There are nearly 3,000 identified aviation acronyms. Do you know them all?
Each industry has their own set of acronyms and abbreviations that often leave outsiders scratching their heads. There are nearly 3,000 identified aviation acronyms. However, in honor of the Duncan Download’s 200thblog post, I asked our own experts to share 200 aviation-related acronyms that they use most during a normal work day. These overachievers sent me nearly 300.
Do you know them all?
- (°C) — Degrees Celsius
- (°F) — Degrees Fahrenheit
- (A/D) — Analog to Digital Converter
- (A/I) — Anti-Icing
- (ac) — Alternating Current
- (A/C) — Aircraft
- (ACO) — Administrative Contracting Officer
- (AD) — Airworthiness Directive
- (ADC) — Air Data Computer
- (ADF) — Automatic Direction Finding
- (ADI) — Attitude Indicator
- (ADS-B) — Automatic Dependent Surveillance - Broadcast
- (AES) — Automatic Export System
- (AFIS) — Airborne Flight Information System
- (AFM) — Aircraft Flight Manual
- (AGB) — Accessory Gearbox
- (AGC) — Automatic gain control
- (AHRS) — Attitude Heading Reference System
- (ALI) — Airworthiness Limitation Item
- (AMM) — Aircraft Maintenance Manual
- (AMS) — Aerospace Material Specification
- (ANAC) — Agência Nacional de Aviação Civil
- (AOG) — Aircraft on Ground
- (APR) — Automatic Power Recovery
- (APU) — Auxiliary Power Unit
- (ARINC) — Aeronautical Radio Incorporated
- (ASAP) — As Soon As Possible
- (ASNT) — American Society of Nondestructive testing
- (ASSY) — Assembly
- (ATA) — Air Transportation Association
- (ATC) — Air Traffic Control
- (ATIS) — Automatic Terminal Information Service
- (ATTCS) — Automatic Take Off Thrust Control System
- (BAFO) — Best and Final Offer
- (BER) — Beyond economical repair
- (BIS) — Bureau of Industry and Security
- (BIT) — Binary Digit
- (BITE) — Built-in Test Equipment
- (BOV) — Bleed-off Valve
- (C/P) — Chief Pilot
- (C12) — King Air
- (C20) — Gulfstream
- (C21) — Learjet
- (CA) — Certificate of Airworthiness
- (CAA) — Civil Aviation Agency
- (CAC) — Common Access Card
- (CAM) — Certified Aviation Manager
- (CAMP) — Computerized Maintenance Program
- (CANPASS) — Canadian Passenger Accelerated Service System
- (CASP) — Corporate Aircraft Service Program
- (CAV) — Commercial Asset Visibility
- (CBP) — Customs and Border Patrol
- (cc) — Cubic Centimeters
- (CCW) — Counterclockwise
- (CDP) — Compressor Discharge Pressure
- (CDRL) — Contract Data Requirements List
- (CDU) — VHF Radio Transceiver
- (CFR) — Code of Federal Regulations
- (CG) — Center of Gravity
- (CIT) — Compressor Inlet Temperature
- (CL) — Class
- (CLS) — Contractor Logistics Support
- (CMR) — Certification Maintenance Requirement
- (CMS) — Cabin Management System
- (COC) — Certificate of Calibration
- (Comm) — Communication
- (COMSEC) — Communications Security
- (CONUS) — Continental United States
- (COO) — Country of Origin
- (COTR) — Contracting Officer's Technical Representative
- (CPAR) — Contractors Performance Assessment Reporting System
- (CPCP) — Corrosion Prevention Control Program
- (CPDLC) — Controller Pilot Data Link Communication
- (CPU) — Central Processing Unit
- (CRM) — Crew Resource Management
- (CRT) — Cathode Ray Tubes
- (CSN) — Catalog Sequence Numbers - Cycles Since New
- (CVR) — Cockpit Voice Recorder
- (CW) — Clockwise
- (CZI) — Compressor Zone Inspection
- (CZR) — Compressor Zone Repair
- (D/A) — Digital to Analogue Converter
- (DAR) — Designated Airworthiness Representative
- (DCAA) — Defense Contract Audit Agency
- (DCMA) — Defense Contracting Management Agency
- (DFAR) — Defense Federal Acquisition Regulations
- (DFDR) — Digital Flight Data Recorder
- (DH) — Decision Height
- (DIA) — Diameter
- (Dim.) — Dimension
- (DME) — Distance Measuring Equipment
- (DOD) — Domestic Object Damage
- (D.O.D.) — Department of Defense
- (DOM) — Director of Maintenance
- (DOS) — Department of State
- (DPHM) — Diagnostics, Prognostics and Health Management
- (DSS) — Defense Security Service
- (DUATS) — Direct User Access Terminal Service (weather/flight plan processing)
