“When the TCAS issued an RA, the PF applied the SOP and initiated a descent. Even if they were at low FL descending to the ILS, there was no risk of CFIT. The WX, as anounced by the ATIS, was CAVOK and the flight was VMC. After that, the PIC asked the COPI to do a PA to make the PAX feel better.”

If you read this, you either know all aviation related abbreviations, or are just curious and about them… So let decypher it…

TCAS: Traffic Collision Avoidance System. On board system giving pilots information about other planes close by.

RA: Resolution Advisory. Instruction to climb or descend issued by TCAS to avoid a collision.

PF / PNF: Pilot (Non) Flying. One of the pilot is in charge of flying the plane, while the other one is in charge of navigation and communications. This is MCC. Oops, Multi Crew Co-operation, saying how pilot and co-pilot shall work together.
SOP: Standard Operation Procedures. Procedures defined by the airline, saying how the crew has to work.

FL: Flight Level. Special way used by pilots and air traffic controllers to measure altitude.

ILS: Instrument Landing System. Radio beam based system guiding aircraft laterally and vertically once aligned with runway axis.

CFIT: Controlled Flight Into Terrain. Class of accidents where crew flies a perfectly working aircraft into terrain. Politically correct way to say “Crash”.

WX: Weather. No comment.

ATIS: Automatic Terminal Information System. Equipment broadcasting weather report in a loop, so pilots can have it without asking the ATCO. Again ? Air Traffic Controller.

CAVOK: Ceiling And Visibility OK. WX code to say weather is good.

VMC: Visual Meteorological Conditions. Conditions that prevail when the plane is flying out of the clouds. When flying in clouds, the plane is in Instrument Meteorological Conditions… a.k.a. IMC

PIC: Pilot In Command. Master on board after the Lord ! PIC is in charge of everything, but is not always PF.

COPI: Co-Pilot. Also known as First Officer, F/O. Second in charge, can be PF or PNF.

PA: Public Address. The kind of intercom used by the PIC and COPI to talk to the PAX (see below). By extension, also means the message. Usually, the message starts with “This is you captain speaking…”.

PAX: Passenger. You. No comment.

This is just page one of the abbreviations book, so if you want more, let me know. I can publish new ones WIE and continue UFN.

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