Glossary
Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS)
An anatomical-based, consensus derived, global severity scoring system that classifies each injury by body region according to its relative importance on a 6-point ordinal scale (1=minor and 6=maximal).
Accident (sUAS)
A mishap that resulted in a serious injury, loss of conscience, or $500 in damage to property other than the UAS
ACR
Airman Certification Representative
Advisory Circular (AC)
An FAA document that provides recommendations, best practices, or sample means of compliance for various aspects of aviation safety
AGL
Above Ground Level
Airman Certification Standards (ACS)
Aeronautical knowledge and risk management knowledge testing standards to obtain an unmanned aircraft systems remote pilot operating certificate with a small rating
ATC
Air Traffic Control
Calendar Month
The first day through the last day of a particular month
Casualty
An Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS) level 3 or greater injury
Certificate of Authorization or Waiver (COA or COW)
FAA approval of certain requested operations and conditions as specified in the Certificate of Authorization or Waiver
CFI
Certificated Flight Instructor
CFR
Code of Federal Regulations
Class A Airspace
18,000 feet up to and including flight level (FL) 600
Class B Airspace
Typically surface to 10,000 feet above airport elevation surrounding the nation’s busiest airports in terms of airport operations or passenger enplanements
Class C Airspace
Surface to 4,000 feet above airport elevation surrounding those airports that have an operational control tower, are serviced by a radar approach control, and have a certain number of IFR operations or passenger enplanements
Class D Airspace
Surface to 2,500 feet above airport elevation surrounding those airports that have an operational control tower
Class E Airspace
Controlled airspace that is not Class A, B, C, or D
Class G Airspace
Uncontrolled airspace – that which is not subject to air traffic control. Uncontrolled Airspace does not mean it is unregulated airspace
Control Station
An interface used by the Remote Pilot in Command to control the flight path of the small unmanned aircraft
Corrective Lenses
Spectacles or contact lenses
Crewmember (sUAS)
A person(s) who is designated by the Remote Pilot in Command (Remote PIC) to assist the Remote PIC and the person manipulating the flight controls of the sUAS in the safe and efficient conduct of the UAS operation. This may include VO, launch or recovery personnel and the like
Declaration of Compliance (DoC)
A record submitted to the FAA that certifies the sUAS conforms to the Category 2 or Category 3 requirements under subpart D of part 107
DPE
Designated Pilot Examiner
Federal Aviation Administration Safety Team (FAASTeam)
An FAA office responsible for public engagement on various matters of aviation safety (see FAASafety.gov)
FAA Tracking Number (FTN)
A reference number for the Integrated Airman Certification and/or Rating Application (IACRA)
FL
Flight level
FR
Federal Register
FSDO
Flight Standards District Office
GCS
Ground control station
Hazardous Material
As defined in 49 CFR § 171.8, hazardous material means: a substance or material that the Secretary of Transportation has determined is capable of posing an unreasonable risk to health, safety, and property when transported in commerce, and has designated as hazardous under section 5103 of Federal hazardous materials transportation law (49 U.S.C. 5103). The term includes hazardous substances, hazardous wastes, marine pollutants, elevated temperature materials, materials designated as hazardous in the Hazardous Materials Table (see 49 CFR §172.101), and materials that meet the defining criteria for hazard classes and divisions in part 173 of subchapter C of this chapter.
IACRA
Integrated Airman Certificate and/or Rating Application
ICAO
International Civil Aviation Organization
KTC
Knowledge Testing Center
MSL
Mean sea level
NAS
National Airspace System
NOTAM
Notice to Airmen
NTSB
National Transportation Safety Board
Person Manipulating the Controls
A person controlling the sUAS under direct supervision of the Remote Pilot in Command
PIC
Pilot in Command
Remote Pilot in Command
A designated crewmember who is responsible for the safe operation of a small unmanned aircraft system and has final authority over that operation
Serious Injury
An injury that qualifies as Level 3 or higher on the Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS) of the Association for the Advancement of Automotive Medicine. An AIS Level 3 injury is one that is reversible, but usually involves overnight hospitalization. For more information see 14 CFR part 107 preamble (discussion of the final rule) and AC 107-2, Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (small UAS) (as amended).
Small Unmanned Aircraft
An unmanned aircraft weighing less than 55 pounds, including everything that is on board or otherwise attached to the aircraft
Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS)
A small unmanned aircraft and its associated elements (including communication links and the components that control the small unmanned aircraft) that are required for the safe and efficient operation of the small unmanned aircraft in the National Airspace System
TFR
Temporary Flight Restriction
TSA
Transportation Security Administration
U.S.C.
United States Code
UAG
Unmanned Aircraft General (initial FAA knowledge test for certification)
UAS
Unmanned Aircraft Systems
Unmanned Aircraft
An aircraft operated without the possibility of direct human intervention from within or on the aircraft
Visual Line-of-Sight (VLOS)
With unaided vision other than corrective lenses, the ability to see the unmanned aircraft throughout its flight to determine its location, attitude, altitude, and direction of flight; observe the airspace for other air traffic or hazards; and ensure that the unmanned aircraft does not endanger the life or property of another
Visual Observer (VO)
A person who is designated by the Remote Pilot in Command (Remote PIC) to assist the Remote PIC and the person manipulating the flight controls of the sUAS to see and avoid other air traffic or objects aloft or on the ground