Pilot/Controller Glossary

AIP [ICAO]-
(See ICAO term AERONAUTICAL
INFORMATION PUBLICATION.)

AIR CARRIER DISTRICT OFFICE- An FAA field
office serving an assigned geographical area, staffed
with Flight Standards personnel serving the aviation
industry and the general public on matters related to
the certification and operation of scheduled air
carriers and other large aircraft operations.
AIR DEFENSE EMERGENCY- A military emergency condition declared by a designated authority.
This condition exists when an attack upon the
continental U.S., Alaska, Canada, or U.S. installations in Greenland by hostile aircraft or missiles is
considered probable, is imminent, or is taking place.
(Refer to AIM.)

AIR DEFENSE IDENTIFICATION ZONE (ADIZ)-
An area of airspace over land or water in which the
ready identification, location, and control of all
aircraft (except for Department of Defense and law
enforcement aircraft) is required in the interest of
national security.
Note: ADIZ locations and operating and flight plan
requirements for civil aircraft operations are
specified in 14 CFR Part 99.
(Refer to AIM.)

AIR NAVIGATION FACILITY- Any facility used
in, available for use in, or designed for use in, aid of
air navigation, including landing areas, lights, any
apparatus or equipment for disseminating weather
information, for signaling, for radio-directional
finding, or for radio or other electrical communication, and any other structure or mechanism having a
similar purpose for guiding or controlling flight in the
air or the landing and takeoff of aircraft.
(See NAVIGATIONAL AID.)

AIR ROUTE SURVEILLANCE RADAR- Air route
traffic control center (ARTCC) radar used primarily
to detect and display an aircraft"s position while en
route between terminal areas. The ARSR enables
controllers to provide radar air traffic control service
when aircraft are within the ARSR coverage. In some
instances, ARSR may enable an ARTCC to provide
terminal radar services similar to but usually more
limited than those provided by a radar approach
control.

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 and 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.
(See EN ROUTE AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL
SERVICES.)
(Refer to AIM.)

AIR TAXI- Used to describe a helicopter/VTOL
aircraft movement conducted above the surface but
normally not above 100 feet AGL. The aircraft may
proceed either via hover taxi or flight at speeds more
than 20 knots. The pilot is solely responsible for
selecting a safe airspeed/altitude for the operation
being conducted.
(See HOVER TAXI.)
(Refer to AIM.)

AIR TRAFFIC- Aircraft operating in the air or on an
airport surface, exclusive of loading ramps and
parking areas.
(See ICAO term AIR TRAFFIC.)

AIR TRAFFIC [ICAO]- All aircraft in flight or
operating on the maneuvering area of an aerodrome.
AIR TRAFFIC CLEARANCE- An authorization by
air traffic control for the purpose of preventing
collision between known aircraft, for an aircraft to
proceed under specified traffic conditions within
controlled airspace. The pilot-in-command of an
aircraft may not deviate from the provisions of a
visual flight rules (VFR) or instrument flight rules
(IFR) air traffic clearance except in an emergency or
unless an amended clearance has been obtained.
Additionally, the pilot may request a different
clearance from that which has been issued by air
traffic control (ATC) if information available to the
pilot makes another course of action more practicable
or if aircraft equipment limitations or company
procedures forbid compliance with the clearance
issued. Pilots may also request clarification or
amendment, as appropriate, any time a clearance is
not fully understood, or considered unacceptable
because of safety of flight. Controllers should, in
such instances and to the extent of operational
practicality and safety, honor the pilot"s request.
14 CFR Part 91.3(a) states: "The pilot in command
of an aircraft is directly responsible for, and is the