SAY WHAT NOW?

An airline insider gives us the scoop on ‘aviationese’

Avation staff don’t speak in whole sentences. Most words are abbreviated — it makes it easier to understand what is being said on radio. Whole conversations and situations that could take a few minutes to explain can be communicated in a matter of seconds. Here, a Quantas staffer decodes some Aviationese, which is the second language of anyone who works in or around aircraft.

APU: Auxiliary Power Unit — small engine at rear of plane used to power the aircraft (lights, aircon, flight systems) when the aircraft’s main engines — the ones on the wings — aren’t running.

ATB: Air Turn Back — when the captain decides to return to the departure airport instead of continuing to the destination.

ACARS: Aircraft Communications Addressing and Reporting System, basically like an SMS system in the cockpit, except it works in the middle of nowhere.

CSM: Customer Service Manager — the most senior member of cabin crew onboard CX: Cancelled. (Sorry…)

ETOPS: Extended range twin engine operations. This is approval for certain types of aircraft with two engines to fly long distances over water.

FOD: Foreign object debris – Any material on the airport taxiways and runways that could potentially damage the tyres of the aircraft. No one likes FOD. J and Y: Business and economy class cabins respectively

NOTAM: Notice to Airmen – information for pilots on airports/air traffic control.

PAX: Passengers

RNP: Required Navigational Performance — a form of GPS in the cockpit, which allows aircraft to fly safely in low visibility.

TOGA: Take Off, Go Around — this is an aircraft throttle setting that basically means maximum power, and is used when the captain decides to abort a landing approach and try again (this can be for lots of reasons, including visibility, wind, or an obstacle on the runway).

UM: Unaccompanied minor, young person travelling alone

WX: Weather — Courtesy of Qantas ● L S.