Skyborne
glossary of terms
There are many acronyms used in and around a flight school. We have compiled a list of some of the most common that you are likely to hear.
Aviation Agencies and Authorities
CAA
Civil Aviation Authority (UK)
EASA
European Aviation Safety Agency
FAA
Federal Aviation Authority (USA)
ICAO
International Civil Aviation Organisation
PILOT LICENCES
APS MCC
Airline Pilot Standards Multi-Crew Cooperation Course
ATPL
Airline Transport Pilot Licence
CPL
Commercial Pilot Licence
fATPL
‘Frozen’ Airline Transport Pilot Licence
Integrated ATPL
The UK course taking you from complete beginner to fully qualified commercial pilot
IR
Instrument Rating
MECPL
Multi-Engine Commercial Pilot Licence
MEIR
Multi-Engine Instrument Rating
MEP
Multi-Engine Piston
MPL
Multi-Crew Pilot Licence
PPL
Private Pilot Licence
SEP
Single-Engine Piston
ADVANCED Pilot Training Courses
Base Training
Take off and landings in the aircraft which are required to issue a type rating
CRM
Crew Resource Management
IMC
Instrument Meteorological Conditions Rating
Line Check
Check flight conducted at the end of line training
Line Training
Flying under supervision as the final part of type training
LPC
Licence Proficiency Check
LST
Licence Skills Test
NQ
Night Qualification
OP
Operator Proficiency CheckÂ
Rating
An additional qualification associated with a licence
Type Rating
The qualification undertaken by a fATPL holder in order to fly a particular aircraft type
AUPRT
Advanced Upset Prevention and Recovery Training
Flight Training
Ab Initio
‘From the beginning’ – refers to a person or course for someone with no prior flight training experience
ATO
Approved Training Organisation
CFI
Chief Flying Instructor
CTKI
Chief Theoretical Knowledge Instructor
FI
Flight Instructor
Integrated Pilot Training
Zero hours to fATPL
Modular Pilot Training
Individual licences completed to fATPL in separate blocks
MPL
Multi-pilot licence – MPL is professional pilot qualification designed for a specific airline and a specific aircraft type
The regulating authority
UK CAA must approve all pilot training organisations (ATOs) and a trainee must be formally registered with one in order to train as a commercial pilot
TKI
Theoretical Knowledge Instructor
AVIation MEDICAL terms
AME
Aeromedical Examiner
Class 1 Medical
Full medical (required for CPL, MPL and ATPL)
Class 2 Medical
Medical (required for PPL)
FAA 3rd Class Medical
Medical required for single-engine flight training in the U.S
OTHER USEFUL Terminology
ATC
Air traffic control
CRP5
A manual flight computer
FMC
Flight Management Computer
FTD
Flight Training Device
Ground School
Theoretical knowledge training, also known as ATPL theory
ICAO Level 4Â
The minimum ICAO Standard for English Language proficiency for ATPL
IELTS
International English Language Training Standard
IFR
Instrument Flight Rules
IMC
Instrument Meteorological Conditions
SOP
Standard Operating Procedures
VFR
Visual Flight Rules
