Terms of Reference

Section 2. Terms of Reference

WORD MEANINGS

As used in this order:

“Aircraft” means the airframe, crewmembers, or both.
“Altitude” means indicated altitude mean sea level (MSL), flight level (FL), or both.
“Automated services” means those services delivered via an automated system (that is, without human interaction) (for example, flight plans, Notices to Air Missions [NOTAM], interactive maps, computer-generated text-to-speech messages, short message service, or email).
“Feet” means MSL unless otherwise stated.
“Flight plan area (FPA)” is the geographical area assigned to a flight service station (FSS) to establish primary responsibility for services that may include search and rescue (SAR) for visual flight rules (VFR) aircraft, issuance of NOTAMs, pilot briefings, in-flight services, broadcast services, emergency services, flight data processing, international operations, and aviation weather services. Consolidated FSS facilities may combine FPAs into larger areas of responsibility (AOR).
“Form” means a paper record or an electronic equivalent that must be retained in accordance with FAA directives.
“History files” means one or more digital or paper data repositories that must be retained in accordance with FAA directives.
“May” or “need not” means a procedure is optional.
“Miles” means nautical miles (NM) unless otherwise specified and means statute miles in conjunction with visibility.
“Must” means a procedure is mandatory.
“Must not” means a procedure is prohibited.
“Pertinent” means relating directly and significantly to the matter at hand.

The horizontal limit of pertinent meteorological and aeronautical information is considered to be 25 miles on either side of the proposed route. However, when determining the pertinence of information, specialists and automated systems should take into account the dynamic aspect of weather, aircraft performance, and type of flight. Conditions occurring or expected to occur more than 25 miles from the route must be provided if there is a potential for the safety of the flight to be compromised.
The vertical limits of pertinent meteorological and aeronautical information are considered to be:

The climb out and approach paths.
For flights below FL 180: from the surface to 5,000 feet above the proposed en route altitude.
For flights at or above FL 180: from 5,000 feet above and below the proposed en route altitude.

“Sector,” when used in conjunction with FSS functions, means a specifically described geographic area assigned a National Airspace Data Interchange Network (NADIN) address.
“Shared database” is a database within an FSS operational system that is accessible by specialists in other geographical locations.
“Should” means a procedure is recommended.
“Specialist-provided services” means those services delivered directly by a flight service specialist via ground/ground communication, air/ground communication, in person, or technology (for example, speech-to-text, email, or short message service).
“Tie-in facility,” as indicated in FAA Order JO 7350.9, Location Identifiers, for the purposes of this order, designates the responsible facility/sector for sending/receiving flight plans, flight notification messages, and performing SAR duties for the listed location.
“Time,” when used for air traffic control operational activities, is the hour and the minute(s) in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). Change to the next minute is made at the minute plus 30 seconds, except time checks are given to the nearest quarter minute. Specialists must state the word “local” or the time zone equivalent when local time is given during radio and telephone communications; the term “Zulu” may be used to denote UTC.
“Transmit” means to send data via NADIN or Weather Message Switching Center Replacement (WMSCR) to an outside recipient or to process data internally within an operational system that shares a global database.
“Will” means futurity, not a requirement for application of a procedure.
Plural words include the singular.
Singular words include the plural.

NOTES

Statements of fact or of an explanatory nature and relating to the use of directive material are identified as NOTE.

REFERENCES

As used in this order, references direct attention to an additional or supporting source of information such as FAA, National Weather Service (NWS), and other agencies' orders, directives, notices, Title 14, Aeronautics and Space, of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR), and advisory circulars (AC).

ANNOTATIONS

The annotation PHRASEOLOGY denotes the prescribed words or phrases to be used in communications. Phraseology, as depicted in this order, is mandatory unless an exception is explicitly identified.

NOTE-

Specialists may rephrase the message, after first using the prescribed phraseology for a specific procedure, to ensure the content is understood. Specialists must exercise good judgment when using nonstandard phraseology to aid in comprehension.
Phraseology applies to the identified service (for example, in-flight or broadcast). The use of phraseology in other services is encouraged for consistency and may be required by locally approved procedures.

The annotation EXAMPLE provides a sample of the way the prescribed phraseology associated with the preceding paragraph(s) will be used. If the preceding paragraph(s) does (do) not include specifically prescribed phraseology, the example merely denotes suggested words and/or phrases that may be used in communications.

