Glossary Papakupu

Explanations of abbreviations and acronyms.
All 1 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y

    A

    AA
    Auckland Airport
    Abeam
    At right angles to the helicopter’s line of flight.
    Abilities
    Abilities are inherent or inherited characteristics that enable a person to accomplish or perform a given action.
    ACARS
    ACARS is a digital datalink system used in most airline aircraft for the transmission of short messages and allows communication between airline and aircraft and for flight crew to obtain printouts of weather forecasts.
    ACAS
    Airborne collision avoidance system
    Accredited representative
    The International Civil Aviation Organization Convention, Annex 13, details a framework that allows Accredited Representatives to be appointed from other Accident Investigation Authorities overseas to support an Accident Investigation Authority’s investigation.
    Acrylic
    A general-purpose plastic, often known by the brand names Perspex or Lucite. Its chemical name is poly methyl methacrylate or PMMA.
    Active duty
    The Operations Manual Part A 10.4.1 defines Active Duty as ‘The period of time commencing when a flight crew member reports to the departure airfield and ceases when post-flight responsibilities are complete’.
    Active protection
    Active protection includes all level crossing warning devices that are activated by an approaching train, including flashing lights, bells and barriers. It is contrasted with passive protection, which warns users of level crossings but does not alter this warning when trains are approaching.
    ADS-B
    ADS-B data rounds altitude read-outs to 100 ft and therefore cannot give accurate detail on the vertical separation of the two aircraft in this incident. However, the data does allow identification of each aircraft and accurate measurement of lateral separation.
    Advisory Circular
    Advisory circulars are guidance documents and not regulatory requirements
    Advisory circulars
    CAA advisory circulars contain guidance on standards, practices and procedures that the Director has found to be acceptable means of compliance with the associated rules and legislation.
    Aerodrome
    Any defined area of land or water intended or designed to be used either wholly or partly for the landing, departure and surface movement of aircraft (CARs Part 1 Definitions and Abbreviations)
    Aeronautical information
    AIPNZ meets part of New Zealand’s ICAO obligations to have an aeronautical information service
    Aeronautical telecommunications network equipment
    A digital data network that facilitates ground-to-ground and ground-to-air communications
    Aeropath
    An independent company, wholly owned by Airways, that provides the NZ Aeronautical Information Publication (NZAIP).
    Aerotowed
    Powered aeroplane tows the glider with a rope attached to specially designed towing hooks.
    AGL
    Above ground level
    AIAL
    Auckland International Airport Limited
    Aileron
    A controllable hinged surface on the trailing edge of a wing, used to roll an aircraft around the longitudinal, or fore and aft axis.
    AIPNZ
    Aeronautical Information Publication New Zealand
    Air Desk
    The national Air Desk is a coordination and tasking function, operated by Hato Hone St John, that provides oversight, dispatch and clinical support functions to air ambulance services.
    Air proximity
    A situation in which, in the opinion of a pilot or air traffic services personnel, the distance between aircraft as well as their relative positions and speed have been such that the safety of the aircraft involved may have been compromised. (ICAO Doc 4444: PANS-ATM). There are 4 available classification categories: A. Risk of collision B. Safety not assured C. No risk of collision D. Risk not determined
    Air taxiing
    Air taxiing: movement of a helicopter/VTOL above the surface of an aerodrome, normally in ground effect and at a ground speed normally less than 37 km/h (20 kt). Note: The actual height may vary, and some helicopters may require air-taxiing above 8 m (25 ft) AGL to reduce ground effect turbulence or provide clearance for cargo sling loads.
    Air Waybill
    Non-negotiable document issued by an air carrier acknowledging receipt of goods and transport terms
    Aircraft operating minima
    Specified limits used to assess cloud base and visibility against reported actual cloud base and visibility when conducting an approach.
    Airmanship
    Airmanship is the consistent use of good judgement and well-developed skills to accomplish flight objectives and demonstration of a high state of situational awareness.
    Airside
    Secured part of an airport beyond passenger screening
    Airspace
    Three-dimensional portion of the atmosphere controlled for aviation operations
    Airworthiness
    A formal and periodic review of an aircraft and its records that is required for the aircraft to remain airworthy.
