AEROSPACE ACRONYM & Abbreviation Guide

December 2006

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.

• N1 fan speed

• N2 intermediate compressor speed

• N3 high-speed compressor

• N/A not applicable

• NACA National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics

• NCAR National Center for Atmospheric Research

• NADIN national airspace data interchange network

• NADIN II NADIN packet switch

• NAILS national airspace integrated logistics support

• NAK negative acknowledgment

• NAPRS national airspace performance reporting system

• NAS National Airspace System (FAA)

• NAS national aircraft standard

• NASA National Aeronautics and Space Administration

• NASDAC National Aviation Safety Data Analysis Center

• NASPALS national airspace system precision approach and landing system

• NAT North Atlantic region

• NAT North Atlantic tracks

• NATA National Air Transport Association Inc.

• NATCA National Air Traffic Controllers Association

• NAT/NAM/PAC North Atlantic/North American/Pacific

• NATS National Air Traffic Services (UK)

• NATS North Atlantic track system

• NAT TFG NAT Traffic Forecasting Group

• NAV navigation

• NAVAID navigational aid

• NavAir Naval Air Systems Command

• NAVSAT navigation satellite

• NavSea Naval Sea Systems Command

• NBAA National Business Aviation Association

• NC numerical control

• NCATT National Center for Aircraft Technician Training

• NCD no computed data

• NCI not currently implemented

• NCOW net-centric operations and warfare

• NCP NAS change proposal

• NCS network control system

• NCS network coordination station

• ND navigation display

• NDB navigation data base

• NDB non-directional radio beacon

• NDI nondestructive inspection

• NDI non-developmental item

• NE network element

• NEAN North European ADS Network

• NEAP North European CNS/ATM application project

• NELS Northwest European Loran System

• NEMA National Electrical Manufacturers Association

• NESACC North, East & Southern area control centers for China

• NESDIS national environmental satellite data and information service

• NET network entity title

• NEXCOM Next generation air/ground Communications system

• NEXRAD next-generation weather radar

• NFF no fault found

• NFS network file server

• NGATS next generation air transportation system

• NIAC NAS Information Architecture Committee (FAA)

• NIC new installation concepts

• NICE NAT implementation management group cost effectiveness

• NICE network integrated cabin equipment

• NICs network interface controllers

• NIH not invented here

• NIMA National Imagery and Mapping Agency

• NIMS NAS infrastructure management system

• NIR network interface router

• NIRV network interface router VDL

• NIS not in service

• NISC NAS information security coordination

• NIST National Institute of Standards and Technology

• NITA new information technologies in aviation

• NIU North American ISDN User Forum (NIST)

• NIP network interface processor

• NL network layer

• NLM network loadable module

• NLP network layer protocol

• NLR Netherlands National Aerospace Laboratory

• NM network management

• NM nautical mile

• NMC National Meteorological Center

• NMCCD network management category class diagram

• NMCD network management category diagram

• NMF network management function

• NMIRS network management interface requirements specification

• NMP network management plan

• NMS network management system

• NMS navigation management system

• NMSP New Mexico State Police

• RNP required navigation performance

• NOAA National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

• NOC network operations center

• NOC note of change

• NOCAR North Atlantic oceanic concept and requirements

• NOCC National Operational Control Center

• NO COM no communication

• NOI notice of inquiry (FCC)

• NOPAC North Pacific

• NORAD North American Aerospace Defense Command

• NOTAM notice to airmen

• NOTUS notice to users (ARINC)

• NPA non-precision approach

• NPDU network protocol data unit

• NPIAS national plan for integrated airport systems

• NPRM notice of proposed rule making

• NPR national performance review

• NR network router

• NRP national route program

• NRD network routing domain

• NRZ non-return to zero

• NS network service

• NSA National Security Agency

• NSAP network service access point

• NSC network service center

• NSDU network service data unit

• NSEL NSAP selection

• NSEU neutron single event upset

• NSSL National Severe Storms Laboratory

• NTIA National Telecommunications and Information Administration (U.S.)

• NTF no trouble found

• NTSB National Transportation Safety Board

• NTSM National Transportation Safety Board (U.S.)

• NTST National Television Systems Committee

• NUI network user identification

• NUP NEAN update program

• NVCD night vision cueing and display

• NVIS night vision imaging spectrometer

• NVM non-volatile memory

• NVRAM non-volatile RAM

• NWS National Weather Service (U.S.)