INFO Last updated  on  30 JUN 2022                                                               PDF Version - Printable

GEN 2.2  ABBREVIATIONS  USED  IN  AIS  PUBLICATIONS

A

A/A

Air-to-air

AAD

Assigned altitude deviation

AAIM

Aircraft autonomous integrity  monitoring 

AAL

Above aerodrome level

AASL*

Airport & Aviation Services  (Sri Lanka  ) (Private) Limited

ABI

Advance boundary information

ABM

Abeam

ABN

Aerodrome beacon

ABT

About

ABV

Above

AC

Altocumulus

ACARS

Aircraft communication addressing and reporting system

ACAS

Airborne collision avoidance system

ACC

Area control centre or area control

ACCID

Notification of an aircraft accident

ACFT

Aircraft

ACK

Acknowledge

ACL

Altimeter check location

ACN

Aircraft classification number

ACP

Acceptance (message type   designator)

ACPT

Accept or accepted

ACT

Active or activated or activity

AD

Aerodrome

ADA

Advisory area

ADC

Aerodrome Chart

ADDN

Addition or additional

ADF

Automatic direction-finding   equipment

ADS-B

Automatic Dependent Surveillance-B

ADS-C

Automatic Dependent Surveillance-C

ADVS

Advisory service

ADZ

Advise

AES

Aircraft earth station

AFIL

Flight plan filed in the air

AFIS

Aerodrome flight information service

AFS

Aeronautical fixed service

AFT

After...(time or place)

AFTN

Aeronautical fixed telecommunication network

A/G

Air-to-ground

AGA

Aerodromes, air routes and ground aids

AGL

Above ground level

AGN

Again

AIC

Aeronautical  information circular

AIDC

Air traffic services interfacility data communications

AIP

Aeronautical Information Publication

AIRAC

Aeronautical Information regulation and control

AIREP

Air report

AIRMET   

Information concerning en-route weather phenomena which may affect the safety low -level aircraft operations   

AIS

Aeronautical  information services

ALA

Alighting area

ALERFA

Alert phase

ALR

Alerting (message type designator)

ALRS

Alerting service

ALS

Approach lighting system

ALT

Altitude

ALTN

Alternate or alternating (light alternates in colour)

ALTN

Alternate (aerodrome)

AMA

Area minimum altitude

AMD

Amend or amended

AMDT

Amendment (AIP Amendment)

AMS

Aeronautical mobile service

AMSL

Above mean sea level

AMSS

Aeronautical mobile satellite service

ANC

Aeronautical chart-1:500 000 (followed by name /title)

ANCS

Aeronautical navigation chart - small scale (followed by name/title)

ANS

Answer

ANSP*

Air Navigation Service Provider

ANSD*

Air navigation  services division

AOC

Aerodrome obstacle chart (followed by type and name/title)

AP

Airport

APAPI

Abbreviated  precision approach path indicator

APCH

Approach

APDC

Aircraft parking/docking chart (followed by name/title)

APN

Apron

APP

Approach control officer or approach control or approach control service

APR

April

APRX

Approximate or approximately

APSG

After passing

APV

Approve or approved or approval

ARC

Area chart

ARNG

Arrange

ARO

Air traffic services reporting office

ARP

Aerodrome reference point

ARP

Air-report (message type designator)

ARQ

Automatic error correction

ARR

Arrive or arrival

ARR

Arrival (message type designator)

ARS

Special air-report (message type designator)

ARST

Arresting [ specify (part of) aircraft arresting  equipment]

AS

Altostratus

ASC

Ascend to or ascending to

ASDA

Accelerate-stop distance available

ASE

Altimetry system error

ASPEEDG

Airspeed gain

ASPEEDL

Airspeed loss

ASPH

Asphalt

ASTO*

Aeroshell turbine oil

ATA

Actual time of arrival

ATC

Air traffic control (in general)

ATD

Actual time of departure

ATFM

Air traffic flow management

ATFMU

Air traffic flow management unit

ATIS

Automatic terminal information service

ATM

 Air traffic management

ATN

Aeronautical telecommunication  Network

ATP

At...(time or place)

