# Glossary of gliding and soaring

This is a glossary of acronyms, initialisms and terms used for gliding and soaring. This is a specialized subset of broader aviation, aerospace, and aeronautical terminology. Additional definitions can be found in the FAA Glider Flying Handbook.

## A/C

    aircraft

## ACFT

    aircraft

## AGL

    above ground level

## AHRS

    Attitude and heading reference system

## AIP

    Aeronautical Information Publication

## AIRAC

    Aeronautical information regulation and control

## ALT

    Altitude

## AME

    Aviation Medical Examiner

## AMO

    Approved Maintenance Organization

## AMSL

    above mean sea level

## AOA

    angle of attack

## ARC

    airworthiness review certificate

## ASI

    airspeed indicator

## ASL

    above sea level

## ATC

    air traffic control

## BGA

    British Gliding Association

## bhp

    brake horsepower

## CAA

    Civil Aviation Authority

## CAMO

    Continuing Airworthiness Management Organisation

## CFI

    Certified Flight Instructor or Chief Flying Instructor

## CG

    center of gravity

## CofA

    Certificate of airworthiness

## EASA

    European Aviation Safety Agency

## ELT

    emergency locator transmitter

## FAA

    Federal Aviation Administration

## FAI

    Fédération Aéronautique Internationale, the world governing body for air sports

## FL

    flight level

## FPM

    feet per minute

## GA

    general aviation

## GSPU

    Glider snatch pick-up

## IAS

    indicated airspeed

## IFR

    instrument flight rules

## IVSM

    International Vintage Sailplane Meet - meeting for vintage gliders in the USA

## JAA

    Joint Aviation Authorities

## JAR

    Joint Aviation Requirements

## JWGC

    Junior World Gliding Championships

## knot

    A unit of speed. While the knot is commonly used in aviation and other contexts as an abbreviation of nautical miles per hour, in soaring the knot is also used to describe lift (and sink conditions). Using approximations, one knot of upward velocity in a thermal equates to roughly 100 feet per minute of climb.

## LOA

    letter of authorization or agreement

## L/D

    Lift-to-drag ratio

## M-ASA

    Mid-Atlantic Soaring Association

## MSL

    mean sea level

## MTOW

    maximum take-off weight

## NOTAM

    notice to airmen

## OGN

    Open Glider Network project

## OAT

    outside air temperature

## OLC

    Online Contest. A moderated forum that allows subscribers from various countries and regions to compete individually and as teams in flying contests.

## PPL

    private pilot licence

## PPR

    prior permission required, eg to land at another airfield

## PTT

    push to talk

## QFE

    the Q-code for: Atmospheric pressure at aerodrome elevation (or at runway threshold)

## QNE

    the Q-code for pressure altitude

## QNH

    the Q-code for: Altimeter sub-scale setting to obtain elevation when on the ground, i.e. altitude above MSL

## RAFGSA

    Royal Air Force Gliding & Soaring Association

## SSA

    Soaring Society of America

## SSF

    Soaring Safety Foundation - Training and safety arm of the Soaring Society of America

## RT

    radiotelephony

## TAS

    true airspeed

## TMA

    Terminal manoeuvring area (Europe)/inal control area (USA and Canada)

## TMG

    touring motor glider

## TMZ

    transponder mandatory zone

## TP

    turning point

## TRA

    temporary reserved area (airspace)

## UTC

    Universal Time Coordinated

## VFR

    visual flight rules

## VHF

    very high frequency

## VMC

    visual meteorological conditions

## Va

    maneuvering speed

## Vne

    never-exceed speed

## Vra

    Rough Air Speed

## WDA

    World Distance Award for US pilots to encourage cross-country flying

## WGC

    World Gliding Championships

## WWGC

    Women's World Gliding Championships

## XC

    cross-country

## XPDR

    transponder

## Z

    Zulu Time (UTC)