AEROSPACE ACRONYM & Abbreviation Guide

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December 2010

Avionics Magazine proudly presents the fifth edition of our biennial Aerospace Acronym & Abbreviation Guide. Updated with the latest terms from the magazine’s pages, this comprehensive guide has grown to more than 3,000 civil and military acronyms.

A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z

  • D8PSK differential 8-phase-shift keying

  • D-ATIS digital automatic terminal information service

  • D-OTIS data link operational terminal service

  • D-TAXI data link taxi clearance delivery

  • D-TOC digital transfer of communications

  • DA descent advisor

  • DA design authority

  • DA design altitude

  • DA digital-to-analog

  • DABS discrete addressable beacon system

  • DAC digital-to-analog converters

  • DADC digital air data computer

  • DADS digital air data system

  • DAE defense acquisition executive (U.S. Army)

  • DA(H) design altitude (height)

  • DAISS digital airborne intercommunica­tion switching system

  • DAP digital service access product

  • DAP direct action penetration

  • DAP downlink aircraft parameter

  • DAP download of aircraft parameter

  • DAR data access recorder

  • DARC direct access radar channel

  • DARP dynamic aircraft route planning

  • DARPA Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (U.S.)

  • DAS designated alteration station

  • DAS digital audio subcommittee

  • DAS distributed aperture system

  • DASS defensive aids sub-system

  • DB database

  • dB decibel

  • dBA dB adjusted

  • DBI downlink block identifier

  • dBI dB referenced to an isotropic antenna

  • dBI decibels above isotopic circular

  • dBM dB below 1 milliwatt

  • DBS direct broadcast satellite

  • DBU database unit

  • DBU dial backup

  • dBW dB-watts or referenced to 1 watt

  • DC data communications

  • DC direct current

  • DC disconnect confirm

  • DCA Department of Civil Aviation (Thailand)

  • DCAS digital control audio system

  • DCD double channel duplex

  • DCE data communications equipment

  • DCGF data conversion gateway function

  • DCL departure clearance (European)

  • DCM digital coherent mute

  • DCMF data communication management function

  • DCMS data communication management system

  • DCN document/drawing/design change notice

  • DCP data communication process

  • DCP display control panel

  • DCS double channel simplex

  • DCU data concentration unit

  • DCV directional control valve

  • DD data delivery

  • DD data distribution

  • DDA digital differential analyzer

  • DDD dual disk drive

  • DDL digital data link

  • DDM difference in depth of modulation

  • DDP declarations of design and performance

  • DDR draft document review

  • DDR double data rate

  • DDRMI digital distance radio magnetic indicator

  • DDS direct digital synthesizer

  • DDT downlink data transfer

  • DDU data distribution unit

  • DER designated engineering representative

  • DERA Defense Research and Evaluation Agency (U.K.)

  • DEU display electronics unit

  • DF direction finding

  • DFA direction finding antenna

  • DFCS digital flight control system

  • DFDAF digital flight data acquisition function

  • DFDAMU digital flight data acquisition management unit

  • DFDAU digital flight data acquisition unit

  • DFDR digital flight data recorder

  • DFDU digital flight data unit

  • DFGC digital flight guidance computer

  • DFGS digital flight guidance system

  • DFIDU dual function interactive display unit

  • DFIU digital flight instrument unit

  • DFS Deutsche Flugsicherung GmbH (Germany)

  • DFS digital frequency select

  • DfT Department for Transport (U.K.)

  • DFU digital function unit

  • DG directional gyro

  • DGNSS differential global navigation sat­ellite system

  • DGPS differential global positioning system

  • DH decision height

  • DHCP dynamic host configuration protocol

  • DHS Department of Homeland Security

  • DI data interrupt

  • DIFAX digital facsimile

  • DIGNU deeply integrated guidance and navigation unit

  • DIP data interrupt program

  • DIP dual in-line package

  • DIR director

  • DIRCM direct infrared countermeasures

  • DIR/INTC direct intercept

  • DISA Defense Information Systems Agency (U.S.)

  • DISC disconnect

  • DISCH discharge

  • DIST distance

  • DITS data information transfer system

  • DL data link

  • DLAP data link application processor

  • DLC data link control

  • DLCI data link control identifier

  • DLE data link entity

  • DLK data link

  • DLL data link layer

  • DLM data link management unit

  • DLME data link and message engineering

  • DL/MSU data loader/mass storage unit

  • DLNA diplexer/low-noise amplifier

  • DLORT data link operational requirements team

  • DLP data link processor

  • DLS data link service/system

  • DLU download unit

  • DM disconnected mode

  • DMA direct memory access

  • DMD digital memory device

  • DME distance measuring equipment

  • DME/N DME normal

  • DME/P DME precision

  • DMM data memory module

  • DMS data link management system

  • DMS debris monitoring sensor

  • DMU data management unit

  • DoD Department of Defense (U.S.)

  • DoT Department of Transportation (U.S.)

  • DOTS dynamic ocean tracking system

  • DPI dots per inch

  • DPR dual port RAM

  • DPSK differential phase shift keying

  • DR dead reckoning

  • DR deduced reckoning

  • DRAM dynamic random access memory

  • DRER designated radio engineering representative (FAA)

  • DRN document release notice

  • DRVSM domestic reduced vertical separation minimum

  • DSAD digital service access device

  • DSARC defense system acquisition review cycle

  • DSB double side band

  • DSB-AM DSB-amplitude modulation

  • DSDU data signal display unit

  • DSF display system function

  • DSP data link service provider

  • DSP departure sequencing program

  • DSP digital signal processor

  • DSP display select panel

  • DSP domain specific part

  • DSPDRV display driver

  • DSR display system replacement

  • DSS decision support services

  • DST decision support tool

  • DSU data signaling unit

  • DT&E development test and evaluation

  • DTD data terminal display

  • DTD document type definition

  • DTE data terminal equipment

  • DTED digital terrain evaluation data

  • DTG distance-to-go

  • DTM demonstration test milestone

  • DTMF dual tone multifrequency (telephone)

  • DTP distributed targeting processor

  • DTPDU data protocol data unit

  • DTRS data transceiver router server

  • DTS digital theater systems

  • DTU data transfer unit

  • DU display unit

  • DUAT direct user access terminal

  • DUATS direct user access terminal system

  • DUST dual-use science and technology

  • DVF demonstration and validation facility

  • DVM digital voltmeter

  • DVMC digital video map computer

  • DVOR Doppler VHF omnidirectional range

  • DVRS digital voice recorder system

  • DWAN direct wide area network