Acronyms and abbreviations in avionics

Here is a catalog of Acronyms and abbreviations used in avionics.

Contents
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

A

• ACARS: Aircraft Communications Addressing and Reporting System.
• ACAS: Airborne Collision Avoidance System.
• ACP: Audio Control Panel.
• ACS: Audio Control System.
• ADAHRS: Air Data and Attitude Heading Reference System.
• ADC: Air Data Computer.
• ABAS: Aircraft-based Augmentation System.
• ADF: Automatic Direction Finder.
• ADI: Attitude Director Indicator.
• ADIRS: Air Data Inertial Reference System.
• ADIRU: Air Data Inertial Reference Unit.
• ADM: Air Data Module.
• ADS: Either; Automatic Dependant Surveillance or Air Data System.
• ADS-A: Automatic Dependant Surveillance /Address.
• ADS-B: Automatic Dependant Surveillance-Broadcast.
• AFCS: Automatic Flight Control System.
• AFD: Autopilot Flight Director.
• AFDC: Autopilot Flight Director Computer.
• AFDS: Autopilot Flight Director System.
• AFIS: Either; Automatic Flight Information Service or Airborne Flight Information System.
• AGACS: Automatic Ground-Air Communications System, is also known as ATCSS or data link.
• AGC: Automatic Gain Control.
• AHC: Attitude Heading Control.
• AHRS: Attitude and Heading Reference Systems.
• ALC: Automatic Level Control.
• ALT: Either; Altimeter or Altitude.
• ALT Hold: Altitude Hold Mode.
• ALTS: Altitude Select.
• AMLCD: Active Matrix Liquid Crystal Display.
• ANC: Active Noise Cancellation.
• ANN: Annunciator- caution warning system normally containing visual and audio alerts to the pilot.
• ANR: Active Noise Reduction.
• ANT: Antenna.
• A/P: Autopilot.
• APC: Autopilot Computer.
• APS: Autopilot System.
• APU: Auxiliary Power Unit
• ASD: Aircraft Situation Display.
• ASDL: Aeronautical Satellite Data Link.
• ASR: Airport Surveillance Radar.
• ARINC: Aeronautical Radio, Incorporated (ARINC)
• ASU: Avionics Switching Unit.
• ATCRBS: Air Traffic Control Radar Beacon System.
• ATCSS: Air Traffic Control Signaling System.
• ATI: Unit of measure for instrument size, a standard 3¨û cutout is a 3ATI.
• ATM: Air Traffic Management.
• Avionics: Aviation electronics.
• AWG: American Wire Gauge.

B

• B RNAV: Basic Area Navigation.
• BARO: Barometric indication, setting or pressure.
• BCRS: Back Course.
• BDI: Bearing Distance Indicator.
• BGAN: Broadcast Global Area Network.

C

• CAI: Caution Annunciator Indicator.
• CAT I: Operational performance Category 1.
• CAT I Enhanced. Allows for lower minimums than CAT I in some cases to CAT 2 minimums.
• CAT II: Operational performance Category II.
• CAT IIIa: Operational performance Category IIIa.
• CAT IIIb: Operational performance Category IIIb.
• CAT IIIc: Operational performance Category IIIc.
• CODEC: Coder/Decoder.
• CDI: Course Deviation Indicator.
• CFIT: Controlled Flight Into Terrain.
• COMM or COM: Communications Receiver.
• CNS: Communication, Navigation, Surveillance.
• CNS/ATM: Communication, Navigation, Surveillance/Air Traffic Management.^[1]
• CPDLC: Controller-Pilot Data Link Communication.
• CPS: Cycles Per Second.
• CRT: Cathode Ray Tube.
• CTAF: Common Traffic Advisory Frequency.
• CV/DFDR: Cockpit Voice and Digital Flight Data Recorder.
• CVR: Cockpit Voice Recorder.
• CWS: Control Wheel Steering.