ATS

Air traffic services

ATTN

Attention

AT-VASIS

Abbreviated T visual approach slope indicator system

ATZ

Aerodrome traffic zone

AUG

August

AUTH

Authorized or authorization

AUW

All up weight

AUX

Auxiliary

AVBL

Available or Availability

Average

AVGAS

Aviation gasoline

AWOS*

Automated  weather observation system

AWTA

Advise at what time able

AWY

Airway

AZM

Azimuth

B

B

Blue

BA

Braking action

BARO-VNAV

Barometric vertical navigation

BASE

Cloud base

BCFG

Fog patches

BCN

Beacon

BCST

Broadcast

BDRY

Boundary

BECMG

Becoming

BFR

Before

BIAC*

Bandaranaike international airport Colombo

BKN

Broken

BLDG

Building

BLO

Below clouds

BLW

Below

BOMB

Bombing

BOBCAT

Bay of Bengal  cooperative ATFM system

BR

Mist

BRG

Bearing

BRKG

Braking

BTL

Between layers

BTN

Between

C

...C

Centre  (preceded by runway designation number to identify a parallel runway)    

C

Degrees Celsius (Centigrade)

CAT

Category  or Clear air turbulence

CAASL*

Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka

CAVOK

Visibility, cloud and present weather better than prescribed values or conditions

CB

Cumulonimbus

CC

Cirrocumulus

CD

Candela

CDN

Coordination (message type designator)

CF

Change frequency to..

CFM

Confirm or I confirm

CGL

Circling guidance light(s)

CH

Channel

CHG

Modification (message type designator)

CI

Cirrus

*CIAR

Colombo Internationa Airport Ratmalana

CIDIN

Common ICAO data interchange network

CIT

Near or over large town

CIV

Civil

CK

Check

CL

Centreline

CLBR

Calibration

CLD

Cloud

CLG

Calling

CLIMB-OUT

Climb-out area

CLR

Clear (s) or cleared to.... Or clearance

CLSD

Close or closed or closing

CM

Centimetre

CMB

Climb to or climbing to

CMPL

Completion or completed or complete

CNL

Cancel or cancelled or flight plan / cancellation (message type designator)

CNS

Communication navigation and surveillance

COM

Communications

CONC

Concrete

COND

Condition

CONS

Continuous

CONST

Construction or constructed

CONT

Continue(s) or continued

COOR

  Co-ordinate or co-ordination

COORD

Co-ordinates

COP

Change-over point

COR

Correct or correction or corrected

CORR*

Corridor

COT

At the coast

COV

Cover or covered or covering

CPDL

Controller- pilot data link communication

CPL

Current flight plan (message type   designator)

CRC

Cyclic redundancy check

CRP*

Compulsory ATS reporting point

CRM

Collision risk model

CRZ

Cruise

CS

Call sign or cirrostratus

CTA

Control area

CTAM

Climb to and maintain

CTC

Contact

CTL

Control

CTN

Caution

CTR

Control Zone

CU

Cumulus

CUF

Cumuliform

CUST

Customs

CVR

Cockpit voice recorder

CW

Continuous wave

CWY

Clearway

D

D

Danger area (followed by identification)

DA

Decision altitude

D-ATIS

Data link automatic terminal information

DCD

Double channel duplex

DCKG

Docking

DCPC

Direct controller-pilot communication

DCS

Double channel simplex

DCT

Direct (in relation to flight plan clearances and type of approach)

DEC

December

DEG

Degrees

DEP

Depart or departed or departure (Message type designator)

DER

  Departure end of  the runway

DES

Descend to or descending to

DEST

Destination

DETRESFA

Distress phase

DEV

Deviation or deviating

DFDR

Digital flight data recorder

DFTI

Distance from touchdown indicator

DGCA*

Director general of civil aviation

DH

Decision height

DIF

Diffuse

DISP*

Displaced

DIST

Distance

DIV

Divert or diverting

DLA

Delay or delayed or Delay (message type designator)

DLIC

Data link initiation capability                    

DLY

Daily

DME

Distance measuring equipment

DNG

Danger or dangerous

DOC*

Document(s)