NOTE-

Using the exact text in an example not preceded by specifically prescribed phraseology is not mandatory. However, to the extent possible, the words and/or phrases are expected to approximate those used in the examples.

ABBREVIATIONS

As used in this order, the following abbreviations have the meanings indicated in TBL 1-2-1.

NOTE-

Additional abbreviations and their meanings are included in other tables or paragraphs within the order.

TBL 1-2-1
FAA Order JO 7110.10 Abbreviations

Abbreviation	Meaning
AB	Abbreviated Briefing
AC	Advisory Circular
ACARS	Aircraft Communication Addressing and Reporting System
ACC	Area Control Center
ACFT	Aircraft
ACID	Aircraft Identification
ACK	Acknowledgment
ADCUS	Advise Customs
ADF	Automatic Direction Finder
ADIZ	Air Defense Identification Zone
ADS	Automatic Dependent Surveillance
ADS-B	Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast
ADS-R	Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Rebroadcast
AFD	Aviation Forecast Discussion
AFIS	Automatic Flight Information Service
AFTN	Aeronautical Fixed Telecommunications Network
AGL	Above Ground Level
AIM	Aeronautical Information Manual
AIP	Aeronautical Information Publication
AIREP	Aircraft Report
AIRMET	Airmen's Meteorological Information
AIS	Aeronautical Information System
AISR	Aeronautical Information Service Replacement
ALERFA	Alert Phase (Alerting Service)
ALNOT	Alert Notice
AMCS	Aeronautical Mobile Communication Service
AMIS	Aircraft Movement Information Services
AMOC	Air and Marine Operations Center
ANSP	Air Navigation Service Provider
AOR	Area of Responsibility
APCH	Approach
APIS	Advance Passenger Information System
APV	Approach Procedures with Vertical Guidance
AR	Authorization Required
ARS	Aircraft Report Special
ARTCC	Air Route Traffic Control Center
ATC	Air Traffic Control
ATCAA	Air Traffic Control Assigned Airspace

ATCSCC	Air Traffic Control System Command Center
ATCT	Air Traffic Control Tower
ATN	Aeronautical Telecommunication Network
ATO	Air Traffic Organization
ATS	Air Traffic Service
ATSC	Air Traffic Security Coordinator
BASOPS	Base Operations Office
CANPASS	Canadian Passenger Accelerated Service System
CBP	Customs and Border Protection
CFR	Code of Federal Regulations
CIP	Current Icing Product
COA	Certificate of Authorization
CONUS	Contiguous United States
CoSPA	Consolidated Storm Prediction for Aviation
CPDLC	Controller Pilot Datalink Communications
CTAF	Common Traffic Advisory Frequency
CWA	Center Weather Advisory
CWSU	Center Weather Service Unit
DA	Direct Access
DCL	Departure Clearance
DEN	Domestic Events Network
DETRESFA	Distress Phase (Alerting Service)
DH	Decision Height
DME	Distance Measuring Equipment
DoD	Department of Defense
DOT	Department of Transportation
DSN	Defense Switching Network
DVFR	Defense Visual Flight Rules
EAS	En Route Automation System
ECM	Electronic Counter Measure
EFS	Electronic Flight Strip
ELT	Emergency Locator Transmitter
ES	Extended Squitter
ESCAT	Emergency Security Control of Air Traffic
eSRS	Enhanced Special Reporting System
ETA	Estimated Time of Arrival
ETD	Estimated Time of Departure
ETE	Estimated Time En Route
FAA	Federal Aviation Administration
FBO	Fixed-Based Operator

