| AAR |
|
Airport Acceptance Rate or Airport Arrival Rate.
The
number of arrivals an airport is capable of accepting each hour.
Delays can result when the AAR exceeds capacity. |
| AC or A/C |
|
Aircraft |
| ADS-B |
|
Automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B) is a function on a properly equipped aircraft or surface vehicle that periodically broadcasts its state vector (horizontal and vertical position, horizontal and vertical velocity) and other information. ADS-B supports improved use of airspace, reduced ceiling/visibility restrictions, improved surface surveillance, and enhanced safety such as conflict management. ADS-B should not be confused with the applications it supports.
Click here for an introduction
and primer on ADS-B.
Under ADS-B, a vehicle periodically broadcasts its own state vector and other information without
knowing what other vehicles or entities might be receiving it, and without expectation of an acknowledgement or reply. ADS-B is automatic in the sense that no pilot or controller action is required for the information to be issued.
It is dependent surveillance in the sense that the surveillance-type information so obtained depends on the suitable navigation and broadcast capability in the source
vehicle. |
| ADZY |
|
Advisory |
| AMASS |
|
AMASS
is a software enhancement to the Airport Surface
Detection Equipment, Model 3 (ASDE-3), that provides controllers
with aural and visual alerts to potential collisions on the runway. It
processes data from the ASDE-3 and Automated Radar Terminal Systems
(ARTS) to predict aircraft movement for arriving and departing
aircraft and detects aircraft and vehicles that infringe on the runway
surface. It does this by correlating speed, time and distance
algorithms to assess potential collision situations. |
| ARPT |
|
Airport |
| ARSR |
|
Air Route Surveillance
Radar. Air Route Traffic Control
Center (ARTCC) radar used primarily to detect and display an
aircraft's position while en route between terminal areas. The ARSR
enables controllers to provide radar air traffic control service when
aircraft are within the ARSR coverage. In some instances, ARSR may
enable an ARTCC to provide terminal radar services similar to but
usually more limited than those provided by a radar approach control. |
| ARTS |
|
 
Automated Radar Terminal
System - FAA's legacy radar terminal system first established in
Atlanta in 1964. It is used in conjunction with ARSR
to provide surveillance for air traffic controllers.
The ARTS is the console that controllers sit in front of when working
traffic. ARTS is still in use in dozens of air traffic control
facilities across the US. ARTS is currently being replaced with current day modern
technology, the STARS system. All of the
facilities we monitor here on atcmonitor.com
have been upgraded to STARS.
Above is a photo of the automation surveillance radar for air traffic
control called ARTS. It came into use at over 60 of the busiest
US airports by the 1970s. Photo credit: FAA
|
| ARTCC |
|
Air Route Traffic Control Center. A facility
established to provide air traffic control service to aircraft
operating on IFR flight plans within controlled airspace and
principally during the en route phase of flight. When equipment
capabilities and controller workload permit, certain
advisory/assistance services may be provided to VFR aircraft. There
are 20 ARTCCs in the continental U.S.
|
| ASDE |
|
 Airport
Surface Detection Equipment (ASDE) - That white dome spinning at
the top of most control towers in the US (Atlanta tower is shown in
the image to the left) is called Airport Surface Detection Equipment
(ASDE-3), a primary radar that operates in the 15GHz range and is
normally installed on top of the ATC tower. Through ASDE-3, a nominal
one-second update of all traffic on the airport movement area is
provided to the controller via display.
The photo to the left shows ASDE-3 radar atop
the control tower at Atlanta Hartsfield Jackson International Airport.
ASDE radar is very effective for tracking targets on the airport
surface in inclement weather, or any overcast or fog like conditions
where pilots and controllers cannot see through conditions.
Limitations of ASDE include multipath and target identification but
that is improving as software for ASDE evolves.
ASDE is manufactured by a few companies including Sensis
Corp. |
| ASR |
|
Airport Surveillance
Radar. Surveillance radar used
to detect and display an aircraft's position in the terminal area.
ASR
provides range and azimuth information but does not provide elevation
data unless the replying aircraft is accompanied by a mode C
transponder. Coverage of the ASR can extend up to 60 miles or
more depending on the year of manufacture and software release.
