Glossary

 
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ADR
Aerodrome Radar

AEA
Association of European Airlines

AIC : Aeronautical Information Circular
The AIC contains information on the long-term forecast of any major change in legislation, regulations, procedures or facilities information of a purely explanatory or advisory nature liable to affect flight safety and information or notification of an explanatory or advisory nature concerning technical, legislative or purely administrative matters.

AIP : Aeronautical Information Publication
A publication issued by or with the authority of a State and containing aeronautical information of a lasting character essential to air navigation. The AIP is made up of three parts, GEN (general), ENR (en-route)and AD (aerodromes), each divided into sections and subsections.
  • PART 1: GEN (General)
    • GEN 1 : national regulations and requirements
    • GEN 2 : table and codes
    • GEN 3 : services
    • GEN 4 : charges for ADs/heliports and air navigation services
  • PART 2 : ENR (En-route)
    • ENR 0 : preface
    • ENR 1 : general rules and procedures
    • ENR 2 : air traffic services airspace
    • ENR 3 : air traffic services routes
    • ENR 4 : radio navigation aids/systems
    • ENR 5 : navigation warnings
    • ENR 6 : en-route charts
  • PART 3 : AD (Aerodromes)
    • AD 0 : preface
    • AD 1 : ADs/heliports - introduction
    • AD 2 : ADs
    • AD 3 : heliports

AIRAC : Aeronautical Information Regulation and Control

An acronym signifying a system aimed at advance notification, based on common effective dates, of circumstances that necessitate significant changes in operating practices. In short it defines that in all instances, information provided under the AIRAC system, shall be published and distributed by the AIS unit at least 42 days in advance of the effective date, with the objective of reaching the recipients at least 28 days in advance of the effective date. The AIRAC cycle was adopted by ICAO in 1964 and further improved over the years. Key are the worldwide effective dates with 28 days intervals. Effective days are always on a Thursday. Three dates are to be remembered from this :
  • Effective date : Date at which changes take effect.
  • Publication date : Date at which the AIS organisation sends out the information. Should be at least 42 days before effective date.
  • Reception date : Date at which the user should receive the publications. Should be at least 28 days before the effective date. The two weeks between publication and reception date is basically to allow for postal distribution of the publications.
AIRMET
AIRMET is a meteorological warning message issued by a Meteorological Watch Office. It contains information concerning the occurrence or expected occurrence of specified en-route weather phenomena below FL100, which may affect the safety of low level flights. Typical phenomena which call for an AIRMET are high surface wind speeds (SFC WSPD), low surface visibility (SFC VIS), thunderstorms (TS), cumulonimbus clouds (CB), moderate icing (MOD ICE) and moderate turbulence (MOD TURB), etc.... An AIRMET is valid for a short period only (usually max. 4 hours).

AIS : Aeronautical Information Service
A service established within the defined area of coverage responsible for the provision of aeronautical information/data necessary for the safety, regularity and efficiency of air navigation.

AMDT : Amendment
Permanent changes to the information contained in the AIP Two types of amendments can be distinguished : 1. Regular AIP AMDT Regular AIP AMDT, issued in accordance with an established regular interval (28 days) and identified by a light blue coversheet, incorporate permanent changes into the AIP. The are to be inserted into the AIP, fourteen days after their publication date. This insertion date is always an AIRAC effective date. 2. AIRAC AIP AMDT AIRAC AIP AMDT, issued in accordance with the AIRAC system and identified by a pink cover sheet and the acronym 'AIRAC', incorporate operationally significant permanent changes into the AIP on the indicated AIRAC effective date. AIRAC information will be issued so that the information will be received by the user not later than 28 days before the effective date.

AMS
Airport Movement System - AMS - is a tower control system entirely developed by skeyes. It integrates the international concepts of A-SMGCS and CDM.

