Web: www.fishfoto.com -- E-Mail: fish@flyingwithfish.com
8/09/2008 – Airline & Airport Terminology Glossary 102
Airlines and Airports don't only have whole language to themselves, they also have a series of acronyms that can often cause confusing among travelers. The acronyms can be even more complex once you enter the realm of international travel.
I can come up with dozens upon dozens of 'alphabet soup' abbreviations, however in this post I will stick to the most common ones you may hear as you walk through the airport.
ADASP: Aviation Direct Access Screening Program. This terminology refers to the TSA's TSOs (yes these two initials will be defined in this post) who patrol airport aircraft gates, and those who screen airline & airport personnel within the airport as well as the cabins of the aircraft
BDO: Behavior Detection Officer. The TSA's BDOs are tasked with detecting body language and human behaviour to aid in the screening of passengers passing through both security check points and the 'general terminal' area.
BAA (UK): British Airport Authority
CAA (UK) : Civil Aviation Authority
CBP: Customs & Boarder Protection. CBP handles immigrations and customs check-points upon entry into the United States.
DFS: Dual Function Screener. A DFS works both in passenger areas screening passengers and in the baggage area screening baggage.
DHS (US DHS): United States Department of Homeland Security
DOT (US DOT): United States Department of Transportation
ETD: Explosive Trace Detection. The ETD is used to check passengers for explosives at some security checkpoints
ETP: Explosive Trace Portal. The ETP is used to check passengers for explosives at some security checkpoints
FA: Flight Attendant
FAA: Federal Aviation Administration
FAM/FAMS: Federal Air Marshal/Federal Air Marshal Service
FFDO: Federal Flight Deck Officer. An FFDO is a Captain or First Officer who armed to defend to the flight deck.
FO: First Officer. The FO is second in command of the aircraft, in the right seat, with three stripes on their epaulets.
HHMD: Hand Held Metal Detector. The HHMD is used by TSA TSOs on passengers who have set off the walk through metal detector for secondary screening.
ICE: Immigration and Customs Enforcement. ICE is the investigative unit of the US DHS Immigrations & Customs branch.
ID: Identification
LEO: Law Enforcement Officer
MMW: Millimeter Wave Portal. The MMW is a walk-through security screener that sees through clothing. The MMW is often referred to as an 'electronic strip search portal.'
NFL: No Fly List. The No Fly List is a DHS list of those who are believed to be a security risk and barred from flying on commercial aircraft. The NFL list is very controversial as multiple United States Senators, Congressmen and even Federal Air Marshals have found themselves on the NFL and unable to fly.
PIC: Pilot In Command. The PIC is usually the Captain.
POE: Port of Entry
SOP: Standard Operating Procedure
SPOT: Screening of Passengers by Observation Technique. TSA BDOs employ SPOT as part of their screening process.
SSSS: Secondary Security Screening Selection
TDC: Travel Document Checker. The TDC is often the first TSA Agent you encounter, as they check your identification and boarding pass before you move to the security checkpoint.
TSA: Transportation Security Administration
TSO: Transportation Security Officer. A TSO is the TSA Agent you encounter at the screening checkpoint.
WTMD: Walk Through Metal Detector
Hopefully these acronyms help sort the confusing series of letters that are commonly used in airports.
Happy Flying!
Showing posts with label travel terminology. Show all posts
Showing posts with label travel terminology. Show all posts
08 September 2008
02 September 2008
Airline & Airport Terminology Glossary 101
Web: www.fishfotoworldwide.com -- E-Mail: fish@flyingwithfish.com
2/09/2008 – Airline & Airport Terminology Glossary 101
Some of the most interesting questions I receive from the readers of Flying With Fish involve the simple question of "what are they saying?"
I received one such question last week that prompted me to start a 'short glossary' for 'PA jargon.' The e-mail that inspired this post reads the following:
"I fly a few times a month for work. On each flight I always hear the flight crew announcing '1L 1R, 2L 2R' on the overhead. This evening I heard all the way up to '5L 5R' overhead. How many Ls and Rs do planes have? - Lori"
First off, I have to assume that Lori was flying a Boeing 747-400 (744) that has 10 exit doors downstairs and 2 exit doors upstairs, or a Boeing 777-300 (773) that has 10 exit doors.
