ACARS:
Aircraft Communications Addressing and Reporting System: a digital datalink system for transmission of short, simple messages between aircraft and ground stations via radio or satellite.
ACMI:
Aircraft crew maintenance insurance: Also known as a wetlease. The company the airline is leasing from provides all services along with the aircraft.
AOG:
Aircraft on Ground
APU:
Auxiliary Power Unit: Provides power to the aircraft when the engines are turned off. An example of when it is used is during boarding. When the plane is parked at the gate, the APU will power the lights and the air conditioning systems as one of its functions.
ATC:
Air Traffic Control
ATIS:
Air Traffic Information System
BEA:
Bureau d’Enquetes et d’Analyses. The French accident investigation committee.
CEDAR:
Critical Event Detection and Reporting
CPDLC:
Controller Pilot Data Link Communications (Link 2000+), new European regulations requiring datalink capabilities between airplanes and ATC.
CVR:
Cockpit Voice Recorder: Records sounds from inside the cockpit.
ECTM:
Engine Condition Trend Monitoring : using engine operational data to find symptoms of damage, deterioration, or excessive wear through trend analysis.
EFB:
Electronic Flight Bag: an electronic device that helps flight crews manage tasks and get information they need to safely operate the aircraft. It is intended to replace paper documents such as Aircraft Operating Manuals and navigational charts.
Exceedance Monitoring:
Takes measurements from aircraft and compares the data with predefined parameters. It’s used to measure if an aircraft is being operated properly.
FDR:
Flight Data Recorder (black box): Measures and records important data off aircraft. In the event of an emergency, the data can be used as part of the accident investigation process.
FOQA:
Flight Operational Quality Assurance (also known as Flight Data Monitoring or Flight Data Analysis); measures and captures the data generated off an aircraft traveling from one point to another. Applying the information learned from this analysis helps airlines to improve safety, increase maintenance effectiveness and reduce operational costs. Currently, FOQA is an optional safety program, not a mandated requirement in the industry.
ICAO:
International Civil Aviation Organization
MCDU:
Multi-function control display unit. The MCDU is a piece of avionics equipment installed in the cockpit that monitors and displays information from other units and systems on the aircraft. The AFIRS 228 will integrate with and display messages on the existing MCDU.
MRO:
Maintenance Repair and Overhaul: Either an airline or third-party provider that performs regularly scheduled maintenance, adhoc servicing and major aircraft overhaul services.
NBAA:
National Business Aviation Association
OCC:
Operation Control Center: An airlines central data center for monitoring fleet performance.
OEMs:
Original Equipment Manufacturer: an aircraft manufacturer (Boeing, Airbus, Bombardier, Hawker Beechcraft, Embraer, etc.)
OOOI:
Out, Off, On, In: an acronym for the out time (time the plane leaves the gate), the off time (time the plane takes off), the on time (time the plane touches down) and the in time (time the plane gets back to the gate). OOOI times are important because they help measure when an aircraft is due for maintenance and service.
OPTIMI:
Oceanic Position Tracking Improvement Monitoring Initiative. Working group to improve safety of flying over the oceans.
QAR:
Quick Access Recorder: Similar to the FDR however is is not crash-hardened and is easily accessible. Can help airlines manage different operations on the aircraft by recording parameters for future analysis on the ground.
SADI:
Strategic Aerospace and Defence Initiative: Through repayable investments, SADI supports strategic industrial research and pre-competitive development projects in Canada’s aerospace, defence, space and security industries. AMA received an investment from SADI on February 23, 2011.
SESAR:
Single European Sky ATM Research: The SESAR programme is building the future European air traffic management system.
SMS:
Safety Management System: designed to proactively manage safety in an organization and identify and fix safety hazards before they happen.
STC:
Supplemental Type Certificates: An airworthiness certification required to modify an aircraft from its original design and is issued by an aviation regulator.
TCCA:
Transport Canada Civil Aviation.
