Aviation Training Experts™

handbook

Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge

FAA-H-8083-25C Version October 20, 2025

Chapter Appendix B

Acronyms, Abbreviations, and NOTAM Contractions

AbbreviationMeaning
NPIASnational plan of integrated airport systems
NRnumber
NRCnon-recurring charge
NRCSnational radio communications systems
NSAPNational Service Assurance Plan
NSRCATNNational Strategy to Reduce Congestion on America’s Transportation Network
NSSFCNational Severe Storms Forecast Center
NSSLNational Severe Storms Laboratory, Norman, OK
NSWRHNWS Regional Headquarters
NTAPNotices To Airmen Publication
NTPNational Transportation Policy
NTSBNational Transportation Safety Board
NTZno transgression zone
NWnorthwest
NWSNational Weather Service
NWSRNWS weather excluding NXRD
NXRDadvanced weather radar system

O

AbbreviationMeaning
OAGofficial airline guide
OALToperational acceptable level of traffic
OAWoff-airway weather station
OBSCobscured
OBSTobstruction
ODALomnidirectional approach lighting system
ODAPSoceanic display and processing station
OEPoperational evolution plan/partnership
OFAobject free area
OFDPSoffshore flight data processing system
OFTouter fix time
OFZobstacle free zone
OMouter marker
OMBOffice Of Management and Budget
ONEROceanic Navigational Error Report
OPLToperational acceptable level of traffic
OPRoperate
OPSoperation
OPSWoperational switch
OPXoff premises exchange
ORDoperational readiness demonstration
ORIGoriginal
OTRoceanic transition route
OTSout of service; organized track system
OVRover

P

AbbreviationMeaning
PABXprivate automated branch exchange
PADpacket assembler/disassembler
PAEWpersonnel and equipment working
PAMperipheral adapter module
PAPIprecision approach path indicator
PARprecision approach radar; preferential arrival route
AbbreviationMeaning
PARLparallel
PATpattern
PATWASPilots Automatic Telephone Weather Answering Service
PAXpassenger
PBCTproposed boundary crossing time
PBRFpilot briefing
PBXprivate branch exchange
PCApositive control airspace
PCLpilot controlled lighting
PCMpulse code modulation
PDPilot Deviation
PDARpreferential arrival and departure route
PDCpre-departure clearance; program designator code
PDNPublic Data Network
PDRpreferential departure route
PERMpermanent/permanently
PFCpassenger facility charge
PGPplanning grant program
PICprincipal interexchange carrier
PIDPprogrammable indicator data processor
PIREPpilot weather report
PJEparachute jumping exercise
PLApractice low approach
PLWplow/plowed
PMSprogram management system
PNRprior notice required
POLICpolice station
POPpoint of presence
POTpoint of termination
PPIMSpersonal property information management system
PPRprior permission required
PRprimary commercial service airport
PREVprevious
PRIprimary rate interface
PRMprecision runway monitor
PRNpseudo random noise
PROCprocedure
PROPpropeller
PSDNpublic switched data network
PSNpacket switched network
PSRpacked snow on runway(s)
PSSpacket switched service
PSTNpublic switched telephone network
PTCpresumed-to-conform
PTCHYpatchy
PTNprocedure turn
PUBpublication
PUPprincipal user processor
PVCpermanent virtual circuit
PVDplan view display
PVTprivate