DOF*

Date of flight

DOM

Domestic   

DP

Dew point temperature

DPT

Depth

DR

Dead reckoning

DRG

DS

DSB

DTAM

DTG

DTHR

DTRT

DTW

DU

DUC

DUPE

DUR

D-VOLMET

DVOR

DW

DZ

E

E

East or eastern longitude

EAT

Expected approach time

EB

Eastbound

EDA

Elevation differential area

EEE

Error (to be used in AFS as a procedure signal

EET

Estimated elapsed time

EFC

Expect further clearance

EFF*

Effective

EFIS

Electronic flight instrument system

EHF

Extremely high frequency    (30 000  to   300 000 MHz)

ELBA

Emergency location beacon- aircraft

ELEV

Elevation

ELR

Extra long range

ELT

Emergency locator transmitter

EM

Emission

EMERG

Emergency

END

Stop-end (related to RVR)

ENE

East-north-east

ENG

Engine

ENR

En-rout

ENRC

En-route chart 

EOBT

Estimated off-block time

EQPT

Equipment

ER

Here...or herewith

ESE

East-south-eas

EST

Estimate or estimated or estimating (as  message type designator)

ETA

Estimated time of arrival or estimating   arrival

ETC*

Et cetera

ETD

Estimated time of departure or estimating  departure

ETO

Estimated time over significant point  

EV

Every

EXC

Except

EXER

Exercises or exercising or to exercise

EXP

Expect or expected or expecting

EXTD

Extend or extending

EXTN*

Extension

F

F

Fixed

FAC

Facilities

FAF

Final approach fix

FAL

Facilitation of international air transport

FAP

Final approach point

FAS

Final Approach segment

FATO

Final approach and take-off   area

FAX

Facsimile transmission

FC

Funnel cloud

FCN*

Flight clearance number

FCST

Forecast

FCT

Friction coefficient

FDPS

Flight data processing system

FEB

February

FG

Fog

FIC

Flight information centre

FIR

Flight information region

FIS

Flight Information service

FISA

Automated flight information service

FL

Flight level

FLD

Field

FLG

Flashing

FLR

Flares

FLT

Flight

FLTCK

Flight check

FLUC

Fluctuating or fluctuation or fluctuated

FLW

Follow (s) or following

FLY

Fly or flying

FM

From

FMC

Flight management  Computer

FMS

Flight management system

FMU

Flow management unit

FNA

Final approach

FPAP

Flight path alignment point

FPL

Filed flight plan (message type designator)

FPM

Feet per minute

FPR

Flight plan route

FR

Fuel remaining

FREQ

Frequency

FR

Friday

FRNG

Firing

FRQ

Frequent

FSL

Full stop landing

FSS

Flight service station

FST

First

FT

Feet (dimensional unit)

FTE

Flight technical error

FTP

Fictitious threshold point

FTT

Flight technical tolerance

FU

Smoke

FZ

Freezing

G

G/A

Ground-to-air

G/A/G

Ground-to-air and air-to-ground 

GCA

Ground controlled approach system or ground controlled approach

GEN

General

GEO

Geographic or true

GES

Ground earth station

GLD

Glider

GLONASS

Global orbiting navigation satellite system

GND

Ground

GNDCK

Ground check  

GNSS

Global navigation satellite system

GP

Glide path

GPS

Global positioning  system

GPWS*

Ground proximity warning system

GR

Hail

GRAD*

Gradient of discent

GRASS

Grass landing area

GRVL

Gravel

GS

Ground speed

GUND

Geoid undulation

H

H+* 

Hours Plus...minutes pass the hour

H24

Continuous day and night service

HAPI

Helicopter approach path indicator

HAT*

Height above threshold

HBN

Hazard beacon

HDF

  High frequency direction finding station

HDG

Heading

HEL

Helicopter

HF

High frequency  (3 000  to  30 000khz)   

HGT

Height or height above

HJ

Sunrise  to sunset

HLDG

Holding             

HN

Sunset to  Sunrise

HO

Service available to meet operational requirements

HOL

Holiday      

HOSP

Hospital aircraft

HPA

Hectopascal

HQ*            

Headquarters

HR

Hours

HS

Service available during hours of scheduled operations

HVDF

High and very high frequency direction finding stations (at the same location)

HVY

Heavy

HX

No specific working hours

HYR

Higher

HZ

Hertz (cycle per second)

I

IAC

Instrument approach chart (followed by name/title)       

