Every industry has its acronyms and aviation is certainly no exception. So here is a rough and by no means comprehensive guide to some of the more common terms in use by crew and Training Instructors in aviation.
A/C | Aircraft (A/C)Referring to an aircraft |
AOC | Air Operating Certificate (AOC)A commercial transport license for airlines. |
AOG | Aircraft on the Ground (AOG)Refers to an aircraft unable to operate due to a technical fault and needing engineering work. |
APU | Auxiliary Power Unit (APU)Power unit designed to provide start up power for the aircraft engines |
ATD | Actual Time of Departure (ATD)Variance from the scheduled time of departure |
BCF | Bromochlorodifluoromethane (BCF)
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CAA | Civil Aviation Authority (CAA)The body that responsbile for aviation within the United Kingdom. |
CACP | Cabin Area Control Panel (CACP)A local flight attendant control panel for a specific area of the aircraft cabin. |
CCM | Cabin Crew Member (CCM)General term for any any of the aircraft Cabin Crew. |
CEET | Cabin Emergency Evacuation Trainer (CEET)A representation of an aircraft cabin used for SEP cabin crew scenario training. |
CPT | Captain (CPT)Refers to the pilot in charge of the aircraft commonly known as the Aircraft Commander. |
CSCP | Cabin System Control Panel (CSCP)The main cabin control panel accessed by crew to monitor and control aircraft cabin functions such as temperature, lighting, door status, waste levels etc. |
CSD | Cabin Services Director (CSD)A term used by some airlines to refer to the SCCM on the aircraft. |
CSM | Cabin Services Manager (CSM)A term used by some airlines to refer to the SCCM on the aircraft. |
CST | Cabin Services Trainer (CST)A representation of an aircraft cabin for the purpose of training Cabin Crew in general and service operations. |
CTI | Crew Training Instructor (CTI)Members of staff responsible for crew training both ground based and line training. |
DT | Door Trainer (DT)An aircraft type specific representative training device used to familiarise Cabin Crew in the operation of a cabin door. |
EASA | European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA)EASA is the European Union Authority for aviation safety. The main activities of the organisation include the strategy and safety management, the certification of aviation products and the oversight of approved organisations and EU Member States. |
EBT | Evidence-based Training (EBT)EBT refers to any concept or strategy that is derived from or informed by objective evidence. Most commonly, educational research or metrics of competency observation, instructor and student performance. |
ELT | Emergency Location Transmitter (ELT)
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FAK | First Aid Kit (FAK)General description for the required aircraft first aid kits carried on board a commercial aircraft. |
FAP | Flight Attendant Panel (FAP)The main cabin control panel accessed by crew to monitor and control aircraft cabin functions such as temperature, lighting, waste levels etc. |
FO | First Officer (FO)Refers to the Flight Crew members directly responsible to the Aircraft Commander. |
IFE | In Flight Entertainment (IFE)Refers to the electronic systems presented to passengers for their entertainment during a flight. |
MRT | Manual Release Tool (MRT)
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OWE | Over Wing Exit (OWE)A non passenger door or plug type exit situated over the wing of an aircraft for the emergency evacuation of passengers and crew. |
PA | Passenger Address (PA)A Passenger Address refers to any announcment made to the passsengers in the cabin or parts of the cabin over the cabin speaker system. Generally a Passenger Address system is intergrated into the Crew Interphone system used for internal aircraft communications as well as passenger announcements |
PAX | Passenger (PAX)General shorthand when referring to passengers. |
PBE | Portable Breathing Equipment (PBE)Referring to the Smoke Hoods carried on board the aircraft for Cabin Crew use in emergencies such as fighting fires within the cabin. |
POCA | Portable Oxygen Cylinder Assembly (POCA)
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PRA | Pre-Recorded Announcement (PRA)An electronic system that can playback emergency messages to the cabin in the event of a cabin emergency leaving the crew to deal with the situation. |
PSU | Passenger Service Unit (PSU)
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SCCM | Senior Cabin Crew Member (SCCM)The member of Cabin Crew with overall responsibility for managing the aircraft cabin and Cabin Crew. Not a reference to the oldest member of the crew ;) |
SEP | Safety Equipment and Procedures (SEP)General term for the emergency equipment and method of operation for Cabin Crew dealing with potential emergency situations on board an operational aircraft. |
Something missing or spotted and error?
Want to share an aconym that we have forgotten or spotted a mistake in the list (they happen)? Drop us a note and we'll get straight on with it!