Aerospace Acronym and Abbreviation Guide

The Avionics Aerospace Acronym and Abbreviation Guide

December 2010

Avionics proudly presents the fifth edition of our biennial Aerospace Acronym and 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

  • 1090 ES 1090 MHz extended squitter
  • 3D, 4D three- or four-dimensional
  • 3G third generation
  • 3GCN third-generation cabin network
  • 4DT 4-Dimensional Trajectories
  • 4096 Code combinations of four-digit transponder code
  • A autotuned navaid
  • A-BPSK aviation binary phase shift keying
  • A-QPSK aeronautical quadrature phase shift keying
  • A-SMGCS advanced surface movement guidance and control systems
  • A/B autobrake
  • A/C aircraft
  • A/D analog-to-digital
  • A/FD Airport/Facility Directory
  • A/G air/ground; air to ground
  • A/L airline
  • A/L autoland
  • A/N alphanumeric
  • A/P autopilot
  • A/T autothrottle
  • A/V aircraft/vehicle
  • A&P airframe and power plant
  • AAC aeronautical administration communications
  • AAC airline administrative communi­cations
  • AAIB Air Accident Investigation Branch (U.K. equivalent of NTSB)
  • AAF airway facilities service
  • AAI Airline Avionics Institute
  • AAIPT Aging Aircraft Enterprise Team (Naval Air Systems Command)
  • AAIU air accident investigation unit
  • AAL above aerodome level
  • AALC autonomous approach landing capability
  • AAMP advanced architecture micro­processor
  • AAR Automated Aerial Refueling
  • AATD Aviation Applied Technology Directorate (U.S. Army)
  • AATT advanced air transportation technology
  • AAS advanced automation system (FAA)
  • ABC automatic brightness control
  • ABCS Army Battle Command System
  • ABSAA Airborne Sense and Avoid
  • AC advisory circular
  • AC alternating current
  • AC2 Dolby surround
  • ACAA Air Carrier Association of America
  • ACAC air-cooled air cooler
  • ACAMS aircraft condition analysis man­agement system
  • ACARS aircraft communications addressing and reporting system
  • ACAS airborne collision avoidance system
  • ACC active clearance control
  • ACC airspace control center
  • ACC area control center
  • ACD automatic conflict detection
  • ACDO Air Carrier District Office
  • ACE actuator control electronics
  • ACE advanced certification equipment
  • ACG Assessment Compliance Group
  • ACI-NA Airport Council International – North America
  • ACIPS airfoil cowl ice protection system
  • ACF area control facility
  • ACK acknowledgment
  • ACM adjacent center metering
  • ACMF airplane condition monitoring function
  • ACMP alternating current motor pump
  • ACMS aircraft condition monitoring system
  • ACNSS advanced communication/navi­gation/surveillance system
  • ACO Aircraft Certification Office (FAA)
  • ACP audio control panel
  • ACS active control system
  • ACS aerial common sensor
  • ACS audio control system
  • ACT active
  • ACTC airport traffic control towers
  • ACTD advanced concept technology demonstration
  • ACU aircraft communications system
  • ACU antenna control unit
  • ACU apron control unit
  • ACU autopilot control unit
  • AD airworthiness directive (FAA)
  • ADA Air Defense Artillery
  • ADAHRS air data attitude heading reference system
  • ADAS automated weather observing system data acquisition system
  • ADB airport database
  • ADC air data computer
  • ADC Air Defense Command
  • ADC analog to digital converter
  • ADE application development engineer
  • ADF automatic direction finding
  • ADG air-driven generator
  • ADI attitude director indicator
  • ADIRS air data inertial reference system
  • ADIRU air data inertial reference unit
  • ADIZ Air Defense Identification Zone
  • ADL aeronautical data link
  • ADLP airborne data link protocol
  • ADLP aircraft data link processor (Mode S)
  • ADM air data module
  • ADMS airline data management system
  • ADN aircraft data network
  • ADO airline dispatch office
  • ADO airport district office
  • ADP air driven pump
  • ADR accumulated Doppler range
  • ADR accumulated Delta range
  • ADR address
  • ADR Advanced Data Research
  • ADR alternative dispute resolution
  • ADRAS airplane data recovery and analysis system
  • ADS air data system
  • ADS automatic dependent surveillance
  • ADS-A ADS-addressed
  • ADS-A ADS-automation
  • ADS-B ADS-broadcast
  • ADS-C ADS-contract
