9/5/24 

Pilot/Controller Glossary 

a. 

“Increase/reduce speed to Mach point (number).” 

b. 

“Increase/reduce speed to (speed in knots)” or “Increase/reduce speed (number of knots) knots.” 

SPEED ADVISORY

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 Speed advisories that are generated within Time

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Based Flow Management to assist 

controllers to meet the Scheduled Time of Arrival (STA) at the meter fix/meter arc. See also Ground

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Based 

Interval Management

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Spacing (GIM

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S) Speed Advisory. 

SPEED BRAKES

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 Moveable aerodynamic devices on aircraft that reduce airspeed during descent and landing. 

SPEED SEGMENTS

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 Portions of the arrival route between the transition point and the vertex along the 

optimum flight path for which speeds and altitudes are specified. There is one set of arrival speed segments 

adapted from each transition point to each vertex. Each set may contain up to six segments. 
SPOOFING

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 Denotes emissions of GNSS

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like signals that may be acquired and tracked in combination with 

or instead of the intended signals by civil receivers. The onset of spoofing effects can be instantaneous or delayed, 

and effects can persist after the spoofing has ended.  Spoofing can result in false and potentially confusing, or 

hazardously misleading, position, navigation, and/or date/time information in addition to loss of GNSS use. 

SQUAWK (Mode, Code, Function)

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Used by ATC to instruct a pilot to activate the aircraft transponder and 

ADS

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B Out with altitude reporting enabled, or (military) to activate only specific modes, codes, or functions. 

Examples: “Squawk five seven zero seven;” “Squawk three/alpha, two one zero five.” 

(See TRANSPONDER.) 

STA

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(See SCHEDULED TIME OF ARRIVAL.) 

STAGING/QUEUING

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 The placement, integration, and segregation of departure aircraft in designated 

movement areas of an airport by departure fix, EDCT, and/or restriction. 

STAND BY

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Means the controller or pilot must pause for a few seconds, usually to attend to other duties of a 

higher priority. Also means to wait as in “stand by for clearance.” The caller should reestablish contact if a delay 

is lengthy. “Stand by” is not an approval or denial. 
STANDARD INSTRUMENT APPROACH PROCEDURE (SIAP)

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(See INSTRUMENT APPROACH PROCEDURE.) 

STANDARD INSTRUMENT DEPARTURE (SID)

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A preplanned instrument flight rule (IFR) air traffic control 

(ATC) departure procedure printed for pilot/controller use in graphic form to provide obstacle clearance and a 

transition from the terminal area to the appropriate en route structure. SIDs are primarily designed for system 

enhancement to expedite traffic flow and to reduce pilot/controller workload. ATC clearance must always be 

received prior to flying a SID. 

(See IFR TAKEOFF MINIMUMS AND DEPARTURE PROCEDURES.) 
(See OBSTACLE DEPARTURE PROCEDURE.) 
(Refer to AIM.) 

STANDARD RATE TURN

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 A turn of three degrees per second. 

STANDARD TERMINAL ARRIVAL (STAR)

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 A preplanned instrument flight rule (IFR) air traffic control 

arrival procedure published for pilot use in graphic and/or textual form. STARs provide transition from the en 

route structure to an outer fix or an instrument approach fix/arrival waypoint in the terminal area. 
STANDARD TERMINAL ARRIVAL CHARTS

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(See AERONAUTICAL CHART.) 

STANDARD TERMINAL AUTOMATION REPLACEMENT SYSTEM (STARS)

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(See DTAS.) 

STAR

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(See STANDARD TERMINAL ARRIVAL.) 

PCG S

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