| A/C |
|
Aircraft - vehicle for traveling through the air. |
| ACL |
|
Anti-Collision Lights - Rotating or flashing red light found top center and bottom center of an aircraft fuselage. (see: Beacon Light) |
| ACM |
|
Additional Crew Member (Jump seat rider) |
| ADL |
|
Additions and Deletions List |
| AFT |
|
Near, toward, or in the stern of a ship or the tail of an aircraft |
| Agent |
|
A company employee concerned with the handling of ground phases of flight operations. |
| Air Carrier |
|
A commercial enterprise that provides scheduled flights for passengers. |
| Air Pocket |
|
A condition in the atmosphere that can cause an airplane to lose altitude quickly. |
| Airfoil |
|
Any surface, such as an airplane wing, designed to obtain reaction from the air through which it moves. |
| Airline Code |
|
A 2 digit alphanumeric code given to airlines by IATA or a 3 letter code given by ICAO |
| Airport Code |
|
A 3 letter designation given to airport cities. (also see "City Code") |
| Airspeed |
|
The velocity of an aircraft. |
| Alien |
|
A non-U.S. citizen |
| ALT |
|
Alternate Airport |
| Altea |
|
Amadeus Altéa Departure Control System (see: DCS) |
| Altimeter |
|
The instrument used to measure the height of an aircraft above sea level, usually expressed in feet. |
| AOG |
|
Aircraft on Ground (Grounded due to Maintenance) |
| API |
|
Advance Passenger Information - The authorities of certain countries require airlines to transmit Advance Passenger Information (API) for all passengers flying to or via their country before departure. |
| Apollo |
|
The name of the airline reservation computer system. |
| APU |
|
Auxiliary Power Unit A separate engine on board the aircraft that provides power to the entire aircraft. |
| ATC |
|
(Air Traffic Control) The control of local air traffic in the vicinity of an airport by the FAA. |
| Bank |
|
To incline the aircraft at an angle while turning left or right. / A number of flights leaving a Hub city during a short period of time. |
| Beacon Light |
|
Rotating or flashing red light found top center and bottom center of an aircraft fuselage. (see: ACL) |
| Beltloader |
|
Motorized equipment that has a conveyor belt to load and unload baggage and cargo in/out of an aircraft hold (see: CBL) |
| Beverage Cart |
|
Trolley used to roll down the aisle to serve beverages to the customer. |
| Bid Holder |
|
A flight attendant awarded a line of flying for a particular month. |
| Bid Sheet |
|
A form used to bid on a line of flying for particular month. |
| Block-To-Block |
|
A time interval, beginning when the aircraft pulls away from the gate at the departure city and ending when the aircraft comes to a complete stop at the gate of arrival city. |
| Boarding Pass |
|
The document provided to the passenger that permits the passenger to board the aircraft and claim a specific seat. Not all airlines issue boarding passes. |
| BOW |
|
Basic Operating Weight - The weight of the empty aircraft, plus the weight of the crew, fuel, oil, necessary publications. |
| Bulkhead |
|
A term used to define any dividing wall in the cabin of an aircraft. |
| Bump |
|
The practice of denying boarding to a confirmed passenger on an overbooked flight. |
| Cabin |
|
The interior of an aircraft where the passengers are seated. |
| Call Sign |
|
Aviation call signs are communication call signs assigned as unique identifiers to aircraft. |
| Cancelled Flight |
|
An originally scheduled flight that is eliminated (cancelled) due to poor weather conditions, mechanical trouble, or lack of equipment or crew. |
| CAPT or CA |
|
Captain Pilot who is in command of the flight and sits in the left seat in the cockpit. The captain's uniform jacket has 4 stripes on the end of the sleeves. |
| Carry-On Baggage |
|
Small personal items passengers are electing to carry in the cabin of the aircraft during flight. |
| CBBG |
|
Cabin Seat Baggage - Musical Instruments, Fine Artwork, etc. (see: OOG) |
