information at airports without operating control
towers.
(Refer to AIM.)

SEGMENTS OF A SID/STAR-
a. En Route Transition- The segment(s) of a
SID/STAR that connect to/from en route flight. Not
all SIDs/STARs will contain an en route transition.
b. En Route Transition Waypoint- The NAVAID/
fix/waypoint that defines the beginning of the
SID/STAR en route transition.
c. Common Route- The segment(s) of a SID/
STAR procedure that provides a single route serving
an airport/runway or multiple airports/runways. The
common route may consist of a single point. Not all
conventional SIDs will contain a common route.
d. Runway Transition- The segment(s) of a
SID/STAR between the common route/point and the
runway(s). Not all SIDs/STARs will contain a
runway transition.
e. Runway Transition Waypoint (RTW)- On a
STAR, the NAVAID/fix/waypoint that defines the
end of the common route or en route transition and the
beginning of a runway transition (In the arrival route
description found on the STAR chart, the last fix of
the common route and the first fix of the runway
transition(s)).
SEGMENTS OF AN INSTRUMENT APPROACH
PROCEDURE- An instrument approach procedure
may have as many as four separate segments
depending on how the approach procedure is
structured.
a. Initial Approach- 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- The segment between
the intermediate fix or point and the final approach
fix.
(See ICAO term INTERMEDIATE APPROACH
SEGMENT.)

c. Final Approach- The segment between the final
approach fix or point and the runway, airport, or
missed approach point.
(See ICAO term FINAL APPROACH SEGMENT.)

Pilot/Controller Glossary

d. Missed Approach- 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.)

SELF-BRIEFING- A self-briefing is a review,
using automated tools, of all meteorological and
aeronautical information that may influence the pilot
in planning, altering, or canceling a proposed route of
flight.
SEPARATION- 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]- Spacing between aircraft,
levels or tracks.
SEPARATION MINIMA- The minimum longitudinal, lateral, or vertical distances by which aircraft are
spaced through the application of air traffic control
procedures.
(See SEPARATION.)

SERVICE- 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)- 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-
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.)