banner1.jpg

The Duncan Download Blog: Business Aviation Advice & Observations

200+ Aviation Acronyms in Celebration of Duncan Download's 200th Post

Posted by Diane Heiserman on Fri, Oct 12, 2012 @ 11:15 AM

Aviation Acronyms

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?

  1. (°C) — Degrees Celsius
  2. (°F) — Degrees Fahrenheit
  3. (A/D) — Analog to Digital Converter
  4. (A/I) — Anti-Icing
  5. (ac) — Alternating Current
  6. (A/C) — Aircraft
  7. (ACO) — Administrative Contracting Officer
  8. (AD) — Airworthiness Directive
  9. (ADC) — Air Data Computer
  10. (ADF) — Automatic Direction Finding
  11. (ADI) — Attitude Indicator
  12. (ADS-B)Automatic Dependent Surveillance - Broadcast
  13. (AES) — Automatic Export System
  14. (AFIS) — Airborne Flight Information System
  15. (AFM) — Aircraft Flight Manual
  16. (AGB) — Accessory Gearbox
  17. (AGC) — Automatic gain control
  18. (AHRS) — Attitude Heading Reference System
  19. (ALI) — Airworthiness Limitation Item
  20. (AMM) — Aircraft Maintenance Manual
  21. (AMS) — Aerospace Material Specification
  22. (ANAC) — Agência Nacional de Aviação Civil
  23. (AOG) — Aircraft on Ground
  24. (APR) — Automatic Power Recovery
  25. (APU) — Auxiliary Power Unit
  26. (ARINC) — Aeronautical Radio Incorporated
  27. (ASAP) — As Soon As Possible
  28. (ASNT) — American Society of Nondestructive testing
  29. (ASSY) — Assembly
  30. (ATA) — Air Transportation Association
  31. (ATC) — Air Traffic Control
  32. (ATIS) — Automatic Terminal Information Service
  33. (ATTCS) — Automatic Take Off Thrust Control System
  34. (BAFO) — Best and Final Offer
  35. (BER) — Beyond economical repair
  36. (BIS) — Bureau of Industry and Security
  37. (BIT) — Binary Digit
  38. (BITE) — Built-in Test Equipment
  39. (BOV) — Bleed-off Valve
  40. (C/P) — Chief Pilot
  41. (C12) — King Air
  42. (C20) — Gulfstream
  43. (C21) — Learjet
  44. (CA) — Certificate of Airworthiness
  45. (CAA) — Civil Aviation Agency
  46. (CAC) — Common Access Card
  47. (CAM) — Certified Aviation Manager
  48. (CAMP) — Computerized Maintenance Program
  49. (CANPASS) — Canadian Passenger Accelerated Service System
  50. (CASP) — Corporate Aircraft Service Program
  51. (CAV) — Commercial Asset Visibility
  52. (CBP) — Customs and Border Patrol
  53. (cc) — Cubic Centimeters
  54. (CCW) — Counterclockwise
  55. (CDP) — Compressor Discharge Pressure
  56. (CDRL) — Contract Data Requirements List
  57. (CDU) — VHF Radio Transceiver
  58. (CFR) — Code of Federal Regulations
  59. (CG) — Center of Gravity
  60. (CIT) — Compressor Inlet Temperature
  61. (CL) — Class
  62. (CLS) — Contractor Logistics Support
  63. (CMR) — Certification Maintenance Requirement
  64. (CMS)Cabin Management System
  65. (COC) — Certificate of Calibration
  66. (Comm) — Communication
  67. (COMSEC) — Communications Security
  68. (CONUS) — Continental United States
  69. (COO) — Country of Origin
  70. (COTR) — Contracting Officer's Technical Representative
  71. (CPAR) — Contractors Performance Assessment Reporting System
  72. (CPCP)Corrosion Prevention Control Program
  73. (CPDLC) — Controller Pilot Data Link Communication
  74. (CPU) — Central Processing Unit
  75. (CRM) — Crew Resource Management
  76. (CRT) — Cathode Ray Tubes
  77. (CSN) — Catalog Sequence Numbers - Cycles Since New
  78. (CVR) — Cockpit Voice Recorder
  79. (CW) — Clockwise
  80. (CZI) — Compressor Zone Inspection
  81. (CZR) — Compressor Zone Repair
  82. (D/A) — Digital to Analogue Converter
  83. (DAR) — Designated Airworthiness Representative
  84. (DCAA) — Defense Contract Audit Agency
  85. (DCMA) — Defense Contracting Management Agency
  86. (DFAR) — Defense Federal Acquisition Regulations
  87. (DFDR) — Digital Flight Data Recorder
  88. (DH) — Decision Height
  89. (DIA) — Diameter
  90. (Dim.) — Dimension
  91. (DME) — Distance Measuring Equipment
  92. (DOD) — Domestic Object Damage
  93. (D.O.D.) — Department of Defense
  94. (DOM) — Director of Maintenance
  95. (DOS) — Department of State
  96. (DPHM) — Diagnostics, Prognostics and Health Management
