Avionics Magazine presents the third edition of our comprehensive Aerospace Acronym Guide. Since we started compiling the list in 2002, the number of acronyms and abbreviations has grown by 660 entries, from 2,306 to 2,966.
Though it is not an exhaustive list, we trust it will serve you well.
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D8PSK differential 8-phase-shift keying
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DA descent advisor
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DA design authority
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DA digital-to-analog
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DABS discrete addressable beacon system
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DAC digital-to-analog converters
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DADC digital air data computer
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DADS digital air data system
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DAISS digital airborne intercommunication switching system
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DAP digital service access product
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DAP direct action penetration
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DAP download of aircraft parameter
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DAPs downlink aircraft parameters
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DAR data access recorder
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DARC direct access radar channel
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DARP dynamic aircraft route planning
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DARPA Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency
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DAS digital audio subcommittee
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DAS designated alteration station
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DAS distributed aperture system
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DASS defensive aids sub-system
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D-ATIS digital automatic terminal information service
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DB database
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dB decibel
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dBA dB adjusted
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DBI downlink block identifier
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dBI dB referenced to an isotropic antenna
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dBI decibels above isotopic circular
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dBM dB below 1 milliwatt
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DBS direct broadcast satellite
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DBU database unit
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DBU dial backup
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dBW dB-watts or referenced to 1 watt
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DC disconnect confirm
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DC direct current
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DCAS digital control audio system
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DCD double channel duplex
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DCE data communications equipment
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DCGF data conversion gateway function
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DCL departure clearance (European)
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DCM digital coherent mute
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DCMF data communication management function
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DCMS data communication management system
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DCN document/drawing/design change notice
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DCP data communication process
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DCP display control panel
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DCS double channel simplex
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DCU data concentration unit
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DCV directional control valve
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DD data delivery
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DDA digital differential analyzer
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DDD dual disk drive
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DDM difference in depth of modulation
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DDP declarations of design and performance
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DDR draft document review
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DDR double data rate
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DDRMI digital distance radio magnetic indicator
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DDS data link delivery of expected taxi clearances
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DDS direct digital synthesizer
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DDT downlink data transfer
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DECCA a navigation system widely used by European shipping
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DER designated engineering representative
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DERA Defence Research and Evaluation Agency
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DEU display electronics unit
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DF direction finding
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DFA direction finding antenna
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DFCS digital flight control system
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DFDAF digital flight data acquisition function
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DFDAMU digital flight data acquisition management unit
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DFDAU digital flight data acquisition unit
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DFDR digital flight data recorder
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DFDU digital flight data unit
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DFGC digital flight guidance computer
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DFGS digital flight guidance system
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DFIDU dual function interactive display unit
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DFIU digital flight instrument unit
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DFS digital frequency select
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DFS Deutsche Flugsicherung GmbH (Germany)
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DfT Department for Transport (UK)
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DFU digital function unit
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DG directional gyro
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DGNSS differential global navigation satellite system
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DGPS differential global positioning system
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DH decision height
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DHCP dynamic host configuration protocol
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DHS Department of Homeland Security
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DI data interrupt
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DIFAX digital facsimile
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DIGNU deeply integrated guidance and navigation unit
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DIP data interrupt program
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DIP dual in-line package
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DIR director
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DIRCM direct infrared countermeasures
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DIR/INTC direct intercept
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DISC disconnect
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DISCH discharge
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DIST distance
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DITS data information transfer system
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diurnal day or night
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DL data link
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DLAP data link application processor
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DLC data link control
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DLCI data link control identifier
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DLE data link entity
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DLK data link (AEEC)
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DLK_Users data link users forum
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DLL data link layer
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DLM data link management unit
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DLME data link and message engineering
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DL/MSU data loader/mass storage unit
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DLORT data link operational requirements team
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DLP data link processor
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DLS data link service/system
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DLU download unit
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DM disconnected mode
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DMA direct memory access
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DMD digital memory device
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DME distance measuring equipment
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DME/N DME normal
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DME/P DME precision
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DMM data memory module
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DMS debris monitoring sensor
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DMS data link management system
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DMU data management unit
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DoD Department of Defense
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D-OTIS digital operational terminal information service
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DoT Department of Transportation
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DOTS dynamic ocean tracking system
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DPI dots per inch
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DPR dual port RAM
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DPSK differential phase shift keying
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DR dead reckoning
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DR deduced reckoning
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DRAM dynamic random access memory
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DREAMS disaster response and emergency medical services
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DRER designated radio engineering representative (FAA)
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DRN document release notice
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DRVSM domestic reduced vertical separation minimum
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DSAD digital service access device
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DSARC defense system acquisition review cycle
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DSB double side band
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DSB-AM DSB, full carrier digital amplitude modulation
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DSDU data signal display unit
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DSF display system function
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DSP data link service provider
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DSP departure sequencing program
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DSP digital signal processor
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DSP display select panel
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DSP domain specific part
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DSPDRV display driver
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DSR display system replacement
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DSS decision support services
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DSU data signaling unit
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DT&E development test and evaluation
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DTD data terminal display
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DTD document type definition
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DTE data terminal equipment
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DTED digital terrain evaluation data
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DTG distance-to-go
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DTM demonstration test milestone
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DTMF dual tone multifrequency (telephone)
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DTP distributed targeting processor
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DTPDU data protocol data unit
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D-TOC digital transfer of communications
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DTRS data transceiver router server
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DTS digital theatre systems
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DTU data transfer unit
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DU display unit
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DUAT direct user access terminal
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DUATS direct user access terminal system
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DUST dual-use science and technology
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DVD digital video disc
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DVF demonstration and validation facility
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DVM digital voltmeter
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DVMC digital video map computer
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DVOR Doppler very high frequency Omni directional range
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DVRS digital voice recorder system
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DWAN direct WAN