D

• DA: Drift Angle.
• DAPs: Downlink of Aircraft Parameters.
• DCDU: Data Link Control and Display Unit.
• DG: Directional Gyroscope.
• DGPS: Differential Global Positioning System.
• DH: Decision Height.
• DME: Distance Measuring Equipment.
• DNC: Direct Noise Canceling.
• DP: Departure Procedures.
• DSP: Digital Signal Processing.
• DUAT: Direct User Access Terminal.

E

• EADI: Electronic Attitude Director Indicator.
• EFD: Electronic Flight Display.
• EFIS: Electronic Flight Instrument System.
• EGPWS: Enhanced Ground Proximity Warning System.
• EGT: Exhaust Gas Temperature.
• EHS: Enhanced Surveillance.
• EHSI: Electronic Horizontal Situation Indicator.
• EICAS: Engine Indication Crew Alerting System.
• ELT: Emergency Locator Transmitter.
• ENC: Electronic Noise Canceling.
• ENR: Electronic Noise Reduction.
• EPR: Engine Pressure Ratio.
• ETOP: Extended Range Twin Engine Operation.

F

• FADEC: Full Authority Digital Engine Control.
• FANS: Future Air Navigation System.
• FAT: Free Air Temperature.
• FDRS: Flight Data Recorder System.
• FDU: Flux Detector Unit.
• FF: Fuel Flow.
• FIS-B: Flight Information Services- Broadcast.
• FLIR: Forward Looking Infra-Red.
• FLTA: Forward Looking Terrain Avoidance.
• FMS: Flight Management System.
• FREQ: Frequency.
• FSS: Flight service station
• FWS: Flight Warning System.
• FYDS: Flight director/ Yaw Damper System.

G

• GCAS: Ground Collision Avoidance System.
• GCU: Generator Control Unit.
• GDOP: Geometric Dilution Of Precision.
• GGS: Global positioning system Ground Station.
• GHz: Gigahertz.
• GLNS: GPS Landing and Navigation System.
• GLNU: GPS Landing and Navigation Unit.
• GLONASS: Global Navigation Satellite System.
• GLS: GPS Landing System.
• GLU: GPS Landing Unit.
• GND: Ground.
• GNSS: Global Navigation Satellite System.
• GMT: Greenwich Mean Time.
• GPS: Global Positioning Satellite or Global Positioning System.
• GPWC: Ground Proximity Warning Computer.
• GPWS: Ground Proximity Warning System.

H

• HDG: Heading.
• HDG SEL: Heading Select.
• HDOP: Horizontal Dilution Of Precision.
• HF: High Frequency.
• HHLD: Heading Hold.
• HSD: High Speed Data.
• HSI: Horizontal Situation Indicator.
• HSL: Heading Select.
• HUD: Head-Up Display.
• HMD: Helmet Mounted Display.

I

• IAS: Indicated Airspeed.
• ID: Identify/Identification or identifier.
• IDENT: Identify/Identifier.
• IDS: Information Display System or Integrated Display System.
• IFE: In-Flight Entertainment.
• IFR: Instrument Flight Regulations.
• ILS: Instrument Landing System.
• IMC: Instrument Meteorological Conditions.
• InHg: Inch of Mercury.
• IND: Indicator.
• INS: Inertial Navigation System
• ISA: International Standard Atmosphere.
• ISP: Integrated Switching Panel.
• ITT: Interstage Turbine Temperature.
• IVSI: Instantaneous Vertical Speed Indicator.

J

• JTIDS: Joint Tactical Information Distribution System.

L

• LAAS: Local Area Augmentation System.
• LADGPS: Local Area Differential GPS.
• LCD: Liquid Crystal Display.
• LDGPS: Local area Differential Global Positioning Satellite.
• LED: Light Emitting Diode.
• LMM: Locator Middle Marker.
• LOC: Localizer.
• LOM: Locator Outer Marker.
• LRU: Line-replaceable unit