IAF

Initial approach fix

IAP

Instrument approach procedure

IAR

Intersection of air routes

IAS

Indicated air speed

IBN

Identification beacon

ID

Identifier or identity

IDENT

Identification

IF

Intermediate approach fix

IFR

Instrument flight rules

IGA

International general aviation   

ILS

Instrument landing system

IM

Inner marker

IMC

Instrument meteorological conditions

IMG

Immigration

IMPR

Improve or improving

IMT

Immediate or immediately

INA

Initial approach

INBD

Inbound

INCERFA

Uncertainty phase

INCL*

Include, included, Inclusive

INFO

Information

INOP

Inoperative

INP

If not possible

INPR

In progress

INS

Inertial navigation system

INSTL

Install or installed or installation

INSTR

Instrument

INT

Intersection

INTL

International

INTRG

Interrogator

INTRP

Interrupt or interruption or interrupted

INTSF

Intensify or intensifying

INTST

Intensity

IRS

Inertial reference system

ISA

International standard atmosphere

ISB

Independent sideband

ISOL

Isolated

J

JAN

January

JTST

Jet stream

JUL

July

JUN

June

K

KG

Kilograms

KHZ

Kilohertz

KIAS

Knots indicated airspeed

KM

Kilometres

KMH

Kilometres per hour

KPA

Kilopascal

KT

Knots

KW

Kilowatts

L

L

Left (Runway identification)

L

Locator

L

Low pressure area or centre of low pressure

LAN

Inland

LAT

Latitude

LCA

Local or locally or location or located

LDA

Landing distance available

LDAH

Landing distance available, helicopter

LDG

Landing

LDI

Landing direction indicator

LEN

Length

LF

Low frequency (30 to 300kHz)

LGT

Light or lighting        

LGTD

Lighted

LIH

Light intensity high

LIL

Light intensity low

LIM

Light intensity medium

LM

Locator, middle

LNAV

Lateral Navigation

LNG

Long           (used to indicate the type of approach desired or required)

LO

Locator, outer

LOC

Localizer

LONG

Longitude

LORAN

LORAN (Long range air navigation system)

LRG

Long range

LT*

Local time

LTD

Limited

LTP

Landing  threshold point

LTT

Landline teletypewriter

LV

Light and variable (relating to wind)

LVE

Leave or leaving

LVL

Level

LYR

Layer or layered

M

M

Mach number (followed by figures)

M

Meters (proceeded by figures)

MAA

Maximum authorized altitude

MAG

Magnetic

MAINT        

Maintenance

MAP

Aeronautical maps and charts

MAPT

Missed approach point

MAR

March

MATF

Missed approach turning fix

MAX

Maximum

MAY

May

MCA

Minimum crossing altitude

MCW

Modulated continuous wave

MDA

Minimum descent altitude

MDF

Medium frequency direction finding station

MDH

Minimum descent height  

MEA

Minimum en-route altitude

MEHT

Minimum eye height over threshold (for visual approach slope indicator systems)

MET

Meteorological or meteorology

METAR

Aerodrome meteorological report (in aeronautical meteorological code)

MF

Medium and high frequency direction finding stations (at the same location)

MHDF

Megahertz

MHZ

Megahertz

MID

Mid-point (related to RVR)

MIFG

Shallow fog

MIL

Military

MIN

Minutes

MKR

Marker radio beacon 

MLS

Microwave landing system

MM

Middle marker

MNM

Minimum

MNPS

Minimum navigation performance specifications

MNT

Monitor or monitoring or monitored

MNTN        

Maintain

MOA

Military operating area

MOC

Minimum obstacle clearance (required)

MOCA

Minimum obstacle clearance altitude

MOD

Moderate (used to indicate the intensity of weather phenomena, interference or static reports eg: moderate rain = MODRA)

MON

Monday

MOPS

Minimum operational performance standards

MOV

Move or moving or movement

MPH*

Statute miles per hour

MPS

Meters per second

MRA

Minimum reception altitude

MRG

Medium range

*MRIA

Mattala Rajapaksa Intl. Airport

MRP

ATS/MET reporting point

MS

Minus

MSA

Minimum sector altitude

MSG

Message

MSL

Mean sea level

MSSR

Monopulse secondary surveillance radar

MT

Mountain

MTU

Metric units

MTW

Mountain waves

MVDF

Medium and  very high frequency direction finding stations (at the same location)

