List of aviation, avionics, aerospace and aeronautical abbreviations

Below are abbreviations used in aviation, avionics, aerospace, and aeronautics.

A Abbreviation Term Notes A/A Air to air TACAN function A/C Aircraft AC Altocumulus Cloud type ACC Altocumulus castellanus Cloud type ACC Area Control Centre A/D Aerodrome ACT Alternative Configuration Tool A/F Autofeather A/FD Airport/Facility Directory A/P Autopilot AAE Above aerodrome elevation In aviation, above aerodrome level (AAL), or above aerodrome elevation (AAE), denotes that an altitude is given above the nearest aerodrome or airport. AAIB Air Accident Investigation Bureau/Branch/Board (Malaysia, Mongolia, Singapore, United Kingdom, Iceland, India, Switzerland) AAIM Aircraft Autonomous Integrity Monitoring AAO Assumed adverse obstacle AAS Airport advisory service AC Advisory circular Information and guidance publication ACAM Aircraft continuous airworthiness monitoring ACARS Aircraft Communications Addressing and Reporting System ACAS Airborne collision avoidance system ACC Area control centre ACC Active clearance control Turbine engine system ACC Accessory In gas turbine engine ACE Actuator control electronics ACFT Aircraft ACI Airports Council International ACLS Automatic carrier landing system Aircraft carrier operations ACM Air cycle machine Part of A/C air conditioning system ACMS Aircraft condition monitoring system ACP Audio Control Panel ACR Avionic Communication Router ACS1 Airman Certification StandardsFAA Airman Certification Standards FAA pilot testing ACS2 Audio control system ACU1 Air conditioning (or cooling) unit ACU2 Alternator control unit Protection from alternator over-voltage. AD Airworthiness Directive ADA Advisory area ADAHRS Air data attitude heading reference system ADC Air data computer ADD Acceptable deferred defect ADF Automatic direction finder Navigation equipment ADI Attitude Director Indicator ADIRS Air Data Inertial Reference System ADIRU Air Data Inertial Reference Unit ADIZ Air defense identification zone ADJ Adjustment Mechanical term ADM1 Aeronautical decision-making Piloting term of judgment ADM2 Air data module ADN Aircraft Data Network Ethernet derivative for Commercial Aircraft ADS1 Air data system ADS2 Automatic dependent surveillance ADS-A Automatic dependent surveillance – address ADS-B Automatic dependent surveillance – broadcast ADS-C Automatic dependent surveillance – contract ADV Arbeitsgemeinschaft Deutscher Verkehrsflughäfen "German Airports Association" AEA Association of European Airlines AESA Active electronically scanned array AFCS automatic flight control system AFD Autopilot flight director AFDC Autopilot flight director computer AFDS Autopilot flight director system AFDX Avionics Full-Duplex Switched Ethernet AFE Above field elevation AFIS Airborne flight information system Also called automatic flight information service AFM Aircraft flight manual AFS Aeronautical fixed service AFT Aft The direction against the aircraft movement AFTN Aeronautical Fixed Telecommunication Network AGACS Automatic ground–air communications system Also known as ATCSS or data link AGB Accessory gear box Mainly used in turbine engine AGC Automatic gain control AGDL Air–ground data link AGL Above ground level AHC Attitude heading control AHRS Attitude and heading reference system AIDS Aircraft integrated data system AIM Aeronautical Information Manual AIP Aeronautical Information Publication AIRAC Aeronautical information regulation and control AIRMET Air-mission's Meteorological Advisory In-flight advisory given over 126.7 AIS Aeronautical Information Services A place mostly for presenting Flight Plans and filing reports AIXM Aeronautical information exchange model ALC Automatic level control ALI Airworthiness Limitation Item ALNA Airline network architecture ALS Approach lighting system ALT1 Alternate ALT2 Altimeter ALT3 Altitude ALT hold Altitude hold mode ALTS Altitude select ALUM Aluminum AMC Acceptable Means of Compliance (EASA) AME Aircraft Maintenance Engineer AME Aviation Medical Examiner AMLCD Active-matrix liquid-crystal display AMM Aircraft Maintenance Manual AMO Approved Maintenance Organization AMS Air management system AMSL Above mean sea level AMP Aircraft maintenance program AMT Aircraft Maintenance Technician ANC Active noise cancellation AND Aircraft Nose Down ANN Annunciator panel Caution warning system normally containing visual and audio alerts to the pilot ANPT Aeronautical national pipe taper ANR Active noise reduction ANSP1 Air navigation service provider ANSP2 Authorization of Aircraft Network Security Program (FAA) ANT Antenna (radio) ANSOG Airport Network Security Operator Guidance (Boeing) A/O Air oil In turbine engines AOA Angle of attack AOC1 Air operator's certificate AOC2 Aeronautical operational control AOG Aircraft on ground AOM1 Aircraft operations manual AOM2 Airport/aerodrome operating minima AOP Airport operating plan AP Autopilot A/P Airplane (US), Aeroplane (ICAO) APARS Automatic pressure altitude reporting system APC Auto pilot computer APIRS Attitude and positioning inertial reference system APOA Airport of arrival APOD Airport of departure APM Aircraft personality module APP Appendix APP Approach Control ATC APPL Application APPROX Approximately APS Auto pilot system APT Airport APU Auxiliary power unit APV Approach procedure with vertical guidance Instrumental approach AQP Advanced Qualification Program FAA training and testing AR Airworthiness review AR Authorization required AR As required ARC Airworthiness review certificate ARINC Aeronautical Radio Inc. ARO Airport reservation office ARP Aerodrome reference point ARTCC Air route traffic control centers ASAS Airborne Separation Assurance System ASD Aircraft situation display ASDA Accelerate Stop Distance Available ASDE-X Airport Surface Detection Equipment, Model X ASDL Aeronautical satellite data link ASI Airspeed indicator ASL Above sea level ASLO Aircraft Security Logging Overview ASM Airspace management ASM Available seat miles A-SMGCS Advanced Surface Movement Guidance and Control System ASOS Automated Surface Observation System assy Assembly A/S Anti-Skid ASR Airport surveillance radar ASU Avionics switching unit A/T Autothrottle Also 'AT' A/THR Autothrust ATA Air Transport Association ATAG Air Transport Action Group A coalition of aviation industry experts focusing on sustainable development issues. ATC Air traffic control ATCC Air traffic control centre ATCO Air traffic controller ATCT Airport traffic control tower ATCRBS Air traffic control radar beacon system ATCSS Air traffic control signalling system ATD Actual time of departure Equivalent to off-block time ATE Advanced Technology Engine ATF Aerodrome traffic frequency ATFM Air traffic flow management ATIS Automatic Terminal Information Service ATM Air traffic management ATN Aeronautical Telecommunication Network ATO Approved Training Organisation ATPL Airline Transport Pilot Licence ATQP Alternative Training and Qualification Programme ATR1 1 Air transportable racking ATR2 Automatic thrust restoration ATS Air traffic service ATSAW Airborne traffic situational awareness ATSU Air traffic services unit Avionics LRU for ACARS ATT Attitude ATTCS Automatic Take-off Thrust Control System AUPRTA Airplane Upset Prevention & Recovery Training Aid AVAIL Available Avionics Aviation electronics AVSA "Adjust vertical speed adjust" TCAS Voice command to adjust traffic separation AWACS Airborne Warning and Control System Airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) or Boeing E-3 Sentry AWBS Aviation weather briefing service Available at designated FSS's AWG American Wire Gage The larger the size number, the smaller the wire diameter. AWIS Aviation weather information service Available at FSS AWO All weather operations AWOS Automated weather observation system Automated METAR reporting system AWWS Aviation weather web site In Canada

