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Instrument Flying Hanbook

FAA-H-8083-15B Version 2014
All Library Documents FAA Source

Chapter Appendix A

Clearance Shorthand

The following shorthand system is recommended by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Applicants for the instrument rating may use any shorthand system, in any language, which ensures accurate compliance with air traffic control (ATC) instructions. No shorthand system is required by regulation and no knowledge of shorthand is required for the FAA Knowledge Test; however, because of the vital need for reliable communication between the pilot and controller, clearance information should be unmistakably clear.

The following symbols and contractions represent words and phrases frequently used in clearances. Most are used regularly by ATC personnel. By practicing this shorthand, omitting the parenthetical words, you will be able to copy long clearances as fast as they are read.

Example: CAF RH RV V18 t4 0 SQ 0700 DPC 120.4 Cleared as filed, maintain runway heading for radar vector to Victor 18, climb to 4,000, squawk 0700, departure control frequency is 120.4.

Words and Phrases Shorthand

  • Above — ABV
  • Above (Altitude, Hundreds of Feet) — 7̲0̲ [70 underlined]
  • Adjust speed to 250 knots — 250 K
  • Advise — ADZ
  • After (Passing) — <
  • Airway (Designation) — V26
  • Airport — A
  • Alternate Instructions — ( )
  • Altitude 6,000–17,000 — 60-170
  • And — &
  • Approach — AP
  • Approach Control — APC
  • Area Navigation — RNAV
  • Arriving — ↓ [down arrow]
  • At — @
  • At or Above — ↑ [up arrow rising through a horizontal bar]
  • At or Below — ↓ [down arrow descending through a horizontal bar]
  • (ATC) Advises — CA
  • (ATC) Clears or Cleared — C
  • (ATC) Requests — CR
  • Back Course — BC
  • Bearing — BR
  • Before (Reaching, Passing) — >
  • Below — BLO
  • Below (Altitude, Hundreds of Feet) — 7̅0̅ [70 overlined]
  • Center — CTR
  • Clearance Void if Not Off By (Time) — V<
  • Cleared as Filed — CAF
  • Cleared to Airport — A
  • Cleared to Climb/Descend at Pilot’s Discretion — PD
  • Cleared to Cross — X
  • Cleared to Depart From the Fix — D
  • Cleared to the Fix — F
  • Cleared to Hold and Instructions Issued — H
  • Cleared to Land — L
  • Cleared to the Outer Marker — O
  • Climb to (Altitude, Hundreds of Feet) — ↑70 [up arrow to altitude]
  • Contact Approach — CT
  • Contact (Denver) Approach Control — (den
  • Contact (Denver) Center — (DEN
  • Course — CRS
  • Cross — X
  • Cruise — → [right arrow]
  • Delay Indefinite — DLI
  • Depart (Direction, if Specified) — T→( ) [takeoff symbol, right arrow, direction blank]
  • Departure Control — DPC
  • Descend To (Altitude, Hundreds of Feet) — ↓70 [down arrow to altitude]
  • Direct — DR
  • Direction (Bound)
    • Eastbound — EB
    • Westbound — WB
    • Northbound — NB
    • Southbound — SB
    • Inbound — IB
    • Outbound — OB
  • DME Fix (Mile) — 21 [enclosed in a D-shaped fix box: flat left, rounded right]
  • Each — EA
  • Enter Control Area — ↘△ [southeast arrow entering an outlined upright triangle]
  • Estimated Time of Arrival — ETA
  • Expect — EX
  • Expect-Further-Clearance — EFC
  • Fan Marker — FM
  • Final — F
  • Final Approach — FA
  • Flight Level — FL
  • Flight Planned Route — FPR
  • For Further Clearance — FFC
  • For Further Headings — FFH
  • From — FM
  • Ground — GND
  • GPS Approach — GPS
  • Heading — HDG
  • Hold (Direction) — H-W
  • Holding Pattern — [elongated holding-pattern oval]
  • ILS Approach — ILS
  • Increase Speed 30 Knots — +30 K
  • Initial Approach — I
  • Instrument Departure Procedure — DP
  • Intersection — XN
  • Join or Intercept Airway/Jet Route/Track or Course — [right-pointing angle/chevron with a short horizontal bar above its upper arm]
  • Left Turn After Takeoff — ↶ [left-turn arrow]
  • Locator Outer Marker — LOM
  • Magnetic — M
  • Maintain — M→ [M with right arrow]
  • Maintain VFR Conditions On Top — VFR [underlined]
  • Middle Compass Locator — ML
  • Middle Marker — MM
  • Missed Approach — MA
  • Nondirectional Beacon Approach — NDB
  • Out of (Leave) Control Area — △↗ [northeast arrow leaving an outlined upright triangle]
  • Outer Marker — OM
  • Over (Station) — OKC [underlined]
  • On Course — OC
  • Precision Approach Radar — PAR
  • Procedure Turn — PT
  • Radar Vector — RV
  • Radial (080° Radial) — 080R
  • Reduce Speed 20 Knots — -20 K
  • Remain This Frequency — RTF
  • Remain Well to Left Side — LS
  • Remain Well to Right Side — RS
  • Report Crossing — RX
  • Report Departing — RD
  • Report Leaving — RL
  • Report on Course — R-CRS
  • Report Over — RO
  • Report Passing — RP
  • Report Reaching — RR
  • Report Starting Procedure Turn — RSPT
  • Reverse Course — RC
  • Right Turn After Takeoff — ↷ [right-turn arrow]
  • Runway Heading — RH
  • Runway (Number) — RY18
  • Squawk — SQ
  • Standby — STBY
  • Straight-in Approach — SI
  • Surveillance Radar Approach — ASR
  • Takeoff (Direction) — T→N [takeoff-direction symbol]
  • Tower — Z
  • Turn Left — TL
  • Turn Right — TR
  • Until — /
  • Until Advised (By) — UA
  • Until Further Advised — UFA
  • VFR Conditions On Top — OTP
  • Via — VIA
  • Victor (Airway Number) — V14
  • Visual Approach — VA
  • VOR — ⊙ [VOR symbol]
  • VOR Approach — VR
  • VORTAC — Ⓣ [VORTAC symbol]
  • While in Control Area — △ [outlined control-area triangle]