Aviation Abbreviations: A Comprehensive Glossary of Terms
Aviation Abbreviations
A
A – Ampere
AC – Alternate Current
A/C – Air Conditioning
Ah – Amperhour
ADI – Attitude Deviation Indicator
ADU – Air Data Unit
ATT – Attitude
B
BAT – Battery
BAT MSTR SW – Battery master switch
BAT BUS – Battery
C
CB, C/B – Circuit Breaker
CH – Channel
CONT – Control
CP – Control panel
CPIL – Copilot
CAD – Caution and Advisory Display
CDU – Control Display Unit
CPDS – Central Panel Display System
CRS – Course
CTL – Control
CLR – Clear
D
DC – Direct Current
DH – Decision Height
DISCH – Discharge
DME – Distance measurement Equipment
DST – Distance to go
DTS – Digital Test System
E
EMER – Emergency
EMRG – Emergency
EPU – External Power Unit
EQL – Equalizing
EXT PWR – External Power
EFIS – Electronic Flight Instrumentation System
F
FL – Flight Level
FR – From
FREQ – Frequency
FT – Feet
FLIR – Forward Looking Infra Red
FCDM – Flight Control Display Module
FCDS – Flight Control Display System
FADEC – Full Authority Digital Engine Control
FOG – Fibre Optic Gyro
G
GEN – Generator
GND – Ground
GPS – Global Positioning System
GS – Glide Slope
GNS – Global Navigation System
GNSS – Global Navigation Satellite System
H
HC – Helicopter
HSI – Horizontal Situation Indicator
HDG – Heading
I
ING – Ignition
IND – Indicator
INSTR – Instruments
IPC – Illustrated Parts Catalog
IAS – Indicator Airspeed
ICP – Instrument Control Panel
ICS – Intercom System
IFR – Instrument flight Rules
ILS – Instrument Landing System
INV – Inverter
in Hg – Inches of Mercury
K
KT – Knot(s)
L
LH – Left Hand Side
LCD – Liquid Crystal Display
LOC – Localizer
M
MSTR – Master
MEL – Minimum Equipment List
MF – Multi Frequency
mb – Millibars (hectopascal)
N
N – North
No – Number
ND – Navigation display
NCU – Navigation Computing Unit
NAV – Navigation System
NDB – Non-Directional Beacon
O
OAT – Outside Air Temperature
OPN – Open
OVHT – Overheat
OVSP – Overspeed
P
P – Pitch
PNL – Panel
PWR – Power
PIL – Pilot
PFD – Primary Flight Display
PTT – Press to talk
POS – Position
QNH – The more common method of setting the altimeter to compensate for changes in barometric pressure
R
R – Roll
RH – Right Hand Side
RPM – Revolutions per Minute
RA – Radio Altimeter
RCU – Reconfiguration Control Display
REU – Remote Electronic Unit
RAD – Radial
S
S – South
SEL – Selector
SN, S/N – Serial Number
STR – Starter
SW – Switch
SAS – Stability Augmention System
SEMA – Smart Electro-Mechanic Actuator
SMD – Smart Multifunctional Display
STD – Standard
T
TEMP – Temperature
TAS – True Air Speed
TST – Test
TTG – Time to go
TSO – Technical Standard Order
U
UL – Upper Limit
UTC – Universal Time Coordinates
V
V – Volt
VDC – Voltage Direct Current
VENT – Ventilation
VFR – Visual flight Rules
VOR – Very high frequency Omni directional radio ranging
VEMD – Vehicle & Engine Multifunctional Display
VNE – Velocity Never Exceed
VS – Vertical Speed
VRU – Video radar Unit
VRM – Video And Radar Module
W
W – West
W/D – Wiring Diagram
WDM – Wiring Diagram Manual
WD – Wind Direction
WS – Windspeed
X
XMSN – Transmission
XPDR/XTR – Transponder
Y
Y – Yaw
Z
Z – Zulu (UTC) time