
LIKE HAVING A BABY: FUN TO
CONCEIVE, BUT HELL TO
DELIVER.
C. E. WOOLMAN,
PRINCIPAL FOUNDER
DELTA AIR LINES
Aviation Terms
Airbridge
A movable link between the terminal building and the aircraft. Also
known as a jetty or jetway
Airstair
Retractable passenger steps built into an aircraft.
Apron. The area provided for the embarkation, disembarkation,
loading and unloading, and for the parking of aircraft.
APU
Auxiliary Power Unit. A turbine carried by most modern aircraft to
provide electrical power for aircraft systems and pneumatic power for
starting the engines whilst the aircraft is on the ground. It is basically
a small jet engine.
ASU
Air Start Unit. A mobile ground version of an APU but which normally
produces pneumatic power only. Used to start jet engines (by blowing
high-pressure air through them) if the onboard APU is not functioning.
GPU
Ground Power Unit. A mobile electrical generator used when the APU
is not working or when electrical power is needed over an extended
period, making the APU uneconomical
FEP
Fixed Electrical Power is a mains equivalent of a GPU built into a
fixed installation such as the terminal building.
Widebody
An aircraft such as a 747 Jumbo with more than one aisle between
passenger seats.
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Aviation Terminology
Aviation Terms
Narrowbody
An aircraft with a single aisle between passenger seats.
Hold(s)
The lower compartment(s) of an aircraft used for loading baggage,
cargo and mail. Also referred to as belly or bellies.
Bulk Loaded
Bags, cargo and mail loaded directly into a hold or holds, usually but
not always narrow bodied aircraft.
Containerised Load
Bags, cargo or mail loaded into containers or onto pallets before
loading into a hold or holds. Usually but not always wide-bodied
aircraft.
Tug
A vehicle used to push or tow aircraft.
Technical or Tech
Usually used in the phrase the aircraft has gone tech. This means
there is a fault in the aircraft which may or may not delay its departure.
INDEF#
Indefinite (i.e. time); unable to give an estimate of duration (e.g. indef
tech, indef delayed).
INOP or U/S
Inoperative or unserviceable. Means the item is not fit for use.
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Aviation Terminology
Airimp Codes
A/C
Aircraft
ATA
ATC
ATD
AVI
Live Animal
BLND
Blind passenger
CANX
Cancelled
CIP
CPM
DCS
DHC
ETA
ETD
FIM
GMT
HMC
HOTAC
Hotel accommodation
HUM
Human remains
IAA
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Aviation Terminology
Airimp Codes
LDM
Load Message
LMC
LRP
MAAS
MCO
MVT
Movement Message
MCT
MEDA
OSI
PAD
Staff passenger
PAX
Passengers
PETC
PIL
PNL
PSM
PTM
REG
RGDS
Regards
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Aviation Terminology
EVERY TAKEOFF IS
OPTIONAL. EVERY LANDING
IS MANDATORY...
- UNKNOWN
Airimp Codes
RMKS
Remarks
RQST
Request
SI
Service information
SLS
SOM
STA
STCR
Stretcher
STD
STN
Station
TCI
Through check-in
TKT
Ticket
TOB
Total on board
TOD
Ticket on departure
UTC
WCHC
WCHR
WCHS
YP
Young Person
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Aviation Terminology
Regulatory Authorities
Regulatory bodies set the rules on the way airlines, airports and
handling agents can operate. Here are some of the key authorities
listed below:
CAA Civil Aviation Authority www.caa.co.uk
The CAA is the governing body of all UK registered airlines, airports
and related companies, and issues regulations through Civil Aviation
Publications - CAP Documents. It also has responsibility for ensuring
that companies working within the aviation industry comply with
the relevant regulations and to check this it audits airlines &
airports as on a regular basis.
IAA Irish Aviation Authority www.iaa.ie
The IAA is the equivilant of the CAA in Ireland - the governing body
of all Irish registered airlines, airports and related companies, and
issues regulations through Civil Aviation Publications - CAP
Documents. It also has responsibility for ensuring that companies
working within the aviation industry comply with the relevant
regulations and to check this it audits airlines & airports as on a
regular basis.
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Aviation Terminology
Regulatory Authorities
ICAO - International Civil Aviation Organisation
ICAO is the United Nations agency for civil aviation and works with
national Air Traffic Services and regulatory bodies such as the IAA and
NATS. ICAO is responsible for the introduction of Joint Aviation
Requirements -JAR Ops - the harmonisation of European Union
member states civil aviation regulations
SITA - Societe Internationale des Telecommunications
Aeronautiques
Formed in 1949 and wholly owned by airlines, SITA is a global
communications and data network. Airlines and related companies
use the network to send messages and data concerning every aspect
of their businesses, from reservation details to aircraft movement
messages.
EASA
The European Aviation Safety Agency promotes the highest common
standards of safety and environmental protection in Europe. It advises
the EU on aviation legislation, it implements and monitors safety
standards in EU member countries, and it carries out safety and
environmental research.
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