Pilot's Alphabet (Phonetic Alphabet)

A

Alpha

Jet Tug

An aircraft (AC) pushback tug

Auto Pilot

An electronic device used to automatically maintain control of the aircraft when desired by the crew.

Flight Attendant (FA)

An individual who is qualified on an aircraft to perform safety related duties (and provide exceptional customer service).

Union

An organization which represents and protects you as an FA; The Association of Flight Attendants-Communication Workers of America (AFA-CWA).

Sterile Cockpit

Any critical phase of flight under 10,000ft including taxi, take-off, and landing, not including cruise.

Bulkhead

Any dividing wall in an aircraft

Temporary Duty (TDY)

A FA is temporarily assigned duty away from her/his domicile.

Line Holder

A FA whose seniority entitles him/her to hold a schedule built by the company

Stand Up

A continuous on-duty overnight trip that contains a rest period shorter than FAR requirement.

Ferry Flight

A flight set up to move an aircraft from one station to another. The flight is operated as non-revenue.

Divert

A flight that has been routed from its original arrival destination (DEST) to a new, typically temporary, arrival destination (DEST)

First Officer (FO)

A pilot second in command, whose duties are similar to the Captain's (CA), including maintaining control of aircraft, taking off, and landing.

Captain (CA)

A pilot who is in command of an aircraft and crew while on duty. Ultimately responsible for the manipulations of the flight controls of an aircraft.

Reserve Line Holder

A schedule built by the company indicating scheduled days on reserve. This schedule has no advanced scheduled flight time.

Bid Period

A specified period of time for which a flight attendant bids for a schedule or participation in a program.

J

Juliet

K

Kilo

A/C Left

Left side of the aircraft (from the perspective of sitting in a passenger seat facing forward).

L

Lima

Control Tower

Located at airports, controlling airplanes and runways. The tower must be within sight of the airport, and is operated by government personnel.

M

Mike

Jet Bridge

Mobile bridge-type system that permits boarding and deplaning of passengers (PAX)

Taxi

Movement of the aircraft on the ground.

N

November

B

Bravo

Crew

Captain, First Officer, and FA(s).

C

Charlie

Jumpseat

Collapsible seat in the cabin or flight deck, for use by an FA or an observer

D

Delta

DOT

Department of Transportation

Turn

Flight from origination to destination and back to origination.

Leg/Segment

Flight time spent traveling from block out to block in between two destinations, which appears as a portion of a trip in the FA's awarded line of flying

F

Foxtrot

GOM

General Operations Manual

G

Golf

GPU

Ground Power Unit - Supplies power to the aircraft (AC) when on the ground WITHOUT the engines running

GSC

Ground Security Coordinator

Altitude

Height of an aircraft above sea level, usually expressed in feet

H

Hotel

I

India

O

Oscar

P

Papa

Ramp

Parking area for an aircraft, located near the terminal.

Deplane

Passengers (PAX) exiting the aircraft. Always coordinate deplaning with the gate agent.

Q

Quebec

A/C Right

Right side of the aircraft (from the perspective of sitting in a passenger seat facing forward).

R

Romeo

Flight Time

The actual elapsed time from block to block for duty time purposes

Fuselage

The body of the aircraft (AC), NOT including the wing and tail

Hanger

The building where airplanes are repaired by maintenance

Domicile

The city designated by the company where crews are based.

Originating Station

The city where the flight begins

Operations (OPS)

The office at the airport with the responsibility of recording actual times of arrival and departure, coordinating the flight release, and the delivery of fuel to the aircraft.

Tarmac

The ramp area.

Aft

The rear of the aircraft

Configuration

The seating arrangement onboard the aircraft

Duty Time

The time a FA is required to be on duty. 45 minutes before the scheduled departure of his/her first flight of the day (or report time) whichever is later. Duty time ends 15 minutes after scheduled block in, or until the FA is released from duty, whichever is later.

Layover

The time you spend in a particular city between duty days, usually on overnights

Landing Gear

The under-structure that supports the weight of the aircraft (AC) while on the ground.

Headwind

The wind blowing in the opposite direction the aircraft is moving

Crew Rest

Time allotted between pairings for rest.

Deadheading (DH)

Time spent by a FA traveling from one point to another (not actually working the flight) at the direction of the company, either for duty or for returning from duty

Passenger (PAX) count

Total number of people on board.

Open Time

Trips not assigned to FAs that could be voluntarily picked up on days off.

U

Uniform

V

Victor

Reserve

When a crewmember is "on call" to report for duty within a 90-minute period from time of call.

Ready Reserve

When a crewmember is assigned to be on duty at your base airport.

W

Whiskey

Tailwind

Wind blowing the same directions as the aircraft is traveling.

X

X-ray

Y

Yankee

Z

Zulu

S

Sierra

ATC

Air Traffic Control. A service operated by the appropriate authority to promote a safe, orderly, and expeditious flow of aircraft.

E

Echo

Seniority

FA's length of cumulative service with the company that determines benefits and pay scale.

Crew Tracking

Scheduling group for all flight operations. FA's must call to check in and out for their reserve schedules.

T

Tango

Standing Bids

The department that awards base assignments.

Forward

The front of the aircraft (AC)

Flight Deck

The interior of the aircraft occupied by the Captain (CA) and First Officer (FO), aka the cockpit.