When dealing with Transport Canada, Nav Canada, and the SFOC process in general, there are numerous acronyms that get tossed around.  Understanding this “aviation speak” is critical when working within the industry. Here are some of the more common items that typically come up:

ACAS – Airborne Collision Avoidance System

ACC – Area Control Centre

ADS-B – Automated Dependant Surveillance – Broadcast

AGL – Above Ground Level

AME – Aircraft Maintenance Engineer

AMO – Aircraft Maintenance Organization

ASL – Above Sea Level

ATC – Air Traffic Control

ATS – Air Traffic Services

BVLOS – Beyond Visual Line of Sight

CAD – Canadian Aviation Document

CAIRS – Civil Aviation Issues Reporting System

CARAC – Canadian Aviation Regulation Advisory Council

CARs – Canadian Aviation Regulations

C2 – Command and Control

CYR – Canadian Restricted Airspace

ELT – Emergency Locator Transmitter

FIC – Flight Information Center

FIR – Flight Information Region

FPV – First Person View

FSS – Flight Service Station

GBSAA – Ground Based Sense and Avoid

GHz – Gigahertz

GPS – Global Positioning System

ICAO – International Civil Aviation Organization

IFR – Instrument Flight Rules

IMC – Instrument Meteorological Conditions

LED – Light Emitting Diode

MAAC – Model Aeronautics Association of Canada

MANOPS – Manual of Operations

METAR – Meteorological Aviation Report

MHz – Megahertz

MTOW – Maximum Take-off Weight

NOTAM – Notice to Airmen

NM – Nautical Miles

NVG – Night Vision Goggles

OPA – Optionally Piloted Aircraft

PED – Portable Electronic Device

PIC – Pilot In Command

RDIMS – Records, Documents and Information Management System

SFOC – Special Flight Operations Certificate

SI – Staff Instruction

SOP – Standard Operating Procedures

TC – Transport Canada

TCAS – Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance System

TP – Transport Canada Publication

UAS – Unmanned Aircraft System

UAV – Unmanned Air Vehicle

UPS – Unit Procedures Specialist

VFR – Visual Flight Rules

VHF – Very High Frequency

VLOS – Visual Line of Sight

VMC – Visual Meteorological Conditions