Aviation Terminology

THE AIRPORT RUNWAY IS

THE MOST IMPORTANT
MAINSTREET IN ANY TOWN.
- NORM CRABTREE

The aviation industry, like many others, has a secret language all of its
own. Unlike most it is more than just jargon; it is a truly international
language which enables a message sent from, lets say, Lagos in Nigeria
to be understood by its recipient in, for example, Osaka in Japan, even
though neither side may be familiar with the others normal language.
Much of this is laid down by bodies such as IATA (the International Air
Transport Association) and although the basis of this international
language is English it is far from being just a simple adaptation of a few
key words. The standardisation of language was one of the most
significant steps towards making aviation a truly global business in the
aftermath of the Second World War.

Some of the standard terms

covered in this pack include:
The 24-hour clock

Day and month codes

Phonetics

3-letter codes

Aviation terms
Airimp

Regulatory bodies

The information in this section will give you the basics that you need to
know to work in an airport, however when you get to your Department,
there will be more terms and jargon to get used to. As with any language
it cannot all be learnt in a day, but you will get used to it very quickly.

THE AIRPORT RUNWAY IS THE MOST IMPORTANT MAINSTREET IN ANY TOWN. - NORM CRABTREE

Copyright Swissport Limited

www.swissport.com

Aviation Terminology

DID YOU KNOW?

THE 24HR CLOCK WAS
DEVELOPED TO AVOID
MISUNDERSTANDINGS AS A
RESULT OF AM AND PM.

The 24-hour Clock

When we use the 24-hour clock, the time is always expressed in four
figures. If a time sequence does not have four figures, we add zeros
in front of the time until we do have four figures, so 1:23 am will
become 0123 and 9:15 am will become 0915.
As you will see, when you write out times using the 24hour clock, you
dont put anything between the hours and the minutes, and you dont
put am or pm at the end.
Hours after noon are referred to in an increasing numerical sequence
rather than starting again, as we do when we use 12-hour time. For
example, one oclock in the afternoon becomes the thirteenth hour
(written 1300 and pronounced thirteen hundred).
Three oclock in the afternoon becomes the fifteenth hour (written
1500, pronounced fifteen hundred) and 9:15pm becomes the
twenty first hour of the day plus 15 minutes (2115, pronounced twenty
one fifteen) there is also no such time as midnight in the airline
industry: a flight will never be scheduled to depart at midnight. 2400
or 0000 are not used in written communications or for ticketing
purposes. Instead, the last minute of the day is written as 2359
(11.59pm) and the first minute of the next day is written as 0001
(12.01am).

Local vs. Zulu Time

As a rule, the majority of our reference material such as daily flight
schedules (mayfly) and the company flight information screens are
always in Greenwich Mean Time or ZULU time. All passenger
information and flight information screens are shown in local time.

Copyright Swissport Limited

www.swissport.com

Aviation Terminology

AS THINGS ARE, FLYING IS

TOO EXPENSIVE A MODE
OF TRANSPORT TO BE
CONSIDERED BY THE
ORDINARY MAN OR
WOMAN. TO THE GREAT
MAJORITY WITH MEANS,
THE DEAFENING ROAR OF
THE ENGINES, THE SENSE
OF DANGER, THE GREAT
UNCERTAINTY, ADDED TO
THE NOT INCONSIDERABLE
FARE, MORE THAN
BALANCE THE POSSIBLE
GAIN IN TIME.
NEON, 'THE FUTURE
OF AERIAL TRANSPORT',
THE ATLANTIC MONTHLY
MAGAZINE, JANUARY
1928.

Day & Month Codes

DAY CODES
You probably already use general day codes in your daily life,
however there are other day codes that you may not be familiar with.
Within the airline industry certain systems or information booklets i.e.
timetables hold so much information that it would not be possible to
put full day or month names in, so they have been standardised and
abbreviated.
While working in an airport, you may come across all of the following
for Day Codes:

Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday

MON
TUE
WED
THU
FRI
SAT
SUN

MO
TU
WE
TH
FR
SA
SU

1
2
3
4
5
6
7

MONTH CODES
As you may expect, there are similar codes for months.

ONCE YOU GET HOOKED

ON THE AIRLINE BUSINESS,
IT'S WORSE THAN DOPE.

ED ACKER, WHILE
CHAIRMAN OF AIR FLORIDA

January
February
March
April
May
June

JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN

1
2
3
4
5
6

July
August
September
October
November
December

JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
NOV
DEC

Whenever you are writing dates, the standard format that you
should use is DDMMYY.

7
8
9
10
11
12

This means that the 1st of January 2004 would be written as 01JAN04.

THE AIRPORT RUNWAY IS THE MOST IMPORTANT MAINSTREET IN ANY TOWN. - NORM CRABTREE

Copyright Swissport Limited

www.swissport.com

Aviation Terminology

TIP

ONE OF THE SIMPLEST

WAYS TO LEARN THE
PHONETIC ALPHABET IS TO
PRACTICE USING IT TO
SPELL WORDS, NAMES OR
EVEN THE LETTERS OF THE
NUMBER PLATE ON THE
CAR AHEAD OF YOU AS
YOU DRIVE HOME.