The latest release by Raytheon is ASR-11, Digital Airport Surveillance
Radar.
The leftmost photo to the right
shows ASR-1 (version 1.0 Airport Surveillance Radar) antenna was part
of an air traffic system used beginning in the early 1950s. This
is the first version of ASR.
The most recent version, ASR-11 is shown to the right and below
in the snow. This is the airport radar probably most familiar to
you as it's the same airport surveillance radar in use at hundreds of
airports throughout the world today. Manufactured by Raytheon.
Photo credits: FAA
The image below shows another version of ASR, the ASRL series used for
primary surveillance in terminal and long range en route operations. This
type of radar is usually in remote areas where you cannot see it or
access it, or located at military installations where it can be better
protected.
 |
|
| ATC |
|
Air Traffic Control. A service operated by appropriate
authority to promote the safe, orderly and expeditious flow of air
traffic. |
| ATCSCC |
|
Air Traffic Control System Command Center |
| ATCT |
|
Airport Traffic Control Tower. A terminal facility that
uses air/ground communications, visual signaling, and other devices to
provide ATC services to aircraft operating in the vicinity of an
airport or on the movement area. Authorizes aircraft to land or
takeoff at the airport controlled by the tower or to transit the Class
D airspace area regardless of flight plan or weather conditions (IFR
or VFR). A tower may also provide approach control services (radar or
nonradar). |
| CDM |
|
Collaborative Decision Making. Cooperative effort
between the various components of aviation transportation, both
government and industry, to exchange information for better decision
making. |
| CDR |
|
Coded Departure Routes. Predefined routes used to route
air traffic around areas of severe weather. |
| CIGS |
|
Ceilings. The height above the ground of the base of
the lowest layer of clouds when over half of the sky is obscured.
As the ceiling becomes lower, air traffic separation is increased,
which decreases airspace capacity. As demand exceeds capacity,
delays can result. |
| CLSD |
|
Closed |
| DASR |
|
ASR-11 version is considered Digital Air Surveillance Radar
|
| DME |
|
Distance Measuring Equipment
|
| DSR |
|
Digital Surveillance Radar
|
| EDCT |
|
Expected Departure Clearance Time. Time issued to a
flight to indicate when it can expect to receive departure clearance.
EDCTs are issued as part of Traffic Management Programs, such as a
Ground Delay Program (GDP). |
| EMERG |
|
Emergency |
| EQUIP |
|
Equipment |
| FAR |
|
Federal Aviation Regulations
are the rules and regulations that govern the many facets of
aviation. You
can view an electronic version of the FAR here. Choose Title
14, then view Parts 1-199. |
| FCT |
|
Federal
Contract Tower program. See www.contracttower.org |
| FOD |
|
Foreign Object
Debris. Foreign objects on runways can result in delays as air
traffic is slowed to give time for crews to remove the foreign
object(s) from runways. |
| FSM |
|
Flight Schedule Monitor. A tool used by Air Traffic
Management Specialists to monitor air traffic demand at airports. |
| FSS |
|
Flight Service Station. Air traffic facilities which
provide pilot briefing, en route communications and VFR search and
rescue services, assist lost aircraft and aircraft in emergency
situations, relay ATC clearances, originate Notices to Airmen,
broadcast aviation weather and NAS information, receive and process
IFR flight plans, and monitor NAVAIDs. In addition, at selected
locations, FSSs provide En Route Flight Advisory Service (Flight
Watch), take weather observations, issue airport advisories, and
advise Customs and Immigration of transborder flights. |
| GDP |
|
Ground Delay Program. Ground Delay Programs are
implemented to control air traffic volume to airports where the
projected traffic demand is expected to exceed the airport's
acceptance rate for a lengthy period of time. Lengthy periods of
demand exceeding acceptance rate are normally a result of the
airport's acceptance rate being reduced for some reason. The most
common reason for a reduction in acceptance rate is adverse weather
such as low ceilings and visibility.
