ICAO/IATA Terms and Definitions
Cabin
A compartment where passenger seats are installed
Loadsheet
A completed loadsheet contains all weight data pertaining to a particular flight, i.e. the weight of the aircraft, crew, pantry, fuel, passengers, baggage, cargo and mail. It also contains where necessary details of the distribution of this load in the aircraft
Airway
A control area or portion thereof established in the form of a corridor equipped with radio navigations aids
Aerodrome (=Airport)
A defined are on land or water intended to be used either wholly or in part for the arrival, departure and surface movement of aircraft
RWY (Runway)
A defined rectangular area on a land aerodrome prepared for the landing and take-off of aircraft
Glide path
A descent profile determined for vertical guidance during a final approach
Cabin section
A division of the cabin into zones for the purpose of balance
RPL (Repetitive flight plan)
A flight plan related to a series of frequently recurring, regularly operated individual flights with identical basic features, submitted by an operator for retention and repetitive use by ATS units
Load control
A function to ensure the optimum utilization of the aircraft capacity and distribution of load as dictated by safety and operational requirements
Air traffic control unit
A generic term meaning variously, area control center, approach control office and aerodrome control tower
Air traffic service
A generic term meaning variously, flight information service, alerting service, air traffic advicory service and air traffic control service
Cruising level
A level maintained during a significant portion of a flight
Special load
A load which, owing to its nature or value, requires special attention and treatment during the process of acceptance, storage, transportation, loading and unloading
Nets
A network of webbing affixed to an aircraft within its holds or to an aircraft ULD for the purpose of restraining a load wihtih the hold or in the ULD
NOTAM
A notice distributed by means of telecommunication containing information concerning the establishment, condition or change in any aeronautical facility, service, procedure or hazard
Balance condition
A numeric expression of the position of the centre of gravity
Load planning
A part of load control
Ramp agent
A person who supervises and coordinates on the ramp the tasks of ground handling for an aircraft departure or arrival
Aircraft pallet
A platform with a flat under-surface, to standard aircraft requirements on which goods are assembled and secured by nets/straps/igloos, and subsequently locked into the aircraft, to achive rapid loading/unloading on compatible aircraft conveying and restraint systems. As such, it becomes a component of the aircraft loading and restraint system
Air traffic control service
A service provided for the purpose of: 1. preventing collisions between aircraft and on the manouevring area between aircraft and obstructions 2. expediting and maintaining an orderly flow of air traffic
Compartment
A soace designated within a hold
Hold
A space confined by ceiling, floor, walls, and bulkhead, used for carrying load
Holding point
A specified location, identified by visual or other means, in the vicinity of which the position of an aircraft in flight is maintained in accordance with air traffic control clearance
General decleration
A standard document giving certain details about a flight required for aircraft clearance by government authorities in certain countries
Deck
A structural floor level, for aircraft hafing one structural level only, this floor level shall be referred to as the main deck. For aircraft having more than one structural floor level, the different floor levels shall be referred to as lower deck, main deck and upper deck
Section
A subdivision of a non-containerized/ palletized compartment, i.e. net section
Cargo manifest
A traffic document listing the details of the cargo to be carried on a flight
Aircraft registration
A unique alpha/numeric designation for an aircraft
Aerodrome control tower
A unit established to provide air traffic control service to aerodrome traffic
ACC (Area control centre)
A unit established to provide air traffic control service to controlled flights in control areas under its jurisdiction
FIC (Flight Information centre)
A unit established to provide flight information service and alerting service
AIP
Aeronautical information publication - a publication issued by or with the authority of a state and containing aeronautical information of lasting character essential to air navigation
AWB
Air Waybill - The document entitled "Air Waybill/ Air Consignment Note" made out by or on behalf of the shipper which evidences the contract between the shipper and carrier(s) for carriage of goods over routes of the carrier(s)
Air traffic
All aircraft in flight or operating on the manoeuvring area of an airport
Containerized aircraft
An aircraft of which the cargo compartments are equipped with a unit load devices conveyance and restraint system, in order to accommodate aircraft containers or pallets.
