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 |
| IAAC |
|
International Agricultural Aviation Centre |
| IAARC |
|
International Administrative Aeronautical Radio Conference |
| IAASM |
|
International Academy of Aviation and Space Medicine |
| IABA |
|
International Association of Aircraft Brokers and Agents |
| IAC |
|
International Advisory Committee |
| IACA |
|
International Air Carrier Association |
| IACSC |
|
Improved Airworthiness Communications Steering Committee |
| IAEA |
|
International Atomic Energy Agency |
| IALPA |
|
Irish Air Line Pilots Association |
| IAM |
|
Informal (South Pacific Air Traffic Services Co-ordinating Group) Application Manual |
| IANC |
|
International Airline Navigators Council |
| IAOPA |
|
International Aircraft Owners and Pilots Associations |
| IAP |
|
Instrument Approach Plate |
| IAPA |
|
International Airline Passengers Association |
| IAS |
|
Indicated Air Speed |
| IASA |
|
International Air Safety Association |
| IASS |
|
International Air Safety Seminar |
| IATA |
|
International Air Transport Association |
| ICAO |
|
International Civil Aviation Organisation |
| ICASM |
|
International Congress of Aviation and Space Medicine |
| ICD |
|
Interface Control Document |
| IFA |
|
International Federation of Airworthiness |
| IFALPA |
|
International Federation of Air Line Pilots' Associations |
| IFATCA |
|
International Federation of Air Traffic Controllers' Associations |
| IFATSEA |
|
International Federation of Air Traffic Safety Electronic Associations |
| IFE |
|
In-flight Emergency |
| IFEA |
|
Indian Flight Engineers Association |
| IFEO |
|
International Flight Engineers Organisation |
| IFFAS |
|
International Fund for Aviation Safety |
| IFHO |
|
International Federation of Helicopter Operators |
| IFP |
|
Integrated Flight Plan System |
| IFPP |
|
Instrument Flight Procedures Panel (ICAO) |
| IFPS |
|
Integrated Initial Flight Plan Processing System |
| IFPZ |
|
Integrated Initial Flight Plan Processing System Zone |
| IFR |
|
Instrument Flight Rules |
| IHST |
|
International Helicopter Safety Team |
| ILO |
|
International Labour Organisation |
| ILS |
|
Instrument Landing System |
| IMA |
|
Integrated Modular Avionics |
| IND |
|
IFALPA Industrial Committee |
| INS |
|
Inertial Navigation System |
| INSTRAT |
|
Institutional Strategy for Air Traffic Management |
| INTERPOL |
|
International Criminal Police Organisation |
| IOCS |
|
Interim Oceanic Control System (Interim datalink system for the Auckland Flight Information Region) |
| IOSA |
|
IATA Operational Safety Audit |
| IP |
|
Internet Protocol |
| IPACG |
|
Informal Pacific ATS (Air Traffic Services) Co-ordinating Group |
| IPG |
|
Indian Pilots' Guild |
| IPV |
|
Instrument Approach with Vertical guidance |
| IR |
|
Ice on Runway |
| IRS |
|
Inertial Reference System |
| ISAD |
|
ICAO's Incorporating Security into Aircraft Design () Working Group |
| ISASI |
|
International Society of Air Safety Investigators |
| ISO |
|
International Standards Organisation |
| ISPACG |
|
Informal South Pacific ATS (Air Traffic Services) Co-ordinating Group |
| ISR-ALPA |
|
Israel Air Line Pilots Association |
| Israel FE |
|
Israel Flight Engineers |
| ITA |
|
Institute of Air Transport |
| ITF |
|
International Transport Workers Federation |
| ITP |
|
In Trail Procedure (for climb or descent) |
| ITU |
|
International Telecommunications Union |
| IUAI |
|
International Union of Aviation Insurers |