| CBL |
|
Conveyer Belt Loader (see: Beltloader) |
| CBP |
|
United States Customs and Border Protection |
| Ceiling |
|
Term used by to refer to the distance from the ground to the underside of the clouds. |
| CFR |
|
Crash-Fire-Rescue Emergency Equipment |
| CFR |
|
Code of Federal Regulations - https://ecfr.gov - CFR's are the rules that govern the aviation industry (Airlines, pilots, flight attendants, maintenance, etc.). Strict adherence to CFR's is mandatory. |
| Charter Flight |
|
Aircraft and crew are leased by a group or company for an unscheduled flight. |
| Chocks |
|
Blocks placed in front of and behind aircraft tires to prevent aircraft from rolling in the ramp gate area. |
| City Code |
|
A 3 letter designation given to airport cities. (also see "Airline Code") |
| City Pair |
|
Departure and arrival cities. |
| COB |
|
Carry on Baggage |
| Cockpit |
|
The area of the aircraft where the pilot sits (see: flight deck). |
| Comail |
|
Company Mail - Usually loaded in the cargo hold of a flight to be delivered at its destination station. |
| Comat |
|
Company Materials - Usually loaded in the cargo hold of a flight to be delivered at its destination station. |
| Concourse |
|
Area of the terminal building where gates are located. Aircraft arrive and depart from the gate and deplane and load passengers. |
| Connection / Connecting Flight |
|
Flights requiring a change of aircraft at some intermediate point before arriving at the final destination. This change can be either online or interline. Aka "transfer". |
| Crew Rest |
|
The rest period required by a crew after a completed trip. |
| Crew Scheduling |
|
The department responsible for assigning and keeping track of all flight crews. |
| DAA |
|
Delivery at Aircraft |
| DBA |
|
Doing Business As |
| DCS |
|
Departure Control System - Automates processing an airline's airport management operation, which includes managing the information required for airport check-in, printing boarding cards, baggage acceptance, boarding, load control and aircraft checks. |
| Deadhead |
|
Transportation of a crew member from one point to another to cover a trip or return to home base. |
| Delay |
|
A flight that is operating later than scheduled. |
| Destination |
|
Ultimate stopping place which a journey concludes. |
| Direct Flight |
|
A flight which may make an intermediate stop/stops before reaching its final destination but requires no change of aircraft. |
| Dive |
|
A steep descent. |
| Domicile |
|
The city (station) where the crewmember is based. |
| DOT |
|
Department of Transportation - The government agency that governs economic concerns of the transportation industry. |
| Downline |
|
The next station or stations in line of the flight’s scheduled routing. |
| DRP |
|
Damaged Baggage including Pilferage |
| Empennage |
|
An arrangement of stabilizing surfaces at the tail of an aircraft (horizontal and vertical stabalizers) |
| Equipment |
|
The actual aircraft. |
| ERA |
|
Equipment Restraint Area - Apron or Safety Triangle (LAS term) where the aircraft parks for servicing. |
| ETL |
|
Electronic Ticket List |
| F/A |
|
Flight Attendant - A person who assists passengers in safety and service onboard any aircraft that seats 20 or more. |
| F/A Jump seat |
|
Collapsible seat in the cabin for the flight attendant to sit during takeoff and landing. |
| F/O |
|
First Officer - Pilot who sits in the right seat of the cockpit. The first officer's uniform jacket has 3 stripes on the end of the sleeves. |
| FAA |
|
Federal Aviation Administration - The government agency that regulates the safety of airline operations through specific code of federal regulations (CFRs). |
| Ferry Flight |
|
A flight operated without revenue passengers, cargo or mail. A ferry flight is flown to move the aircraft to a different city either to begin a flight or to undergo maintenance. |
| Flight |
|
