Aviation Training Experts™

other

Aeronautical Chart Users’ Guide

FAA Chart Users’ Guide Version 9 July 2026

Abbreviations

Alphabetical definitions of abbreviations used on FAA aeronautical charts and terminal procedures.

IAC — Interagency Air Committee IACC — Interagency Air Cartographic Committee IAF — Initial Approach Fix IAP — Instrument Approach Procedure ICAO — International Civil Aviation Authority IDT — Identifier IF — Intermediate Fix IFR — Instrument Flight Rules ILS — Instrument Landing System IMC — Instrument Meteorological Conditions INS — Inertial Navigation System IR — Instrument Route (Military) IRU — Inertial Reference Unit

J

JO — Joint Order

K

KIAS — Knots

L

LAA — Local Airport Advisory LAAS — Local Area Augmentation System LAHSO — Land and Hold Short LDA — Landing Distance Available LDA — Localizer-type Directional Aid Ldg — Landing LF — Low Frequency LIRL — Low Intensity Runway Lights LNAV — Lateral Navigation LOC — Localizer LOM — Locator Outer Marker LPV — Localizer Performance with Vertical Guidance LRRS — Long Range Radar Station LTP — Landing Threshold Point

M

MAA — Maximum Authorized Altitude MAP — Missed Approach Point MCA — Minimum Crossing Altitude MCAS — Marine Corps Air Station MDA — Minimum Descent Altitude MDH — Minimum Descent Height MEA — Minimum Enroute Altitude MEF — Maximum Elevation Figure MF — Medium Frequency MIA — Minimum IFR Altitude MIRL — Medium Intensity Runway Lights MOA — Military Operations Areas MOCA — Minimum Obstruction Clearance Altitude MON — Minimum Operational Network MORA — Minimum Off-Route Altitude MRA — Minimum Reception Altitude MSA — Minimum Safe Altitude MSL — Mean Sea Level MTA — Minimum Turning Altitude MTR — Military Training Route MVA — Minimum Vector Altitude

N

N — North N/A — Not Applicable NA — Not Authorized NAAS — Naval Auxiliary Air Station NAS — Naval Air Station NAS — National Airspace System NAV — Naval Air Facility NAVAID — Navigational Aid (Ground based) NDB — Non-Directional Radiobeacon NextGen — Next Generation Air Transportation System NFDC — National Flight Data Center NFPO — National Flight Procedures Office NM — Nautical Mile NOAA — National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration NO A/G — No Air-to-Ground Communication NOTAM — Notice to Airmen NoPT — No Procedure Turn NPA — Non-Precision Approach NWS — National Weather Service

O

OAT — Outside Air Temperature OBS — Omni Bearing Selector OCA — Ocean Control Area OCS — Obstacle Clearance Surface ODP — Obstacle Departure Procedure OM — Outer Marker OROCA — Off Route Obstruction Clearance Altitude

P

PA — Precision Approach PAR — Precision Approach Radar PBN — Performance-Based Navigation PRM — Precision Runway Monitor PT — Procedure Turn PTP — Point-to-Point Pvt — Private
Source page 140

R

R — Radial R — Receive R — Restricted Area (Special Use Airspace) RCO — Remote Communications Outlet RCLS — Runway Centerline Lighting Systems RF — Radius-to-Fix RNAV — Area Navigation RNP — Required Navigation Performance RNP AR — Required Navigation Performance Authorization Required ROC — Required Obstacle Clearance RP — Right Pattern RVR — Runway Visual Range RVSM — Reduced Vertical Separation Minimum Rwy — Runway

S

S — South SAAAR — Special Aircraft and Aircrew Authorization Required SAAR — Special Aircraft and Aircrew Requirements SATNAV — Satellite Navigation SDF — Simplified Directional Facility SER — Start End of Runway SFAR — Special Flight Rules Area SFC — Surface SFRA — Special Flight Rules Area SIAPs — Standard Instrument Approach Procedures SID — Standard Instrument Departure SM — Statute Mile SMAR — Special Military Activity Routes SMGCS — Surface Movement Guidance and Control System SOIA — Simultaneous Offset Instrument Approaches SSV — Standard Service Volume STAR — Standard Terminal Arrival Procedure SUA — Special Use Airspace SVFR — Special Visual Flight Rules