ALT (Alternate aerodrome)
An airport to which an aircraft may proceed when it becomes either impossible or inadvisable to proceed to or land at the aerodrome of intended landing (take-off alternate, en-route alternate and destination alternate)
Radar approach
An approach, executed by an aircraft, under the direction of a radar controller
Index unit
An expression of moment, i.e. weight x lever arm caused by weight added to the aircraft, in order to establish the C of G
Loaded index
An expression of the C of G on an aircraft after it has been fuellen and/ or loaded
Cargo
Any good carried on the aircraft which are covered by an air waybill
Load
Any item carried in an aircraft other than is included in the basic operation weight
Dangerous goods
Articles or substances which are capaple of posing a significant risk to health, safety or property when transported by air and which are classified as such in the IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations
Air traffic control clearance
Authorization for an aircraft to proceed under conditions specified by an air traffic control unit
Deadload
Baggage, cargo, mail, ballast and equipment in compartments not included in dry operating weight of the aircraft
Ballast
Deadload weight carried io achieve a particular balance condition
EIC (Equipment in compartment)
Equipment which is carried on the aircraft but which is nor manifested and which is not elsewhere included int hthe weight composition, such as additional flight kit
En route
Equivalent to "through", movement or point between point of departure and point of destination
Fuelling
Fuelling and de-fuelling, aircraft fuel tank calibration, aircraft fuel flow tests and the draining of aircraft tanks
DIP (Diplomatic mail)
Governemnts´property carried under special agreement
Loading instruction
Instructions given by Load Control to the person responsible for the aircraft loading
Bulk
Loading piece by piece
Meteorological information
Meteorological report, analysis, forecast, and any other statetement relating to existing or expected meteorological conditions
Cockpit crew
Persons operating the flight in the cockpit
Cabin crew
Persons performing duties on the flight other than in the cockpit
Alternate Airport
Planned alternative en route and destination airport(s) for a flight
Aircraft configuration
Planned utilization layout of aircraft interior space
class
Segregation of passengers according to the facilities and services offered
Loading report
Signed loading instruction, with any deviations recorded, passed bach to Load Control for action as required
Loading
Stowing load or ULDs on board of the aircraft in accordance with loading instructions
Apron
Tarmac, Ramp, Parking Area - A defined area, on a land aerodrome, intended to accommodate aircraft for purposes of loading or unloading passengers, mail or cargo, fuelling, parking or maintenance
Cockpit
That part of an aircraft from which the crew controls the aircraft
Centre of gravity
The C of G of an aircraft, is the point at which its total weight may be considered to act as a concentrated force
Departure Airport
The airport from which the aircraft last departed, using the same flight number
Flight number
The alpha-numerical designator of a flight, prefixed by a two-letter or three-character designator
Movement
The arrival or departure of an aircraft
DETRESFA
The code word used to designate a distress phase
ALERFA
The code word used to designate an alert phase
INCERFA
The code word used to designate an uncertainty phase
Net weight
The difference between total weight and the tare weight
Heading
The direction in which the longitudinal axis of an aircraft is pointed, usually expressed in degrees from North
Balance limits
The end points forward and aft of the range within which the centre of gravity must lie for a safe flight
EET (Estimated elapsed time)
The estimated time required to proceed from on signigicant point ot another
Filed flight plan
The flight plan as files with an ATS unit by the pilot or his designated representative, without any subsequent changes
Current flight plan
The flight plan, including changes, if any, brought about by subsequent clearances
Ceiling
The hight above the ground or water of the base of the lowest layer of cloud below 6000m covering more than half of the sky
Galley
The integral part of the aircraft where pantry/catering material is stored
END (Endurance)
The length of time an aircraft can continue flying under the given conditions without refuelling
Allowed traffic load
The load which can be carried on the aircraft on any one sector and is the difference between the allowed weight for take-off and the operating weight
Category
The nature of the load
Flight
The operation of an aircraft between two or more points
PIC (Pilot-in-command)
The pilot responsible for the operation and safety of the aircraft during flight time
Origin Airport
The place from where the flight commences
Clearence limit
The point to which an aircraft is granted an air traffic control clearance
Missed Approach procedure
The procedure to be followed if the approach cannot be continued
RVR (Runway visual range)
The range over which the pilot on the centre liné of a runway can see the runway surface markings or the lights delineating the runway or identifying its centre line
Radar identification
The situation which exists when the radar position of a particular aircraft is seen on radar display and positively identified by the air traffic controller
IFR
The symbol used to designate the instrument flight rules
Passenger manifest
The traffic document listing the names of passengers to be carried on a flight
Altitude
The vertical distance of a level measured from mean sea level
Elevation
The vertical distance of a point or a level, on or affixed to the surface of the earth, measured from mean sea level
Payload
The weight of passengers, baggage, cargo and mail and includes both revenue and non-revenue items
Destination Airport
Ultimate intended terminating airport of a flight
Message
Where quoted it is assumed that the fastest possible means of sending a message will be used. This refers to SITA, telex and data link
Flight level
a surface of constant atmospheric pressure which is related to a specific pressure datum, 1013 hectopascal (hPa), and is separated from other such surfaces by specific pressure intervals
Floating pallet
a unit load device, included its load, which is positioned over at least two pallet positions and is not secured by the pallet locking devices of the ULD restraint system, but is restrained to the aircraft structure by means of tie-down fittings and lashings
Controlled airspace
an airspace of defined dimensions within which air traffic control service is provided to IFR flight and to VFR flights in accordance with the airspace classification
Flight plan
specified information provided to air traffic service units, relative to an intended flight or portion of a flight of an aircraft
take-off
the act of leaving a supporting surface, including the take-off run and the act immediately preceding and following the leaving of the surface
take-off-fuel
the amount of fuel on board less the fuel consumed before the take-off run
Tare weight
the weight of an empty ULD, it includes all liners and/ or fittings, etc. when these are required by the specification or as registered with IATA
