Pilot/Controller Glossary 

4/20/23 

AIRCRAFT APPROACH CATEGORY

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 A grouping of aircraft based on a speed of 1.3 times the stall speed 

in the landing configuration at maximum gross landing weight. An aircraft must fit in only one category. If it 

is necessary to maneuver at speeds in excess of the upper limit of a speed range for a category, the minimums 

for the category for that speed must be used. For example, an aircraft which falls in Category A, but is circling 

to land at a speed in excess of 91 knots, must use the approach Category B minimums when circling to land. 

The categories are as follows: 

a. 

Category A

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 Speed less than 91 knots. 

b. 

Category B

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 Speed 91 knots or more but less than 121 knots. 

c. 

Category C

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 Speed 121 knots or more but less than 141 knots. 

d. 

Category D

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 Speed 141 knots or more but less than 166 knots. 

e. 

Category E

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 Speed 166 knots or more. 

(Refer to 14 CFR Part 97.) 

AIRCRAFT CLASSES

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 For the purposes of Wake Turbulence Separation Minima, ATC classifies aircraft as 

Super, Heavy, Large, and Small as follows: 

a. 

Super. The Airbus A-380-800 (A388) and the Antonov An-225 (A225) are classified as super. 

b. 

Heavy

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 Aircraft capable of takeoff weights of 300,000 pounds or more whether or not they are operating 

at this weight during a particular phase of flight. 

c. 

Large

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 Aircraft of more than 41,000 pounds, maximum certificated takeoff weight, up to but not including 

300,000 pounds. 

d. 

Small

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 Aircraft of 41,000 pounds or less maximum certificated takeoff weight. 

(Refer to AIM.) 

AIRCRAFT CONFLICT

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 Predicted conflict, within EDST of two aircraft, or between aircraft and airspace. A 

Red alert is used for conflicts when the predicted minimum separation is 5 nautical miles or less. A Yellow alert 

is used when the predicted minimum separation is between 5 and approximately 12 nautical miles. A Blue alert 

is used for conflicts between an aircraft and predefined airspace. 

(See 

EN ROUTE DECISION SUPPORT TOOL

.) 

AIRCRAFT LIST (ACL)

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 A view available with EDST that lists aircraft currently in or predicted to be in a 

particular sector’s airspace. The view contains textual flight data information in line format and may be sorted 

into various orders based on the specific needs of the sector team. 

(See 

EN ROUTE DECISION  SUPPORT TOOL

.) 

AIRCRAFT SURGE LAUNCH AND RECOVERY

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Procedures used at USAF bases to provide increased 

launch and recovery rates in instrument flight rules conditions. ASLAR is based on: 

a. 

Reduced separation between aircraft which is based on time or distance. Standard arrival separation applies 

between participants including multiple flights until the DRAG point. The DRAG point is a published location 

on an ASLAR approach where aircraft landing second in a formation slows to a predetermined airspeed. The 

DRAG point is the reference point at which MARSA applies as expanding elements effect separation within a 

flight or between subsequent participating flights. 

b. 

ASLAR procedures shall be covered in a Letter of Agreement between the responsible USAF military ATC 

facility and the concerned Federal Aviation Administration facility. Initial Approach Fix spacing requirements 

are normally addressed as a minimum. 
AIRCRAFT HAZARD AREA (AHA)

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 Used by ATC to segregate air traffic from a launch vehicle, reentry 

vehicle, amateur rocket, jettisoned stages, hardware, or falling debris generated by failures associated with any 

of these activities. An AHA is designated via NOTAM as either a TFR or stationary ALTRV. Unless otherwise 

specified, the vertical limits of an AHA are from the surface to unlimited. 

(See CONTINGENCY HAZARD AREA.) 
(See REFINED HAZARD AREA.) 
(See TRANSITIONAL HAZARD AREA.) 

PCG A

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