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Pilot/Controller Glossary

4/20/23

PCG A

8

AIRCRAFT APPROACH CATEGORY

 A grouping of aircraft based on a speed of 1.3 times the stall speed

in the landing configuration at maximum gross landing weight. An aircraft must fit in only one category. If it
is necessary to maneuver at speeds in excess of the upper limit of a speed range for a category, the minimums
for the category for that speed must be used. For example, an aircraft which falls in Category A, but is circling
to land at a speed in excess of 91 knots, must use the approach Category B minimums when circling to land.
The categories are as follows:

a.

Category A

 Speed less than 91 knots.

b.

Category B

 Speed 91 knots or more but less than 121 knots.

c.

Category C

 Speed 121 knots or more but less than 141 knots.

d.

Category D

 Speed 141 knots or more but less than 166 knots.

e.

Category E

 Speed 166 knots or more.

(Refer to 14 CFR Part 97.)

AIRCRAFT CLASSES

 For the purposes of Wake Turbulence Separation Minima, ATC classifies aircraft as

Super, Heavy, Large, and Small as follows:

a.

Super. The Airbus A-380-800 (A388) and the Antonov An-225 (A225) are classified as super.

b.

Heavy

 Aircraft capable of takeoff weights of 300,000 pounds or more whether or not they are operating

at this weight during a particular phase of flight.

c.

Large

 Aircraft of more than 41,000 pounds, maximum certificated takeoff weight, up to but not including

300,000 pounds.

d.

Small

 Aircraft of 41,000 pounds or less maximum certificated takeoff weight.

(Refer to AIM.)

AIRCRAFT CONFLICT

 Predicted conflict, within EDST of two aircraft, or between aircraft and airspace. A

Red alert is used for conflicts when the predicted minimum separation is 5 nautical miles or less. A Yellow alert
is used when the predicted minimum separation is between 5 and approximately 12 nautical miles. A Blue alert
is used for conflicts between an aircraft and predefined airspace.

(See 

EN ROUTE DECISION SUPPORT TOOL

.)

AIRCRAFT LIST (ACL)

 A view available with EDST that lists aircraft currently in or predicted to be in a

particular sector’s airspace. The view contains textual flight data information in line format and may be sorted
into various orders based on the specific needs of the sector team.

(See 

EN ROUTE DECISION  SUPPORT TOOL

.)

AIRCRAFT SURGE LAUNCH AND RECOVERY

 Procedures used at USAF bases to provide increased

launch and recovery rates in instrument flight rules conditions. ASLAR is based on:

a.

Reduced separation between aircraft which is based on time or distance. Standard arrival separation applies

between participants including multiple flights until the DRAG point. The DRAG point is a published location
on an ASLAR approach where aircraft landing second in a formation slows to a predetermined airspeed. The
DRAG point is the reference point at which MARSA applies as expanding elements effect separation within a
flight or between subsequent participating flights.

b.

ASLAR procedures shall be covered in a Letter of Agreement between the responsible USAF military ATC

facility and the concerned Federal Aviation Administration facility. Initial Approach Fix spacing requirements
are normally addressed as a minimum.

AIRCRAFT HAZARD AREA (AHA)

 Used by ATC to segregate air traffic from a launch vehicle, reentry

vehicle, amateur rocket, jettisoned stages, hardware, or falling debris generated by failures associated with any
of these activities. An AHA is designated via NOTAM as either a TFR or stationary ALTRV. Unless otherwise
specified, the vertical limits of an AHA are from the surface to unlimited.

(See CONTINGENCY HAZARD AREA.)
(See REFINED HAZARD AREA.)
(See TRANSITIONAL HAZARD AREA.)