Pilot/Controller Glossary
4/3/14
PCG S−2
SAR−
(See SEARCH AND RESCUE.)
SAY AGAIN
− Used to request a repeat of the last
transmission. Usually specifies transmission or
portion thereof not understood or received; e.g., “Say
again all after ABRAM VOR.”
SAY ALTITUDE
− Used by ATC to ascertain an
aircraft’s specific altitude/flight level. When the
aircraft is climbing or descending, the pilot should
state the indicated altitude rounded to the nearest 100
feet.
SAY HEADING
− Used by ATC to request an aircraft
heading. The pilot should state the actual heading of
the aircraft.
SCHEDULED TIME OF ARRIVAL (STA)− A STA
is the desired time that an aircraft should cross a
certain point (landing or metering fix). It takes other
traffic and airspace configuration into account. A
STA time shows the results of the TMA scheduler
that has calculated an arrival time according to
parameters such as optimized spacing, aircraft
performance, and weather.
SDF−
(See SIMPLIFIED DIRECTIONAL FACILITY.)
SEA LANE− A designated portion of water outlined
by visual surface markers for and intended to be used
by aircraft designed to operate on water.
SEARCH AND RESCUE− A service which seeks
missing aircraft and assists those found to be in need
of assistance. It is a cooperative effort using the
facilities and services of available Federal, state and
local agencies. The U.S. Coast Guard is responsible
for coordination of search and rescue for the Maritime
Region, and the U.S. Air Force is responsible for
search and rescue for the Inland Region. Information
pertinent to search and rescue should be passed
through any air traffic facility or be transmitted
directly to the Rescue Coordination Center by
telephone.
(See FLIGHT SERVICE STATION.)
(See RESCUE COORDINATION CENTER.)
(Refer to AIM.)
SEARCH AND RESCUE FACILITY− A facility
responsible for maintaining and operating a search
and rescue (SAR) service to render aid to persons and
property in distress. It is any SAR unit, station, NET,
or other operational activity which can be usefully
employed during an SAR Mission; e.g., a Civil Air
Patrol Wing, or a Coast Guard Station.
(See SEARCH AND RESCUE.)
SECNOT−
(See SECURITY NOTICE.)
SECONDARY RADAR TARGET− A target derived
from a transponder return presented on a radar
display.
SECTIONAL AERONAUTICAL CHARTS−
(See AERONAUTICAL CHART.)
SECTOR LIST DROP INTERVAL− A parameter
number of minutes after the meter fix time when
arrival aircraft will be deleted from the arrival sector
list.
SECURITY NOTICE (SECNOT) − A SECNOT is a
request originated by the Air Traffic Security
Coordinator (ATSC) for an extensive communica-
tions search for aircraft involved, or suspected of
being involved, in a security violation, or are
considered a security risk. A SECNOT will include
the aircraft identification, search area, and expiration
time. The search area, as defined by the ATSC, could
be a single airport, multiple airports, a radius of an
airport or fix, or a route of flight. Once the expiration
time has been reached, the SECNOT is considered to
be cancelled.
SECURITY SERVICES AIRSPACE − Areas
established through the regulatory process or by
NOTAM, issued by the Administrator under title 14,
CFR, sections 99.7, 91.141, and 91.139, which
specify that ATC security services are required; i.e.,
ADIZ or temporary flight rules areas.
SEE AND AVOID− When weather conditions
permit, pilots operating IFR or VFR are required to
observe and maneuver to avoid other aircraft.
Right-of-way rules are contained in 14 CFR Part 91.
SEGMENTED CIRCLE− A system of visual
indicators designed to provide traffic pattern
information at airports without operating control
towers.
(Refer to AIM.)
SEGMENTS OF AN INSTRUMENT APPROACH
PROCEDURE− An instrument approach procedure
may have as many as four separate segments
depending on how the approach procedure is
structured.
a.
Initial Approach− The segment between the
initial approach fix and the intermediate fix or the