4/20/23 

Pilot/Controller Glossary 

aeronautical data in support of the activities of government, industry, and the aviation community. The 

information is published in the National Flight Data Digest. 

(See NATIONAL FLIGHT DATA DIGEST.) 

AFFIRMATIVE

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Yes. 

AFIS

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(See AUTOMATIC FLIGHT INFORMATION SERVICE 

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 ALASKA FSSs ONLY.) 

AFP

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(See AIRSPACE FLOW PROGRAM.) 

AHA

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(See AIRCRAFT HAZARD AREA.) 

AIM

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(See AERONAUTICAL INFORMATION MANUAL.) 

AIP [ICAO]

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(See ICAO term AERONAUTICAL INFORMATION PUBLICATION.) 

AIR CARRIER DISTRICT OFFICE

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 An FAA field office serving an assigned geographical area, staffed with 

Flight Standards personnel serving the aviation industry and the general public on matters related to the 

certification and operation of scheduled air carriers and other large aircraft operations. 

AIR DEFENSE EMERGENCY

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A military emergency condition declared by a designated authority. This 

condition exists when an attack upon the continental U.S., Alaska, Canada, or U.S. installations in Greenland 

by hostile aircraft or missiles is considered probable, is imminent, or is taking place. 

(Refer to AIM.) 

AIR DEFENSE IDENTIFICATION ZONE (ADIZ)

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 An area of airspace over land or water in which the ready 

identification, location, and control of all aircraft (except for Department of Defense and law enforcement 

aircraft) is required in the interest of national security. 

Note: ADIZ locations and operating and flight plan requirements for civil aircraft operations are specified in 

14 CFR Part 99. 

(Refer to AIM.) 

AIR NAVIGATION FACILITY

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 Any facility used in, available for use in, or designed for use in, aid of air 

navigation, including landing areas, lights, any apparatus or equipment for disseminating weather information, 

for signaling, for radio-directional finding, or for radio or other electrical communication, and any other structure 

or mechanism having a similar purpose for guiding or controlling flight in the air or the landing and takeoff of 

aircraft. 

(See NAVIGATIONAL AID.) 

AIR ROUTE SURVEILLANCE RADAR

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 Air route traffic control center (ARTCC) radar used primarily to 

detect and display an aircraft’s position while en route between terminal areas. The ARSR enables controllers 

to provide radar air traffic control service when aircraft are within the ARSR coverage. In some instances, ARSR 

may enable an ARTCC to provide terminal radar services similar to but usually more limited than those provided 

by a radar approach control. 

AIR ROUTE TRAFFIC CONTROL CENTER (ARTCC)

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 A facility established to provide air traffic control 

service to aircraft operating on IFR flight plans within controlled airspace and principally during the en route 

phase of flight. When equipment capabilities and controller workload permit, certain advisory/assistance 

services may be provided to VFR aircraft. 

(See EN ROUTE AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL SERVICES.) 
(Refer to AIM.) 

PCG A

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