Glossary

Beginner

This list gives one approved name for each item. Each name has a link to the page with more information.

A

AIRAC cycle — the 28-day update cycle for navigation data in aviation. The game uses this cycle through Navigraph.
aircraft label — the data adjacent to a radar target: the callsign, altitude, speed and route.
altimeter setting — the pressure value that you give to aircraft. With this value, all altimeters in your sector agree.
approach (IAP) — a published instrument route from an entry fix to a runway or to a missed approach point.
assumed aircraft — an aircraft that you middle-clicked to get control of it. Commands apply only to these aircraft. You can also put the pointer on the aircraft and press T.

callsign — the spoken name of a flight. Speak it first in each instruction.
clearance — an instruction that you give to an aircraft: heading, altitude, speed, route or approach.
COM panel — the communications panel. It shows the transmissions that the game heard and the instructions that it applied.
controlled sector — the circle of airspace around your airport. You give instructions to all the aircraft in it.

descend via — a clearance to follow the published altitude steps of an arrival route, to the last step.
direct-to — a clearance to fly directly to a named waypoint. The aircraft navigates to it without more instructions.
disregard — the spoken cancel instruction. It cancels your last instruction if you speak it in approximately ten seconds.

flight level (FL) — the altitude in hundreds of feet, for high altitudes. Flight level 100 is approximately 10,000 feet.
flight strip (TFC) — the panel with the data of one aircraft: route, cruise level, aircraft type and wake category.

glide path (G/P) — the published vertical guidance that a GLS approach uses.
glide slope (G/S) — the electronic vertical guidance that an ILS uses. An LDA also uses it when it is published.
GLS — a precision approach that uses a published GBAS landing path.
GPS approach — a published approach with satellite navigation. It is different from the RNAV label in navdata.

handoff — the instruction that tells an aircraft to contact the next ATC unit: tower or center.
heading — a compass direction from 0 to 360. Heading 090 is east and heading 180 is south.
hold / holding pattern — a published racetrack pattern above a fix. An aircraft flies it when it must wait.

ILS — Instrument Landing System: the precision approach type that gives aircraft guidance to the runway.

LDA — Localizer-type Directional Aid: an offset localizer approach. It has a glide slope only when the glide slope is published.
localizer (LOC) — radio guidance that keeps an aircraft on a published final course.
localizer back course (LOC BC) — the published opposite side of a localizer course. It does not use the glide slope of the front course.

Mach — the speed at high altitude as a decimal of the speed of sound, for example mach decimal seven eight (the game also accepts mach point seven eight).
managed path (PATH) — vertical guidance from a coded final descent angle. It is not an electronic glide slope.
minimum vectoring altitude (MVA / MRVA) — the lowest safe altitude for vectoring in an area. The game gives a warning when an aircraft is below it.

Navigraph — the company that supplies the navigation data for the game. Subscribers get the cycle that applies at this time. All other players get the cycle that the game includes.
NDB / NDB-DME approach — a published approach that uses a non-directional beacon. It also uses DME when the name of the approach includes DME.

PSR ring — the outer coverage ring, 100 NM out from the SSR ring. The radar does not show traffic out of this ring.
push-to-talk (PTT) — push and hold CONTROL while you speak, and release it at the end of the transmission. An aircraft radio operates the same. In toggle mode, press it one time to start and one time to send. New in 0.6.3.8

QNH — the local air-pressure setting. When you give it, all altimeters in your sector agree.

radio strip — the top-bar area that shows radio activity and the condition of your transmission.
readback — the transmission in which the pilot speaks your instruction again. With it, you can make sure that the pilot heard the instruction correctly.
RNAV — an approach type with satellite navigation. For each runway, the game shows each approach with its type from the navigation data.
RNP AR — an RNAV approach for which an authorization is necessary. The aircraft must fly the full published procedure of the approach.

SID — Standard Instrument Departure: the published route that a departure flies from the runway.
step-down approach — an approach that descends through published altitude restrictions. It does not have a glide path.
squawk — the four-digit transponder code of an aircraft. The flight strip of the aircraft shows it.
SSR ring — the first coverage ring, 100 NM out from your sector. It shows the distance at which you can see traffic.
STAR — Standard Arrival Route: the published route that arrivals fly to the airport.

TMA — terminal area: the airspace between the tower and the center. Approach control works in this airspace.
transition (feeder) — the published segment between the end of a STAR and the start of the approach.
transition altitude — the height where feet change to flight levels. The game uses the correct unit in clearances.
transition level — the lowest flight level that you can use above the transition altitude. The top bar shows it as TL.

vector / vectors — heading instructions that you give to control the direction of an aircraft.
VOR / VOR-DME approach — a published approach that uses a VOR. It also uses DME when the name of the approach includes DME.
VORTAC — a VOR/DME station for civil aviation at the same location as a TACAN. The game does not add approaches that use only TACAN.

wake category — the wake-turbulence class of an aircraft: Heavy, Medium or Light. The flight strip shows it.
waypoint / fix — a named point in the airspace, for example RULOS. Routes and clearances use waypoints.

If a name is not in this list, it can be a command. Examine All commands.

To read the pages again from the start, go to Start here.