PPL – Private Pilot License
CPL – Commercial Pilot License
VFR – Visual Flight Rules
IFR – Instrument Flight Rules
IMC – Instrument Meteorological Conditions
METAR – Meteorological Terminal Aviation Routine Weather Report
TAF – Terminal Area Forecast
GFA – Graphical Area Forecast
ATIS – Automatic Terminal Information Service
POH – Pilot’s Operating Handbook, a guide with information for a particular model of aircraft, giving all the important speeds, weights, procedures, characteristics you need to know to fly that particular airplane.
AIM – Aeronautical Information Manual
SM – Statute Mile
AGL – Above Ground Level
ASL – Above Sea Level
FTM – Flight Training Manual. The main manual for flight training in Canada, published by Transport Canada.
ELT – Emergency Locator Transmitter
ADF – automatic direction finding
AME – aircraft maintenance engineer
ATC – Air Traffic Control
ATS – Air Traffic Services
CAS – calibrated airspeed
CDI – course deviation indicator
C of A – Certificate of Airworthiness
DF – direction finding
ETA – estimated time of arrival
gph – gallons per hour
IAS – indicated airspeed
in. Hg – inches of mercury
kHz – kilohertz
kt. – knot(s)
lb. – pound(s)
M – magnetic
mb – millibar(s)
MHz – megahertz
NM – nautical mile(s)
OAT – outside air temperature
OBS – omnibearing selector
SM – statute mile(s)
SVFR – special VFR flight
TAS – true airspeed
TCA – terminal control area
UTC – co-ordinated universal time (Z)
VHF – very high frequency
VNC – VFR Navigation Chart
VOR – VHF (very high frequency) Omnidirectional Range
VORTAC – combination of VOR and TACAN
NOTAM – notice to airmen
RNAV – area navigation, a method of IFR navigation using beacons. Used to be called “random navigation” hence the acronym RNAV
ICAO – International Civil Aviation Organization airport code. The ICAO is a four character alphanumeric code designating each airport around the world