Business Aviation Glossary

A

ADS-B (Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast) : Surveillance technology through which an aircraft automatically broadcasts its position, altitude and speed. Mandatory in Europe since 2020.

Air Charter : Hiring of an aircraft with its crew from an operator, usually arranged through a charter broker.

Aircraft registration (tail number) : Located on its tail or engine, the alphanumeric registration indicates the country of registration of an aircraft.

Altimeter : Instrument measuring the aircraft's altitude against a barometric reference.

AOC (Aircraft Operator Certificate) : This certificate is required for companies to operate an aircraft commercially.

AOG (Aircraft On Ground) : The aircraft is experiencing an issue preventing it from flying.

APU (Auxiliary Power Unit) : On-board auxiliary power unit providing electricity and air conditioning on the ground, and enabling engine start-up.

ATC (Air Traffic Control) : The Air Traffic Control is provided by on-ground teams (national and regional centers as well as local control towers).

ATIS (Automatic Terminal Information Service) : Continuous automatic radio broadcast of weather and operational information at an airport.

Avionics : All the electronic equipment fitted on an aircraft (navigation, communication, autopilot, instruments).

B

Bizjet : Short form of "business jet", referring to a private aircraft used for business travel.

Block Time : Total time between the moment the aircraft leaves its departure stand and the moment it is immobilised at its arrival stand. The main billing unit in business aviation.

C

Cabin : Part of the aircraft reserved for passengers. Its size varies according to the category of jet.

Cabotage : The transportation of goods or passengers operated by a company foreign to the country in which they are transporting these goods or passengers. Prohibited under international regulations.

Callsign : Identifier used by the crew in communications with air traffic control.

CFMU (Central Flow Management Unit) : Former Eurocontrol unit in charge of air traffic flow management. Replaced by the NMOC in 2011.

Charter : The hiring of an entire aircraft for an on-demand flight.

Charter Broker : Individual responsible for matching a client's air travel needs to the most adapted private jet based on the request of the customer.

Cockpit : Flight deck located at the front of the aircraft.

CTOT (Calculated Take Off Time) : Issued by Eurocontrol, a CTOT is a period of time during which an aircraft has to take off. It extends from 5 minutes before to 10 minutes after the CTOT.

D

Deicing : The process of removing snow, ice and frost from the surface of the aircraft. A build-up of snow or ice adds extra weight to the aircraft and can prevent it from taking off properly.

DGAC (Direction Générale de l'Aviation Civile) : French administration in charge of civil aviation safety and regulation in France.

Diversion : Change of a flight's initial destination while airborne, for weather, technical or medical reasons.

E

EASA (European Union Aviation Safety Agency) : European Union agency responsible for civil aviation safety.

Empty Leg : A sector of a flight booked but without passengers onboard. This happens when the aircraft has to return to its base or reposition for the next customer after dropping off the initial customer.

ETA (Estimated Time of Arrival) : Estimated Time of Arrival.

ETD (Estimated Time of Departure) : Estimated Time of Departure.

ETOPS (Extended-range Twin-engine Operational Performance Standards) : Regulation authorising twin-engine aircraft to operate long-haul flights away from diversion airports.

Eurocontrol : The European organisation for the safety of air navigation, in charge of ensuring safe and seamless traffic.

F

FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) : The US national authority with powers to regulate aspects of American civil aviation.

FBO (Fixed-Based Operator) or Ground Handling Operator : An FBO is a private company providing services such as aircraft handling, parking or fueling. In the private jet industry, FBOs are also private terminals welcoming and guiding customers to their aircraft.

FIR (Flight Information Region) : Portion of airspace within which a flight information service is provided.

FL (Flight Level) : Altitude expressed in hundreds of feet above the standard pressure of 1013.25 hPa. (FL350 = 35,000 feet)

Flight Plan : Document sent to ATC informing the trajectory, the type of aircraft and the number of passengers.

Fractional Ownership : Shared ownership of an aircraft between several clients, combined with an annual flight hour allocation.

Fuel Stop : Stop made by a plane during a flight to allow the aircraft to refuel before pursuing its trip.

G

Galley : On-board pantry used for the storage and preparation of meals and drinks.

Go-Around : Landing interruption manoeuvre followed by a climb back to altitude.

GPU (Ground Power Unit) : Ground Power Unit used to produce energy for aircraft when they are parked.

Ground Handling : All the ground assistance services. In business aviation, typically operated by an FBO.

H

Hangar : Covered structure used to shelter aircraft, in particular for maintenance.

Heavy Jet : The Heavy Jet is a jet category with a range of 6,000 to 8,500 km and 8 to 13 seats.

I

IAS (Indicated Airspeed) : Aircraft speed as indicated by the airspeed indicator, before correction.