- (e-APIS) — Electronic Advanced Passenger Information System
- (EAR) — Export Administration Regulations
- (EASA) — European Aviation Safety Agency
- (ECCN) — Export Commodity Control Number
- (ECS) — Environment Control System
- (ECTM) — Engine Condition Trend Monitoring
- (EDS) — Engine Diagnostic System
- (EDU) — Engine Diagnostic Unit
- (EEC) — Electronic Engine Control
- (EEI) — Electronic Export Information
- (EERM) — Electrically Erasable Read Only Memory
- (EFB) — Electronic Flight Bag
- (EFD) — Electronic Flight Display
- (EFIS) — Electronic Flight Instrument System
- (EGWS) — Enhance Ground Proximity Warning System
- (EGT) — Exhaust Gas Temperature
- (EICAS) — Engine Indication and Crew Alert
- (ELT) — Emergency Locator Transmitter
- (EPR) — Engine Pressure Ratio
- (ESO) — Electronic Sign Off (somewhat unique to Duncan Aviation)
- (ESP) — Engine Service Plan
- (ET) — Eddy Current Testing
- (ETD/(A)/(E) — Estimated Time of Departure/(Arrival)/(Enroute)
- (F & C) — Fits and Clearances
- (FAA) — Federal Aviation Administration
- (FADEC) — Full Authority Digital Electronic Control
- (FANS) — Future Air Navigation System
- (FAR) — Federal Aviation Regulation
- (FBO) — Fixed Base Operation
- (FCPA) — Foreign Corrupt Practices Act
- (FCS) — Flight Control System
- (FCU) — Fuel Control Unit
- (FET) — Federal Excise Tax
- (FI) — Flight Idle
- (FIR) — Full Indicator Reading
- (FIS) — Flight Inspection System
- (FMC) — Flight Management Computer
- (FMS) — Flight Management System
- (FOB) — Fuel On Board
- (FOD) — Foreign Object Damage
- (FSDO) — Flight Standards District Office
- (FSO) — Facility Security Officer
- (FSOV) — Fuel Shut-off Valve
- (FT) — Function Test
- (FTR) — Federal Trade Regulations
- (FWD) — Forward
- (GBS) — Ground Based Software
- (GEAE) — GE Aircraft Engines
- (GFP) — Government Furnished Property
- (GI) — Ground Idle
- (GND) — Ground
- (GOM) — General Operations Manual
- (GPS) — Global Positioning System
- (GPWS) — Ground Proximity Warning System
- (H/W) — Hardware
- (HIRL) — High Intensity Runway Lighting
- (HP) — High Pressure
- (HPT) — High Pressure Turbine
- (HR.) — Hour
- (HSD) — High Speed Data
- (HSI) — Hot Section Inspection
- (HSI) — Horizontal Situation Indicator
- (HSR) — Hot Section Refurbishment
- (HTS) — Harmonized Tariff System
- (Hz) — Hertz
- (I) — Incident
- (IAW) — In Accordance With
- (ICA) — Instructions for Continued Airworthiness
- (ICAO) — International Civil Aviation Organization
- (ID) — Inside Diameter
- (IDG) — Integrated Drive Generator
- (IETM) — Interactive Engine Technical Manual
- (IFR) — Instrument Flight Rules
- (IGV) — Inlet Guide Vane
- (ILS) — Instrument Landing System
- (in.) — Inch
- (INBD) — Inboard
- (IPC) — Illustrated Parts Catalog
- (ISO) — International Standards Organization
- (ITAR) — International Traffic and Arms Regulations
- (ITT) — Interturbine Temperature
- (JAR OPS) — Joint Aviation Requirement for Operation (Europe)
- (JPAS) — Joint Personnel Adjudication System
- (JTR) — Joint Travel Regulations
- (kg.) — Kilogram
- (kPa) — Kilopascals
- (L/HIRF) — Lightning/High Intensity Radiated Field
- (lb.) — Pound
- (LOI) — Letter of Intent
- (LPT) — Low Pressure Turbine
- (LPV) — Localizer Performance with Vertical guidance
- (LRM) — Line Replaceable Module
- (LRU) — Line Replaceable Unit
- (M/N) — Model Number
- (Max) — Maximum
- (MDA) — Minimum Descent Altitude
- (MEL) — Minimum Equipment List
- (MFC) — Main Fuel Control
- (MFD) — Multi-Function Display
- (Min) — Minimum
- (MLG) — Main Landing Gear
- (MM) — Maintenance Manual
- (MOA) — Military Operations Area
- (MPA) — Maximum Power Assurance
- (MPD) — Maintenance Planning Document
- (MPI) — Major Periodic Inspection
- (MPU) — Multifunction Processor Unit
- (MRA) — Major Repair/Alteration
- (MRB-R) — Maintenance Review Board Report
- (MSG-3) — Maintenance Steering Group 3rd Task Force Aircraft Maintenance Program
- (MSP) — Maintenance Service Plan
- (MT) — Magnetic Particle Testing
- (MU) — Measurement Uncertainty
- (MUR) — Measurement Uncertainty Ratio