  97. (DSS) — Defense Security Service
  98. (DUATS) — Direct User Access Terminal Service (weather/flight plan processing)
  99. (e-APIS) — Electronic Advanced Passenger Information System
  100. (EAR) — Export Administration Regulations
  101. (EASA) — European Aviation Safety Agency
  102. (ECCN) — Export Commodity Control Number
  103. (ECS) — Environment Control System
  104. (ECTM) — Engine Condition Trend Monitoring
  105. (EDS) — Engine Diagnostic System
  106. (EDU) — Engine Diagnostic Unit
  107. (EEC) — Electronic Engine Control
  108. (EEI) — Electronic Export Information
  109. (EERM) — Electrically Erasable Read Only Memory
  110. (EFB) — Electronic Flight Bag
  111. (EFD) — Electronic Flight Display
  112. (EFIS) — Electronic Flight Instrument System
  113. (EGWS) — Enhance Ground Proximity Warning System
  114. (EGT) — Exhaust Gas Temperature
  115. (EICAS) — Engine Indication and Crew Alert
  116. (ELT) — Emergency Locator Transmitter
  117. (EPR) — Engine Pressure Ratio
  118. (ESO) — Electronic Sign Off (somewhat unique to Duncan Aviation)
  119. (ESP) — Engine Service Plan
  120. (ET) — Eddy Current Testing
  121. (ETD/(A)/(E) — Estimated Time of Departure/(Arrival)/(Enroute)
  122. (F & C) — Fits and Clearances
  123. (FAA) — Federal Aviation Administration
  124. (FADEC) — Full Authority Digital Electronic Control
  125. (FANS)Future Air Navigation System
  126. (FAR) — Federal Aviation Regulation
  127. (FBO)Fixed Base Operation
  128. (FCPA) — Foreign Corrupt Practices Act
  129. (FCS) — Flight Control System
  130. (FCU) — Fuel Control Unit
  131. (FET) — Federal Excise Tax
  132. (FI) — Flight Idle
  133. (FIR) — Full Indicator Reading
  134. (FIS) — Flight Inspection System
  135. (FMC) — Flight Management Computer
  136. (FMS) — Flight Management System
  137. (FOB) — Fuel On Board
  138. (FOD) — Foreign Object Damage
  139. (FSDO) — Flight Standards District Office
  140. (FSO) — Facility Security Officer
  141. (FSOV) — Fuel Shut-off Valve
  142. (FT) — Function Test
  143. (FTR) — Federal Trade Regulations
  144. (FWD) — Forward
  145. (GBS) — Ground Based Software
  146. (GEAE) — GE Aircraft Engines
  147. (GFP) — Government Furnished Property
  148. (GI) — Ground Idle
  149. (GND) — Ground
  150. (GOM) — General Operations Manual
  151. (GPS) — Global Positioning System
  152. (GPWS) — Ground Proximity Warning System
  153. (H/W) — Hardware
  154. (HIRL) — High Intensity Runway Lighting
  155. (HP) — High Pressure
  156. (HPT) — High Pressure Turbine
  157. (HR.) — Hour
  158. (HSD)High Speed Data
  159. (HSI) — Hot Section Inspection
  160. (HSI)Horizontal Situation Indicator
  161. (HSR) — Hot Section Refurbishment
  162. (HTS) — Harmonized Tariff System
  163. (Hz) — Hertz
  164. (I) — Incident
  165. (IAW) — In Accordance With
  166. (ICA) — Instructions for Continued Airworthiness
  167. (ICAO) — International Civil Aviation Organization
  168. (ID) — Inside Diameter
  169. (IDG) — Integrated Drive Generator
  170. (IETM) — Interactive Engine Technical Manual
  171. (IFR) — Instrument Flight Rules
  172. (IGV) — Inlet Guide Vane
  173. (ILS) — Instrument Landing System
  174. (in.) — Inch
  175. (INBD) — Inboard
  176. (IPC) — Illustrated Parts Catalog
  177. (ISO) — International Standards Organization
  178. (ITAR)International Traffic and Arms Regulations
  179. (ITT) — Interturbine Temperature
  180. (JAR OPS) — Joint Aviation Requirement for Operation (Europe)
  181. (JPAS) — Joint Personnel Adjudication System
  182. (JTR) — Joint Travel Regulations
  183. (kg.) — Kilogram
  184. (kPa) — Kilopascals
  185. (L/HIRF) — Lightning/High Intensity Radiated Field
  186. (lb.) — Pound
  187. (LOI) — Letter of Intent
  188. (LPT) — Low Pressure Turbine
  189. (LPV)Localizer Performance with Vertical guidance
  190. (LRM) — Line Replaceable Module
  191. (LRU) — Line Replaceable Unit
  192. (M/N) — Model Number
  193. (Max) — Maximum
  194. (MDA) — Minimum Descent Altitude
  195. (MEL) — Minimum Equipment List
  196. (MFC) — Main Fuel Control
  197. (MFD) — Multi-Function Display
  198. (Min) — Minimum
  199. (MLG) — Main Landing Gear