How it works:
Flights that are destined to the affected airport are issued Expected
Departure Clearance Times (EDCT) at their point of departure. Flights
that have been issued EDCTs are not permitted to depart until their
Expected Departure Clearance Time. These ECDTs are calculated in such
a way as to meter the rate that traffic arrives at the affected
airport; ensuring that demand is equal to acceptance rate. The length
of delays that result from the implementation of a Ground Delay
Program depends upon two factors: how much greater than the acceptance
rate the original demand was, and for what length of time the original
demand was expected to exceed the acceptance rate.
|
| GPS |
|
Global Positioning System |
| GS |
|
Ground Stop. Ground Stops are implemented for a number
of reasons. The most common reasons are:
- To control air traffic volume to airports when the projected
traffic demand is expected to exceed the airport's acceptance rate
for a short period of time.
- To temporarily stop traffic allowing for the implementation of a
longer-term solution, such as a Ground Delay Program.
- The affected airport's acceptance rate has been reduced to zero.
How it works:
Flights that are destined to the affected airport are held at their
departure point for the duration of the Ground Stop.
|
| IFR |
|
Instrument Flight Rules. A set of rules governing the
conduct of flight under instrument meteorological conditions. |
| ILS |
|
Instrument Landing System. A ground based precision
approach system that provides course and vertical guidance to landing
aircraft.
Localizer Antenna: 
Glideslope tower:  |
| IMC |
|
Instrument
meteorological conditions (IMC) is an aviation term that describes
weather conditions that normally require pilots to fly primarily by
reference to instruments, and therefore under Instrument Flight Rules
(IFR), rather than by outside visual references
under Visual Flight Rules (VFR). |
| KNOT |
|
1 knot
= 1 nautical mile/hour = 1.852 km·h−1
exactly. This is based on the internationally agreed length of
the nautical mile, as adopted by the US in 1954, the UK in 1970 and
other countries. This is the definition used in most, if not
all, modern circumstances. Knot is sometimes mistakenly used to refer
to the nautical mile itself, but this is incorrect.
To convert miles per hour to knots,
follow this example:
miles per hour (mph) = knots * 1.15
Take your (ground) speed in knots and multiply it by 1.15 to get your (ground) speed in miles per hour.
example: 300 x 1.15 = 345 mph
Quick Knots to MPH
conversion chart:
| 5 |
Knots |
= |
5.8 |
MPH |
| 10 |
Knots |
= |
11.5 |
MPH |
| 15 |
Knots |
= |
17.3 |
MPH |
| 20 |
Knots |
= |
23.0 |
MPH |
| 25 |
Knots |
= |
28.8 |
MPH |
| 30 |
Knots |
= |
34.6 |
MPH |
| 35 |
Knots |
= |
40.3 |
MPH |
| 40 |
Knots |
= |
46.1 |
MPH |
| 45 |
Knots |
= |
51.8 |
MPH |
| 50 |
Knots |
= |
57.6 |
MPH |
| 55 |
Knots |
= |
63.4 |
MPH |
| 60 |
Knots |
= |
69.1 |
MPH |
| 65 |
Knots |
= |
74.9 |
MPH |
| 70 |
Knots |
= |
80.6 |
MPH |
| 75 |
Knots |
= |
86.4 |
MPH |
| 80 |
Knots |
= |
92.2 |
MPH |
| 85 |
Knots |
= |
97.9 |
MPH |
| 90 |
Knots |
= |
103.7 |
MPH |
| 95 |
Knots |
= |
109.4 |
MPH |
| 100 |
Knots |
= |
115.2 |
MPH |
| 105 |
Knots |
= |
121.0 |
MPH |
| 110 |
Knots |
= |
126.7 |
MPH |
| 115 |
Knots |
= |
132.5 |
MPH |
| 120 |
Knots |
= |
138.2 |
MPH |
| 125 |
Knots |
= |
144.0 |
MPH |
| 130 |
Knots |
= |
149.8 |
MPH |
| 135 |
Knots |
= |
155.5 |
MPH |
| 140 |
Knots |
= |
161.3 |
MPH |
| 145 |
Knots |
= |
167.0 |
MPH |
| 150 |
Knots |
= |
172.8 |
MPH |
|
| LAADR |
|
Low Altitude Airway Departure Route. |
| LAHSO |
|
Land and Hold Short Operations. Operations which
include simultaneous takeoffs and landings and/or simultaneous
landings when a landing aircraft is able and is instructed by the
controller to hold short of the intersecting runway/taxiway or
designated hold-short point. Pilots are expected to promptly inform
the controller if the hold short clearance cannot be accepted. |
| LO CIGS |
|
Low Ceilings or low clouds
can create traffic delays as aircraft separation increases. |
| LOC |
|
Localizer. The component of an
ILS that provides course
guidance to the runway. |
| LOW VIS |
|
Low Visibility.