  • ADS-R ADS-rebroadcast
  • ADSEL address selective
  • ADSP automatic dependent surveillance panel
  • ADSSG ADS Study Group (ICAO)
  • ADSU automatic dependent surveillance unit
  • ADT air data tester
  • AEA Aircraft Electronics Association
  • AEB Aerial Exploitation Battalion
  • AECU audio electronic control unit
  • AED automated engineering design
  • AEDT Aviation Environmental Design Tool
  • AEE Office of Environment & Energy (FAA)
  • AEEC formerly Airlines Electronic Engi­neering Committee (ARINC)
  • AEO all engines operative
  • AEP ARINC engineering practices
  • AEP audio entertainment player
  • AERA automated en route air traffic control
  • AES aircraft earth station (Inmarsat)
  • AESA active electronically scanned array
  • AESS aircraft environment surveillance system
  • AEW airborne early warning
  • AEW&C Airborne Early Warning and Control
  • AF airway facilities
  • AFB Air Force base
  • AFC Aeronautical Frequency Committee (AEEC)
  • AFC automatic frequency compensa­tion
  • AFC automatic frequency control
  • AFCAS automatic flight control aug­mentation system
  • AFCS automatic flight control system
  • AFD adaptive flight display
  • AFD autopilot flight director
  • AFDC autopilot flight director computer
  • AFDS autopilot flight director system
  • AFDX avionics full-duplex switched Ethernet
  • AFEPS ACARS front-end processing system
  • AFGCS automatic flight guidance and control system
  • AFI authority format identifier
  • AFIRS autonomous flight information reporting system
  • AFIS airborne flight information system
  • AFIS automated flight inspection system
  • AFM aircraft flight manual
  • AFMS airplane flight manual supplement
  • AFMS automatic flight management system
  • AFN air traffic services facilities notification
  • AFP Airspace Flow Program
  • AFRL Air Force Research Lab
  • AFS additional secondary factors
  • AFS aeronautical fixed service (ICAO)
  • AFS automatic flight system
  • AFSK audio frequency shift keying
  • AFSS automated flight service stations
  • AFTN aeronautical fixed telecommuni­cations network
  • AFTRCC Aerospace and Flight Test Radio Coordinating Council
  • AFU artificial feel unit
  • AGACS automatic A/G communication system
  • AGAE A/G applications engineering
  • AGATE Advanced General Aviation Transport Experiments (NASA)
  • AGC automatic gain control
  • AGCOS A/G communication services
  • AGCS air-ground communication systems
  • AGCU auxiliary generator control unit
  • AGD ADS-B guidance display
  • AGDL A/G data link
  • AGIS A/G intermediate system
  • AGL above ground level
  • AGR A/G router
  • AGRM air/ground router-regional manager
  • AGS A/G system
  • AGSS ACARS ground system standard (AEEC)
  • AGTS A/G test station
  • AGVS A/G voice sub-network
  • AGW ARTS gateway
  • AHC attitude heading computer
  • AHMS aircraft health monitoring system
  • AHRS attitude heading reference system
  • AI alternative interrogator
  • AI application interface
  • AI area incursion
  • AIA Aerospace Industries Association
  • AIAA American Institute of Aeronau­tics and Astronautics
  • AIC aeronautical information circular
  • AIDC air traffic services interfacility data communications
  • AIDS aircraft/airborne integrated data system
  • AIED aeronautical industry engineer­ing and development
  • AIEM Airlines International Electronic Meeting (AMC)
  • AIFSS automated international flight service stations
  • AIL aileron
  • AIM aeronautical information management
  • AIM airman’s information manual
  • AIMS airplane information manage­ment system (Boeing 777)
  • AIMS airport information management system
  • AINSC aeronautical industry service communication
  • AIO analog input/output
  • AIP aeronautical information publication
  • AIP Airport Improvement Program
  • AIP analog input
  • AIR Aircraft Certification Service (FAA)
  • AIRAC aeronautical information regula­tion and control
  • AIRCOM digital air/ground communica­tions service (SITA)
  • AIRE Atlantic Interoperability Initiative to Reduce Emissions (FAA)
  • AIRMET airman’s meteorological information
  • AIRO analog input/reference output
  • AIS aeronautical information service
  • AIS Automated Identification System (U.S. Army)
  • AIS automatic information services (Eurocontrol)
