Pilot/Controller Glossary

8/15/19

PCG S

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3

information at airports without operating control
towers.

(Refer to AIM.)

SEGMENTS OF AN INSTRUMENT APPROACH
PROCEDURE

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 An instrument approach procedure

may have as many as four separate segments
depending on how the approach procedure is
structured.

a.

Initial Approach

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 The segment between the

initial approach fix and the intermediate fix or the
point where the aircraft is established on the
intermediate course or final approach course.

(See ICAO term INITIAL APPROACH

SEGMENT.)

b.

Intermediate Approach

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 The segment between

the intermediate fix or point and the final approach
fix.

(See ICAO term INTERMEDIATE APPROACH

SEGMENT.)

c.

Final Approach

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 The segment between the final

approach fix or point and the runway, airport, or
missed approach point.

(See ICAO term FINAL APPROACH SEGMENT.)

d.

Missed Approach

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 The segment between the

missed approach point or the point of arrival at
decision height and the missed approach fix at the
prescribed altitude.

(Refer to 14 CFR Part 97.)
(See ICAO term MISSED APPROACH

PROCEDURE.)

SEPARATION

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 In air traffic control, the spacing of

aircraft to achieve their safe and orderly movement in
flight and while landing and taking off.

(See SEPARATION MINIMA.)
(See ICAO term SEPARATION.)

SEPARATION [ICAO]

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 Spacing between aircraft,

levels or tracks.

SEPARATION MINIMA

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 The minimum longitudi-

nal, lateral, or vertical distances by which aircraft are
spaced through the application of air traffic control
procedures.

(See SEPARATION.)

SERVICE

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 A generic term that designates functions

or assistance available from or rendered by air traffic
control. For example, Class C service would denote
the ATC services provided within a Class C airspace
area.

SEVERE WEATHER AVOIDANCE PLAN
(SWAP)

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 An approved plan to minimize the affect of

severe weather on traffic flows in impacted terminal
and/or ARTCC areas. A SWAP is normally
implemented to provide the least disruption to the
ATC system when flight through portions of airspace
is difficult or impossible due to severe weather.

SEVERE WEATHER FORECAST ALERTS

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Preliminary messages issued in order to alert users
that a Severe Weather Watch Bulletin (WW) is being
issued. These messages define areas of possible
severe thunderstorms or tornado activity. The
messages are unscheduled and issued as required by
the Storm Prediction Center (SPC) at Norman,
Oklahoma.

(See AIRMET.)
(See CONVECTIVE SIGMET.)
(See CWA.)
(See SIGMET.)

SFA

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(See SINGLE FREQUENCY APPROACH.)

SFO

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(See SIMULATED FLAMEOUT.)

SHF

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(See SUPER HIGH FREQUENCY.)

SHORT RANGE CLEARANCE

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 A clearance

issued to a departing IFR flight which authorizes IFR
flight to a specific fix short of the destination while
air traffic control facilities are coordinating and
obtaining the complete clearance.

SHORT TAKEOFF AND LANDING AIRCRAFT
(STOL)

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 An aircraft which, at some weight within its

approved operating weight, is capable of operating
from a runway in compliance with the applicable
STOL characteristics, airworthiness, operations,
noise, and pollution standards.

(See VERTICAL TAKEOFF AND LANDING

AIRCRAFT.)

SIAP

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(See STANDARD INSTRUMENT APPROACH

PROCEDURE.)

SID

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(See STANDARD INSTRUMENT DEPARTURE.)

SIDESTEP MANEUVER

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 A visual maneuver

accomplished by a pilot at the completion of an
instrument approach to permit a straight-in landing
on a parallel runway not more than 1,200 feet to either