Civil aviation dictionary
Aviation glossary
Terms, abbreviations and procedures explained without unnecessary jargon, with English names and clear definitions.
- Total entries
- 2480
- Terms
- 435
- Abbreviations
- 2045
S
- AbbreviationSpecial Federal Aviation Regulations
SFAR stands for Special Federal Aviation Regulations in FAA terminology.
- AbbreviationSpecial Flight Permit
SFP stands for Special Flight Permit in FAA terminology.
- Flying skillsSPECIAL FLIGHT RULES AREA (SFRA)
An area in the NAS, described in 14 CFR part 93, wherein the flight of aircraft is subject to special traffic rules, unless otherwise authorized by air traffic control.
- OperationsSPECIAL GOVERNMENT INTEREST (SGI)
A near real‐time airspace authorization for part 91 or part 107 UAS, which supports activities that answer significant and urgent governmental interests.
- Abbreviationspecial handling service for aircraft
XH stands for special handling service for aircraft in FAA terminology.
- Abbreviationspecial traffic management program
STMP stands for special traffic management program in FAA terminology.
- OperationsSPECIAL USE AIRSPACE
Airspace of defined dimensions identified by an area on the surface of the earth wherein activities must be confined because of their nature and/or wherein limitations may be imposed upon aircraft operations that are not a part of those activities.
- AbbreviationSpecial Use Airspace Management System
SAMS stands for Special Use Airspace Management System in FAA terminology.
- OperationsSPECIAL VFR OPERATIONS
Aircraft operating in accordance with clearances within Class B, C, D, and E surface areas in weather conditions less than the basic VFR weather minima.
- AbbreviationSpecial Visual Flight Rules
SVFR stands for Special Visual Flight Rules in FAA terminology.
- Abbreviationspectrometric oil analysis program
SOAP stands for spectrometric oil analysis program in FAA terminology.
- Flying skillsSPEED ADJUSTMENT
An ATC procedure used to request pilots to adjust aircraft speed to a specific value for the purpose of providing desired spacing.
- Flying skillsSPEED ADVISORY
Speed advisories that are generated within Time-Based Flow Management to assist controllers to meet the Scheduled Time of Arrival (STA) at the meter fix/meter arc.
- Abbreviationspeed at pilots discretion
SAPD stands for speed at pilots discretion in FAA terminology.
- Abbreviationspeed limiting point
SLP stands for speed limiting point in FAA terminology.
- Flying skillsSPEED SEGMENTS
Portions of the arrival route between the transition point and the vertex along the optimum flight path for which speeds and altitudes are specified.
- AerodynamicsSpoilers
Wing panels that reduce lift and increase drag when deployed.
- Abbreviationspot wind
SPOT stands for spot wind in FAA terminology.
- Abbreviationsquall line
SQLN stands for squall line in FAA terminology.
- Abbreviationsquawk mode code
SMC stands for squawk mode code in FAA terminology.
- Abbreviationstack entry time
SET stands for stack entry time in FAA terminology.
- AbbreviationStaff Communications
CCCC stands for Staff Communications in FAA terminology.
- AbbreviationStaffing to Traffic
STT stands for Staffing to Traffic in FAA terminology.
- AerodynamicsStall
A substantial loss of lift after the critical angle of attack is exceeded.