The ability, as determined by atmospheric
conditions and expressed in units of distance, to see and identify
prominent unlighted objects by day and prominent lighted objects by
night. Low visibility can cause arrival and departure delays
when aircraft separation increases for spacing and increased safety. |
| MINIT |
|
Minutes in Trail. A specified interval between aircraft
expressed in time. |
| MIT |
|
Miles in Trail. A specified interval between aircraft
expressed in nautical miles. |
| MULTI-TAXI |
|
Many aircraft trying to taxi at once, creating
congestion. |
| N90 |
|
New York TRACON |
| NAS |
|
National Airspace System. The common network of U.S.
airspace; air navigation facilities, equipment and services, airports
or landing areas. |
| NAVAID |
|
Navigational Aid. Any visual or electronic device,
airborne or on the surface, which provides point-to-point guidance
information or position data to aircraft in flight. |
| NM |
|
Nautical Mile. International unit equal to 6076.115
feet (1852 meters). |
| NOTAM |
|
Notice to Airmen. A notice containing information (not
known sufficiently in advance to publicize by other means) concerning
the establishment, condition, or change in any component (facility,
service, or procedure of, or hazard in the National Airspace System)
the timely knowledge of which is essential to personnel concerned with
flight operations. |
| NRP |
|
National Route Plan. The NRP is a set of rules and
procedures which are designed to increase the flexibility of user
flight planning within published guidelines. |
| OTS |
|
Out of service |
| RLSD |
|
Released |
| RNAV |
|
Area
Navigation (RNAV) can be defined as a method of navigation that
permits aircraft operation on any desired course within the coverage
of station-referenced navigation signals or within the limits of a
self contained system capability, or a combination of these.
RNAV was developed to provide more lateral freedom and thus more
complete use of available airspace. This method of navigation
does not require a track directly to or from any specific radio
navigation aid, and has three principal applications:
- A route structure can be organized
between any given departure and arrival point to reduce flight
distance and traffic separation;
- Aircraft can be flown into terminal
areas on varied pre-programmed arrival and departure paths to
expedite traffic flow; and
- Instrument approaches can be
developed and certified at certain airports, without local
instrument landing aids at that airport.
Navigation systems which provide RNAV
capability include VOR/DME, DME/DME, LORAN C, GPS, OMEGA and self
contained Inertial Navigation Systems (INS) or Inertial Reference
Systems (IRS). |
| PDR |
|
Preferred
Departure Route |
| PRM |
|
 Precision Runway Monitor (PRM)
- Non-rotating, non-mechanical circular phased array antenna is
electronically scanned to increase airport capacity, reduce delays,
and increase the safety of parallel operations (closely spaced
parallel runways). Made by Raytheon Company.
|
| PSR |
|
Primary Surveillance Radar
(PSR) is identified by the larger half-circle shaped component on
the bottom of the radar . It provides ATC with calculation
of speed and position of the aircraft. |
| RNP |
|
Required Navigation Performance.
