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
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Acronym |
|
Meaning |
| PAAST |
|
Pan American Aviation Safety Team |
| PACOTS |
|
Pacific Organised Track System |
| PAK |
|
Pilot Acknowledgement (service) |
| PALPA |
|
Pakistan Air Line Pilots Association |
| PALPU |
|
Pancyprian Airline Pilots Union |
| PAMC |
|
Provisional Acceptable Means of Compliance |
| PANS |
|
Procedures for Air Navigational Services |
| PANS-OPS |
|
Procedures for Air Navigational Services - Aircraft Operations |
| PAPI |
|
Precision Approach Path Indicator |
| PAR |
|
Precision Approach Radar |
| PASYI |
|
Pan-Cyprian Airline Pilots' Union (PASYPI) |
| PATRAM |
|
Packaging and Transport of Radio-Active Materials |
| PBS |
|
Preferential Bidding System |
| PCA |
|
Propulsion Controlled Aircraft |
| PCATD |
|
Personal Computer based Aviation Training Device |
| PCM |
|
Post Crash Management |
| PEC |
|
Pan European Conference |
| PED |
|
Passenger Electronic Devices |
| PEL/TRG |
|
Personnel Licensing and Training |
| PETAL |
|
Preliminary EUROCONTROL Test of Air/Ground Data Link |
| PF |
|
Pilot Flying |
| PFA |
|
Pilot Friendly Airport |
| PFCS |
|
Primary Flight Computer System |
| PFD |
|
Planned Flight Data |
| PIC |
|
Pilot In Command |
| PID |
|
Pilot Information Downlink (service) |
| PIRG |
|
Planning and Implementation Regional Group |
| PIs |
|
Performance Indicators |
| PLC |
|
Planning Controller (also known as Co-ordinator) |
| PMC |
|
Project Management Cell (Eurocontrol) |
| PMS |
|
Pavement Management System |
| PNF |
|
Pilot Not Flying |
| PNGAPA |
|
Papua New Guinea Air Pilots' Association |
| POH |
|
Pilot Operating Handbook |
| POL STAT |
|
IFALPA Policy Statement |
| POLALPA |
|
Stowarzyszenie Polskich Pilotow Komunikacyjnych (Poland) |
| PRC |
|
Performance Review Commission |
| PRICE |
|
ICAO Proficiency Requirements in Common English Study Group |
| PRL |
|
Pilot Request Level (service) |
| PROMET |
|
Provision of Meteorological Information |
| PRQ |
|
Pilot Request (service) |
| PRR |
|
Pilot Request, Route (service) |
| PRU |
|
Performance Review Unit |
| PTOT |
|
Provisional Take-Off Time |
| PTT |
|
Press To Talk |
| PTUK |
|
Pilots' Trade Union Kazakhstan |
| PTUL |
|
Pilots Trade Union of Latvia |
