Pilot/Controller Glossary

8/15/19

PCG A

−

15

terminal area within which APD is inhibited for all
flights within that airspace.

AUTOMATED RADAR TERMINAL SYSTEMS
(ARTS)

−

 A generic term for several tracking systems

included in the Terminal Automation Systems (TAS).
ARTS plus a suffix roman numeral denotes a major
modification to that system.

a.

ARTS IIIA. The Radar Tracking and Beacon

Tracking Level (RT&BTL) of the modular, program-
mable automated radar terminal system. ARTS IIIA
detects, tracks, and predicts primary as well as
secondary radar-derived aircraft targets. This more
sophisticated computer-driven system upgrades the
existing ARTS III system by providing improved
tracking, continuous data recording, and fail-soft
capabilities.

b.

Common ARTS. Includes ARTS IIE, ARTS

IIIE; and ARTS IIIE with ACD (see DTAS) which
combines functionalities of the previous ARTS
systems.

AUTOMATED WEATHER SYSTEM

−

 Any of the

automated weather sensor platforms that collect
weather data at airports and disseminate the weather
information via radio and/or landline. The systems
currently consist of the Automated Surface Observ-
ing System (ASOS) and Automated Weather
Observation System (AWOS).

AUTOMATED UNICOM

−

 Provides completely

automated weather, radio check capability and airport
advisory information on an Automated UNICOM
system. These systems offer a variety of features,
typically selectable by microphone clicks, on the
UNICOM frequency. Availability will be published
in the Chart Supplement U.S. and approach charts.

AUTOMATIC ALTITUDE REPORT

−

(See ALTITUDE READOUT.)

AUTOMATIC ALTITUDE REPORTING

−

 That

function of a transponder which responds to Mode C
interrogations by transmitting the aircraft’s altitude
in 100-foot increments.

AUTOMATIC CARRIER LANDING SYSTEM

−

U.S. Navy final approach equipment consisting of
precision tracking radar coupled to a computer data
link to provide continuous information to the aircraft,
monitoring capability to the pilot, and a backup
approach system.

AUTOMATIC DEPENDENT SURVEILLANCE
(ADS) [ICAO]

−

 A surveillance technique in which

aircraft automatically provide, via a data link, data
derived from on

−

board navigation and position

fixing systems, including aircraft identification, four
dimensional position and additional  data as
appropriate.

AUTOMATIC  DEPENDENT SURVEILLANCE

−

BROADCAST (ADS-B)

−

 A surveillance system in

which an aircraft or vehicle to be detected is fitted
with cooperative equipment in the form of a data link
transmitter. The aircraft or vehicle periodically
broadcasts its GPS

−

derived position and other

information such as velocity over the data link, which
is received by a ground

−

based transmitter/receiver

(transceiver) for processing and display at an air
traffic control facility.

(See GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM.)

(See GROUND

−

BASED TRANSCEIVER.)

AUTOMATIC  DEPENDENT SURVEILLANCE

−

CONTRACT (ADS

−

C)

−

 A data  link position

reporting system, controlled by a ground station, that
establishes contracts with an aircraft’s avionics that
occur automatically whenever specific events occur,
or specific time intervals are reached.

AUTOMATIC DEPENDENT SURVEILLANCE-
REBROADCAST (ADS-R)

−

 A datalink translation

function of the ADS

−

B ground system required to

accommodate the two separate operating frequencies
(978 MHz and 1090 MHz). The ADS

−

B system

receives the ADS

−

B messages transmitted on one

frequency and ADS

−

R translates and reformats the

information for rebroadcast and use on the other
frequency. This allows ADS

−

B In equipped aircraft

to see nearby ADS

−

B Out traffic regardless of the

operating link of the other aircraft. Aircraft operating
on the same ADS

−

B frequency exchange information

directly and do not require the ADS

−

R translation

function.

AUTOMATIC DIRECTION FINDER

−

 An aircraft

radio navigation system which senses and indicates
the direction to a L/MF nondirectional radio beacon
(NDB) ground transmitter. Direction is indicated to
the pilot as a magnetic bearing or as a relative bearing
to the longitudinal axis of the aircraft depending on
the type of indicator installed in the aircraft. In certain
applications, such as military, ADF operations may