Handout – Abbreviations and acronyms
+SHRASNGS = Heavy showers of predominantly rain mixed with snow and small hail
ACARS = Aircraft Communications Addressing and Reporting System
ACC = Area Control Center
ADF = Automatic Direction Finder
AFIS = Aerodrome Flight Information Service
AIC = Aeronautical Information Circular
AIP = Aeronautical Information Publication
AIP SUP = Aeronautical Information Publication Supplement
AIS = Aeronautical Information Service
ALSR = Alerting Service
APP = Approach
APP = Approach Control
ATC = Air Traffic Control
ATIS = Automatic Terminal Information Service
ATR = Aerodrome Traffic Region
ATS = Air Traffic Service
ATZ = Aerodrome Traffic Zone
BC = Patches. There are patches of fog within the aerodrome perimeter.
BCFG-DZRA = Patches of fog and light drizzle and rain
BKN = Broken
CAT = Clear Air Turbulence
CAVOK = Ceiling and Visibility OK
CB = Cumulunimbus
CF = Centrifugal Force
CNL = (forecast has been) Cancelled
COR = Correction (of the previous report)
CTA = Control Area
CTR = Control Region
D = Downward
DEP = Departure
DME = Distance Measuring Equipment
DR = Drifting
DZ = Drizzle
ELT = Emergency Locator Transmitter
ETP = Equal Time Point
FA = Aviation Area Forecast
FD = Winds and Temperatures Aloft Forecast
FIR = Flight Information Region
FIS = Flight Information Service
FMS = Flight Management System
FPL = Filed Flight Plan
FT = Feet
FZRA = Moderate Freezing Rain
GPS = Global Positioning System
GS = Ground Speed
HCL = Horizontal Component of Lift
HDG = Heading
IC = Ice Crystals
IFR = Instrument Flight Rules
IMC = Instrument Meteorological Condition
KN = Knots
MAP = Missed Approach Point
MCA = Minimum Crossing Altitude
MEA = Minimum Enroute Altitude
METAR = Aerodrome Routine Meteorological Report
MOCA = Minimum Obstruction Clearance Altitude
MORA = Minimum Off-route Altitude
MRA = Minimum Reception Altitude
MSA = Minimum Sector Altitude
N = No change
NCD = No Cloud Detected
NDB = Non Directional Beacon
NDV = No Directional Variations Available
NIL = (no report exists)
NM = Nautical Miles
NOSIG = No Significant Changes
NOTAM = Notice to Airmen
NRST = Nearest
NSC = Nil Significant Cloud
PAR = Precision Approach Radar
PET = Point of Equal Time
PFD = Planned Flight Data
PIB = Preflight Information Bulletin
PIREP = Pilot Report
PL = Ice Pellets
PR = Partial
PSR = Point of Safe Return
PSR = Primary Surveillance Radar
QNE = Query: Nautical Equivalent
QNH = Query: Nautical Height
RA = Rain
RCC = Rescue Coordination Center
RMI = Radio Magnetic Indicator
RWY = Runway
SCT = Scattered
SG = Snow Grains
SID = Standard Instrument Departure
SIGMET = Significant Meteorological Information
SN = Snow
SPECI = Aerodrome Special Meteorological Report
SSR = Secondary Surveillance Radar
SSR Code = Special Service Request Code
STAR = Standard Terminal Arrival
TAF = Terminal Aerodrome Forecast
TAS = True Airspeed
TCA = Terminal Control Area
TCU = Towering Cumulus
TEMPO = Temporary Fluctuations
TMA = Terminal Area
TWR = Tower
U = Upward
UTA = Upper Control Area
UTC = Coordinated Universal Time
VC = Vicinity
VCTS = Thunderstorm is observed in the vicinity of the aerodrome
VFR = Visual Flight Rules
VMC = Visual Meteorological Condition
VOR = VHF Omnidirectional Range
VV = Vertical Visibility
WPT = Waypoint
WS = Windshear
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