Pilot/Controller Glossary

P TIME-
(See PROPOSED DEPARTURE TIME.)

P-ACP-
(See PREARRANGED COORDINATION
PROCEDURES.)

PAN-PAN- The international radio-telephony urgency signal. When repeated three times, indicates
uncertainty or alert followed by the nature of the
urgency.
(See MAYDAY.)
(Refer to AIM.)

PAR-
(See PRECISION APPROACH RADAR.)

PAR [ICAO]-
(See ICAO Term PRECISION APPROACH
RADAR.)

PARALLEL ILS APPROACHES- Approaches to
parallel runways by IFR aircraft which, when
established inbound toward the airport on the
adjacent final approach courses, are radar-separated
by at least 2 miles.
(See FINAL APPROACH COURSE.)
(See SIMULTANEOUS ILS APPROACHES.)

PARALLEL OFFSET ROUTE- A parallel track to
the left or right of the designated or established
airway/route. Normally associated with Area Navigation (RNAV) operations.
(See AREA NAVIGATION.)

PARALLEL RUNWAYS- Two or more runways at
the same airport whose centerlines are parallel. In
addition to runway number, parallel runways are
designated as L (left) and R (right) or, if three parallel
runways exist, L (left), C (center), and R (right).
PBCT-
(See PROPOSED BOUNDARY CROSSING
TIME.)

PBN-
(See ICAO Term PERFORMANCE-BASED
NAVIGATION.)

PDC-
(See PRE-DEPARTURE CLEARANCE.)

PERFORMANCE-BASED NAVIGATION (PBN)
[ICAO]- Area navigation based on performance
requirements for aircraft operating along an ATS
route, on an instrument approach procedure or in a
designated airspace.
Note: Performance requirements are expressed in
navigation specifications (RNAV specification,
RNP specification) in terms of accuracy, integrity,
continuity, availability, and functionality needed for
the proposed operation in the context of a
particular airspace concept.

PERMANENT ECHO- Radar signals reflected from
fixed objects on the earth"s surface; e.g., buildings,
towers, terrain. Permanent echoes are distinguished
from "ground clutter" by being definable locations
rather than large areas. Under certain conditions they
may be used to check radar alignment.
PHOTO RECONNAISSANCE- Military activity
that requires locating individual photo targets and
navigating to the targets at a preplanned angle and
altitude. The activity normally requires a lateral route
width of 16 NM and altitude range of 1,500 feet to
10,000 feet AGL.
PILOT BRIEFING- A service provided by the FSS
to assist pilots in flight planning. Briefing items may
include weather information, NOTAMS, military
activities, flow control information, and other items
as requested.
(Refer to AIM.)

PILOT IN COMMAND- The pilot responsible for
the operation and safety of an aircraft during flight
time.
(Refer to 14 CFR Part 91.)

PILOT WEATHER REPORT- A report of meteorological phenomena encountered by aircraft in flight.
(Refer to AIM.)

PILOT"S DISCRETION- When used in conjunction with altitude assignments, means that ATC has
offered the pilot the option of starting climb or
descent whenever he/she wishes and conducting the
climb or descent at any rate he/she wishes. He/she
may temporarily level off at any intermediate
altitude. However, once he/she has vacated an
altitude, he/she may not return to that altitude.