- (N2 -) — Nitrogen
- (NAA) — National Aviation Agency
- (NATO) — North Atlantic Treaty Organization
- (NAV) — Navigation
- (NBAA) — National Business Aviation Association
- (NDB) — Non-Directional Beacon
- (NDT) — Non-Destructive Testing
- (NextGen) — Next Generation Air Transportation System
- (NFF) — No Fault Found
- (NICAD) — Nickel Cadmium
- (NIST) — National Institute of Standards & Technology
- (NLG) — Nose landing gear
- (NOTAM) — Notice to Airmen
- (O2) — Oxygen
- (OC) — On condition
- (OCONUS) — Outside Continental United States
- (ODA) — Organization Delegation Authorization
- (OH) — Overhaul
- (OIML) — International Organization for Legal Metrology
- (OOT) — Out of Tolerance
- (OUTBD) — Outboard
- (P/N) — Part Number
- (PAMA) — Professional Aviation Maintenance Association
- (PAR) — Previous Authorization Required
- (PCO) — Procuring Contracting Officer
- (PIC) — Pilot In Command
- (PIREP) — Pilot Reports
- (PM) — Program Manager
- (PMA) — Parts Manufacturer Approval
- (POA) — Power of Attorney
- (PSE) — Primary Structural Element
- (PSU) — Passenger service unit
- (PT) — Penetrant testing
- (PWS) — Performance Work Statement
- (QA) — Quality Assurance
- (QAR) — Quality Assurance Representative
- (QCM) — Quality Control Manual
- (QT) — Quick Turn
- (RAAS) — Runway Awareness and Advisory System
- (RAD) — ALT Radio Altimeter
- (RAT) — Ram Air Turbine
- (RFI) — Request for Information
- (RFM) — Removed From Market
- (RFQ) — Request for Quote
- (RNAV) — Area Navigation
- (RNP) — Required Navigation Performance
- (ROM) — Rough order of magnitude
- (RSGOM) — Repair Station General Operating Manual
- (RSM) — Repair Station Manual
- (RTS) — Return To Service
- (RTU) — Radio Tuning Unit
- (RVSM) — Reduced Vertical Separation Minimums
- (S/N) — Serial Number
- (SATCOM) — Satellite Communications
- (SB) — Service Bulletin
- (SBB) — Swiftbroadband
- (SELCAL) — Selective Calling
- (SHOT) — Since Hot Section Overhaul
- (SIC) — Second In Command
- (SMOH) — Since Major Overhaul (Engines)
- (SMS) — Safety Management System
- (SOP) — Standard Operating Procedure
- (SOW) — Statement of Work
- (STC) — Supplemental Type Certificate
- (TAF) — Terminal Area Forecast
- (TAP) — Total Assurance Program
- (TAR) — Test Accuracy Ratio
- (TAWS) — Terrain Awareness Warning System
- (TBO) — Time Between Overhaul
- (TCAS) — Traffic Collision Avoidance System
- (TCAS MOPS 7.1) — Minimum Operation Performance Specification 7.1
- (TCH) — Threshold Crossing Height
- (TFR) — Temporary Flight Restriction
- (TSA) — Transportation Security Administration
- (TSH) — Time Since Hot (Engines)
- (TSN) — Time Since New
- (TSO) — Time Since Overhaul
- (TTSN) — Total Time Since New
- (TUR) — Test Uncertainty Ratio
- (UC) — Under Contract
- (USCG) — United States Coast Guard
- (UT) — Ultrasonic Testing
- (VFR) — Visual Flight Rules
- (VSI) — Vertical Speed Indicator
- (WAAS) — Wide Area Augmentation System
- (Wi-Fi) — Wireless Fidelity
Duncan Aviation is an aircraft service provider supporting the aviation needs of government and business operators and other service providers. Services include major and minor airframe inspections, engine maintenance, major retrofits for cabin and cockpit systems, full paint, interior and modification services and pre-owned aircraft sales and acquisitions. Duncan Aviation also has aircraft components and parts solutions experts available 24/7/365 at 800.228.1836 or 402.475.4125 (international) who can handle any aircraft system problem with immediate exchanges, rotables, loaners or avionics/instrument/accessory/propeller repairs and overhauls.
Complete service facilities are located in Lincoln, Nebraska, and Battle Creek, Michigan. Additional locations include a maintenance facility in Provo, Utah, more than 20 satellite avionics facilities and eight engine Rapid Response Team launch offices strategically located for worldwide support.
For more information about any of Duncan Aviation’s services, contact us at 402.475.2611 or 800.228.4277. Or visit us on the web at www.DuncanAviation.aero.