R

AbbreviationMeaning
RAILrunway alignment indicator lights
RAMOSremote automatic meteorological observing system
RAPCOradar approach control (USAF)
RAPCONradar approach control (FAA)
RATCCRadar Air Traffic Control Center
RATCFRadar Air Traffic Control Facility (USN)
RBCrotating beam ceilometer
RBDPEradar beacon data processing equipment
RBSSRadar Bomb Scoring Squadron
RCAGremote communications air/ground facility
RCCRescue Coordination Center
RCCCRegional Communications Control Centers
RCFRemote Communication Facility
RCIURemote Control Interface Unit
RCLrunway centerline; radio communications link
RCLLrunway centerline light system
RCLRRCL repeater
RCLTRCL terminal
RCOremote communications outlet
RCUremote control unit
RDATdigitized radar data
RDPradar data processing
RDSIMrunway delay simulation model
RECreceive/receiver
REILrunway end identifier lights
RELCTDrelocated
REPreport
RFradio frequency
RLGeneral Aviation Reliever Airport
RLLSrunway lead-in lights system
RMCCRemote Monitor Control Center
RMCFRemote Monitor Control Facility
RMLradio microwave link
RMLRRML repeater
RMLTRML terminal
RMMremote maintenance monitoring
RMMSremote maintenance monitoring system
RMNDRremainder
RMSremote monitoring subsystem
RMSCremote monitoring subsystem concentrator
RNAVarea navigation
RNPrequired navigation performance
RODrecord of decision
ROSAreport of service activity
ROTrunway occupancy time
RPrestoration priority
RPCrestoration priority code
RPGradar processing group
RPLCreplace
AbbreviationMeaning
RPZrunway protection zone
RQRDrequired
RRHremote reading hygrothermometer
RRHSremote reading hydrometer
RRLrunway remaining lights
RRWDSremote radar weather display
RRWSSRWDS sensor site
RSArunway safety area
RSATrunway safety action team
RSRen route surveillance radar
RSSremote speaking system
RSVNreservation
RTright turn; remote transmitter
RT & BTLradar tracking and beacon tracking level
RTADremote tower alphanumerics display
RTCARadio Technical Commission for Aeronautics
RTEroute
RTPregional transportation plan
RTRremote transmitter/receiver
RTRDremote tower radar display
RTSreturn to service
RUFrough
RVRrunway visual range
RVRMrunway visual range midpoint
RVRRrunway visual range rollout
RVRTrunway visual range touchdown
RWrunway
RWDSsame as RRWDS
RWPreal-time weather processor
RWYrunway

S

AbbreviationMeaning
Ssouth
S/Ssector suite
SAsand, sanded
SACStrategic Air Command
SAFIsemi-automatic flight inspection
SALSshort approach lighting system
SATSaturday
SATCOMsatellite communications
SAWRSupplementary Aviation Weather Reporting Station
SAWRSSupplementary Aviation Weather Reporting System
SBsouthbound
SBGPstate block grant program
SCCSystem Command Center
SCVTSSwitched Compressed Video Telecommunications Service
SDFsimplified directional facility; simplified direction finding; software defined network
SDISswitched digital integrated service
SDPservice delivery point
AbbreviationMeaning
SD-ROBradar weather report
SDSswitched data service
SEsoutheast
SELsingle event level
SELFsimplified short approach lighting system with sequenced flashing lights
SFAR-38Special Federal Aviation Regulation 38
SFLsequence flashing lights
SHPOState Historic Preservation Officer
SICservice initiation charge
SIDstandard instrument departure; station identifier
SIGMETsignificant meteorological information
SIMMODairport and airspace simulation model
SIMULsimultaneous
SIPstate implementation plan
SIRpacked or compacted snow and ice on runway(s)
SKEDscheduled
SLRslush on runway(s)
SMstatute miles
SMGCsurface movement guidance and control
SMPSsector maintenance processor subsystem
SMSsafety management system; simulation modeling system
SNsnow
SNBNKsnowbank(s) caused by plowing
SNGLsingle
SNRsignal-to-noise ratio, also: S/N
SOARsystem of airports reporting
SOCservice oversight center
SOIRsimultaneous operations on intersecting runways
SOIWRsimultaneous operations on intersecting wet runways
SPDspeed
SRAPsensor receiver and processor
SSALFsimplified short approach lighting system with sequenced flashers
SSALRsimplified short approach lighting system with runway alignment indicator lights
SSALSsimplified short approach lighting system
SSBsingle side band
SSRsecondary surveillance radar
STAstraight-in approach
STARstandard terminal arrival route
STDstandard
STMUXstatistical data multiplexer
STOLshort takeoff and landing
SUNSunday
SURPICsurface picture
SVCservice
SVCAservice A
SVCBservice B
SVCCservice C
AbbreviationMeaning
SVCOservice O
SVFBinterphone service F (B)
SVFCinterphone service F (C)
SVFDinterphone service F (D)
SVFOinterphone service F (A)
SVFRspecial visual flight rules
SWsouthwest
SWEPTswept or broom/broomed

