Pilot/Controller Glossary

8/15/19

PCG C

−

8

airspace begins at 14,500 MSL over the United
States, including that airspace overlying the waters
within 12 nautical miles of the coast of the 48
contiguous States and Alaska, up to, but not
including 18,000 feet MSL, and the airspace above
FL 600.

CONTROLLED AIRSPACE [ICAO]

−

 An airspace

of defined dimensions within which air traffic control
service is provided to IFR flights and to VFR flights
in accordance with the airspace classification.

Note: Controlled airspace is a generic term which

covers ATS airspace Classes A, B, C, D, and E.

CONTROLLED TIME OF ARRIVAL

−

 Arrival time

assigned during a Traffic Management Program. This
time may be modified due to adjustments or user
options.

CONTROLLER

−

(See AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL SPECIALIST.)

CONTROLLER [ICAO]

−

 A person authorized to

provide air traffic control services.

CONTROLLER PILOT DATA LINK
COMMUNICATIONS (CPDLC)

−

 A two

−

way

digital communications system that conveys textual
air traffic control messages between controllers and
pilots using ground or satellite-based radio relay
stations.

CONVECTIVE SIGMET

−

 

A weather advisory

concerning convective weather significant to the
safety of all aircraft. Convective SIGMETs are issued
for tornadoes, lines of thunderstorms, embedded
thunderstorms of any intensity level, areas of
thunderstorms greater than or equal to VIP level 4
with an area coverage of 

4

/

10

 (40%) or more, and hail

3

/

4

 inch or greater.

(See AIRMET.)
(See AWW.)
(See CWA.)
(See SIGMET.)
(Refer to AIM.)

CONVECTIVE SIGNIFICANT METEOROLOG-
ICAL INFORMATION

−

(See CONVECTIVE SIGMET.)

COORDINATES

−

 The intersection of lines of

reference, usually expressed in degrees/minutes/
seconds of latitude and longitude, used to determine
position or location.

COORDINATION FIX

−

 The fix in relation to which

facilities will handoff, transfer control of an aircraft,
or coordinate flight progress data. For terminal
facilities, it may also serve as a clearance for arriving
aircraft.

COPTER

−

(See HELICOPTER.)

CORRECTION

−

 An error has been made in the

transmission and the correct version follows.

COUPLED APPROACH

−

 

An instrument approach

performed by the aircraft autopilot, and/or visually
depicted on the flight director, which is receiving
position information and/or steering commands from
onboard navigational equipment. In general, coupled
non-precision approaches must be flown manually
(autopilot disengaged) at altitudes lower than 50 feet
AGL below the minimum descent altitude, and
coupled precision approaches must be flown
manually (autopilot disengaged) below 50 feet AGL
unless authorized to conduct autoland operations.
Coupled instrument approaches are commonly flown
to the allowable IFR weather minima established by
the operator or PIC, or flown VFR for training and
safety.

COURSE

−

a.

The intended direction of flight in the horizontal

plane measured in degrees from north.

b.

The ILS  localizer signal  pattern usually

specified as the front course or the back course.

(See BEARING.)
(See INSTRUMENT LANDING SYSTEM.)
(See RADIAL.)

CPDLC

−

(See CONTROLLER PILOT DATA LINK

COMMUNICATIONS.)

CPL [ICAO]

−

(See ICAO term CURRENT FLIGHT PLAN.)

CRITICAL ENGINE

−

 The engine which, upon

failure, would most adversely affect the performance
or handling qualities of an aircraft.

CROSS (FIX) AT (ALTITUDE)

−

 

Used by ATC

when a specific altitude restriction at a specified fix
is required.

CROSS (FIX) AT OR ABOVE (ALTITUDE)

−

 

Used

by ATC when an altitude restriction at a specified fix
is required. It does not prohibit the aircraft from
crossing the fix at a higher altitude than specified;