6/17/21 

Pilot/Controller Glossary 

H 

HAA

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(See HEIGHT ABOVE AIRPORT.) 

HAL

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(See HEIGHT ABOVE LANDING.) 

HANDOFF

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 An action taken to transfer the radar 

identification of an aircraft from one controller to 
another if the aircraft will enter the receiving 
controller’s airspace and radio communications with 
the aircraft will be transferred. 

HAT

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(See HEIGHT ABOVE TOUCHDOWN.) 

HAVE NUMBERS

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 Used by pilots to inform ATC 

that they have received runway, wind, and altimeter 
information only. 

HAZARDOUS WEATHER INFORMATION

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Summary of significant meteorological information 
(SIGMET/WS), convective significant meteorologi-
cal information (convective SIGMET/WST), urgent 
pilot weather reports (urgent PIREP/UUA), center 
weather advisories (CWA), airmen’s meteorological 
information (AIRMET/WA) and any other weather 
such as isolated thunderstorms that are rapidly 
developing and increasing in intensity, or low 
ceilings and visibilities that are becoming wide-
spread which is considered significant and are not 
included in a current hazardous weather advisory. 

HEAVY (AIRCRAFT)

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(See AIRCRAFT CLASSES.) 

HEIGHT ABOVE AIRPORT (HAA)

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 The height of 

the Minimum Descent Altitude above the published 
airport elevation. This is published in conjunction 
with circling minimums. 

(See MINIMUM DESCENT ALTITUDE.) 

HEIGHT ABOVE LANDING (HAL)

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 The height 

above a designated helicopter landing area used for 
helicopter instrument approach procedures. 

(Refer to 14 CFR Part 97.) 

HEIGHT ABOVE TOUCHDOWN (HAT)

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 The 

height of the Decision Height or Minimum Descent 
Altitude above the highest runway elevation in the 
touchdown zone (first 3,000 feet of the runway). HAT 

is published on instrument approach charts in 
conjunction with all straight-in minimums. 

(See DECISION HEIGHT.) 
(See MINIMUM DESCENT ALTITUDE.) 

HELICOPTER

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 A heavier-than-air aircraft sup-

ported in flight chiefly by the reactions of the air on 
one or more power-driven rotors on substantially 
vertical axes. 

HELIPAD

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 A small, designated area, usually with a 

prepared surface, on a heliport, airport, landing/take-
off area, apron/ramp, or movement area used for 
takeoff, landing, or parking of helicopters. 

HELIPORT

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 An area of land, water, or structure used 

or intended to be used for the landing and takeoff of 
helicopters and includes its buildings and facilities if 
any. 

HELIPORT REFERENCE POINT (HRP)

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 The 

geographic center of a heliport. 

HERTZ

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 The standard radio equivalent of frequency 

in cycles per second of an electromagnetic wave. 
Kilohertz (kHz) is a frequency of one thousand cycles 
per second. Megahertz (MHz) is a frequency of one 
million cycles per second. 

HF

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(See HIGH FREQUENCY.) 

HF COMMUNICATIONS

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(See HIGH FREQUENCY COMMUNICATIONS.) 

HIGH FREQUENCY

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 The frequency band between 

3 and 30 MHz. 

(See HIGH FREQUENCY COMMUNICATIONS.) 

HIGH FREQUENCY COMMUNICATIONS

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 High 

radio frequencies (HF) between 3 and 30 MHz used 
for air-to-ground voice communication in overseas 
operations. 

HIGH SPEED EXIT

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(See HIGH SPEED TAXIWAY.) 

HIGH SPEED TAXIWAY

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 A long radius taxiway 

designed and provided with lighting or marking to 
define the path of aircraft, traveling at high speed (up 
to 60 knots), from the runway center to a point on the 
center of a taxiway. Also referred to as long radius 
exit or turn-off taxiway. The high speed taxiway is 

PCG H

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