Pilot/Controller Glossary

8/15/19

PCG D

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2

aircraft on the runway, terminal or center area
saturation, weather below landing minimums, etc.

(See EXPECT FURTHER CLEARANCE (TIME).)

DELAY TIME

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 The amount of time that the arrival

must lose to cross the meter fix at the assigned meter
fix time. This is the difference between ACLT and
VTA.

DEPARTURE CENTER

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 The  ARTCC  having

jurisdiction for the airspace that generates a flight to
the impacted airport.

DEPARTURE CONTROL

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 A function  of an

approach control facility providing air traffic control
service for departing IFR and, under certain
conditions, VFR aircraft.

(See APPROACH CONTROL FACILITY.)
(Refer to AIM.)

DEPARTURE SEQUENCING PROGRAM

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  A

program designed to assist in achieving a specified
interval over a common point for departures.

DEPARTURE TIME

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 The time an aircraft becomes

airborne.

DESCEND VIA– An abbreviated ATC clearance that
requires compliance with a published

 

procedure

lateral path and associated speed restrictions and
provides a pilot-discretion descent to comply with
published altitude restrictions.

DESCENT SPEED ADJUSTMENTS

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 Speed decel-

eration calculations made to determine an accurate
VTA. These calculations start at the transition point
and use arrival speed segments to the vertex.

DESIGNATED COMMON TRAFFIC ADVISORY
FREQUENCY (CTAF) AREA

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 In  Alaska,  in

addition to being designated for the purpose of
carrying out airport advisory practices while
operating to or from an airport without an operating
airport traffic control tower, a CTAF may also be
designated for the purpose of carrying out advisory
practices for operations in and through areas with a
high volume of VFR traffic.

DESIRED COURSE

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a.

True

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 A predetermined desired course direction

to be followed (measured in degrees from true north).

b.

Magnetic

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 A predetermined desired course

direction to be followed (measured in degrees from
local magnetic north).

DESIRED TRACK

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 The planned or intended track

between two waypoints. It is measured in degrees
from either magnetic or true north. The instantaneous
angle may change from point to point along the great
circle track between waypoints.

DETRESFA (DISTRESS PHASE) [ICAO]

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 The

code word used to designate an emergency phase
wherein there is reasonable certainty that an aircraft
and its occupants are threatened by grave and
imminent danger or require immediate assistance.

DEVIATIONS

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a.

A departure from a current clearance, such as an

off course maneuver to avoid weather or turbulence.

b.

Where specifically authorized in the CFRs and

requested by the pilot, ATC may permit pilots to
deviate from certain regulations.

DH

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(See DECISION HEIGHT.)

DH [ICAO]

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(See ICAO Term DECISION ALTITUDE/

DECISION HEIGHT.)

DIGITAL-AUTOMATIC TERMINAL INFORMA-
TION SERVICE (D-ATIS)

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 The service provides

text messages to aircraft, airlines, and other users
outside the standard reception range of conventional
ATIS via landline and data link communications to
the cockpit. Also, the service provides a computer

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synthesized voice message that can be transmitted to
all aircraft within range of existing transmitters. The
Terminal Data Link System (TDLS) D-ATIS
application uses weather inputs from local automated
weather sources or manually entered meteorological
data together with preprogrammed menus to provide
standard information to users. Airports with D-ATIS
capability are listed in the Chart Supplement U.S.

DIGITAL TARGET

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 A computer

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generated symbol

representing an aircraft’s position, based on a primary
return or radar beacon reply, shown on a digital
display.

DIGITAL TERMINAL AUTOMATION SYSTEM
(DTAS)

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 A system where digital radar and beacon

data is presented on digital displays and the
operational program monitors the system perfor-
mance on a real

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time basis.

DIGITIZED TARGET

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 A computer

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generated

indication shown on an analog radar display resulting
from a primary radar return or a radar beacon reply.