Glossary

  Definition

Above Field Elevation

  Definition

An aircraft used in air ambulance operations. The aircraft must be equipped with at least medical oxygen, suction, and a stretcher, isolette, or other approved patient restraint/containment device. The aircraft need not be used exclusively as an air ambulance aircraft and the equipment need not be permanently installed.

  Definition

(a) Air transportation of a person with a health condition that requires medical personnel as determined by a health care provider; or (b) Holding out to the public as willing to provide air transportation to a person with a health condition that requires medical personnel as determined by a health care provider including, but not limited to, advertisement, solicitation, association with a hospital or medical care provider and (c) Uses an air ambulance aircraft, either fixe wing or helicopter.

  Definition

Virtual Operators can obtain an Operating Certificate from POSCON which permits them to conduct special activities on the Network.

  Definition

Airways navigation facilities are those ICAO Standard Navigation Aids (VOR, VOR/DME, and/or NDB) which are used to establish the en route airway structure within the sovereign airspace of ICAO member states. These facilities are also used to establish the degree of navigation accuracy required for air traffic control and Class I navigation within that airspace.

  Definition

Any fixed-wing, rotor, or lighter than air ship.

  Definition

Charts that are produced by an ATC Division or Sub-Division that give the pilot information on the local procedures for a particular airport.

  Definition

Cargo loaded into a ULD, as defined by National Aerospace Standard (NAS) 3610, SAE Aerospace Standard (AS) 36100, Technical Standard Order (TSO) - C90, or other approval standards, that is approved for carriage within the airplane as specified in the Airplane Flight Manual / Weight and Balance Manual approved by the type certificate or supplemental type certificate.

  Definition

A way of organizing the Sectors in a given Facility, typically based on geographic location. Example, Washington ARTCC groups their Sectors into six Areas based on geographic location:

1. Big Apple - Sectors located around the New York City area.
2. Metro South - Sectors that are located south of the Washington, DC metroplex.
3. Snowbird - Sectors that are located in the southeast and handle traffic routed to/from Florida.
4. Philly - Sectors located south of Philadelphia area.
5. Charlotte/Atlanta - Sectors are located in the southwest and deal with Charlotte and Atlanta traffic.
6. Metro West - Sectors located west of the Washington, DC metroplex.

  Definition

The Area of Responsibility of a controller. This could be airspace, as well as ground areas.

  Definition

Air Traffic Control

  Definition

Air Traffic Control Tower

  Definition

Air Traffic Service

  Definition

Aircraft systems, such as an autopilot, auto throttles, displays, and controls, that are interconnected in such a manner so as to allow the crew to automatically control the aircraft’s lateral and vertical flightpath and speed. A flight management system is sometimes associated with an AFGS.

  Definition

A function for use by air traffic services in which the ADS equipment in the aircraft automatically transmits data derived from on-board navigation systems via a datalink. As a minimum, the data include aircraft identification and three-dimensional position. ADS is sometimes referred to as ADS-A or ADS-Contract (e.g., a communications contract between the aircraft communications/surveillance system and an air traffic facility or service provider only).

  Definition

ADS-B is a function on an aircraft or surface vehicle operating within the surface movement area that periodically broadcasts via datalink its state vector (horizontal and vertical position, horizontal and vertical velocity) and other information. ADS-B is Automatic in that it requires no external stimulus to elicit a transmission. ADS-B is Dependent because it relies on on-board navigation sources. ADS-B Surveillance information is provided, via data link, to any users (either aircraft or ground-based) within range of the Broadcast signal.

  Definition

ALD is that portion of a runway available for landing and roll-out for aircraft cleared for land and hold short operations (LAHSO). This distance is measured from the landing threshold to the hold-short point.

  Definition

The ATZ is a circular area of airspace immediate to the aerodrome, usually controlled by a Tower or Information unit. Depending on runway length, it has varied dimensions. Runway Length > 1850m: 2.5nm in radius from the aerodromes longest runway, and 2000ft in height. Runway Length < 1850m: 2nm in radius from the midpoint of the longest runway, and 2000ft in height. Offshore: 1.5nm in radius around the offshore installation, extending to 2000ft in height.