ANSP
Air Navigation Service Provider

APP
Approach Control

ARO : air traffic services reporting office
A unit established for the purpose of receiving reports concerning air traffic services and flight plans submitted before departure. An air traffic services reporting office may be established as a separate unit or combined with an existing unit, such as another air traffic services unit,or a unit of the aeronautical information service.

A-SMGCS

Advanced Surface Movement Guidance and Control System

ATC
Air Traffic Control

ATIS : automatic terminal information service
The provision of current, routine information to arriving and departing aircraft by means of continuous and repetitive broadcasts throughout the day or a specified portion of the day.

ATM
Air Traffic Management

ATS
Air Traffic Services

ATS/PS
ATS Publications & Standards


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Ballooning Bulletin
A Ballooning bulletin is a forecast of weather parameters that are relevant for ballooners. It can be considered as a supplement to the GAMET and the low-level significant weather chart. The ballooning bulletin provides forecasted wind speed and direction, significant weather, low clouds, forecasted thermals and inversions. It also provides an outlook of the weather for the next hours or day. In summer season the bulletin is distributed at 02.30UTC, 11.30UTC and 15.00UTC; in winter season at 05.30UTC and 11.30UTC.

Balloon Notification Form
Balloonists can notify a balloon flight to Brussels FIS by means of this form. This "Ballooning flight notification" is not a replacement for a flight plan. Aeronauts still need to file a proper flight plan when crossing national borders.

BAVART-b
Brussels ATIS & VOLMET Aeronautical Radio Transmission-bravo

BEAC
Belgian Airport Consultants

BSA
Belgian Supervisory Authority

BSC
Brussels Slot Coordination


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CANAC
Computer Assisted National Air Traffic Control Center

CCT
Convention Collective du Travail

CDA
Continuous Descent Approach

CDM
Collaborative Decision Making

CFMU
Central Flow Management Unit

CNS
Communication Navigation Surveillance

CPDLC
Computer Pilot Data Link Communication

CPPT
Comité pour la Prévention et la Protection au Travail

CR
Common Requirements

CRM
Customer Relations Management

CTR
Control region zone


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Daily Warning
Daily Warnings Provides the airspace user with a visual presentation of all special activities that take place in the Brussels FIR and which are notified by NOTAM. The displayed NOTAM numbers correspond to the location of the activity and clicking on the number leads to the full NOTAM text, showing details on position, radius, height limits, nature and times of the activity. This chart and the related NOTAM are published daily in the afternoon for the activities of the next day. The chart and the information will be amended whenever last-minute changes are notified.

DGTA
Direction Générale du Transport Aérien

D-OTIS
Datalink-Operational Terminal Information Services


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EAD : European Aeronautical Database
EAD is a centralised reference database of quality assured aeronautical information and, simultaneously, a fully integrated, state-of-the)art AIS solution. One of the major objectives of the EAD is the improvement of the quality of data. Data quality will continue to increase as all parties use standardised rules and procedures, implemented at system level, and ensure cross-border consistency. Additionally, other quality improvement steps have been taken to ensure that errors, which were not detected during input,in the EAD are identified and rectified, thus enhancing the quality of the data contained in EAD.
EAD lets aeronautical information providers - including AIS organisations from civil aviation authorities, air navigation service providers and military administrations in the European Civil Aviation Conference (ECAC) area - enter and maintain their data in a central repository. At the same time, EAD enables data users - such as aircraft operators, private pilots and the general public - to retrieve and download AIS data from the system in real-time.

EBBR
Europe Belgium Brussels = Brussels Airport

ERU
Emergency Radio Unit


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FAB
Functional Airspace Block

FEAST
First European ATCO Selection Test

FIR
Flight Information Region

FPL : Flight plan
A flight plan contains information relative to an intended flight or portion of a flight, to be provided to ATS units. Flight plans can be submitted at the ARO in person, by telephone, fax or AFTN, through a BNASC workstation, or through the Internet. skeyes has developed an electronic flight plan form for transmission through the Internet. When the flight plan has been submitted via Internet, the pilot shall contact ARO to ensure the flight plan is received correctly and has been approved by the Air Traffic Services.