The movement of an aircraft from one location to another, as a scheduled flight, extra section, ferry flight, test flight, or training flight. |
| Flight Deck |
|
The cockpit of a large aircraft, from which the pilot and crew fly it. (see: Cockpit) |
| Floor Level Exit |
|
All aircraft doors are floor level exits and are used as emergency exits. |
| FQTV |
|
Frequent Traveler |
| Fuselage |
|
The central body portion of an aircraft designed to accommodate the payload on the aircraft. |
| FWD (Forward) |
|
The front of the aircraft towards the cockpit. |
| Galley |
|
Small designated area where beverages and meals are served. |
| Gate |
|
The area of the terminal building where passengers gather before boarding an aircraft. |
| Gate Check |
|
Items "checked-in at the gate" (i.e. wheelchairs, strollers, car seats, baggage, etc.). |
| Gateway |
|
Last departure point from a country before arriving in another country. |
| GPU |
|
Ground Power Unit - Ground support equipment used to supply on board power (lights, heat, air conditioning, etc.) to the aircraft. |
| Ground Speed |
|
The speed of an aircraft with reference to the surface of the earth. |
| GSC |
|
Ground Security Coordinator - Employee charged with overall responsibility of security related issues while the aircraft is on the ground. |
| GSE |
|
Ground Service Equipment - Motorized and Non-Motorized equipment used to service an aircraft. |
| HBS |
|
Hold Baggage Screening |
| Hold |
|
Aircraft Cargo Compartment where Baggage and Cargo is loaded. |
| Holding |
|
A flight that is waiting for instructions to takeoff, land, or park at an available gate. |
| IATA |
|
International Air Transport Association |
| ICAO |
|
International Civil Aviation Organization |
| IDM |
|
Industry Discount Message |
| ILS |
|
Instrument Landing Systems - A system of navigational radios used for guiding aircraft during unfavorable weather conditions such as fog. |
| IMP Code |
|
Interline Message Procedure - Visibly indicate the class/division of dangerous goods contained in the ULD. |
| IMP Code: CAO |
|
Cargo Aircraft Only |
| IMP Code: ICE |
|
Carbon dioxide, solid (dry ice) |
| IMP Code: MAG |
|
Magnetized Material |
| IMP Code: RCL |
|
Cryogenic Liquid |
| IMP Code: RCM |
|
Corrosive |
| IMP Code: RCX |
|
Explosives 1.3C |
| IMP Code: RDS |
|
Diagnostic Specimens |
| IMP Code: REQ |
|
Dangerous Goods in Excepted Quantities |
| IMP Code: REX |
|
To be reserved for normally forbidden Explosives, Divisions 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4F, 1.5 and 1.6 |
| IMP Code: RFG |
|
Flammable Gas |
| IMP Code: RFL |
|
Flammable Liquid |
| IMP Code: RFS |
|
Flammable Solid |
| IMP Code: RFW |
|
Dangerous When Wet |
| IMP Code: RGX |
|
Explosives 1.3G |
| IMP Code: RIS |
|
Infectious Substance |
| IMP Code: RMD |
|
Miscellaneous Dangerous Goods |
| IMP Code: RNG |
|
Non-Flammable Non-toxic Gas |
| IMP Code: ROP |
|
Organic Peroxide |
| IMP Code: ROX |
|
Oxidizer |
| IMP Code: RPB |
|
Toxic substance |
| IMP Code: RPG |
|
Toxic Gas |
| IMP Code: RRE |
|
Excepted Packages of Radioactive Material |
| IMP Code: RRW |
|
Radioactive Material Category I-White |
| IMP Code: RRY |
|
Radioactive Material Categories II-Yellow and III-Yellow |
| IMP Code: RSB |
|
Polymeric Beads |
| IMP Code: RSC |
|
Spontaneously Combustible |
| IMP Code: RXB |
|
Explosives 1.4B |
| IMP Code: RXC |
|
Explosives 1.4C |
| IMP Code: RXD |
|
Explosives 1.4D |
| IMP Code: RXE |
|
Explosives 1.4E |
| IMP Code: RXG |
|
Explosives 1.4G |
| IMP Code: RXS |
|
Explosives 1.4S |
| Inbound |
|
An aircraft that would be arriving or coming into a city. |
| INOP |
|
Inoperative Not functioning. |
| Interline |
|
When the routing from origin to destination requires 2 or more different air carriers to accommodate the passenger to their final destination. |
| Interline Connection |
|
Changing from a flight of one carrier to a flight of another carrier. |
| Intermediate Station |
|