IBC Card : The IBC Card grants its users access to a European and North American fleet at a predetermined hourly rate.

ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization) : The International Civil Aviation Organization is a UN body which governs the standards and practices of international air transport.

IFR (Instrument Flight Rules) : Flight rules applied when flying without external visual reference. Almost systematic in business aviation.

ILS (Instrument Landing System) : The ILS provides precision guidance to an aircraft approaching an airport runway, on both the centreline and the glide slope.

J

Jet Card : Prepaid flight hour package purchased from an operator or broker, with a guaranteed rate and priority access to a defined fleet.

Jumpseat : Auxiliary seat located in the cockpit, used by an additional pilot, an instructor or an authorised inspector.

K

Kerosene (Jet A-1) : Standard fuel for turbine-powered civil aviation. Jet A-1 is the international standard used in business aviation.

Knots : Aeronautical unit of speed equal to one nautical mile per hour, i.e. 1.852 km/h.

L

Light Jet : A jet category with 6 seats and a range between 2,200 and 3,700 km.

Long Range Jet : A jet category with 10 to 14 seats and a range between 6,500 and 11,000 km, capable of transcontinental non-stop flights.

M

Mach : Ratio of the aircraft's speed to the local speed of sound. (Mach 0.85 = 85% of the speed of sound)

METAR : Routine meteorological observation report issued by airports.

Midsize Jet : A jet category with 6 to 9 seats and a range between 3,300 and 4,700 km.

MTOW (Maximum Take-Off Weight) : Maximum certified weight at which an aircraft is authorised to take off. Determines applicable airport fees and runway compatibility.

N

NMOC (Network Manager Operations Centre) : Successor to the CFMU since 2011. Eurocontrol's operational centre for European air traffic flow management.

NOTAM (Notice to Air Missions) : Notice issued to crews signalling temporary information relevant to flight safety: runway closure, active military zone, equipment failure, works.

O

Operator : Company owning or managing one or more aircraft available for charter.

P

PAX : Common abbreviation for passengers.

PIC (Pilot In Command) : Captain of the aircraft.

PPR (Prior Permission Required) : Requirement to obtain prior authorisation before landing at certain airports. Common at private fields or at airports with restricted traffic.

Q

QFE : Altimeter setting based on the pressure at airfield level. (the altimeter reads zero on the runway)

QNH : Altimeter setting allowing the altimeter to indicate the actual altitude above mean sea level. Provided by ATC for take-off and landing.

R

Repositioning : Flight without passengers used to move an aircraft to its next point of departure. Often gives rise to an Empty Leg.

Runway : Rectangular surface defined on an aerodrome, prepared for take-off and landing. Numbered according to its magnetic orientation.

RVR (Runway Visual Range) : Ground-measured runway visibility. Determines whether landing is authorised in foggy conditions.

S

Airport Slot : Time frame given by the airport for a plane to take off or land in order to regulate airport traffic. (Not to be confused with the CTOT)

SID (Standard Instrument Departure) : Standardised and published instrument departure procedure.

STAR (Standard Terminal Arrival Route) : Standardised arrival procedure linking an en-route point to the final approach of an airport.

Super Midsize Jet : A jet category with 7 to 9 seats and a range between 3,700 and 6,200 km.

T

TAF (Terminal Aerodrome Forecast) : Airport weather forecast covering 9 to 30 hours, essential to flight preparation.

TAS (True Airspeed) : Actual speed of the aircraft through the air mass, corrected for density and temperature.

Taxi Time : Refers to the period of time between an aircraft's touch down and its full stop in parking position, or from when an aircraft vacates its parking position until it lifts from the runway.

Turboprop Aircraft : Aircraft powered by one or more propellers.

U

Ultra Long Range Jet : A jet category with 12 to 16 seats and a range between 8,500 and 12,900 km.

V

V1, VR, V2 : Key take-off speeds. (V1: decision speed; VR: rotation speed; V2: take-off safety speed once airborne)

VFR (Visual Flight Rules) : A set of regulations a pilot must follow to operate an aircraft in good weather conditions without the support of instruments.

VIP Terminal : Private terminal dedicated to business aviation, operated by an FBO, with lounges, dedicated checks and direct access to the apron.

VLJ (Very Light Jet) : The entry-level aircraft category offering 4 seats and a range between 1,200 and 2,200 km.

W

Weather Minima : Weather conditions required for a take-off or a landing. These conditions depend on the aircraft's equipment and on the pilots' and operator's qualifications.

X

Crosswind : Wind component perpendicular to the runway centreline. Each aircraft has a certified crosswind limit for take-off and landing.

Y

Yaw : Rotation of the aircraft around its vertical axis, controlled by the rudder located on the tail.

Z

Zulu Time (UTC) : Coordinated Universal Time used in aviation to avoid any ambiguity linked to time zones.