FPRM : Flight plan related message
In order to improve safety for international VFR flights, any change to the flight plan (route change, delay or cancellation) has to be notified to ARO, as well as the activation and closure of the flight plan (departure and arrival times). Pilots are required to inform the local ARO of any of the above events. The ARO then transmits the information to all recipients of the flight plan. This procedure allows ATS to monitor the safe conduct of the flight, and to avoid unnecessary interventions of the Search and Rescue services. At present, the reporting of departure, arrival, change, delay or cancellation of a flight plan is only available to authorized airport authorities via internet.

FUA
Flexible Use of Airspace


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GAMET
GAMET Area Forecast. A GAMET Area Forecast is an area forecast in abbreviated plain language for low-level flights for a flight information region (FIR) or sub-area thereof. It is prepared by the meteorological office responsible for that FIR. A GAMET contains two sections: Section I related to information on en-route weather phenomena hazardous to low-level flights and Section II related to additional information required by low-level flights. When a weather phenomenon hazardous to low-level flights has not been included in the GAMET area forecast and the phenomenon occurs or is forecast to occur, an AIRMET message shall be issued.

Glider Flying Bulletin
A Glider Flying Bulletin is a forecast of weather parameters which are relevant for glider flyers. It provides forecasted information about nebulosity, thermals as well as wind and temperature at surface, 500 m, 1000 m, 1500 m, 2000 m and 3000 m. Furthermore, it describes the general synoptic situation, some special informations and an outlook focussed on the glider flying possibilities.


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HLPG
High Level Policy Group

HMI
Human Machine Interface


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IACA
International Air Carrier Association

IATA
International Air Transport Association

ICAO
International Civil Aviation Organisation

IFR
Instrument Flight Rules

ILS
Instrument Landing System

ISAAC
Innovative System for Automated Aeronautical Communications

IVCS
Instantaneous Voice Communication System


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LoA
Letter of Agreement

Low-level significant weather chart
A low-level significant weather chart is a weather chart which displays the expected significant weather phenomena below 10000 ft.

LRS
Last Resort Radio System


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MATS
Manual of Air Traffic Services

METAR : Meteorological Aviation Report
METAR refers both to the code for an aviation routine weather report and to report which is written in the METAR code. This aeronautical meteorological form was developed by the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) on the basis of aeronautical requirements established by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). It represents a condensation of the abbreviated plain language routine report but is intended to be directly readable to the extent possible. It describes the actual meteorological state of an aerodrome. This includes information on surface wind, visibility, cloud amount & base, temperature, dew point, pressure (QNH), information about wind shear and significant weather type.
In addition, a trend forecast is often appended to the METAR report, indicating the evolution of the weather at the aerodrome in the period of two hours following the dissemination of the report. Most airports (including Brussels-National) issue a METAR at HH+20 and HH+50 (i.e. 20 and 50 minutes past each hour), with others hourly only. SPECI reports are issued when meteorological variables deteriorate/improve through defined levels.

MUAC
Maastricht Upper Area Control Center


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NDB
Non Directional Beacon

NOF : international NOTAM Office
An office designated by a State for the exchange of NOTAM internationally.

NOTAM : Notice to Airmen
A NOTAM contains information of a temporary nature and of short duration or operationally significant permanent changes, or temporary changes of long duration made at short notice, except for extensive text and/or graphics.

NOTAM Summary
This list gives an overview of all Belgian and Luxembourg NOTAM in force and is updated in real time. Daily Warnings Provides the airspace user with a visual presentation of all special activities that take place in the Brussels FIR and which are notified by NOTAM. The displayed NOTAM numbers correspond to the location of the activity and clicking on the number leads to the full NOTAM text, showing details on position, radius, height limits, nature and times of the activity. This chart and the related NOTAM are published daily in the afternoon for the activities of the next day. The chart and the information will be amended whenever last-minute changes are notified.