    Airworthiness directives
    A mandatory airworthiness requirement that specifies modifications, inspections, conditions or limitations to be applied to an aircraft or aeronautical product to ensure continued safe operating conditions.
    AIS
    Automatic Identification System transmitting vessel identity and position
    Allision
    An accident between a vessel and a stationary object.
    Alternate aerodrome
    An aerodrome to which an aircraft may proceed when it becomes either impossible or inadvisable to proceed to or land at the aerodrome of intended landing; Civil Aviation Rule (CAR) Part 1.
    Altimetry
    Altimeters are used to display an aircraft’s vertical location above the earth’s surface. A barometric altimeter measures distance from sea level using air pressure, which decreases as altitude increases and vice versa. As air pressure differs across geographic regions, and as temperature changes, the pilot must set the local barometric pressure (corrected to sea level) for the displayed altitude to be accurate. If this does not occur, then the barometric altimeter will either over- or under-read. A radio (or radar) altimeter does not rely on air pressure; it measures the height of an aircraft above the ground by timing how long it takes a beam of radio waves to travel to the ground and reflect up to the aircraft’s receiver as shown below (sourced from internet).
    Altitude rounding
    ADS-B altitude data is rounded up or down to the nearest 100 ft when it is recorded, so two aircraft that are separated by 100 feet vertically could show the same altitude in their ADS-B data.
    AMSL
    Above mean sea level
    An adequate aerodrome
    An adequate aerodrome is one where the aircraft landing distance performance requirements at the expected landing weight can be met and appropriate aerodrome rescue and fire-fighting services are available, and there is at least one authorised instrument approach procedure. An adequate aerodrome becomes suitable when the weather minimum for the required type of use has been met; Airwork OCC Manual, 4.2 and 4.3.
    Anchorage
    Designated area where ships may anchor safely
    APAPI
    Abbreviated precision approach path indicator
    Apron
    Aircraft parking and service area at an aerodrome. The local name for the general aviation (GA) manoeuvring area, defined as an area on a land aerodrome intended to accommodate aircraft for the purpose of loading or unloading passengers or cargo, refuelling, parking, or maintenance (Civil Aviation Rules Part 1).
    APU
    Auxiliary Power Unit
    AR
    Ardmore Airport (Auckland)
    AR
    Ardmore Airport (Auckland)
    ARC
    aviation related concern
    Arm position
    The arm position enables the ELT to activate automatically upon aircraft impact with the ground if the forces exceed the activation threshold.
    ATA
    Actual Time of Arrival of a vehicle or vessel
    ATC
    Air Traffic Control service to prevent collisions and organise traffic
    ATD
    Actual Time of Departure of a vehicle or vessel
    ATMC
    The building that contains aeronautical telecommunications network equipment and sector air traffic controllers
    ATO
    Automatic Train Operation system automating train driving
    ATP
    Automatic Train Protection system enforcing safety limits
    ATPL
    Airline Transport Pilot Licence
    ATSB
    Australian Transport Safety Bureau
    Attitude
    The orientation of an aircraft relative to the horizon.
    Autoland
    A system incorporating autopilot, autothrust and radio altimeters to fully automate the landing phase with the flight crew supervising the process. A landing using the autopilot, with the pilot in the left seat taking over directional control during the landing roll (when the aircraft touches down, is brought down to taxi speed and eventually comes to a complete stop).
    Automatic Terminal Information Service (ATIS)
    A continuous broadcast of aerodrome information, including such items as expected type of approach, runway in use, runway condition (dry, wet or contaminated), surface wind, visibility, cloud, temperature, dew point, local pressure and the reported or forecast wind at 2000 ft.
    Autorotation
    Autorotation, also known as an autorotational descent, is a power-off manoeuvre in which the engine is disengaged from the main rotor system and the main rotor blades are driven solely by the upward flow of air through the main rotor.
    Aviation related concern
    A voluntary reporting of aviation matters that are not accidents or incidents
    Aviation Safety Reporting System
    The Aviation Safety Reporting System database is a collection of voluntarily submitted aviation safety incident/situation reports from pilots, controllers and others in the US aviation community.
    AWS
    Automatic weather station
    Axle Counter
    Device that detects train presence by counting axles