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DEFINITION OF TERMS AERONAUTICAL INFORMATION PUBLICATION (AIP) - A publication issued by or with the authority of a State and containing aeronautical information of a lasting character essential to air navigation. AERONAUTICAL RADIO, INC. (ARINC) - A corporation largely owned by a group of airlines, and licensed as an aeronautical station. ARINC is contracted by the FAA to provide communications support for air traffic control and meteorological services in portions of International (usually oceanic) airspace. AERONAUTICAL TELECOMMUNICATION STATION - An aeronautical station which forms part of a radio telephone network by providing air/ground communications and flight information service as an integral part of air traffic services. Aeronautical Telecommunication Stations - An are also known as International Flight Service Stations, Aeronautical Radio or Aeradio Stations depending on the State providing the service. AIR ROUTE TRAFFIC CONTROL CENTER (ARTCC) - A facility established to provide air traffic control service to aircraft operating on IFR flight plans within controlled airspace, principally during the en route phase of flight. When equipment capabilities and controller workload permit, certain advisory/assistance services may be provided to VFR aircraft. An ARTCC is the U.S. equivalent of an Area Control Center (ACC). AIR TRAFFIC SERVICES (ATS) - A generic term meaning variously, flight information service, alerting service, air traffic advisory service, air traffic control service, area control service, approach control service, or airport control service. AREA CONTROL CENTER (ACC) - An ICAO term for an air traffic control facility primarily responsible for providing ATC services to IFR aircraft in controlled areas under its jurisdiction. An ACC is the international equivalent of an Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC). AREA NAVIGATION (RNAV: LORAN C, INS, GPS, etc.,) - A method of navigation which permits aircraft operation on any desired flight path within the coverage of station-referenced navigation aids, or within the limits of the capability of a self-contained navigation system, or a combination of these. CONTROL AREA (CTA) - A controlled airspace extending upwards from a specified limit above the earth. FLIGHT INFORMATION CENTER (FIC) - A unit established to provide flight information service and alerting service. FLIGHT INFORMATION REGION (FIR) - An airspace of defined dimensions within which flight information service and alerting services are provided. FLIGHT INFORMATION SERVICE (FIS) - A service provided for the purpose of giving advice and information useful for the safe and efficient conduct of flights. FLIGHT LEVEL (FL) - A surface of constant atmospheric pressure which is related to a specific pressure datum, (i.e., Standard Pressure- 29.92' a Hg or 1013 HP), and is separated from other such surfaces by specific pressure intervals. Each is stated in three digits that represent hundreds of feet, (i.e., FL060 = 6000 feet). GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM (GPS) - A space based radio positioning, navigation and time transfer system. GPS provides highly accurate position and velocity information, on a continuous global basis to an unlimited number of users. The system is unaffected by weather and provides a worldwide common grid reference system. The GPS receiver automatically selects appropriate signals from the satellites in view and translates these into three-dimensional position, velocity, and time. System accuracy for civil users is 100 meters horizontally. HIGH FREQUENCY COMMUNICATIONS (HF) - High radio frequencies between 3 and 30 mHz used for air/ground voice communications in overseas operations. HF is required for all IFR operations in controlled airspace when out of the range of VHF communications. If in doubt as to the VHF coverage along your intended route of flight, the aircraft should be equipped with HF. INTERNATIONAL CIVIL AVIATION ORGANIZATION (ICAO) - A specialized agency of the United Nations whose objective is to develop the principles and techniques of international air navigation and to foster planning and development of international civil air transport. INTERNATIONAL GENERAL AVIATION (IGA) - All international civil aviation operations other than scheduled air services and non-scheduled air transport operations for remuneration or hire. INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS (IMC) - Meteorological conditions expressed in terms of visibility, distance from clouds, and ceiling which preclude flight in compliance with the Visual Flight Rules. LIGHT AIRCRAFT - Aircraft with a maximum takeoff weight of 12,500 lbs. (5,700 kilos) or less. MINIMUM NAVIGATION PERFORMANCE SPECIFICATIONS (MNPS) - A specified set of minimum navigation performance standards which aircraft must meet in order to operate in MNPS designated airspace. In addition, aircraft must be certified by their State of Registry for MNPS operation. The objective of MNPS is to ensure the safe separation of aircraft and to derive maximum benefit, generally through reduced separation standards, from the improvement in accuracy of navigation equipment developed in the recent years. MINIMUM NAVIGATION PERFORMANCE SPECIFICATION AIRSPACE (MNPSA) - A portion of the NAT airspace between FL275 and FL400 extending between latitude 27°N and the North Pole, bounded in the east by the eastern boundaries of control areas Santa Maria Oceanic, Shanwick Oceanic and Reykjavik, and in the west by the western boundary of CTA Reykjavik, the western boundary of CTA Gander Oceanic and the western boundary of CTA New York Oceanic excluding the area west of 60°W and south of 3830°N. NOTICE TO AIRMEN (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. NOTAMs are distributed via two methods: telecommunications (Class I) and/or postal services (Class II). OCEANIC AREA CONTROL CENTER (OAC) - Any Area Control Center (ACC) with jurisdiction over oceanic airspace for the purpose of providing Air Traffic Services. Responsibility for the provisions of ATS 1s delegated to various States based primarily upon geographic proximity and the availability of the required resources. OCEANIC AIRSPACE - Airspace over the high seas, for which ICAO delegates responsibility for the provision of ATS to various States. VERY HIGH FREQUENCY (VHF) - The frequency band between 30 and 300 MHz. Portions of this band, 108 to 118 MHz are used for certain NAVAIDS, while 118 to 136 MHz are used for civil air/ ground voice communications. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS - Meteorological conditions expressed in terms of visibility, distance from cloud, and ceiling, equal to or better than specified minima. NOTE-
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