Glossary Flashcards
Advisory Route
A designated route along which Air Traffic Advisory Service is available. (EU 923/2012)
Aerodrome
A defined area (including any buildings, installations and equipment) on land or water or on a fixed, off-shore or floating structure intended to be used either wholly or in part for the arrival, departure and surface movement of aircraft.
Aerodrome Control Service
Air Traffic Control service for aerodrome traffic.
Aerodrome Control Tower
A unit established to provide air traffic control services to aerodrome traffic.
Aerodrome Traffic
All traffic on the manoeuvring area of an aerodrome and all aircraft flying in the vicinity of an aerodrome. An aircraft operating in the vicinity of an aerodrome includes but is not limited to aircraft entering or leaving an aerodrome traffic circuit.
Aerodrome Traffic Circuit
The specific path to be flown by aircraft operating in the vicinity of an aerodrome.
Aerodrome Traffic Zone
Airspace of defined dimensions established around an aerodrome for the protection of aerodrome traffic.
Aircraft
Any machine that can derive support in the atmosphere from the reactions of the air other than the reactions of the air against the earths surface.
Aircraft Identification
A group of letters, figures or a combination thereof which is either identical to, or the coded equivalent of, the aircraft call sign to be used in air-ground communications, and which is used to identify the aircraft in ground-ground air traffic services communications.
Air-Ground Communication
Two way communication between aircraft and stations or locations on the surface of the earth.
Air Navigation Service Provider
An organisation having applied for a certificate to provide such services.
Air-Taxiing
The movement of a helicopter/VTOL above the surface of an aerodrome, normally in ground effect and at a ground speed normally less than 37 kph.
Air Traffic
All aircraft in flight or operating on the manoeuvring area of an aerodrome.
Air Traffic Advisory Service
A service provided within advisory airspace to ensure separation, in so far as is practical, between aircraft which are operating on IFR flight plans.
Air Traffic Control Clearance
Authorisation for an aircraft to proceed under conditions specified by an Air Traffic Control unit.
Air Traffic Control Instruction
Directives issued by air traffic control for the purpose of requiring a pilot to take specific action.
Air Traffic Control Service
A service provided for the purpose of preventing collisions between aircraft, and on the manoeuvring area between aircraft and obstructions; and expediting and maintaining an orderly flow of traffic.
Air Traffic Control Unit
A generic term meaning variously, area control centre, approach control unit or aerodrome tower.
Air Traffic Flow Management
A service established with the objective of contributing to a safe, orderly and expeditious flow of air traffic by ensuring that ATC capacity is utilised to the maximum extent possible, and that the traffic volume is compatible with the capacities declared by the appropriate ATS authority.
Air Traffic Management
The aggregation of the airborne and ground based functions (air traffic services, airspace management and air traffic flow management) required to ensure the safe and efficient movement of aircraft during all phases of operations.
Air Traffic Service
A generic term meaning variously, flight information service, alerting service, air traffic advisory service, air traffic control service (area control service, approach control service or aerodrome control service).
Airway
A control area or portion thereof established in the form of a corridor.
Alerting Service
A service provided to notify appropriate organisations regarding aircraft in need of search and rescue aid, and assist such organisations as required.
Alternate Aerodrome
An aerodrome to which an aircraft may proceed when it becomes either impossible or inadvisable to proceed to or land at the aerodrome of intended landing.
Altitude
The vertical distance of a level, a point or an object considered as a point, measured from Mean Sea Level.
Approach Control Service
Air traffic control service for arriving or departing controlled flight.
Approach Control Unit
A unit established to provide air traffic control service to controlled flights arriving at, or departing from, one or more aerodromes.
Approach Procedure
An instrument procedure which utilises lateral and vertical guidance but does not meet the requirements for precision approach and landing operations.
Approach Sequence
The order in which two or more aircraft are cleared to approach to land at the aerodrome.
Approval Request
A request for clearance made by an ACC when an aircraft will be entering the controlled or advisory airspace of an adjacent ACC in less than 15 minutes, and the first designated reporting point is in the adjacent area.
Approved Departure Time
An allocated take off time calculated from the elapsed flight time between the aerodrome of departure and the point at which the regulated flow is effective.
Apron
A defined area, intended to accommodate aircraft for the purpose of loading or unloading passengers, mail or cargo, fuelling, parking or maintenance.
Area Control Centre
An Air Traffic Control unit established to provide an air traffic control service to controlled flights in control areas under its jurisdiction.
Area Control Service
An Air Traffic Control service for controlled flights in controlled areas.
Area Navigation (RNAV)
A method of navigating which permits aircraft operations on any desired flight path within the coverage of station-referenced navigation aids or within the limits of the capability of self-contained aids, or a combination of these.
Arrival Routes
Routes identified in an instrument approach procedure by which aircraft may proceed from the en route phase of flight to an initial approach fix.