A scheduled stop/ stops between the originating city and the final destination. |
| ISC |
|
Inflight Security Coordinator - The captain of the flight who is charged with overall responsibility of security related issues while the aircraft is in flight. |
| Jump seat |
|
A collapsible seat in the cockpit occupied by authorized personnel. |
| Jump seat Authority |
|
Authorization given to crewmembers and other eligible personnel to travel in the jump seat. |
| Jump seat Rider |
|
Authorized personnel occupying the jump seat. |
| Knot |
|
Velocity of one nautical mile per hour. |
| Layover |
|
Time spent on the ground between flights when passenger's itinerary involves a connection. / The time spent downline between flights (crew rest). |
| Leg of Flight |
|
Refers to each flight of the passenger or crewmember itinerary. |
| Legalities |
|
Rules and regulations used to establish flying time and rest periods. |
| Line of Flying |
|
A series of flights sequenced together to produce a monthly work schedule. |
| Local Passenger |
|
Customer who boards the aircraft at the originating station. |
| MAAS |
|
Meet & Assist - A request for ground personnel to meet and assist a passenger. |
| Non-Stop Flight |
|
A flight that takes off at your origin point and does not land until it reaches your final destination point. |
| NOREC |
|
No Record |
| No-Show |
|
A traveler who does not show up for a flight on which he has a reservation and fails to cancel that reservation. Airlines will cancel all further flights on a traveler's itinerary when a passenger no-shows. |
| NRMR |
|
Non- Revenue Must Ride - An airline employee traveling positive space on a Must Ride status. The crewmember needs to travel from one point to another to cover a trip or return to home base. |
| NRPS |
|
Non-Revenue Positive Space - An airline employee traveling on business holding a confirmed reservation. |
| NRSA |
|
Non- Revenue Space Available - An airline employee traveling for personal reasons, if space is available. |
| NTSB |
|
National Transportation Safety Board - The government agency that investigates and reports reasons for accidents and recommends solutions to the FAA. |
| OAL |
|
Other Airline |
| Offline |
|
Traveling via another airline or combination of other airlines. |
| Online |
|
When travel involves only one carrier. |
| Online Connection |
|
Changing from one flight to another flight of the same carrier. |
| OOG |
|
Out of Gauge Baggage |
| Open Time |
|
Any flight that is not assigned to a crewmember. |
| Origin |
|
Originating Station - The city where the flight begins. |
| Outbound |
|
An aircraft that would be departing from a city. |
| Overbooking |
|
The practice by the airlines of confirming more seats on an aircraft than are actually available. Overbooking is designed to protect the airlines from no-shows. |
| Overhead Bins |
|
Storage compartments located over the seats inside an aircraft cabin. |
| Oversale |
|
A situation which occurs when a customer has a confirmed reservation and a valid ticket but is not accommodated on a flight. |
| Passenger Coupon |
|
The last coupon of an airline ticket. The coupon is clearly marked and serves as the passenger record for expensive reports. |
| PAWOB |
|
Passenger Arriving With or Without Baggage - this passenger had checked his baggage at his origin city, and at his destination his baggage didn't show up on the flight due to an error on the airline(s) part. |
| PAX/PSGR |
|
Passenger - Customer who travels on a scheduled airline flight. |
| Payload |
|
The total weight of passengers and cargo carried on the aircraft. |
| PDU |
|
Power Drive Unit, located on the floor of an airplane's cargo bay and operated by a controller on the wall, lead ULDs to the appropriate position inside the airplane by moving back and forth and around. |
| PIR |
|
Property Irregularity Report - Completed at final destination regarding Lost, Stolen, or Damaged Baggage |
| PLA |
|
Progressive Load Assembly |
