Pilot/Controller Glossary

4/3/14

PCG S−6

SPECIAL VFR OPERATIONS− Aircraft operating

in accordance with clearances within Class B, C, D,

and E surface areas in weather conditions less than the

basic VFR weather minima. Such operations must be

requested by the pilot and approved by ATC.

(See SPECIAL VFR CONDITIONS.)
(See ICAO term SPECIAL VFR FLIGHT.)

SPEED−

(See AIRSPEED.)
(See GROUND SPEED.)

SPEED ADJUSTMENT− An ATC procedure used to

request pilots to adjust aircraft speed to a specific

value for the purpose of providing desired spacing.

Pilots are expected to maintain a speed of plus or

minus 10 knots or 0.02 Mach number of the specified

speed. Examples of speed adjustments are:

a.

“Increase/reduce speed to Mach point

(number.)”

b.

“Increase/reduce speed to (speed in knots)” or

“Increase/reduce speed (number of knots) knots.”

SPEED BRAKES− Moveable aerodynamic devices

on aircraft that reduce airspeed during descent and

landing.

SPEED SEGMENTS− Portions of the arrival route

between the transition point and the vertex along the

optimum flight path for which speeds and altitudes

are specified. There is one set of arrival speed

segments adapted from each transition point to each

vertex. Each set may contain up to six segments.

SQUAWK (Mode, Code, Function)

−  Activate

specific modes/codes/functions on the aircraft

transponder; e.g., “Squawk three/alpha, two one zero

five, low.”

(See TRANSPONDER.)

STA−

(See SCHEDULED TIME OF ARRIVAL.)

STAGING/QUEUING− The placement, integration,

and segregation of departure aircraft in designated

movement areas of an airport by departure fix, EDCT,

and/or restriction.

STAND BY

− Means the controller or pilot must

pause for a few seconds, usually to attend to other

duties of a higher priority. Also means to wait as in

“stand by for clearance.” The caller should

reestablish contact if a delay is lengthy. “Stand by” is

not an approval or denial.

STANDARD INSTRUMENT APPROACH PRO-

CEDURE (SIAP)−

(See INSTRUMENT APPROACH PROCEDURE.)

STANDARD INSTRUMENT DEPARTURE (SID)−

A preplanned instrument flight rule (IFR) air traffic

control (ATC) departure procedure printed for

pilot/controller use in graphic form to provide

obstacle clearance and a transition from the terminal

area to the appropriate en route structure. SIDs are

primarily designed for system enhancement to

expedite traffic flow and to reduce pilot/controller

workload. ATC clearance must always be received

prior to flying a SID.

(See IFR TAKEOFF MINIMUMS AND

DEPARTURE PROCEDURES.)

(See OBSTACLE DEPARTURE PROCEDURE.)
(Refer to AIM.)

STANDARD RATE TURN− A turn of three degrees

per second.
STANDARD TERMINAL ARRIVAL−  A

preplanned instrument flight rule (IFR) air traffic

control arrival procedure published for pilot use in

graphic and/or textual form. STARs provide

transition from the en route structure to an outer fix

or an instrument approach fix/arrival waypoint in the

terminal area.
STANDARD TERMINAL ARRIVAL CHARTS−

(See AERONAUTICAL CHART.)

STANDARD TERMINAL AUTOMATION RE-

PLACEMENT SYSTEM (STARS)−

(See DTAS.)

STAR−

(See STANDARD TERMINAL ARRIVAL.)

STATE AIRCRAFT− Aircraft used in military,

customs and police service, in the exclusive service

of any government, or of any political subdivision,

thereof including the government of any state,

territory, or possession of the United States or the

District of Columbia, but not including any

government-owned aircraft engaged in carrying

persons or property for commercial purposes.
STATIC RESTRICTIONS− Those restrictions that

are usually not subject to change, fixed, in place,

and/or published.
STATIONARY RESERVATIONS− Altitude

reservations which encompass activities in a fixed

area. Stationary reservations may include activities,