Why do I assume they were flying one of the Boeing 744 or 773 aircraft and not the Airbus A380-800 (A388) that has 10 downstairs and 6 upstairs? Because anyone who has ever e-mailed me after flying an Airbus A388 usually starts their e-mail with "While flying on the Airbus A380.....etc etc etc etc).
So Lori, in short, the most you will hear currently on any overhead PA system is 8Ls and 8Rs on the Airbus A380-800. The number of exit doors on an aircraft is dictated by the size of the aircraft.
........so what does "1L 1R" mean? Simple, this is the flight attendants responding an 'All-Call' to verify that they have checked the door emergency and they are set for arrival or departure. All the doors on a plane are 'armed' and need to be 'armed' to depart and 'disarmed' for arrival. So when you hear "1L 1R" you are hearing "Door #1 Left and Door #1 Right" are checked and ready.
Since airline gate agents and flights crews often use language passengers may not be familiar with as they address the flying public, I have decided to define a few of the most commonly asked terminology questions I am asked.
ATC: Air Traffic Control. Air Traffic Control can be a tower at the airport you are departing from, a tower at the airport you're headed to, or an air traffic control center in the middle of no-where watching a huge swatch of sky keeping aircraft safely traveling through air.
BoB: BoB is 'Buy-on-Board. BoB is a relatively new term to be used by flight attendants, it is rarely used directly to passengers directly, but it can be heard in the galley in reference to the meals and drinks passengers can purchase in-flight.
Captain: The person in the cockpit sitting in the Left Seat with 4-stripes on their shoulder epaulets. The Captain is in charge, in flight they have command of the aircraft and everything on board.
Control Tower: The Control Tower is often referred to as simply 'The Tower.' The Tower oversees an airport's aircraft movements. These movements are not only on the ground, but also include inbound aircraft and departing aircraft.
Cross Check: This is used by both the captain and first officer and the cabin crew. Cross checking is simply one person on the crew verifying another person on the crew's actions. When doors are armed/disarmed by one crewmember they are 'cross checked' by another crewmember.
Equipment: Equipment is a 'technical' term for 'the plane' (I will not be defining 'plane,' 'airplane' or 'aircraft'). When you hear 'There has been an equipment change,' it usually means 'your plane isn't available' or 'your intended plane is broken.'
First Officer: The person in the cockpit sitting in the Right Seat with 3-stripes on their shoulder epaulets. The First Officer, often referred to as the co-pilot (both the captain and first officer are both obviously pilots), is the second in command of the aircraft and everything on-board it.
Gatehouse: The Gatehouse is the boarding area. I have never seen a house (or a gate for that matter), at the Gatehouse, so I have no idea where the term comes from. I usually just refer to the boarding area as 'The Gate."
Ground Stop: A Ground Stop is simply a stoppage of all flights into a certain area. If you are traveling to an airport that has become so congested with air traffic that it needs to clear out some space before new aircraft can depart for that airport, they can issue a 'ground stop.' A ground stop is like your sink filling with water, even when your drain is open. You can watch the water going down the drain while simultaneously filling up. You need to slow the water, or turn it off before you can lower the water level in the sink.
Flight Closed: When you see your flight flashing "Closed" you have missed your flight. Once a flight has Closed, the door is shut, the gate agent is standing at the end of the Jetway steering it away from the aircraft so it can 'push back.'
Flight Crew: The Captain, First Officer and your flight attendants (Cabin Crew) are your Flight Crew.
Flight Deck: The Flight Deck is a fancy word for 'The Cockpit'
Final Boarding: Final Boarding means that if you have not handed your boarding pass to the gate agent, crossed through the door and made your way down the Jetway, you've missed your flight. When you see your flight flashing "Final" you need to RUN.