  • AISG Applications Interface Sub-Group (IATA)
  • AIT Advanced Individual Training (U.S. Army)
  • AIV accumulator isolation valve
  • AJPS AFEPS journal processing system
  • AK authentication key
  • AKO Army Knowledge Online
  • AL alarm limit
  • ALC airline link control
  • ALC asynchronous link control
  • ALC automatic level control
  • ALMDS airborne laser mine detection system
  • ALPA Air Line Pilots Association
  • ALPS automatic line protection service
  • ALS application layer structure
  • ALSF-2 Approach Lighting System with Sequenced Flashing Light-Model 2
  • ALT-HOLD altitude hold mode
  • ALT airborne link terminal
  • ALT altitude/alternate
  • AltBOC alternate binary offset carrier
  • ALTM altimeter
  • ALTN alternate
  • ALTRV altitude reservation
  • ALTS altitude select
  • ALU arithmetic and logic unit
  • AM access module
  • AM amplitude modulation
  • AMASS airport movement area safety system
  • AMC acceptable means of compliance (EASA)
  • AMC advanced mezzanine card
  • AMC Air Mobility Command
  • AMC auxiliary maintenance computer
  • AMC Avionics Maintenance Conference
  • AMCP aeronautical mobile communica­tions panel
  • AMD advisory map display
  • AME amplitude modulation equivalent
  • AMF Airborne, Maritime and Fixed Station
  • AMF-M AMF-Maritime
  • AMF-SA AMF-Small Airborne
  • AMF JTRS Airborne and Maritime/Fixed Station Joint Tactical Radio System
  • AMI airline modifiable information
  • AML approved model list
  • AMLCD active matrix liquid crystal display
  • AMIS aircraft management information system
  • AMOSS airline maintenance and operation support system
  • AMP audio management panel
  • AMP Avionics Modernization Program
  • AMPL amplifier
  • AMRAAM Advanced Medium-Range Air to Air Missile
  • AMS acquisition management system
  • AMS apron management service
  • AMS ARINC maintenance service
  • AMS avionics management service
  • AmSAT American satellite
  • AMSL above mean sea level
  • AMS(R)S aeronautical mobile satellite (route) service
  • AMSS aeronautical mobile satellite service
  • AMTOSS aircraft maintenance task ori­ented support system
  • AMTS aeronautical message transfer service
  • AMU ACARS/avionics management unit
  • AMU audio management unit
  • AMUX audio multiplexer
  • ANC Air Navigation Commission (ICAO)
  • ANDC airport and navigation data compiler
  • ANFR Agence Nationale des Frequences (France)
  • ANFS aircraft network and file server
  • ANICS Alaskan NAS Interfacility Communication
  • ANLP ARINC network layer protocol
  • ANP actual navigation performance
  • ANP air navigation plan/performance
  • ANPA advanced notice of proposed amendment
  • ANPE actual navigation performance effect
  • ANR active noise reduction
  • ANS air navigation system
  • ANS ambient noise sensor
  • ANSI American National Standards Institute
  • ANSIR advanced navigation system iner­tial reference
  • ANSP air navigation service provider
  • ANSU avionics network server unit
  • ANTC advanced networking test center
  • AO acronymic obfuscation
  • AO Area of Operation (U.S. Army)
  • AOA ACARS over aviation VHF link control
  • AOA angle of arrival
  • AOA angle of attack
  • AOAS advanced oceanic automation system
  • AOC aeronautical operational control
  • AOC aircraft operational control
  • AOC Airline Operational Control Center
  • AOC airline operations center
  • AOC airport obstruction chart
  • AOC airport operational communications
  • AOCC airline operations control center
  • AODB airport operational database
  • AODC age of data, clock (GPS)
  • AODE age of data, ephemeris (GPS)
  • AOG aircraft on ground
  • AOHE air/oil heat exchanger
  • AOM aircraft operating manual
  • AOP aeronautical OSI profile
  • AOP airline operational procedure
  • AOP analog output
  • AOPA Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association
  • AOR Atlantic Ocean region
  • AOR area of responsibility
  • AOR-E Atlantic Ocean region-east
  • AOR-W Atlantic Ocean region-west
  • AP airport location (ACARS/AFEPS)
  • APA Allied Pilots Association
  • APA autopilot amplifier
  • APANPIRG Asia/PAC Air Navigation Planning & Implementation Regional Group
  • APAS Active/Passive Aircraft Survivability
  • APB acquisition program baseline
  • APB auxiliary power breaker
