Aviation jargon is sometimes a confusing and frustrating language and full three, four or more letter acronyms which can catch out even the knowledgeable! Sometime the picture is further confused by a single acronym having a number of meanings depending on the context in which it is used. Take for example the acronym IFE, it has several meanings depending on the area of aviation it relates to, it can mean 'In- Flight Emergency', 'In-Flight Entertainment' or 'International Flight Engineers'. Confused? Hopefully you won't be with the Jargon Buster you may be able to successfully navigate the multitude of meanings.
The listing is in alphabetical order for easier navigation. We hope it helps.
Of course the list is not exhaustive (though have tried to include most things). Please feel free to contact the IFALPA Communications Officer, if you would like to benefit others by adding (or taking away from) this list please contact
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Acronym |
|
Meaning |
| C-ATSU |
|
Current Air Traffic Services Unit |
| CAA NZ |
|
Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand |
| CAA PNG |
|
Civil Aviation Authority of Papua New Guinea |
| CAA SI |
|
Civil Aviation Authority of Solomon Islands |
| CAAC |
|
Civil Aviation Administration of China |
| CAAF |
|
Civil Aviation Authority of Fiji |
| CAAS |
|
Certification of Aeroplane Automatic Systems |
| CAASA |
|
Commercial Aviation Association of Southern Africa |
| CACRC |
|
Commercial Aircraft Composite Repair Committee |
| CAEE |
|
Committee of Aircraft Engine Emissions |
| CAeM |
|
Commission for Aeronautical Meteorology |
| CAEP |
|
Committee on Aviation Environmental Protection (ICAO) |
| CALPA |
|
China Airline Pilots' Association |
| CAMA |
|
Civil Aviation Medical Association |
| CAN |
|
Committee on Aircraft Noise |
| CANDI |
|
Civil Aviation Network Data Interchange |
| CANSO |
|
Civil Air Navigation Services Organisation |
| CAP |
|
Study Group on Continuing Airworthiness Problems |
| CAPA |
|
Cayman Airline Pilots' Association |
| CAPS |
|
Computer Automated Profiling Systems |
| CARATS |
|
Collaborative Actions for Renovation of Air Traffic Systems |
| CAS |
|
Calibrated Air Speed |
| CASA |
|
Computer Assisted Slot Allocation |
| CASA |
|
Civil Aviation Safety Authority (Australia) |
| CASS |
|
Corporate Aviation Safety Seminar |
| CAVOK |
|
Ceiling and Visibility OK / Clouds and Visibility OK |
| CAVU |
|
Ceiling and Visibility Unlimited |
| CAWU |
|
Civil Aviations Workers Union |
| CCAA |
|
Chinese Civil Aviation Association |
| CCIF |
|
International Telephone Consultative Committee |
| CCIR |
|
International Radio Consultative Committee |
| CCITT |
|
International Telegraph and Telephone Consultative Committee |
| CCQ |
|
Cross Cockpit Qualification |
| CCS |
|
Cabin Communications System |
| CD |
|
Candela |
| CDA |
|
Continuous Descent Approach |
| CDFA |
|
Constant Descent Final Approach |
| CDN |
|
Coordination (message designator) |
| CDR |
|
Conditional Route |
| CDS |
|
Cabin Distribution System |
| CDTI |
|
Cockpit Display of Traffic Information |
| CDTI |
|
Cockpit Display Traffic Information |
| CEAC |
|
Committee of European Airspace Co-ordination |
| CEFA |
|
Committee for Environmentally Friendly Aviation (ERA) |
| CEI |
|
Cabin Equipment Interfaces |
| CFDIU |
|
Central Fault Display Interface Unit |
| CFDS |
|
Centralised Fault Display System |
| CFIT |
|
Controlled Flight Into Terrain |
| CFMU |
|
Central Flow Management Unit |
| CG |
|
Centre of Gravity |
| CGL |
|
Circling Guidance Lights |
| CHG |
|
Modification (message designator) |
| CIDIN |
|
Common ICAO Data Interchange Network |
| CIE |
|
International Commission on Illumination |
| CIMO |
|
Committee for Instruments and Methods of Observation |
| CIP |
|
Convergence and Implementation Programme |
| CIR |
|
Cockpit Image Recorders |
| CIRM |
|
International Radio Maritime Committee |
| CLOP |
|
Criminal Liability of Pilots |
| CMIC |
|
Civil/Military Interface Committee |
| CNS |
|
Communication, Navigation and Surveillance |
| COCESNA |
|
Central American Corporation for Air Navigation Services |
| CODA |
|
Central Office of Delay Analysis |
| COSCAP |
|
Cooperative Development of Operational Safety and Airworthiness Activities |
| CPAR |
|
Cockpit Personnel Association of Russia |
| CPC |
|
Circulo de Pilotos de Chile |
| CPDLC |
|
Controller Pilot Data Link Communications |
| CPL |
|
Commercial Pilot Licence |
| CPU |
|
Core Processing Unit |
| CRAM |
|
Conditional Route Availability Message |
| CRCO |
|
Central Route Charges Office |
| CRM |
|
Collision Risk Methodology |
| CRO-ALPA |
|
Croatian Air Line Pilots' Association |
| CRP |
|
Co-ordinated Research Programme |
| CSI |
|
Criticality Safety Index |
| CSM |
|
Consultant Services Meeting |
| CTAM |
|
Climb to and maintain |
| CTO |
|
Calculated Time Over |
| CTOL |
|
Conventional Take-Off & Landing |
| CTU |
|
Cabin Telecommunications Unit |
| CUI |
|
Committee on Unlawful Interference |
| CVR |
|
Cockpit Voice Recorder |
| CW |
|
Carrier Wave |
| CWP |
|
Controller Working Position |
| CZ-ALPA |
|
Czech Air Line Pilots' Association |