Holding Pattern: "We're being placed into a Holding Pattern" This is an announcement that everyone hates. A Holding Pattern is when aircraft are sent into loops circling their destination, or just outside their destination, until a landing slot is available for them to land at the airport.
Jetway: The Jetway is also referred to as an Aerobridge, Boarding Bridge or Jet Bridge. The Jetway is the 'tunnel' you walk down that connects the terminal to the aircraft.
Paperwork: Paperwork, as in "we're just waiting on some paperwork." This is when the Captain and First Officer are waiting on paperwork they need to close up the aircraft and 'push back.' Paperwork is usually out of the hands of the flight crew, so the flight crew is stuck waiting, just like the passengers, for the ground crew to deliver the 'Paperwork.'
Push: Push is also 'Push Back.' An aircraft 'pushing' is usually quite literally a 'tug' or 'tractor' pushing the aircraft back from the terminal. Aircraft can push back by reverse thrusting their engines, but that wastes a lot of fuel, it is extremely loud and it is easier to maneuver an aircraft by pushing it backwards as the crew in the cockpit cannot see backwards to steer themselves around other aircraft.
Ramp: Originally 'The Ramp' was an area outside of a water where aircraft parked. Since I don't see many seaplanes landing at major commercial airports these days, we'll go with the modern definition of 'ramp'..........the area surrounding the terminals and jetways, excluding the taxiway and runway, where aircraft and airport vehicles operate.
Wheels Up Time: An aircraft's 'Wheels Up' time is the time the aircraft is scheduled to be airborne. When there are delays it is common to hear he Captain announce a 'Wheels Up Time," this is when they expect to be on the runway with the aircraft traveling at a high rate of speed and the aircraft's wheels are no longer in contact with the ground.
Hopefully this simple glossary helps you further understand what is being announced around you as your fly the friendly skies.
Happy Flying!
2/09/2008 – Airline & Airport Terminology Glossary 101
Some of the most interesting questions I receive from the readers of Flying With Fish involve the simple question of "what are they saying?"
I received one such question last week that prompted me to start a 'short glossary' for 'PA jargon.' The e-mail that inspired this post reads the following:
"I fly a few times a month for work. On each flight I always hear the flight crew announcing '1L 1R, 2L 2R' on the overhead. This evening I heard all the way up to '5L 5R' overhead. How many Ls and Rs do planes have? - Lori"
First off, I have to assume that Lori was flying a Boeing 747-400 (744) that has 10 exit doors downstairs and 2 exit doors upstairs, or a Boeing 777-300 (773) that has 10 exit doors.
Why do I assume they were flying one of the Boeing 744 or 773 aircraft and not the Airbus A380-800 (A388) that has 10 downstairs and 6 upstairs? Because anyone who has ever e-mailed me after flying an Airbus A388 usually starts their e-mail with "While flying on the Airbus A380.....etc etc etc etc).
So Lori, in short, the most you will hear currently on any overhead PA system is 8Ls and 8Rs on the Airbus A380-800. The number of exit doors on an aircraft is dictated by the size of the aircraft.
........so what does "1L 1R" mean? Simple, this is the flight attendants responding an 'All-Call' to verify that they have checked the door emergency and they are set for arrival or departure. All the doors on a plane are 'armed' and need to be 'armed' to depart and 'disarmed' for arrival. So when you hear "1L 1R" you are hearing "Door #1 Left and Door #1 Right" are checked and ready.
Since airline gate agents and flights crews often use language passengers may not be familiar with as they address the flying public, I have decided to define a few of the most commonly asked terminology questions I am asked.
ATC: Air Traffic Control. Air Traffic Control can be a tower at the airport you are departing from, a tower at the airport you're headed to, or an air traffic control center in the middle of no-where watching a huge swatch of sky keeping aircraft safely traveling through air.
BoB: BoB is 'Buy-on-Board. BoB is a relatively new term to be used by flight attendants, it is rarely used directly to passengers directly, but it can be heard in the galley in reference to the meals and drinks passengers can purchase in-flight.