T

AbbreviationMeaning
Ttemperature
T1MUXT1 multiplexer
TAAterminal arrival area
TAASterminal advance automation system
TACANtactical air navigation
TACRTACAN at VOR, TACAN only
TAFterminal area forecast
TARterminal area surveillance radar
TARSterminal automated radar service
TAStrue air speed
TATCAterminal air traffic control automation
TAVTterminal airspace visualization tool
TCAtraffic control airport or tower control airport; terminal control area
TCACCISTransportation Coordinator Automated Command And Control Information System
TCASTraffic Alert and Collision Avoidance System
TCCDOT Transportation Computer Center
TCCCTower Control Computer Complex
TCEtone control equipment
TCLTtentative calculated landing time
TCOTelecommunications Certification Officer
TCOMTerminal Communications
TCStower communications system
TDLSTower Data-Link Services
TDMUXtime division data multiplexer
TDWRterminal doppler weather radar
TDZtouchdown zone
TDZ LGtouchdown zone lights
TELCOtelephone company
TELMStelecommunications management system
TEMPOtemporary
TERPSterminal instrument procedures
TFACto facility
TFCtraffic
TFRtemporary flight restriction
TGLtouch-and-go landings
THthreshold
THNthin
THRthreshold
THRUthrough
THUThursday
TILuntil
AbbreviationMeaning
TIMStelecommunications information management system
TIPSterminal information processing system
TKOFtakeoff
TLtaxilane
TMtraffic management
TM&Otelecommunications management and operations
TMATraffic Management Advisor
TMCTraffic Management Coordinator
TMC/MCTraffic Management Coordinator/Military Coordinator
TMCCterminal information processing system; Traffic Management Computer Complex
TMFTraffic Management Facility
TMLtelevision microwave link
TMLItelevision microwave link indicator
TMLRtelevision microwave link repeater
TMLTtelevision microwave link terminal
TMPTraffic Management Processor
TMPAtraffic management program alert
TMStraffic management system
TMSPStraffic management specialists
TMUtraffic management unit
TNAVterminal navigational aids
TODAtakeoff distance available
TOFtime of flight
TOFMStime of flight mass spectrometer
TOPSTelecommunications Ordering And Pricing System (GSA software tool)
TORAtake-off run available
TRtelecommunications request
TRACABterminal radar approach control in tower cab
TRACONTerminal Radar Approach Control Facility
TRADterminal radar service
TRBTransportation Research Board
TRMLterminal
TRNGtraining
TRSNtransition
TSAtaxiway safety area; Transportation Security Administration
TSECterminal secondary radar service
TSNTtransient
TSPtelecommunications service priority
TSRtelecommunications service request
TSYSterminal equipment systems
TTMATRACON Traffic Management Advisor
TTYteletype
TUETuesday
TVORterminal VHF omnidirectional range
TWtaxiway
TWEBtranscribed weather broadcast
TWRtower
TWYtaxiway
TYtype (FAACIS)

U

AbbreviationMeaning
UASunmanned aircraft systems
UFNuntil further notice
UHFultra high frequency
UNAVBLunavailable
UNLGTDunlighted
UNMKDunmarked
UNMNTunmonitored
UNRELunreliable
UNUSBLunusable
URAUniform Relocation Assistance and Real Property Acquisition Policies Act of 1970
USAFUnited States Air Force
USCUnited States Code
USOCUniform Service Order Code

V

AbbreviationMeaning
V/PDVehicle/pedestrian deviation
VALEvoluntary airport low emission
VASIvisual approach slope indicator
VDMEVOR with distance measuring equipment
VDPvisual descent point
VFvoice frequency
VFRvisual flight rules
VGSIvisual glide slope indicator
VHFvery high frequency
VIAby way of
VICEinstead/versus
VISvisibility
VLFvery low frequency
VMCvisual meteorological conditions
VNAVvisual navigational aids
VNTSCVolpe National Transportation System Center
VOLvolume
VONvirtual on-net
VORVHF omnidirectional range
VOR/DMEVHF omnidirectional range/distance measuring equipment
VORTACVOR and TACAN (collocated)
VOTVOR Test Facility
VP/Dvehicle/pedestrian deviation
VRSvoice recording system
VSCSvoice switching and control system
VTAvertex time of arrival
VTACVOR and TACAN (collocated)
VTOLvertical takeoff and landing
VTSvoice telecommunications system