The Phonetic Alphabet

When you are using radios, the telephone or even talking faceto-face,
sometimes words or spellings can be mis-heard.
To overcome the risk of confusion, there is a standard alphabet in
use throughout the aviation world where each letter is represented by
a word.

A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M

Alpha
Bravo
Charlie
Delta
Echo
Foxtrot
Golf
Hotel
India
Juliet
Kilo
Lima
Mike

N
O
P
Q
R
S
T
U
V
W
X
Y
Z

November
Oscar
Papa
Quebec
Romeo
Sierra
Tango
Uniform
Victor
Whiskey
X-ray
Yankee
Zulu

You must make yourself familiar with the phonetic alphabet as not only
will you have to use it, but other people will expect you to understand
it when they use it.

Copyright Swissport Limited

www.swissport.com

Aviation Terminology

A RECESSION IS WHEN
YOU HAVE TO TIGHTEN
YOUR BELT; DEPRESSION IS
WHEN YOU HAVE NO BELT
TO TIGHTEN. WHEN YOU'VE
LOST YOUR TROUSERS YOU'RE IN THE AIRLINE
BUSINESS.
SIR ADAM THOMSON

Aviation Terms
These are common terms used at all airport locations in the Ireland.
They are mainly airport related and you will hear them used every day.
Airside and Landside
All airports in the Ireland (and most airports throughout the world) are
divided in to two areas:
Airside
Where access is restricted to employees who are security pass holders
and arriving or departing passengers
Landside
Which is more or less the public areas of an airport, although there
may be restricted access to parts of Landside. Customs restrictions
apply to Airside and it is an offence to bring certain items such as Duty
Free goods landside except as a passenger.
ATC
Air Traffic Control There is local ATC, national ATC and nowadays a
European ATC based in Brussels known as Eurocontrol. They all
work together to ensure safe and efficient use of airspace.
Slot Time(s)
The time allocated to an aircraft by ATC (normally Brussels) which is
when the aircraft must be airborne in order to slot into the air traffic
flows. There is usually a tolerance on either side of this, but ATC slots
should never be taken lightly!
Leg, Sector or Route
Where the aircraft will fly to after it leaves the current airport. Leg and
Sector usually refer to the next destination; Route may be used if the
aircraft is due to stop at another airport before reaching its final
destination.

THE AIRPORT RUNWAY IS THE MOST IMPORTANT MAINSTREET IN ANY TOWN. - NORM CRABTREE

Copyright Swissport Limited

www.swissport.com

Aviation Terminology

RUNNING AN AIRLINE IS
LIKE HAVING A BABY: FUN TO
CONCEIVE, BUT HELL TO
DELIVER.
C. E. WOOLMAN,
PRINCIPAL FOUNDER
DELTA AIR LINES

Aviation Terms
Airbridge
A movable link between the terminal building and the aircraft. Also
known as a jetty or jetway
Airstair
Retractable passenger steps built into an aircraft.
Apron. The area provided for the embarkation, disembarkation,
loading and unloading, and for the parking of aircraft.
APU
Auxiliary Power Unit. A turbine carried by most modern aircraft to
provide electrical power for aircraft systems and pneumatic power for
starting the engines whilst the aircraft is on the ground. It is basically
a small jet engine.
ASU
Air Start Unit. A mobile ground version of an APU but which normally
produces pneumatic power only. Used to start jet engines (by blowing
high-pressure air through them) if the onboard APU is not functioning.
GPU
Ground Power Unit. A mobile electrical generator used when the APU
is not working or when electrical power is needed over an extended
period, making the APU uneconomical
FEP
Fixed Electrical Power is a mains equivalent of a GPU built into a
fixed installation such as the terminal building.
Widebody
An aircraft such as a 747 Jumbo with more than one aisle between
passenger seats.

Copyright Swissport Limited

www.swissport.com

Aviation Terminology

Aviation Terms
Narrowbody
An aircraft with a single aisle between passenger seats.
Hold(s)
The lower compartment(s) of an aircraft used for loading baggage,
cargo and mail. Also referred to as belly or bellies.
Bulk Loaded
Bags, cargo and mail loaded directly into a hold or holds, usually but
not always narrow bodied aircraft.
Containerised Load
Bags, cargo or mail loaded into containers or onto pallets before
loading into a hold or holds. Usually but not always wide-bodied
aircraft.
Tug
A vehicle used to push or tow aircraft.
Technical or Tech
Usually used in the phrase the aircraft has gone tech. This means
there is a fault in the aircraft which may or may not delay its departure.
INDEF#
Indefinite (i.e. time); unable to give an estimate of duration (e.g. indef
tech, indef delayed).
INOP or U/S
Inoperative or unserviceable. Means the item is not fit for use.