| PNL |
|
Passenger Name List |
| PNR |
|
Passenger Name Record |
| Port |
|
Left side of Aircraft |
| PPBM |
|
Positive Passenger Bag Match - An airline system used to ensure that baggage is not loaded on an aircraft if the passenger does not board |
| PPE |
|
Personal Protective Equipment - Hearing Protection, Safety Shoes, High-Vis Clothing, etc. |
| PPM |
|
Passenger Protection Message |
| PSM |
|
Passenger Service Message - Notifies the destination station of all disembarking passengers requiring special assistance |
| PTM |
|
Passenger Transit Message - Informs the destination station of the number of passengers disembarking at and holding connecting flight reservation from that station indicating the flights (flight number, destination) and the number of pieces of baggage through checked |
| Ramp |
|
The area adjacent to the terminal building for aircraft loading and unloading. |
| Recurrent Training |
|
Training required on an annual basis intended to review regulations, policies, procedures, and changes. |
| Reissue/Reroute |
|
A rewriting of an existing ticket due to a change in fare, class of service, or routing. |
| Rescheduled Flight |
|
A change to a crewmembers assigned flight or flights due to unforeseen circumstances, i.e.. cancellations, mechanicals, etc. |
| Reserve Crew |
|
Flight crewmember on standby for duty. |
| Reserve Schedule or Reserve Days |
|
A month or day schedule requiring a crewmember to be available on a "stand-by" basis in the event of unforeseen scheduling emergencies. |
| RON |
|
Aircraft Remains overnight. |
| Routing |
|
The way travel between the origin and destination is arranged. |
| Runway |
|
The area used specifically for the landing and takeoff of aircraft. |
| Scheduled Flight |
|
A flight identified with a flight number and is published in the timetable to originate and terminate at specific stations and times. |
| Sequence |
|
A series of flights paired together to produce a daily work schedule. |
| SITA |
|
Airline telecommunication information technology. |
| SLA |
|
Service Level Agreement - a contract between a service provider and its customers that documents what services the provider will furnish and defines the service standards the provider is obligated to meet |
| SMT |
|
Safety Management Tool - Company tool used to report incidents such as Injuries, Near Misses, Aircraft Damages, etc. |
| SOM |
|
Seat Occupied Message |
| SSR |
|
Special Service Request Code |
| SSR - BLND |
|
Visually impaired passengers |
| SSR - CHD |
|
Child - Minor between 2 and 12 years of age - has reached their 2nd birthday but has not reached their 12th birthday |
| SSR - DEAF |
|
Hearing impaired Passengers |
| SSR - DEPA |
|
Deported Passenger ACCOMPANIED |
| SSR - DEPU |
|
Deported Passenger UNACOMPANIED |
| SSR - DPNA |
|
Passengers with intellectual or developmental disability needing assistance |
| SSR - ESAN |
|
Emotional Support Animal |
| SSR - FREMEC |
|
Frequent Traveler's Medical Clearance |
| SSR - INAD |
|
Inadmissible Passenger |
| SSR - INF |
|
A minor that has NOT reached their 2nd birthday |
| SSR - LEGL, LEGR, LEGB |
|
Fused or Immobilized Leg, Left, Right, or Both |
| SSR - MAAS |
|
Meet and Assist Passengers |
| SSR - OXYG |
|
Needing Extra Oxygen on board |
| SSR - STCR |
|
Traveling on a stretcher |
| SSR - SVAN |
|
Service Animal |
| SSR - UMNR |
|
Unaccompanied Minor - Children under the age of 12 traveling by themselves, without an adult. |
| SSR - WCBD |
|
Personal Wheelchair with DRY CELL Battery |
| SSR - WCBW |
|
Personal Wheelchair with WET CELL Battery |
| SSR - WCHC |
|
Wheelchair - C for Cabin Seat - Passenger is COMPLETELY immobile. Passenger requires a wheelchair to and from the aircraft, is transported up and down the stairs and to and from the seat. |
| SSR - WCHR |
|
Wheelchair - R for Ramp - Passenger can ascend and descend stairs and move in the aircraft cabin, but requires a wheelchair for distance to/from the aircraft |