  200. (MM) — Maintenance Manual
  201. (MOA) — Military Operations Area
  202. (MPA) — Maximum Power Assurance
  203. (MPD) — Maintenance Planning Document
  204. (MPI)Major Periodic Inspection
  205. (MPU) — Multifunction Processor Unit
  206. (MRA) — Major Repair/Alteration
  207. (MRB-R) — Maintenance Review Board Report
  208. (MSG-3) — Maintenance Steering Group 3rd Task Force Aircraft Maintenance Program
  209. (MSP) — Maintenance Service Plan
  210. (MT) — Magnetic Particle Testing
  211. (MU) — Measurement Uncertainty
  212. (MUR) — Measurement Uncertainty Ratio
  213. (N2 -) — Nitrogen
  214. (NAA) — National Aviation Agency
  215. (NATO) — North Atlantic Treaty Organization
  216. (NAV) — Navigation
  217. (NBAA) — National Business Aviation Association
  218. (NDB) — Non-Directional Beacon
  219. (NDT) — Non-Destructive Testing
  220. (NextGen)Next Generation Air Transportation System
  221. (NFF) — No Fault Found
  222. (NICAD) — Nickel Cadmium
  223. (NIST) — National Institute of Standards & Technology
  224. (NLG) — Nose landing gear
  225. (NOTAM) — Notice to Airmen
  226. (O2) — Oxygen
  227. (OC) — On condition
  228. (OCONUS) — Outside Continental United States
  229. (ODA)Organization Delegation Authorization
  230. (OH) — Overhaul
  231. (OIML) — International Organization for Legal Metrology
  232. (OOT) — Out of Tolerance
  233. (OUTBD) — Outboard
  234. (P/N) — Part Number
  235. (PAMA) — Professional Aviation Maintenance Association
  236. (PAR) — Previous Authorization Required
  237. (PCO) — Procuring Contracting Officer
  238. (PIC) — Pilot In Command
  239. (PIREP) — Pilot Reports
  240. (PM) — Program Manager
  241. (PMA)Parts Manufacturer Approval
  242. (POA) — Power of Attorney
  243. (PSE) — Primary Structural Element
  244. (PSU) — Passenger service unit
  245. (PT) — Penetrant testing
  246. (PWS) — Performance Work Statement
  247. (QA) — Quality Assurance 
  248. (QAR) — Quality Assurance Representative
  249. (QCM) — Quality Control Manual
  250. (QT) — Quick Turn
  251. (RAAS) — Runway Awareness and Advisory System
  252. (RAD) — ALT Radio Altimeter
  253. (RAT) — Ram Air Turbine
  254. (RFI) — Request for Information
  255. (RFM) — Removed From Market
  256. (RFQ)Request for Quote
  257. (RNAV) — Area Navigation
  258. (RNP) — Required Navigation Performance
  259. (ROM) — Rough order of magnitude
  260. (RSGOM) — Repair Station General Operating Manual
  261. (RSM) — Repair Station Manual
  262. (RTS) — Return To Service
  263. (RTU) — Radio Tuning Unit
  264. (RVSM)Reduced Vertical Separation Minimums
  265. (S/N) — Serial Number
  266. (SATCOM)Satellite Communications
  267. (SB) — Service Bulletin
  268. (SBB)Swiftbroadband
  269. (SELCAL) — Selective Calling
  270. (SHOT) — Since Hot Section Overhaul
  271. (SIC) — Second In Command
  272. (SMOH) — Since Major Overhaul (Engines)
  273. (SMS) — Safety Management System
  274. (SOP) — Standard Operating Procedure
  275. (SOW) — Statement of Work
  276. (STC)Supplemental Type Certificate
  277. (TAF) — Terminal Area Forecast
  278. (TAP) — Total Assurance Program
  279. (TAR) — Test Accuracy Ratio
  280. (TAWS) — Terrain Awareness Warning System
  281. (TBO) — Time Between Overhaul
  282. (TCAS) — Traffic Collision Avoidance System
  283. (TCAS MOPS 7.1) — Minimum Operation Performance Specification 7.1
  284. (TCH) — Threshold Crossing Height
  285. (TFR) — Temporary Flight Restriction
  286. (TSA) — Transportation Security Administration
  287. (TSH) — Time Since Hot (Engines)
  288. (TSN) — Time Since New
  289. (TSO) — Time Since Overhaul
  290. (TTSN) — Total Time Since New
  291. (TUR) — Test Uncertainty Ratio
  292. (UC) — Under Contract
  293. (USCG) — United States Coast Guard
  294. (UT) — Ultrasonic Testing
  295. (VFR) — Visual Flight Rules
  296. (VSI) — Vertical Speed Indicator
  297. (WAAS)Wide Area Augmentation System
  298. (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.

Tags: Avionics & Instruments, Aircraft Parts, Avionics Installation, Engine Maintenance, Airframe Maintenance, Announcements, AOG

get_updates_by_email

Subscribe by Email