  • APC aeronautical passenger communication
  • APC aeronautical public correspondence
  • APC aircraft power conditioner
  • APC autopilot computer
  • APCO Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials – International
  • APFA Association of Professional Flight Attendants
  • APFDS autopilot flight director system
  • APEX application/executive software
  • APEX Airline Passenger Experience Association (formerly WAEA)
  • API application programming interface
  • APIM ARINC Industry Activities Project Initiation/Modification
  • APIRS attitude and positioning inertial reference system
  • APMS automated performance measurement system
  • APL Applied Physics Laboratory
  • APLC airport performance laptop computers
  • APM approach path monitor
  • APN ARINC packet network
  • APP approach control
  • APPR approach
  • APR actual performance reserve
  • APRL ATN profile requirement list
  • APU auxiliary power unit
  • APUC auxiliary power unit controller
  • APX application/executive software
  • AQF avionics qualification facility
  • AQP avionics qualification procedure/program
  • AQP advanced qualification program
  • AQS advanced quality system
  • AR authorization required
  • ARB arbitrary waveform generator
  • ARC aviation rulemaking committee (FAA)
  • ARD advanced requirement definition
  • ARDEP analysis of research & develop­ment in Eurocontrol programs
  • ARF airline risk factor
  • ARFORGEN Army Force Generation
  • ARM area regional manager
  • ARMC area regional maintenance center
  • ARMS Airspace resource management system
  • ARNS aeronautical radio navigation services
  • ARP aerospace recommended practice
  • ARP airport reference point
  • ARP antenna reference point
  • ARTAS ATM surveillance tracker and server
  • ARTCC air route traffic control center
  • ARTP NextGen Aviation Research and Technology Park
  • ARTS automated radar terminal system
  • ASA aircraft surveillance applications
  • ASAS aircraft separation assurance system (AEEC)
  • ASAS aircraft surveillance application system
  • ASAS aviation safety analysis system
  • ASC aircraft system controller
  • ASC aural synthesizer card
  • ASCII American standard code for information interchange
  • ASCB avionics standard communication bus
  • ASCPC air supply and cabin pressure controllers
  • ASCS air supply control system
  • ASCU anti-skid control unit
  • ASD aircraft situation display
  • ASDAR aircraft-to-satellite data relay
  • ASDB aircraft specific database
  • ASDE airport surface detection equipment
  • ASDE-3 airport surface detection equipment, model 3
  • ASDE-X airport surface detection equipment, model X
  • ASDI Aircraft Situation Display to Industry
  • ASDL aeronautical satellite data link
  • ASDR airport surface detection radar
  • ASE aircraft survivability equipment (U.S. Army)
  • ASE altimetry system error
  • ASECNA Agency for Security of Aerial Nav­igation in Africa and Madagascar
  • ASG ARINC signal gateway
  • ASI airspeed indicator
  • ASI avionics system integration
  • ASIAS Aviation Safety Information Analysis and Sharing (FAA)
  • ASIC application specific integrated circuit
  • ASL above sea level
  • ASM airspace management
  • ASM autothrottle servo motor
  • ASME American Society of Mechani­cal Engineers
  • ASOR Allocating Safety Objectives and Requirements
  • ASOS automated surface observa­tion system
  • ASP ACARS sub-network protocol
  • ASP acquisition strategy paper
  • ASP aeronautical fixed service sys­tems planning (AFS)
  • ASP Airspace Systems Program (NASA)
  • ASP altitude set panel
  • ASP arrival sequencing program
  • ASPIRE Asia and Pacific Initiative to Reduce Emissions
  • ASPP application specific program­mable processor
  • ASR airport surveillance radar
  • ASRAAM advanced short range air-to-air missile
  • ASRS aviation safety reporting system
  • ASSA Airport Surface Situational Awareness
  • ASSTC aerospace simulation and sys­tems test center
  • ASSV alternate source selection valve
  • ASTA airport surface traffic automation
  • ASTAMIDS Airborne Standoff Minefield Detection System
  • ASTERIX All-Purpose Structured Euro­control Surveillance Information Exchange
  • ASTF airspace system task force
  • ASTM American Society for Testing and Materials
  • ASTOR Airborne Stand-Off Radar (U.K.)
