Glossary of gliding and soaring

This is a glossary of acronyms, initialisms and terms used for gliding and soaring. This is a specialized subset of broader aviation, aerospace, and aeronautical terminology. Additional definitions can be found in the FAA Glider Flying Handbook.

A/C:aircraft ACFT:aircraft AGL:above ground level AHRS:Attitude and heading reference system AIP:Aeronautical Information Publication AIRAC:Aeronautical information regulation and control ALT:Altitude AME:Aviation Medical Examiner AMO:Approved Maintenance Organization AMSL:above mean sea level AOA:angle of attack ARC:airworthiness review certificate ASI:airspeed indicator ASL:above sea level ATC:air traffic control BGA:British Gliding Association bhp:brake horsepower CAA:Civil Aviation Authority CAMO:Continuing Airworthiness Management Organisation CFI:Certified Flight Instructor or Chief Flying Instructor CG:center of gravity CofA:Certificate of airworthiness EASA:European Aviation Safety Agency ELT:emergency locator transmitter FAA:Federal Aviation Administration FAI:Fédération Aéronautique Internationale, the world governing body for air sports FL:flight level FPM:feet per minute GA:general aviation IAS:indicated airspeed IFR:instrument flight rules IVSM:International Vintage Sailplane Meet - meeting for vintage gliders in the USA JAA:Joint Aviation Authorities JAR:Joint Aviation Requirements JWGC:Junior World Gliding Championships knot:A unit of speed. While the knot is commonly used in aviation and other contexts as an abbreviation of nautical miles per hour, in soaring the knot is also used to describe lift (and sink conditions). Using approximations, one knot of upward velocity in a thermal equates to roughly 100 feet per minute of climb. LOA:letter of authorization or agreement L/D: Lift-to-drag ratio M-ASA:Mid-Atlantic Soaring Association MSL:mean sea level MTOW:maximum take-off weight NOTAM:notice to airmen OGN:Open Glider Network project OAT:outside air temperature OLC:Online Contest. A moderated forum that allows subscribers from various countries and regions to compete individually and as teams in flying contests. PPL:private pilot licence PPR:prior permission required, eg to land at another airfield PTT:push to talk QFE:the Q-code for: Atmospheric pressure at aerodrome elevation (or at runway threshold) QNE:the Q-code for pressure altitude QNH:the Q-code for: Altimeter sub-scale setting to obtain elevation when on the ground, i.e. altitude above MSL RAFGSA:Royal Air Force Gliding & Soaring Association SSA:Soaring Society of America SSF:Soaring Safety Foundation - Training and safety arm of the Soaring Society of America RT:radiotelephony TAS:true airspeed TMA:Terminal manoeuvring area (Europe)/inal control area (USA and Canada) TMG:touring motor glider TMZ:transponder mandatory zone TP:turning point TRA:temporary reserved area (airspace) UTC:Universal Time Coordinated VFR:visual flight rules VHF:very high frequency VMC:visual meteorological conditions Va:maneuvering speed Vne:never-exceed speed Vra:Rough Air Speed WDA:World Distance Award for US pilots to encourage cross-country flying WGC:World Gliding Championships WWGC:Women's World Gliding Championships XC:cross-country XPDR:transponder Z:Zulu Time (UTC)