B Abbreviation Term Notes B RNAV Basic area navigation BARO Barometric indication, setting or pressure baro-VNAV Barometric vertical navigation BC Back course Or 'BCRS' BCAA Belgian Civil Aviation Authority BDC bottom dead centre Piston engine BDI Bearing distance indicator BFL Balanced field length BFR Biennial flight review BGAN Broadcast Global Area Network BER Beyond economic repair Hull loss BHP Brake horsepower BITE Built-In Test Equipment BL Butt Line BME Bridge Mounted Equipment B/P Blue Print BPR bypass ratio BOM bill of material BTV Brake-to-Vacate System A new feature introduced by Airbus A380 BWC bird watch condition BVID Barely Visible Impact Damage BVR Beyond Visual Range

C Abbreviation Term Notes C2 command and control CA Captain CAA Civil Aviation Authority CACTCS Cabin Air Conditioning and Temperature Control System (Pronounced "Cactus") CAI Caution Advisory Panel Sometimes spelled "caution-advisory" or "caution/advisory". Also known as annunciator panel or Centralized Warning Panel (CWP) CAM cockpit area microphone Part of a cockpit voice recorder CAME Continuing Airworthiness Management Exposition CAMO Continuing Airworthiness Management Organisation CAMP Continuous Airworthiness Maintenance Program (FAA) CAN bus Controller Area Network CANSO Civil Air Navigation Services Organisation CAP cabin attendant panel CAR civil aviation regulation CARs civil aviation regulations CARS Canadian Aviation Regulations CAS calibrated airspeed CASS Commercial Air Service Standards CASS continuing analysis and surveillance system CAT (I–IIIc) Operational performance Category CAT I: Operational performance Category 1 CAT I Enhanced: Allows for lower minimums than CAT I in some cases to CAT 2 minimums CAT II: Operational performance Category II CAT IIIa: Operational performance Category IIIa CAT IIIb: Operational performance Category IIIb