FDP	Flight Data Processing
FICON	Field Condition
FIP	Forecast Icing Product
FIR	Flight Information Region
FIRIV	Arrival Report Will Be Filed With
FIS-B	Flight Information Service-Broadcast
FL	Flight Level
FLT ADVY	Flight Advisory
FPA	Flight Plan Area
FPL	Flight Plan
FPNO	Flight Plan Not Received
FRC	Full Route Clearance
FRD	Fix‒Radial‒Distance
FSS	Flight Service Station
FV	Flight Visibility
G-AIRMET	Graphical AIRMET
GBAS	Ground-Based Augmentation System
GENOT	General Notice
GNSS	Global Navigation Satellite System
GPS	Global Positioning System
GTG	Graphical Turbulence Guidance
HF	High Frequency
HLA	High Level Airspace
IA	Indirect Access
ICAO	International Civil Aviation Organization
IFR	Instrument Flight Rules
ILS	Instrument Landing System
IMC	Instrument Meteorological Conditions
INCERFA	Uncertainty Phase (Alerting Service)
INREQ	Information Request
IR	IFR Military Training Route
ISA	International Standard Atmosphere
JATOC	Joint Air Traffic Operations Command
L/MF	Low/Medium Frequency
LAA	Local Airport Advisory
LAM	Logical Acknowledgement Message
LLWS	Low-Level Wind Shear
LOA	Letter of Agreement
MANPADS	Man-Portable Air Defense Systems
MARSA	Military Authority Assumes Responsibility for Separation of Aircraft

MB	Magnetic Bearing
MDA	Minimum Descent Altitude
MEDEVAC	Medical Emergency Evacuation
METAR	Aviation Routine Weather Report
MH	Magnetic Heading
MNPS	Minimum Navigation Performance Specification
MOA	Military Operations Areas
MOT	Ministry of Transport (Canada)
MSL	Mean Sea Level
MTR	Military Training Route
NADIN	National Airspace Data Interchange Network
NAR	North American Routes
NAS	National Airspace System
NAVAID	Navigational Aid
NDB	Non-directional Radio Beacon
NEMC	National Enterprise Management Center
NEXRAD	Next Generation Radar (NWS)
NM	Nautical Miles
NOPAR	Do Not Pass to Air Defense Radar
NORAD	North American Aerospace Defense Command
NORIV	No Arrival Report
NOTAM	Notice to Air Missions
NRS	Navigation Reference System
NWS	National Weather Service
OCC	Operations Control Center
OTLK	Outlook Briefing
PBN	Performance-Based Navigation
PDC	Pre-Departure Clearance
PIREP	Pilot Weather Report
RAA	Remote Airport Advisory
RAIS	Remote Airport Information Service
RB	Relative Bearing
RCC	Rescue Coordination Center
RCP	Required Communication Performance
RCR	Runway Condition Reading
RENOT	Regional Office Notice
RF	Radius to Fix
RNAV	Area Navigation
RNP	Required Navigation Performance
ROC	Regional Operations Center

RSP	Required Surveillance Performance
RTF	Radio Telephone
RVR	Runway Visual Range
RwyCC	Runway Condition Code
SAA	Special Activity Airspace
SAM	Special Air Mission
SAR	Search and Rescue
SATVOICE	Satellite Voice Communications
SBAS	Space-Based Augmentation System
SE SAR	Surveillance Enhanced Search and Rescue
SFRA	Special Flight Rules Area
SID	Standard Instrument Departure
SIGMET	Significant Meteorological Information
SM	Statute Miles
SOC	Service Operations Center
SPECI	Aviation Selected Special Weather Report
STAR	Standard Terminal Arrival
STR	Strategic Training Range
SUA	Special Use Airspace
SVFR	Special Visual Flight Rules
TAC	Traditional Alphanumeric Coding
TACAN	Tactical Air Navigational Aid
TAF	Terminal Aerodrome Forecast
TEI	Text Element Indicator
TELCO	Telephone Company
TIS-B	Traffic Information Services - Broadcast
TFR	Temporary Flight Restriction
TSA	Transportation Security Administration
TSOC	Transportation Security Operation Center
UA	Routine Pilot Report
UAS	Unmanned Aircraft System
UAT	Universal Access Transceiver
UAV	Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
USNOF	U.S. NOTAM Office
UTC	Coordinated Universal Time
UUA	Urgent Pilot Report
VDL	Very High Frequency Data Link
VFR	Visual Flight Rules
VHF	Very High Frequency
VIP	Very Important Person

VNR	VFR Flight Not Recommended
VOR	VHF Omni-directional Radio Range
VORTAC	VHF Omni-directional Radio Range and Tactical Air Navigational Aid
VR	VFR Military Training Route
WAAS	Wide Area Augmentation System
WMO	World Meteorological Organization
WMSCR	Weather Message Switching Center Replacement
WOC	Washington Operations Center