MWO

Meteorological watch office

N

N

North or northern latitude

N/A

Not available

NASC

National AIS system centre

NAV

Navigation

NB

Northbound

NBFR

Not before

NC

No change

NCPR*

Non-compulsory ATS reporting point

NDB

Non-directional radio beacon

NE

North-east

NEB

North-eastbound

NEG

No or negative or permission not granted or that is not correct

NGT

Night

NML

Normal

NNE

North-north -east   

NNW

North-north-west

NOF

International NOTAM office

NOSIG

No significant change (used in trend-type landing forecasts)

NOTAM

A Notice containing information concerning the establishment, condition or change in any aeronautical facility, service, procedure or hazard, the timely knowledge of which is essential to personnel concerned with flight operations

NOV

November

NPA

Non precision  approach

NR

Number

NRH

No reply heard

NS

Nimbostratus

NSC

Navigational Services  Complex

NSW

Nil significant weather

NTL

National

NW

North-west

NWB

North-westbound

O

OAC

Oceanic area control centre  

OAS

Obstacle assessment surface

OBS

Observe or observed or observation

OBSC

Obscure or obscured or obscuring

OBST

Obstacle

OBSTR*

Obstruction

OCA

Oceanic control area

OCA

Obstacle clearance altitude

OCC

Occulting (light)

OCH

Obstacle clearance height

OCNL

Occasional or occasionally.

OCS

Obstacle clearance surface

OCT

October

OFZ

Obstacle free zone

OGN

Originate

OHD

Overhead

OIS

Obstacle identification surface

OM

Outer marker

OPMET

Operational meteorological (information)

OPN

Open or opening or opened

OPR

Operator or operate or operative or       operating or operational

OPS           

Operations

O/R

On request

ORD

Order          

OTP

On top

OTS

Organized track system

OUBD

Out bound

OVC

Overcast

P

P ...

Prohibited area (followed by identification)

PA

Precision approach

PALS

Precision approach lighting system (specify category)

PANS

Procedures for air navigation services

PAPI

Precision approach path indicator

PAR

Precision approach radar

PARL

Parallel

PATC

Precision approach terrain chart

PARA*

Paragraph

PAX

Passenger(s)

PCD

Proceed or proceeding

PCL

Pilot controlled lighting

PCN

Pavement classification number

PDAI*         

Pre Determined Addressee Indicator

PDC

Pre-departure clearance

PER

Performance

PERM

Permanent

PIB

Pre-flight information bulletin

PJE

Parachute jumping exercise

PLA

Practice low approach

PLN

Flight plan

PLVL

Present level

PN

Prior notice required

PNR

Point of no return

PIB

Pre-flight information bulletin

PJE

Parachute jumping exercise

PLA

Practice low approach

PLN

Flight plan

PLVL

Present level

PN

Prior notice required

PNR

Point of no return

POB

Persons on board

POSS

Possible

PPI

Plan position indicator

PPR

Prior permission required

PPSN

Present position

PRFG

Aerodrome partially covered by fog

PRI

Primary

PRKG

Parking

PROB

Probability

PROC

Procedure

PROV

Provisional

PRP

Point-in-space reference point

PS

Plus

PSG

Passing

PSN

Position

PSP

Pierced steel plank

PSR

Primary surveillance radar

PSYS

Pressure system(s)

PT*

Point(s)

PTN

Procedure turn

PVT*

Private

PWR

Power

Q

QDM

Magnetic bearing (zero wind)

QDR

Magnetic bearing

QFE

Atmospheric pressure at aerodrome elevation (or runway threshold)

QFU

Magnetic orientation of runway

QNH

Altimeter sub-scale setting to obtain elevation when on the ground

QTE

True bearing

QUAD

Quadrant

R

...R

Right ( preceded by runway designation number to identify a parallel runway)

R

Red

R

Rate of turn

R...

