10/5/23 

Pilot/Controller Glossary 

SPACE LAUNCH AND REENTRY AREA

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 Locations where commercial space launch and/or reentry 

operations occur. For pilot awareness, a rocket

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shaped symbol is used to depict space launch and reentry areas 

on sectional aeronautical charts. 

SPEAK SLOWER

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Used in verbal communications as a request to reduce speech rate. 

SPECIAL GOVERNMENT INTEREST (SGI)

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 A near real

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time airspace authorization for Part 91 or Part 107 

UAS, which supports activities that answer significant and urgent governmental interests. These include: 

national defense, homeland security, law enforcement, and emergency operations objectives. 
SPECIAL ACTIVITY AIRSPACE (SAA)

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 Airspace with defined dimensions within the National Airspace 

System wherein limitations may be imposed upon operations for national defense, homeland security, public 

interest, or public safety. Special activity airspace includes but is not limited to the following; Air Traffic Control 

Assigned Airspace (ATCAA), Altitude Reservations (ALTRV), Military Training Routes (MTR), Air Refueling 

Tracks and Anchors, Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFR), Special Security Instructions (SSI), etc. Special Use 

Airspace (SUA) is a subset of Special Activity Airspace. 

(See SPECIAL USE AIRSPACE

.

) 

SPECIAL AIR TRAFFIC RULES (SATR)

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 Rules that govern procedures for conducting flights in certain areas 

listed in 14 CFR Part 93. The term “SATR” is used in the United States to describe the rules for operations in 

specific areas designated in the Code of Federal Regulations. 

(Refer to 14 CFR Part 93.) 

SPECIAL EMERGENCY

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 A condition of air piracy or other hostile act by a person(s) aboard an aircraft which 

threatens the safety of the aircraft or its passengers. 
SPECIAL FLIGHT RULES AREA (SFRA)

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 An area in the NAS, described in 14 CFR Part 93, wherein the 

flight of aircraft is subject to special traffic rules, unless otherwise authorized by air traffic control. Not all areas 

listed in 14 CFR Part 93 are designated SFRA, but special air traffic rules apply to all areas described in 14 CFR 

Part 93. 
SPECIAL INSTRUMENT APPROACH PROCEDURE

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(See INSTRUMENT APPROACH PROCEDURE.) 

SPECIAL USE AIRSPACE

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 Airspace of defined dimensions identified by an area on the surface of the earth 

wherein activities must be confined because of their nature and/or wherein limitations may be imposed upon 

aircraft operations that are not a part of those activities. Types of special use airspace are: 

a. 

Alert Area

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 Airspace which may contain a high volume of pilot training activities or an unusual type of 

aerial activity, neither of which is hazardous to aircraft. Alert Areas are depicted on aeronautical charts for the 

information of nonparticipating pilots. All activities within an Alert Area are conducted in accordance with 

Federal Aviation Regulations, and pilots of participating aircraft as well as pilots transiting the area are equally 

responsible for collision avoidance. 

b. 

Controlled Firing Area

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 Airspace wherein activities are conducted under conditions so controlled as to 

eliminate hazards to nonparticipating aircraft and to ensure the safety of persons and property on the ground. 

c. 

Military Operations Area (MOA)

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Permanent and temporary MOAs are airspace established outside of 

Class A airspace area to separate or segregate certain nonhazardous military activities from IFR traffic and to 

identify for VFR traffic where these activities are conducted. Permanent MOAs are depicted on Sectional 

Aeronautical, VFR Terminal Area, and applicable En Route Low Altitude Charts. 

Note: Temporary MOAs are not charted. 
(Refer to AIM.) 

d. 

National Security Area (NSA)– Airspace of defined vertical and lateral dimensions established at locations 

where there is a requirement for increased security of ground facilities. Pilots are requested to voluntarily avoid 

flying through the depicted NSA. When a greater level of security is required, flight through an NSA may be 

temporarily prohibited by establishing a TFR under the provisions of 14 CFR Section 99.7. Such prohibitions 

will be issued by FAA Headquarters and disseminated via the U.S. NOTAM System. 

(Refer to AIM) 

PCG S

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