Airline Terminology

Aft Attendant Panel

Able-Bodied Assistant

Aircraft Left & Right. The side of the aircraft when standing in the cabin looking towards the front. The Captain always sits A/C L & First Officer A/C R.

Aircraft Communications Addressing and Reporting System. A digital data link system for the transmission of messages between the pilots and ground stations via radio or satellite.

Additional Crewmember

Area Call Panel

Near, towards or in the rear of the aircraft. On the rear facing side of any fixed object or partition.

Attendant Indication Panel

• An identification number painted on the outside of the aircraft. Also referred to as the ship or tail number.
• Ex. N601NK

The distance in feet above Mean Sea Level

Auxiliary Power Unit

Air Traffic Control. A service operated by a regulated authority to promote the safe, orderly and expeditious flow of air trafic.

When an A/C parks at the termination of a flight, rubber blocks or "chocks" are placed on each side of the wheels to keep the A/C from rolling. These blocks are removed when the A/C departs on another flight. "Block Time" is the period of time beginning when an A/C first moves from the ramp for flight & ends when the A/C comes to a stop at the ramp after flight.

Bright

Any dividing wall or partition in the cabin.

Captain. The Pilot In Command (PIC) of an aircraft who is directly responsible for and is the final authority for the operation of that aircraft. (S)he also has authority over and is resposible for the performace of the duties of other crewmembers.

The interior of an A/C where the passengers are seated

Cockpit Access Security System

Caution

Collective Bargaining Agreement

A plane "rented" by a group for its own use. A charter flight may operate on or off the Spirit system as long as the desitation city has approved airport facilities.

The time a flight attendant is required to report for flight duty.

A flight on which the crewmember(s) are being check on the performance of their duties.

Cabin Intercommunication Data System

Crew Resource Management. The effective use of all resources; humanware, hardware, & software, to achieve safe, efficient flight operations.

Complaint Resolution Official

Customer Service Agent

Transportation of crewmembers from one point to another to cover a trip or return to home base.

Safety Demonstration

Dispatch. The department responsible for dispatching flights, determining suitability of perational facilities, and the safe operation of each flight.

A flight that has one flight number, but with on or more stops

Department of Defense

Also referred to as a base. The city where the crew is based.

Department of Transportation

Electronic Centralized Aircraft Monitoring. A system that monitors the state of critical aircraft systems and provides indications and warnings to the pilots

Emergency Locator Transmitter

Employee Self Service

Estimated Time of Arrival

The procedure by which passengers are deplaned in the most quick and orderly manner during an emergency situation.

Flight Attendant

Federal Aviation Administration

The assigned folding seat for a working flight attendant

Federal Air Marshal

Forward Attendant panel

Federal Aviation Regulation

A flight set up to operate without revenue passengers. May or may not operate with cabin crewmembers (FAs)

Federal Flight Deck Officer. A pilot trained and licensed to command an aircraft while in possesion of a firearm.

A required crewmember resposible for the safety of passengers and for providing excellent customer service. Also referred to as a cabin crewmember.

A pilot assigned to duty in an aircraft furing flight time. Flight Attendants are NOT considered flight crew.

The time between when the aircraft liftoff & landing

The aircraft body

Ground Security Coordinator

A child between the ages of 2-12

Wind that blows against the aircraft inflight, slowing down the speef of the aircraft.

An airport where a large percent of an airline's flights connect.

A facility used for the upkeep & maintenance of the aircraft.

Near or closest to the center aisle of the aircraft.

A child less than 24 months of age, not included in passenger count

Inoperative

A handset at each cabin crew station allowing for calls between cabin crew & the flight crew

Inflight Security Coordinator. The Captain is always the Inflight Security Coordinator.

Enclosed tunnel-like passageway between the A/C and the terminal gate area. The jetway is power driven & controlled by an agent.

Designation for each cabin door on the left side of the aircraft. L1 is the first door on the left side, L2 is the second, etc.

Bathroom

Any flight segment from one destination point to the next

A destination point where the crew spends time on the ground away from their domicile

Lavatory Service Unit

Manual Release Tool

Maintenance

Non-revenue (non-paying) passenager on a flight

A flight that travels from one city to another with no stops in between

Operation Control Center. The department that crews, schedules, loads & dispatches all of an airlines flights.

Overhead Bin. An enclosed compartment in the cabin located above the passenger seat in which lighter weight carry-on bags can be placed. Each bin is labeled with weight limits.

The company office at an airport concerned with the loading & working of the flight.

Near or closer to the outside of the aircraft

Overwing Exit

Public Address system

Passenger

Pilot in Command. Has final authority & responsibility for the operation & safety of the flight. The Captain is the PIC.

Push to Talk

Designation for each cabin door on the right side of the aircraft. R1 is the first door on the right side R2 is the second, etc

The immediate area around the aircraft when it is parked.

Secure Identification Display Area

Security Sensitive Information

Paved portion of the secured airport area other than the ramp area, including runways, taxiways & remote areas.

Winds that blow in the direction of the flight, pushing the aircraft forward & increasing speed of the A/C

Transportation Security Administration

Irregular movement of the aircraft by uncommon changed in the atmospheric air currents

Unaccompanied Minor

Weather

Extra Crewmember. Used when describing a jumpseater in the flight deck

Extra Flight Attendant. Used when describing a jumpseater on an extra flight attendant jumpseat.