M

• MAP: Manifold Absolute Pressure or Missed Approach Point.
• MB: Marker Beacon.
• MCBF: Mean Cycles Between Failures.
• MDA: Minimum Decent Altitude.
• MEL: Minimum Equipment List.
• MF: Medium Frequency.
• MFD: Multi-Function Display.
• MFDS: Multi-Function Display System.
• MIC: Microphone.
• MIDS: Multifunctional Information Distribution System.
• MILSPEC: Military Specification.
• MKR: Marker Beacon or Marker.
• MLS: Microwave Landing System.
• MM: Middle Marker.
• MNPS: [Minimmum Navigation Performance Specifications]
• MMD: Moving Map Display.
• MOA: Military Operations Area.
• Mode A: Transponder pulse code reporting.
• Mode C: Transponder code and altitude reporting.
• Mode S: Transponder code, altitude, and TCAS reporting.
• MSG: Message.
• MSP: Modes S Specific Protocol.
• MSSS: Mode S Specific Services.
• MTBF: Mean Time Between Failures.
• MTTF: Mean Time To Failure.

N

• NAS: National Airspace System.
• NAV: Navigation receiver.
• Navaid: Navigational Aid.
• NAVCOMM: Navigation and Communications equipment or receiver.
• NAVSTAR-GPS: The formal name for the space-borne or satellite navigation system.
• NCATT: National Center for Aircraft Technician Training.
• ND: Navigation Display.
• NDB: Non-Directional radio Beacon.
• NFF: No Fault Found.
• NM or NMI: Nautical Mile.
• NPA: Non-Precision Approach.

O

• OAT: Outside Air Temperature.
• OBS: OmniBearing Selector.
• OM: Outer Marker.

P

• PA: Public Adrress System.
• P-Code: GPS precision code.
• PAPI: Precision Approach Path Indicators.
• PAR: Precision Approach Radar.
• PD: Profile Descent.
• PDOP: Position Dilution Of Precision.
• PFD: Primary Flight Display or Primary Flight Director.
• PMG: Permanent Magnet Generator.
• PND: Primary Navigation Display.
• PNR: Passive Noise Reduction.
• POS: Position.
• P-RNAV: Precision Area Navigation.
• PSR: Primary Surveillance Radar.
• PTT: Push To Talk.

R

• RAI: Radio altimeter indicator.
• RAIM: Receiver autonomous integrity monitoring.
• RALT: Radar or radio altimeter.
• RAT: Ram Air Turbine
• RCR: Reverse current relay.
• RCVR: Receiver.
• RDMI: Radio distance magnetic indicator.
• RDP: Radar data processing system.
• RDR: Radar.
• REF: Reference.
• REL: Relative.
• RF: Radio frequency.
• RFI: Radio frequency interference.
• RHSM: Reduced horizontal separation minimal.
• RLG: Ring laser gyroscope.
• RLY: Relay.
• RMI: Radio magnetic indicator.
• R-NAV: Area navigation.
• RNG: Range.
• RNP: Required navigation performance.
• ROC: Rate of climb.
• ROD: Rate of descent.
• RPM: Revolutions per minute.
• RTE: Route.
• RVR: Runway visual range.
• RVSM: Reduced vertical separation minimum.
• RX: Receiver.

S

• SAT: Static Air Temperature.
• SATCOM: Satellite Communication.
• SATNAV: Satellite Navigation.
• SD: Secure Digital.
• SELCAL: Selective Calling
• SID: Standard Instrument Departure.
• SIU: Satellite Interface Unit.
• S: Sensitivity Level.
• SMS: Short Messaging Service.
• SNR: Signal to Noise Ratio.
• SPKR: Speaker.
• SQ or SQL: Squelch.
• SSCV/DR: Solid State Cockpit Voice/Data Recorder.
• SSCVR: Solid State Cockpit Voice Recorder.
• SSFDR: Solid State Flight Data Recorder.
• SSR: Secondary Surveillance Radar.
• STAR: Standard Terminal Arrival Route.
• STARS: Standard Terminal Automation Replacement System.
• STC: Supplemental Type Certificate.
• STP: Standard Temperature and Pressure.
• SUA: Special Use Airspace.