Captain: The person in the cockpit sitting in the Left Seat with 4-stripes on their shoulder epaulets. The Captain is in charge, in flight they have command of the aircraft and everything on board.
Control Tower: The Control Tower is often referred to as simply 'The Tower.' The Tower oversees an airport's aircraft movements. These movements are not only on the ground, but also include inbound aircraft and departing aircraft.
Cross Check: This is used by both the captain and first officer and the cabin crew. Cross checking is simply one person on the crew verifying another person on the crew's actions. When doors are armed/disarmed by one crewmember they are 'cross checked' by another crewmember.
Equipment: Equipment is a 'technical' term for 'the plane' (I will not be defining 'plane,' 'airplane' or 'aircraft'). When you hear 'There has been an equipment change,' it usually means 'your plane isn't available' or 'your intended plane is broken.'
First Officer: The person in the cockpit sitting in the Right Seat with 3-stripes on their shoulder epaulets. The First Officer, often referred to as the co-pilot (both the captain and first officer are both obviously pilots), is the second in command of the aircraft and everything on-board it.
Gatehouse: The Gatehouse is the boarding area. I have never seen a house (or a gate for that matter), at the Gatehouse, so I have no idea where the term comes from. I usually just refer to the boarding area as 'The Gate."
Ground Stop: A Ground Stop is simply a stoppage of all flights into a certain area. If you are traveling to an airport that has become so congested with air traffic that it needs to clear out some space before new aircraft can depart for that airport, they can issue a 'ground stop.' A ground stop is like your sink filling with water, even when your drain is open. You can watch the water going down the drain while simultaneously filling up. You need to slow the water, or turn it off before you can lower the water level in the sink.
Flight Closed: When you see your flight flashing "Closed" you have missed your flight. Once a flight has Closed, the door is shut, the gate agent is standing at the end of the Jetway steering it away from the aircraft so it can 'push back.'
Flight Crew: The Captain, First Officer and your flight attendants (Cabin Crew) are your Flight Crew.
Flight Deck: The Flight Deck is a fancy word for 'The Cockpit'
Final Boarding: Final Boarding means that if you have not handed your boarding pass to the gate agent, crossed through the door and made your way down the Jetway, you've missed your flight. When you see your flight flashing "Final" you need to RUN.
Holding Pattern: "We're being placed into a Holding Pattern" This is an announcement that everyone hates. A Holding Pattern is when aircraft are sent into loops circling their destination, or just outside their destination, until a landing slot is available for them to land at the airport.
Jetway: The Jetway is also referred to as an Aerobridge, Boarding Bridge or Jet Bridge. The Jetway is the 'tunnel' you walk down that connects the terminal to the aircraft.
Paperwork: Paperwork, as in "we're just waiting on some paperwork." This is when the Captain and First Officer are waiting on paperwork they need to close up the aircraft and 'push back.' Paperwork is usually out of the hands of the flight crew, so the flight crew is stuck waiting, just like the passengers, for the ground crew to deliver the 'Paperwork.'
Push: Push is also 'Push Back.' An aircraft 'pushing' is usually quite literally a 'tug' or 'tractor' pushing the aircraft back from the terminal. Aircraft can push back by reverse thrusting their engines, but that wastes a lot of fuel, it is extremely loud and it is easier to maneuver an aircraft by pushing it backwards as the crew in the cockpit cannot see backwards to steer themselves around other aircraft.
Ramp: Originally 'The Ramp' was an area outside of a water where aircraft parked. Since I don't see many seaplanes landing at major commercial airports these days, we'll go with the modern definition of 'ramp'..........the area surrounding the terminals and jetways, excluding the taxiway and runway, where aircraft and airport vehicles operate.
Wheels Up Time: An aircraft's 'Wheels Up' time is the time the aircraft is scheduled to be airborne. When there are delays it is common to hear he Captain announce a 'Wheels Up Time," this is when they expect to be on the runway with the aircraft traveling at a high rate of speed and the aircraft's wheels are no longer in contact with the ground.
Hopefully this simple glossary helps you further understand what is being announced around you as your fly the friendly skies.
Happy Flying!
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