RNP is a set of standards that measure performance accuracy of aircraft in a certain defined airspace, or along a predefined route, approach, etc. |
| RRTES |
|
Reroutes |
| RWY |
|
Runway |
| RWY CONFIG |
|
Runway Configuration |
| RY |
|
Runway |
| RY MAINTENANCE |
|
Runway
Maintenance can occur at anytime due to debris on runway, planned
maintenance, or other runway related events. |
| SPO |
|
Strategic Plan of Operation. See
SPT. |
| SPT |
|
Strategic Planning Team. The Strategic Planning Team
acts as a focal point for the development of collaborative Strategic
Plans of Operation. Their goal is to provide advanced planning
information for system users and air traffic facilities in order to
maximize the utilization of the NAS in an organized and equitable
manner. |
| SSR |
|
Secondary Surveillance Radar
(SSR) is identified by the ladder shaped component on the top of
the radar. It provides ATC with unique information about the
aircraft type and altitude. |
| STAR |
|
Standard
Terminal Arrival Routes are established by the FAA so that pilots and
controllers will know what to expect during transition from out of
high altitude en route airspace to terminal appropach areas. The
Macey STAR is shown below. The traffic comes down into Atlanta
via the Macey Standard Terminal Arrival (STAR). The FAA
publishes Standard Terminal Arrival Procedures (STARs) for busy
traffic areas so that both pilots and controllers know what to expect
during the transition from out of high altitude enroute airspace to
terminal approach areas.
On the
above MACEY STAR, you can see that aircraft can "join" the
arrival from a number of transitions. The objective for the
controller working this frequency is to organize all of this
transitioning traffic into a managed flow down the arrival so that
when the traffic crosses the WOMAC intersection when landing west,
turbojet traffic is at 13,000 feet and 250 knots as indicated on the
arrival plate above. When landing east, turbojet traffic crosses
the LOGEN intersection at 14,000 feet and there is usually no speed
restriction. Crossing altitudes for smaller turbo prop aircraft
are also listed above on the STAR.
The controller working this sector must contend with Macey arrivals,
departures, satellite traffic coming down the AWSON Arrival,
overflights, military traffic, weather, and overall heavy volume.
All of these challenges and the sheer volume that the sector
experiences every day makes it one of the busiest air corridors in the
world. |
| STARS |
|
The
Standard Terminal Automation Replacement System (STARS) is a joint
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Department of Defense (DoD)
program to replace capacity-constrained, older technology systems (ARTS)
at FAA and DoD terminal radar approach control facilities and
associated towers. Controllers use STARS to provide air traffic
control (ATC) services to aircraft in terminal and enroute areas. Typical terminal
area ATC services include the separation and sequencing of air
traffic, the provision of traffic alerts and weather advisories, and
radar vectoring for departing and arriving traffic.
The most prominent feature of STARS is the 20-by-20 inch full
color display, which presents aircraft positions and flight
information to the controller. This display has been specially
developed for air traffic control and is exceptionally readable when
viewed at close range by the controller. When combined with modern
computer windows and graphics, this display will update the controller
tools from the 1970s to the new century in a single step. STARS takes
advantage of computer designs proven in hundreds of offices and
laboratories.
For more information about STARS,
please visit the FAA's
STARS page.
 |
|
| STMP |
|
Special Traffic Management Program. Reservation program
implemented to regulate arrivals and/or departures at airports that
are in areas hosting special events such as the Masters Golf
Tournament and Indianapolis 500. |
| SVRWX |
|
Severe Weather |
| SWAP |
|
Severe Weather Avoidance Plan. An approved plan to
minimize the effect of severe weather on traffic flows in impacted
terminal and/or ARTCC areas. SWAP is normally implemented to provide
the least disruption to the ATC system when flight through portions of
airspace is difficult or impossible due to severe weather. |
| TACAN |
|
Tactical Air Navigation Aid. An ultra-high frequency
electronic rho-theta air navigation aid which provides suitably
equipped aircraft a continuous indication of bearing and distance to
the TACAN station. |
| TFC |
|
Traffic |
| TRACON |
|
Terminal Radar Control Facility. A terminal ATC
facility that uses radar and nonradar capabilities to provide approach
control services to aircraft arriving, departing, or transiting