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OACI
Organisation de l'Aviation civile internationale

OJTI
On The Job Training Instructor


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PIB : Preflight Information Bulletin
This bulletin contains a recapitulation of current NOTAM and other information of urgent character for the operator/flight crew. On this website, you can select three different types of PIB :
  • MAP Selection : A spot on a map of the Brussels FIR graphically represents Belgian aerodromes and selected foreign aerodromes near the Belgian border. Clicking on such aerodrome spot provides an up-to-date bulletin, containing NOTAM and OPMET messages. In Winter also SNOWTAM (for main airports only) are included in the report.
  • Narrow Route Bulletin : A Narrow Route Bulletin provides NOTAM, SNOWTAM and OPMET information strictly tailored to the needs of the pilot. Only NOTAM that relate to the intended flight route are included. Entering the callsign and the aerodrome of departure and destination of a valid flight plan will automatically produce a Narrow Route Bulletin for this flight. If no flight plan has been filed, entering the complete flight route details, complemented with the aerodrome of departure, arrival and the alternate aerodromes, will allow retrieving the same type of bulletin.
  • Aerodrome and FIR Bulletin : An Aerodrome and FIR Bulletin provides NOTAM, SNOWTAM and OPMET information for all the FIRs and aerodromes selected in the request. Such type of bulletin is advised in the initial flight preparation phase, in order to obtain advance information about the aerodrome status and the availability of airspace and/or routes.


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QMS
Quality Management System


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RVSM
Reduced Vertical Separation Minima


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SES
Single European Sky

SIGMET : Significant Meteorological Information
SIGMET is a meteorological warning message issued by a Meteorological Watch Office. It contains information concerning the occurrence or expected occurrence of specified en-route weather phenomena which may affect the safety of aircraft operations. Typical phenomena which call for a SIGMET are embedded (EMBD) or frequent (FRQ) cumulonimbus (CB) or thunderstorms (TS), severe icing (SEV ICE) in frontal cloud, severe clear air turbulence (CAT) etc. A SIGMET is issued when there is a high degree of confidence. It is for a short (usually max. four hours) period only.

Significant weather chart
A significant weather chart is a weather chart on which a set of expected hazardous weather phenomena is displayed by means of symbols.

SNOWTAM
A special NOTAM notifying the presence or removal of hazardous conditions due to snow, ice, slush or standing water associated with snow, slush and ice on the movement area, by means of a specific format.

SR/SS : Sunrise/Sunset
In order to assist mainly the General Aviation community, a table containing the times of Sunrise (SR) and Sunset (SS) has been made available on the Internet. All times are given in UTC and relate to the geographical position of Uccle.

SUP : Supplement
Temporary changes of long duration (three months and longer) and information of short duration that consists of extensive text and/or graphics, supplementing the permanent information contained in the AIP, are published as AIP supplements. Supplements are published on yellow paper to be conspicious and to stand out from the rest of the AIP.

SVW
Special Visibility Warning


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TAF
TAF (Terminal Aerodrome Forecast) is a concise statement of the expected meteorological conditions at an aerodrome during a specified period. There are two types of TAF messages :
  • The short TAF is issued every three hours. It is valid for nine hours, starting one hour after dissemination.
  • The long TAF is issued every six hours. It is valid for eightteen hours, starting eight hours after dissemination.
TNC
Terminal Navigation Charges

TMA
Terminal Movement Area


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UIR
Upper Flight Information Region

Upper Wind and Temperature chart
An Upper Wind and Temperature chart is a chart showing the expected temperature, wind speed and direction at a given flight level.


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VCS-b
Voice Communication System-bravo

VCSS
Voice Communication Switching System

VOLMET
Report containing meteorological information for aircraft in flight.

VTR
Visual Training Room


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