Glossary

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

A: Airbus Industrie.

Accident (ICAO): An incident associated with the operation of an aircraft in which the aircraft sustains damage or structural failure which adversely affects the structural strength, performance or flight characteristics of the aircraft. Such an incident would normally require major repair or replacement of that affected component.This does not include engine failure or damage, its cowlings or accessories, damage limited to propellors, wing tips, antennae, tyres, brakes, fairings, small ducts or punctures in the aircraft skin. It is also defined when an aircraft is missing or completely inaccessible.

ACMI: Aircraft, Crew, Maintenance and Insurance. A type of lease normally, but not always, between two airlines, where the lessor provides the aircraft, one or more complete crews including their salaries, all maintenance for the aircraft, and hull insurance for the aircraft itself. Sometimes he will provide third-party liability cover. ACMI charges will be by the hour, but with a minimum number of hours per month guaranteed.

ACMI lease: See Lease, ACMI.

ACMI wet rate: Charge, normally in US$ per block hour, for an ACMI lease.

Ad hoc carrier: Cargo carrier offering aircraft for ad hoc charters.

Ad hoc charter: See Charter, Ad hoc.

Aeroplane: see Aircraft.

AF: All-Freight.

Air cargo: Any property carried on an aircraft other than stores, COMAT and baggage. This includes freight, mail or express items. Also known as air cargo, airfreight, air freight. See also Aircraft, Freighter; COMAT – Company Owned Material.

Air cargo (IATA): Any property carried on an aircraft other than stores and baggage. This includes freight or express items. See also Aircraft, freighter; Company owned material.

Aircraft certificate: Certificate issued by a relevant aviation authority in relation to a particular aircraft used to indicate compliance with the appropriate requirements concerning aircraft type, airworthiness, etc.

Aircraft, combi: An aircraft intended for the movement of passengers and cargo sharing main-deck accommodation during the flight ~ from Combination.

Aircraft, freighter: An aircraft, which is either newly constructed, or permanently or temporarily converted from passenger service, which is carrying or capable of carrying goods or property with no passenger complement.

Aircraft, green: Aircraft flyable but unpainted, unfurnished and
basically equipped.

Aircraft hangar: Building especially constructed or converted to
allow the maintenance or storage of aircraft at an airport.

Aircraft On Ground (AOG): A situation in which technical failure
prevents an aircraft from moving or taking off. This is not normally at
its regular maintenance base.

Aircraft pallet: A platform of standard dimensions on which goods are assembled and secured before being loaded as a complete unit onto an aircraft. It is built to interface with ball, roller or castor surfaces. See also Igloo.

Aircraft Prepared for Service (APS): Fully equipped and serviced
aircraft without useable fuel and payload.

Aircraft range: See Range.

Aircraft stand: A designated area on an apron intended to be used
for aircraft parking.

Aircraft tow tractor: Vehicle used to manoeuvre aircraft on ground
by towing and pushing when the aircraft is not powering movement
with its own engines.

Aircraft towbarless tractor: Aircraft tow tractor which does not
utilise a towbar.

Aircraft unit load device: An standard-sized aircraft container unit used to facilitate rapid loading and unloading of aircraft having compatible handling and restraint systems.

Aircraft weights: A series of weights, taken with or without various loads, of an aircraft during various stages of its operation. See also AUW; Basic Operating Weight; MLW; MRW; MTOW; MZFW; OEW; Ramp Weight; TOGW; Zero Fuel Weight.

Airframe: An aircraft's structure without powerplants or aircraft systems.

Airlift: The carriage of personnel or supplies by air.

Airline: i) Certificated air carrier operating own or hired aircraft for
paying passengers, cargo or a combination of both on a scheduled or charter basis.
ii) Public image of air carrier created by house logo, aircraft livery and advertising.

Airline (ICAO): Under Article 96 of the ICAO Convention, any air transport enterprise offering or operating on a scheduled national or international basis.

Airport: An area of land that is used, or intended to be used, for the landing and take-off of aircraft and any associated building and infrastructure. See also Terminal.

Airport, all-cargo: An airport solely for the use of scheduled or ad hoc cargo aircraft operations. Can be a common carrier airport or non-common for the use of one company.

Airport, alternate: An airport at which an aircraft may land if a landing at the intended airport becomes inadvisable. If an aircraft must re-route in flight, this may be the original departure airport.

Airport charges: Charges levied by airport owners or operators to airlines for landing an aircraft. These charges can include landing fees, take-off fees, airside charges and landside charges.

Airport, free: An international airport at which, provided they remain within a designated area until removal by air to a point outside the territory of the country, crew, cargo, mail and stores may be disembarked or unloaded, may remain and may be transhipped, without being subject to any Customs charges or dues or, except in special circumstances, be searched. See also Bonded Stores; Free Trade Zone.

Airport, gateway: An airport serving the role of being the airport that cargo operators use to first enter a country. Airport, international (ICAO): An airport designated by the contracting country in whose territory it is situated as an airport of entry and departure for international transport, where formalities required by Customs, immigration, public health, animal and plant quarantine etc are carried out.

Airside: The movement area of an airport, adjacent terrain, buildings or apron area, access to which is regulated and controlled. Normally restricted to airport personnel, aircraft crew, departing and transiting passenger and cargo ground handlers. See also Landside.

Airwaybill: A document made out by shipper as evidence of the contract between shipper and carrier. Not a deed of title to the consignment. Sometimes called Air Waybill.

Airworthy: Describes an aircraft which meets all relevant statutory requirements of the registering country and any other required to give authority to its operation. See also Certificate of Airworthiness.

All-cargo airport: See Airport; all-cargo.

Alternate airport: See Airport; alternate.

AN/An: Antonov.

AOG: See Aircraft on Ground.

Apron (ICAO): A defined area on an airport intended to accommodate aircraft for the purpose of loading or unloading cargo, re-fuelling, parking or maintenance.

APS: See Aircraft Prepared for Service.

APU: Auxiliary Power Unit.

AUW - All Up Weight: Total weight of aircraft under defined conditions or at a specific time during flight. Not to be confused with MTOW.

Auxiliary power unit: Item carried on an aircraft for tasks such as electrical power, main engine starting, ground air-conditioning etc.

AWB: See Airwaybill.