A Crew Guide to Aviation Acronyms

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)

BCF (Bromochlorodifluoromethane) from cabincrewsafety.comGeneral term used to describe Halon 1211 type fire extinguishers commonly used on board aircraft.

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)

ELT (Emergency Location Transmitter) from cabincrewsafety.comThe ELT is a mobile radio transmitter that can be manually set from the flight deck, directly or be water activated and transmits a radio distress signal.

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)

MRT (Manual Release Tool) from cabincrewsafety.comA Manual Release Tool (MRT) is a small handheld device designed to open the Passenger Service Unit in the event the automatic release fails.

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)

POCA (Portable Oxygen Cylinder Assembly) from cabincrewsafety.comRefers to the portable emergency oxygen cylinders carried in the aircraft cabin.

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)

PSU (Passenger Service Unit) from cabincrewsafety.comThe Passenger Service Unit is located directly above a row of passenger seats in the cabin and houses the attendant call, lighting, ventilation and Emergency Oxygen Masks.

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.


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Something missing or spotted and error?

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