  • ASVI avionics serial video interface
  • ASV alternate servo valve
  • AT air transport
  • AT at an altitude
  • ATA actual time of arrival
  • ATA Air Transport Association
  • ATAS aviation traffic and application software
  • ATC advanced technology center
  • ATC air traffic control
  • ATCA Air Traffic Control Association
  • ATCBI ATC beacon interrogator
  • ATCC area and terminal control center
  • ATCRBS ATC radar beacon system
  • ATCSS ATC signaling system
  • ATCT air traffic control tower
  • ATIS airport traffic information system
  • ATIS automated terminal informa­tion service
  • ATIS-B automatic terminal information service-broadcast
  • ATDL air transport data link
  • ATE automatic test equipment
  • ATE avionics test and evaluation
  • ATFM air traffic flow management
  • ATG advanced concept technology demonstration
  • ATHR autothrust system
  • ATI airborne tracker illuminator
  • ATIDS airport surface target identifi­cation system/ service
  • ATIS airport traffic information system
  • ATIS automatic terminal information service
  • ATL autothrottle limit
  • ATLAS abbreviated test language for avionics systems
  • ATM air traffic management
  • ATM asynchronous transfer mode
  • ATMAC Air Traffic Management Committee (RTCA)
  • ATMAS ATM automation system
  • ATMB Air Traffic Management Bureau (China)
  • ATM DSS ATM decision support service
  • ATMS area navigation, test and man­agement services
  • ATN aeronautical telecommunica­tion network
  • ATNE ATN engineering
  • ATNP ATN panel
  • ATO air traffic operations
  • ATO Air Traffic Organization (FAA)
  • ATOL automatic take-off and landing
  • ATOP advanced technologies and oce­anic procedures
  • ATP acceptance test procedure/plan
  • ATPAC Air Traffic Procedures Advisory Committee (FAA)
  • ATR acceptance test report
  • ATR air transport racking
  • ATR air transport radio: ARINC form-factor/standard case dimensions
  • ATS air traffic services
  • ATS air turbine starter
  • ATS autothrottle system
  • ATS air traffic service
  • ATSAP Air Traffic Safety Action Program (FAA)
  • ATSAW Airborne Traffic Situational Awareness
  • ATSC air traffic services communication
  • AT/SC autothrottle/speed control
  • ATSGF air traffic services geographic filter
  • ATSMP air traffic services message pro­cessor
  • ATSO air traffic services organization
  • ATSP air traffic services provider
  • ATSRAC Aging Transport Systems Rule­making Advisory Committee (U.S.)
  • ATSU air traffic services unit
  • ATWR apron tower (and operator)
  • AUSRIRE All Union Scientific Research Institute of Radio Equipment: CIS (former Soviet) agency
  • AUX auxiliary
  • AVC aviation VHF car rental availability (messages)
  • AVH aviation VHF hotel availability (messages)
  • AVIM Aviation Intermediate Level Maintenance (U.S. Army)
  • AVL automated vehicle locations
  • AVLAN avionics local area network
  • AVLC aviation VHF link control
  • AVM airborne vibration monitor
  • AVS aviation VHF seat availability
  • AVOD audio and video channels on demand
  • AVOL aerodrome visibility operational level
  • AVPAC aviation VHF packet communications
  • AVS aviation VHF seat availability (messages)
  • AVUM Aviation Unit-Level Maintenance (U.S. Army)
  • AWACS airborne warning and control sys­tem
  • AWAS automated weather advisory sta­tion
  • AWG American wire gauge
  • AWIN advanced weather information system
  • AWIN aviation weather information
  • AWIPS advanced weather interactive processing system
  • AWLU aircraft wireless LAN unit
  • AWM auto warning mixer
  • AWO all weather operations
  • AWOP AWO panel
  • AWOS automated/airport weather observing system
  • AWR aviation weather research
  • AZ azimuth: angular measurement in horizontal plane