ATC Unit Terrain Safe Level
The applicable level as published in ATC unit procedures, that ensures IFR terrain clearance requirements.
ATS Route
A specified route designed for channeling the flow of traffic as necessary for the provision of air traffic services.
ATS Surveillance Service
Term used to indicate a service provided directly by means of an ATS surveillance system.
ATS Surveillance System
A generic term meaning variously, ADS-B, PSR, SSR or any comparable ground based system that enables the identification of aircraft. A comparable ground based system is one that has demonstrated, by comparative assessment or other methodology, to have a level of safety and performance equal to or better than mono pulse SSR.
Automatic Dependant Surveillance
A means by which aircraft, aerodrome vehicles and other objects can automatically transmit and/or receive data such as identification, position and additional data, as appropriate, in a broadcast via a data link.
Automatic Terminal Information Service (ATIS)
The automatic provision of current, routine information to arriving and departing aircraft throughout 24 hours or a specified portion thereof. (Note: either via data link or repetitive voice broadcasts).
Base Turn
A turn executed by an aircraft during the initial approach between the end of the outbound track and the beginning of the intermediate or final approach track. These tracks are not reciprocal.
Ceiling
The height above ground or water of the base of the lowest layer of cloud below 20,000ft covering more than half the sky.
Clearance Limit
The point to which an aircraft is granted air traffic control clearance.
Clearway
An area at the end of the take-off run available, selected or prepared as a suitable area over which an aircraft may make a portion of its climb to a specified height.
Contact Point
The position, time or level at which an arriving aircraft is to establish communication with approach control.
Control Area
Controlled airspace extending upwards from a specified limit above the earth.
Control Zone
Controlled airspace extending upwards from the surface of the earth to a specified upper limit.
Controlled airspace
Airspace of defined dimensions within which air traffic control service is provided in accordance with the airspace classification.
Controlled Flight
Any flight which is subject to an air traffic control clearance.
Controller
A generic term encompassing: civil and MOD air traffic controllers, ASACS weapons controllers, and any other military personnel who are trained, authorised and certified to provide some or all of the suite of services that compromise UK FIS.
Controller Overload
An ATC situation during which a controller considers he experienced excessive workload to a point where the safety of aircraft under his control was, or could have been, compromised.
Controller-Pilot Data Link Communications
A means of communication between controller and pilot, using data link for ATC communications.
Co-ordination
The act of negotiation between two or more parties each vested with the authority to make executive decisions appropriate to the task being discharged.
Cruising Level
A level maintained during a significant portion of a flight.
Current Flight Plan
The flight plan, including changes, if any, brought about by subsequent clearances.
Decision Height
In relation to the operation of an aircraft at an aerodrome means the height in a precision approach at which a missed approach must be initiated if the required visual reference to continue the approach has not been established.
Declared Capacity
A measure of the ability of the ATC system or any of its subsystems or operating positions to provide service to aircraft during normal activities. It is expressed as the number of aircraft entering a specified portion of airspace in a given period of time, taking due account of weather, ATC unit configuration, staff and equipment available, and any other factors which may affect the workload of the controller responsible for the airspace.
Deconfliction Advice
Advice issued by a controller to pilots, aimed at achieving notified deconfliction minima from other traffic in Class F/G airspace.
Deconfliction Instruction
Instruction issued by a controller to pilots in receipt of a Procedural Service, which if complied with shall achieve deconfliction minima against other aircraft participating in the Procedural Service.
Deconfliction Minima
The defined vertical, lateral or time minima relevant to the provision of UK Flight Information Services.
Elevation
The vertical distance of a point or level on, or affixed to, the surface of the earth measured from Mean Sea Level.
En-Route Operations
Operations conducted on published ATS routes, direct point-to-point operations between defined waypoints, or along great circle routes which are other than take off, landing, departure, arrival or terminal operations.
Entry Point
The first airways/advisory airspace reporting point over which a flight passes on entering an FIR.
Exit Point
The last airways/advisory airspace reporting point over which a flight passes before leaving an FIR.
Expected Approach Time
The time at which an ATC expects that an arriving aircraft, following a delay, will leave the holding fix to complete its approach for landing. The actual time of leaving the holding fix will depend upon the approach clearance.
Estimated of Block Time
The estimated time at which the aircraft will commence movement associated with departure.
Estimated Time of Arrival
For IFR flights, the time at which it is estimated that the aircraft will arrive over that designated point, defined by reference to navigation aids, from which it is intended that an instrument approach procedure will be commenced, or, if no navigation aid is associated with the aerodrome, the time at which the aircraft will arrive over the aerodrome. For VFR flights, the time at which it is estimated that the aircraft will arrive over the aerodrome.
Final Approach
That part of an instrument approach which commences at the specified final approach fix or point.
Flight Information Service
A service provided for the purpose of giving advice and information useful for the safe and efficient conduct of flights.