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 |
| R-ATSU |
|
The Receiving Air Traffic Services Unit |
| RA |
|
Resolution Advisory |
| RAA |
|
Regional Airline Association (USA) |
| RAAS |
|
Runway Aural Awareness System |
| RAC |
|
Rules of the Air and Air Traffic Services |
| RAeS |
|
Royal Aeronautical Society |
| RAIM |
|
Receiver Autonomous Integrity Monitoring |
| RAN |
|
Regional Air Navigation |
| RAPNET |
|
Regional ATC Packet switched Network |
| RASP |
|
Radar Application Specialist Panel |
| RCL |
|
Runway Centreline Lighting |
| RDPS |
|
Radar Data Processing System |
| REG |
|
Regulatory (issues) |
| REL |
|
Runway Entrance Light(s) |
| RESA |
|
Runway End Safety Area |
| RESMA |
|
Requirements for Emergency and Safety Airborne Equipment |
| RET |
|
Airborne & Ground Retrofit (issues) |
| RFC |
|
Request For Change |
| RFF |
|
Rescue and Fire Fighting |
| RFL |
|
Requested Flight Level |
| RGCSP |
|
Review of General Concept of Separation Panel |
| RGS |
|
Remote Ground Station |
| RIMS |
|
Runway Incursion Monitoring System |
| RMCDE |
|
Radar Message Conversion and Distribution Equipment |
| RMP |
|
Radio Management Panel |
| RNAV |
|
Area Navigation |
| RNDSG |
|
Route Network and Development Sub-Group |
| RNMP |
|
Replacement of the Nautical Mile Panel |
| RNP |
|
Required Navigation Performance |
| RO-ALPU |
|
Romanian Air Line Pilot's Union |
| RPF |
|
Rapid Prototyping Facility |
| RPG |
|
Regional Planning Group |
| RPL |
|
Repetitive Flight Plan |
| RPP |
|
Radiation Protection Programme |
| RPR |
|
Re-Routing Proposal Message |
| RSC |
|
Runway Service Conditions |
| RTA |
|
Required Time of Arrival |
| RTCA |
|
Radio Technical Commission for Aeronautics |
| RTCA |
|
Requirements and Technical Concepts for Aeronautics |
| RTCM SC |
|
Radio Technical Commission for Maritime Services Special Committee |
| RTD |
|
Research and Technical Development |
| RTF |
|
Radiotelephony |
| RTO |
|
Rejected Take Off |
| RVR |
|
Runway Visual Range |
| RVSM |
|
Reduced Vertical Separation Minima |
| RWSL |
|
Runway Status Lights |