| SSR - WCHS |
|
Wheelchair - S for Steps - Passenger cannot ascend and descend stairs, but can move in the aircraft cabin. Passenger requires a wheelchair to and from the aircraft and must be carried up and down the stairs. |
| SSR - WCLB |
|
Personal Wheelchair with LITHIUM ION Battery |
| SSR - WCMP |
|
Personal Wheelchair with MANUAL POWER |
| SSR - WCOB |
|
Personal Wheelchair ON BOARD Aircraft |
| St. Elmo's Fire |
|
A buildup of electrical charge on the airplane. |
| Standby |
|
A traveler who does not have a confirmed reservation and must wait at the airline gate for a seat to become available. |
| Starboard |
|
Right side of Aircraft |
| Station |
|
Airport office in a city. |
| Stop/Stopover |
|
An intermediate stopping point on a journey, whether voluntary or involuntary. |
| Stow |
|
To secure baggage into a safe location in flight. |
| Taxi |
|
To operate an aircraft under its own power on the ground, except when involved in takeoffs or landings. |
| Taxi Way |
|
Paved areas connecting the ramp to the runway. |
| Terminating Station |
|
The city where the flight ends. |
| Thru Passenger |
|
A passenger who has boarded the aircraft at a previous station and remains on board at the intermediate stop to continue on the flight to its destination. |
| Thrust - Break Away |
|
The minimum thrust required for an aircraft to initiate movement and reach taxiing speed. |
| Thrust - Idle |
|
The jet thrust obtained with the engine power control lever set at the stop for the least thrust position at which it can be placed. |
| Thrust - Maximum Takeoff |
|
MTO - Highest amount of thrust an aircraft is allowed to give in the first 5 minutes of takeoff and flight. It is used when an aircraft has a heavy payload and only a small runway for takeoff. This causes a lot of engine wear, so most of the time aircraft calculate the minimum thrust needed for an efficient takeoff, and use that instead. Take off thrust can very between the minimum and maximum level depending on the conditions. |
| TIM or TIMATIC |
|
IATA Timatic is used by airlines and travel agents to verify passengers travel document requirements for their destination and any transit points. Timatic instantly provides you with all the information you need to ensure your customers are ready to fly, no matter where in the world your customer is flying, what their citizenship is or how often the rules change. |
| Time - ATD |
|
Actual Time of Departure |
| Time - ETA |
|
Estimated Time of Arrival |
| Time - ETD |
|
Estimated Time of Departure |
| Time - STA |
|
Scheduled Time of Arrival |
| Time - STD |
|
Scheduled Time of Departure |
| TPM |
|
Teletype Passenger Manifest |
| Transfer |
|
Flights requiring a change of aircraft at some intermediate point before arriving at the final destination. This change can be either online or interline. AKA "connection". |
| TSA |
|
Transportation Security Administration |
| Tug |
|
Motorized GSE also known as a Baggage Tractor to tow Non-Motorized GSE such as baggage carts and dollies. |
| Turn Around |
|
Aircraft or flight that is used to operate into a city and originate as a new flight number out of that city. |
| UM |
|
Children under the age of 12 traveling by themselves, without an adult. (see SSR - UMNR, Unaccompanied Minor) |
| Unaccompanied Minor |
|
Children under the age of 12 traveling by themselves, without an adult. (see UM, SSR - UMNR) |
| Wake Turbulence |
|
The disturbance in the air caused by the passage of an airfoil. |
| Wing Root |
|
The wing root is the part of the wing on a fixed-wing aircraft or winged-spaceship that is closest to the fuselage, and is the junction of the wing with the fuselage (not with a nacelle or any other body). The term is also used for the junction of the wing with the opposite wing, ie on the fuselage centerline, as with the upper wing of a biplane. The opposite end of a wing from the wing root is the wing tip. |