airspace controlled by the facility. |
| TSD |
|
Traffic Situation Display. A tool used by Traffic
Management Specialists to monitor the position of air traffic and to
determine the traffic demand on airports and sectors. |
| TSTMS |
|
Thunderstorms |
| UTC |
|
Coordinated Universal Time (abbreviated as UTC, and
therefore often spelled out as Universal Time Coordinated and
sometimes as Universal Coordinated Time) is the standard time common
to every place in the world. Formerly and still widely called
Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) and also World Time, UTC nominally reflects
the mean solar time along the Earth's prime meridian. |
| VAPS |
|
Visual Approaches. An approach conducted under
Instrument Flight Rules that authorizes the pilot to proceed visually
and clear of clouds to the airport. Usually this will be used in
conjunction with Visual Separation. When using Visual Separation, a
pilot sees the other aircraft involved, and upon instructions from the
controller, provides his own separation by maneuvering his aircraft as
necessary to avoid it. Visual Separation requires less spacing between
aircraft than radar separation allowing more aircraft to land in a
given period of time. |
| VFR |
|
Visual Flight Rules. Rules that govern the procedures
for conducting flight under visual conditions. The term "VFR"
is also used in the United States to indicate weather conditions that
are equal to or greater than minimum VFR requirements. In addition, it
is used by pilots and controllers to indicate a type of flight plan. |
| VOL |
|
Volume. Usually used to indicate that the volume of
aircraft exceeds the airport's capacity. |
| VOR |
|
Very High Frequency Omni Directional Range. A
ground-based electronic navigation aid transmitting very high
frequency navigation signals, 360 degrees in azimuth, oriented from
magnetic north. Used as the basis for navigation in the National
Airspace System. The VOR periodically identifies itself by Morse Code
and may have an additional voice identification feature. Voice
features may be used by ATC or FSS for transmitting
instructions/information to pilots. |
| VORTAC |
|
A navigation aid providing VOR azimuth, TACAN azimuth,
and TACAN distance measuring equipment (DME) at one site. |
| VSBY |
|
Visibility. The ability, as determined by atmospheric
conditions and expressed in units of distance, to see and identify
prominent unlighted objects by day and prominent lighted objects by
night. |
| WND |
|
Wind |
| WAAS |
|
WAAS is an extremely
accurate navigation system developed for civil aviation. Before WAAS,
the U.S. National Airspace System (NAS) did not have the ability to
provide horizontal and vertical navigation for precision approach
operations for all users at all locations. With WAAS, this capability
is becoming a reality. WAAS provides service for all classes of
aircraft in all flight operations - including en route navigation,
airport departures, and airport arrivals. This includes precision
landing approaches in all weather conditions at all locations
throughout the NAS. For more information on WAAS, visit the FAA's
website. |
| WX |
|
Weather |
| WX DEV |
|
Weather Deviation |
| Z |
|
Zulu Time. Another term used to designate Coordinated
Universal Time (UTC), the standard time common to every place in the
world. Formerly and still widely called Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) and
also World Time, UTC nominally reflects the mean solar time along the
Earth's prime meridian. |
| ZAB |
|
Albuquerque Air Route Traffic Control Center
(ARTCC) |
| ZAU |
|
Chicago Air Route Traffic Control Center
(ARTCC) |
| ZBW |
|
Boston Air Route Traffic Control Center
(ARTCC) |
| ZDC |
|
Washington Air Route Traffic Control Center
(ARTCC) |
| ZFW |
|
Dallas-Ft Worth Air Route Traffic Control Center
(ARTCC) |
| ZHU |
|
Houston Air Route Traffic Control Center
(ARTCC) |
| ZID |
|
Indianapolis Air Route Traffic Control Center
(ARTCC) |
| ZJX |
|
Jacksonville Air Route Traffic Control Center
(ARTCC) |
| ZKC |
|
Kansas City Air Route Traffic Control Center
(ARTCC) |
| ZLA |
|
Los Angeles Air Route Traffic Control Center
(ARTCC) |
| ZLC |
|
Salt Lake City Air Route Traffic Control Center
(ARTCC) |
| ZMA |
|
Miami Air Route Traffic Control Center
(ARTCC) |
| ZME |
|
Memphis Air Route Traffic Control Center
(ARTCC) |
| ZMP |
|
Minneapolis Air Route Traffic Control Center
(ARTCC) |
| ZNY |
|
New York Air Route Traffic Control Center
(ARTCC) |
| ZOA |
|
Oakland Air Route Traffic Control Center
(ARTCC) |
| ZOB |
|
Cleveland Air Route Traffic Control Center
(ARTCC) |
| ZSE |
|
Seattle Air Route Traffic Control Center
(ARTCC) |
| ZTL |
|
Atlanta Air Route Traffic Control Center
(ARTCC) |