T

• TA: Traffic Advisory (TCAS).
• TACAN: Tactical air navigation system.
• Tach: Tachometer.
• TAD: Terrain Awareness Display.
• TAF: Terminal Area Forecast.
• TAS: True Airspeed.
• TAT: True Air Temperature or Total Air Temperature.
• TAWS: Terrain Awareness Warning System.
• TBO: Time Before Overhaul or Time Between Overhaul.
• TCA: Throttle Control Assembly or Terminal Control Area.
• TCAS: Traffic Collision Alert and avoidance System.
• TCF: Terrain Clearance Floor.
• TCN: TACAN
• TCU: TACAN Control Unit.
• TDOP: Time Dilution Of Precision.
• TDR: Transponder (in some cases).
• TERPS: Terminal Instrument Procedures or Terminal EnRoute Procedures.
• TFR: Temporary Flight Restrictions.
• TFT: Thin Film Transistor.
• TGT: Turbine Gas Temperature or Target.
• THDG: True Heading.
• TIAS: True Indicated Airspeed.
• TIS: Traffic Information Service.
• TK: Track Angle.
• TKE: Track Angle Error.
• TLA: Three Letter Acronym.
• TOGA: Take Off/Go Around thrust
• TOT: Turbine Outlet Temperature.
• TR or T/R: Transmitter Receiver or transceiver.
• TRACON: Terminal Radar Approach Control.
• TRANS: Transmit, Transmission, or Transition.
• TRK: Track.
• TRP: Mode S Transponder.
• TTR: TCAS II Transmitter/Receiver.
• TTS: Time to Station.
• TVE: Total Vertical Error.
• TWDL: Two-Way Data Link, or Terminal Weather Data Link.
• TWDR: Terminal Doppler Weather Radar.
• TWIP: Terminal Weather Information for Pilots.
• TWR: Terminal Weather Radar.
• TX: Transmit.

U

• UART: Universal Asynchronous Receiver Transmitter.
• UHF: Ultra-High Frequency.
• ULB: Underwater Locator Beacon.
• USB: Universal Serial Bus.
• UTC: Universal Time Coordinate.

V

• V: Volts or voltage.
• VASI: Visual Approach Slope Indicator.
• VDL: VHF Data Link.
• VDR: VHF Digital Radio.
• VFO: Variable Frequency Oscillator.
• VFR: Visual Flight Rules.
• VG/DG: Vertical Gyroscope/Directional Gyroscope.
• VGA: Video Graphics Array.
• VHF: Very High Frequency.
• V/L: VOR/Localizer.
• VMC: Visual meteorological conditions or minimum control speed with critical engine out.
• V/NAV: Vertical Navigation.
• VNE: never exceed speed.
• VNO: maximum structural cruising speed.
• VNR: VHF Navigation Receiver.
• VOR: VHF Omnidirectional Range and Ranging.
• VOR/DME: VOR with Distance Measuring Equipment.
• VOR/MB: VOR Marker Beacon.
• VORTAC: VOR and TACAN combination.
• VOX: Voice Transmission.
• VPATH: Vertical Path.
• V/R: Voltage Regulator.
• V/REF: Reference Velocity.
• V/S: Vertical Speed.
• VSI: Vertical Speed Indicator.
• VSM: Vertical Separation Limit.
• VSO: stall speed in landing configuration.
• VSWR: Voltage Standing Wave Ratio.
• V/TRK: Vertical Track.
• VX: speed for best angle of climb.
• VY: speed for best rate of climb.

W

• WAAS: Wide Area Augmentation System.
• WD/WINDR: Wind Direction.
• WMA: WXR Waveguide Adapter.
• WMI: WXR Indicator Mount.
• WMS: Wide area Master Station.
• WMSC: Weather Message Switching Center.
• WMSCR: Weather Message Switching Center Replacement.
• WPT: Waypoint.
• WRT: WXR Receiver Transmitter.
• WX: Weather.
• WXR: Weather radar system.
• WYPT: Waypoint.

X

• XCVR: Transceiver.
• XFR: Transfer.
• XMIT: Transmit.
• XMSN: Transmission.
• XMTR: Transmitter.
• XPDR: Transponder.
• XTK: crosstrack.

Y

• YD: Yaw Damper.

See also

• Avionics
• List of aviation, aerospace and aeronautical abbreviations

References

1. ^ http://www.icao.int/icao/en/ro/rio/execsum.pdf