THE AIRPORT RUNWAY IS THE MOST IMPORTANT MAINSTREET IN ANY TOWN. - NORM CRABTREE

Copyright Swissport Limited

www.swissport.com

Aviation Terminology

AIR TRANSPORT IS JUST A

GLORIFIED BUS OPERATION.
MICHAEL O'LEARY,
RYANAIR CEO, QUOTED IN
BUSINESSWEEK ONLINE, 12
SEPTEMBER 2002

Copyright Swissport Limited

Airimp Codes
A/C

Aircraft

ATA

Actual time of arrival

ATC

Air Traffic Control

ATD

Actual time of departure

AVI

Live Animal

BLND

Blind passenger

CANX

Cancelled

CIP

Commercially Important Person

CPM

Cargo pallet Message

DCS

Departure Control System

DHC

Dead Head Crew

ETA

Estimated time of arrival

ETD

Estimated time of departure

FIM

Flight interruption manifest

GMT

Greenwich Mean Time

HMC

Her Majestys Customs (UK)

HOTAC

Hotel accommodation

HUM

Human remains

IAA

Irish Aviation Authority

www.swissport.com

Aviation Terminology

I FEEL ABOUT AIRPLANES

THE WAY I FEEL ABOUT DIETS.
IT SEEMS THEY ARE
WONDERFUL THINGS FOR
OTHER PEOPLE TO GO ON.
JEAN KERR, THE SNAKE
HAS ALL THE LINES, 1958.

Airimp Codes
LDM

Load Message

LMC

Last minute change

LRP

Late reporting passenger

MAAS

Meet and assist

MCO

Miscellaneous change order

MVT

Movement Message

MCT

Minimum connecting time

MEDA

Passenger with notified medical condition

OSI

Other service information

PAD

Staff passenger

PAX

Passengers

PETC

Live animals or pets in cabin

PIL

Passenger information list

PNL

Passenger name list

PSM

Passenger Service Message

PTM

Passenger transfer message

REG

Registration (of aircraft)

RGDS

Regards

THE AIRPORT RUNWAY IS THE MOST IMPORTANT MAINSTREET IN ANY TOWN. - NORM CRABTREE

Copyright Swissport Limited

www.swissport.com

Aviation Terminology

EVERY TAKEOFF IS
OPTIONAL. EVERY LANDING
IS MANDATORY...
- UNKNOWN

Copyright Swissport Limited

Airimp Codes
RMKS

Remarks

RQST

Request

SI

Service information

SLS

Statistical Load Summary

SOM

Seat occupied message

STA

Scheduled time of arrival

STCR

Stretcher

STD

Scheduled time of departure

STN

Station

TCI

Through check-in

TKT

Ticket

TOB

Total on board

TOD

Ticket on departure

UTC

Universal Time Constant

WCHC

Wheelchair Totally immobile

WCHR

Wheelchair Assist to / from aircraft

WCHS

Wheelchair Assist on steps

YP

Young Person

www.swissport.com

Aviation Terminology

Regulatory Authorities
Regulatory bodies set the rules on the way airlines, airports and
handling agents can operate. Here are some of the key authorities
listed below:
CAA Civil Aviation Authority www.caa.co.uk
The CAA is the governing body of all UK registered airlines, airports
and related companies, and issues regulations through Civil Aviation
Publications - CAP Documents. It also has responsibility for ensuring
that companies working within the aviation industry comply with
the relevant regulations and to check this it audits airlines &
airports as on a regular basis.
IAA Irish Aviation Authority www.iaa.ie
The IAA is the equivilant of the CAA in Ireland - the governing body
of all Irish registered airlines, airports and related companies, and
issues regulations through Civil Aviation Publications - CAP
Documents. It also has responsibility for ensuring that companies
working within the aviation industry comply with the relevant
regulations and to check this it audits airlines & airports as on a
regular basis.

FAA - Federal Aviation Administration

The FAA is the equivalent of the IAA in the USA and carries out much
the same tasks as the IAA in regulating the aviation industry in the
United States, ensuring compliance with safety standards and
managing air traffic.
Aviation Authorities promote and oversee the safe operation of all
aspects of General Aviation within the State and also the
registered aircraft and license holders wherever they may be
engaged in aviation activity.

IATA - International Air Transport Association

Formed in 1946 to represent and serve the airline industry. Based in
Montreal, with their executive office in Geneva, IATA provides services
to airlines and to the travelling public by regulating the industry.

Copyright Swissport Limited

www.swissport.com

Aviation Terminology

ALL STAFF HAVE A

RESPONSIBILITY FOR
MAINTAINING AIRPORT
SECURITY.

Regulatory Authorities
ICAO - International Civil Aviation Organisation
ICAO is the United Nations agency for civil aviation and works with
national Air Traffic Services and regulatory bodies such as the IAA and
NATS. ICAO is responsible for the introduction of Joint Aviation
Requirements -JAR Ops - the harmonisation of European Union
member states civil aviation regulations
SITA - Societe Internationale des Telecommunications
Aeronautiques
Formed in 1949 and wholly owned by airlines, SITA is a global
communications and data network. Airlines and related companies
use the network to send messages and data concerning every aspect
of their businesses, from reservation details to aircraft movement
messages.
EASA
The European Aviation Safety Agency promotes the highest common
standards of safety and environmental protection in Europe. It advises
the EU on aviation legislation, it implements and monitors safety
standards in EU member countries, and it carries out safety and
environmental research.

Copyright Swissport Limited

www.swissport.com