Restricted area (followed by identification)

RA

Resolution advisory

RAC

Rules of the air and  air traffic services

RAD*

 Radius

RAFC

Regional area  forecast centre

RAG

Ragged or  Runway arresting gear

RAI

Runway alignment indicator

RASC

Regional AIS system centre

RB

Rescue boat

RCA

Reach cruising altitude

RCC

Rescue coordinating centre

RCF

Radio communication failure (message type designator)

RCH

Reach or reaching

RCL

Runway centre line

RCLL

Runway centre line light(s)

RCLR

Re-cleared

RCP

Required communication performance

RDH

Reference datum height

RDL

Radial

RDO

Radio

REC

Receive or receiver

REDL

Runway edge light(s)

REF

Reference to ... or refer to...

REG

  Registration

RENL

Runway end light(s)

REP

Report or reporting or reporting point

REQ

Request or requested

RERTE

Re-route

RESA

  Runway end safety area

RF

Constant radius arc to a fix

RG

Range (lights)

RHC

Right-hand circuit

RIF

Re-clearance in flight

RITE

Right (direction of turn)

RL

Report leaving

RLA

Relay to

RLCE

Request level change en route

RLLS

Runway lead-in lighting system

RLNA

Request level not available

RMK

Remark

RNAV

Area Navigation

RNG

Radio range

RNP

Required navigation performance

ROBEX

Regional OPMET bulletin exchange

ROC

Rate of climb

ROD

Rate of descent

ROFOR

Route forecast (meteorological code)

RON

Receiving only

RPI

Radar position indicator

RPL

Repetitive flight plan

RPLC

Replace or replaced

RPS

Radar position symbol

RPT

Repeat or I repeat

RQMNTS

Requirements

RQP

Request flight plan(message type designator)

RQS

Request supplementary flight plan (message type designator)

RR

Report reaching

R/R

Rush reply

RSC

Rescue sub-centre

RSCD

Runway surface condition

RSP

Responder beacon

RSR

En-route surveillance radar

RTE

Route

RTF

Radiotelephone

RTG

Radiotelegraph

RTHL

Runway threshold light(s)

RTN

Return or returned or returning

RTS

Return to service

RTT

Radio teletypewriter

RTZL

Runway touchdown zone light(s)

RUT

Standard regional route transmitting frequencies.

RV

Rescue vessel

RVR

Runway visual range

RVSM

Reduced vertical  separation  minimum {300m (1000ft) betweeen FL290 and FL 410 }

RWY

Runway

S

S

South or southern latitude

SA

Sand

SALS

Simple approach lighting system

SAN

Sanitary

SAP

As soon as possible

SAR

Search and rescue

SARPS

Standards and Recommended Procedures (ICAO)

SAT

Saturday

SATCOM

Sattelite communication

SB

Southbound

SBAS

Satellite-based augmentation system

SC

Stratocumulus

SCT

Scattered

SD

Standard deviation

SDBY

Stand by

SDF

Step down fix

SE

South-east

SEA

South East Asia or Sea

SEB

South-eastbound

SEC

Seconds

SECN

Section

SECT

Sector

SELCAL

Selective calling system

SEP

September

SER

Service or servicing or served

SEV

Severe

SFC

Surface

SGL

Signal

SH

Showers

SHF

Super high frequency    (3000 to     30000MHz)

SID

Standard instrument departure

SIF

Selective identification feature

SIG

Significant

SIGMET

Information concerning en route weather phenomena which may affect the safety of aircraft operations

SIMUL

Simultaneous or simultaneously

SIWL

Single isolated wheel load

SKC

Sky clear

SKED

Schedule or scheduled

SLAF*

Sri Lanka Air force

SLAMY*

Sri Lanka  Army

SLNVY*

Sri Lanka  Navy

SLCAP*

Sri Lanka Civil aviation Publications

SLP

Speed limiting point

SLW

Slow

SMC

Surface movement control

SMR

Surface movement radar

SOC

Start of climb

SPECI

Aviation selected special weather report (in aeronautical meteorological code)

SPECIAL

Special meteorological report (in abbreviated plain language)

SPECIAL

Special meteorological report (in abbreviated plain language)

SPI

Special position indicator

SPL

Supplementary flight plan (message type designator)

SPOC

SAR point of contact

SPOT

Spot wind

SQ

Squall

SQL

Squall line

SR

Sunrise

SRA

Surveillance radar approach

SRE

Surveillance radar element of precision approach radar system

SRG