This page contains all the typical aeronautical/aviation abbreviations.
It helps understanding ATC communications, reading METAR reports, and almost anything related to aviation.
You can also check out the spanish version
This page belongs to Fly me to the skies
Index:
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Z
A
AC
AltocumulusAD
AerodromeAGL
Above ground levelAIMMS
Aircraft Integrated Meteorological Measurement SystemAMD
Amend or amendedAMSL
Above mean sea levelAOD
Aerosol Optical DepthAPR
AprilAS
AltostratusASR
Altimeter setting regionATD
Arrival Time DifferenceAUG
AugustAUTO
Automated METAR (produced with CAA approval outside normal operational hours)
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B
BASE
Cloud baseBCFG
Fog patchesBECMG
BecomingBKN
Broken (5 to 7 oktas)BL
BlowingBLW
BelowBR
MistBTN
Between
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C
C
Degrees CelsiusCAA
Civil Aviation AuthorityCAT
Clear Air TurbulenceCAPS
Cloud and Aerosol SpectrometerCAVOK
Ceiling and visibility OKCB
CumulonimbusCC
CirrocumulusCI
CirrusCIT
Near or over large townsCLD
CloudCONC
ConcentrationCOR
CorrectionCOT
At the coastCS
CirrostratusCSV
Comma Separated ValueCU
Cumulus
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D
D
Downward (tendency in RVR in Civil observations)DEC
DecemberDEG
DegreesDfT
Department for TransportDP
Dew point temperatureDR
Low drifting (followed by DU, SA or SN)DS
DuststormDU
Dust (in suspension)DUC
Dense upper cloudDZ
Drizzle
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E
E
East or easterlyENE
East-north-east or east-north-easterlyENE
East-north-east or east-north-easterlyESE
East-south-east or east-south-easterlyEMBD
EmbeddedETA
Estimated time of arrivalETD
Estimated time of departureEUR
European
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F
FAAM
Facility for Airborne Atmospheric MeasurementFC
Funnel cloudFCST
ForecastFEB
FebruaryFEW
Few (1 or 2 oktas)FG
FogFIR
Flight Information RegionFL
Flight LevelFM...
From (followed by time weather change is to begin)FPM
Feet per minuteFRQ
FrequentFT
FeetFU
SmokeFZ
Freezing (followed by DZ, FG or RA)
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G
G
GustGEN
GenerallyGND
GroundGR
Hail (5 mm or more in diameter)GS
Small hail or snow pellets
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H
H
High pressure centreHPA
Hectopascals (= Millibar)HVY
HeavyHZ
Haze
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I
IAVWOPSG
International Airways Volcano Watch Operations GroupIC
Ice crystals (diamond dust)ICAO
International Civil Aviation OrganizationICE
IcingIMO
Icelandic Meteorological OfficeINS
Inches (on F2309)INTSF
IntensifyingIR
InfraredIRVR
Instrumented RVRISOL
IsolatedIUGG
International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics
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J
JAN
JanuaryJTST
Jet streamJUL
JulyJUN
June
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K
KM
KilometresKMH
Kilometres per hourKT
Knots
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L
L
Low pressure centreLAN
Inland (or over land)LCA
LocallyLCBR
Laser Cloud Base RecorderLIDAR
LIght Detecting And RangingLSQ
Line squallLV
Light & variable (relating to wind)LYR
Layer(s), layered
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M
M
Less than 0°C (temperature)M
Less than the lowest reportable value (RVR)M
MetresMAR
MarchMAX
MaximumMB
MillibarsMETAR
Aviation routine weather reportMetUM
Met Office Unified ModelMI
Shallow (followed by FG)MNM
MinimumMOCCA
Met Office Civil Contingencies AircraftMOD
ModerateMoU
Memorandum of UnderstandingMON
Above or covering mountainsMPS
Metres per secondMS
MinusMSL
Mean sea levelMTW
Mountain waves
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N
N
North or northerlyNAME
Numerical Atmospheric-dispersion Modelling EnvironmentNAT
North AtlanticNATS
National Air Traffic ServicesNC
No changeNCAS
National Centre for Atmospheric ScienceNCD
No Cloud Detected (on AUTO METARs only)NDV
No Directional Variation (on AUTO METARs only)NE
North-east or north-easterlyNERC
Natural Environment Research CouncilNIL
NoneNM
Nautical milesNMS
National Meteorological ServicesNNE
North-north-east or north-north-easterlyNNW
North-north-west or north-north-westerlyNOSIG
No significant change expectedNOTAM
Notice containing important aeronautical information to all personnel concerned with flight operationsNOV
NovemberNS
NimbostratusNSC
No significant cloudNSW
No significant weatherNW
North-west or north-westerly
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O
OCNL
Occasional, occasionallyOCT
OctoberOVC
Overcast (8 oktas)
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P
P
Greater than the highest reportable value (RVR)PL
Ice pelletsPO
Dust devilsPOLY
PolygonPRFG
Fog banksPROB30
30% chancePROB40
40% chancePS
PlusPSYS
Pressure System(s)
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Q
QFE
Absolute pressure at the airfield or runway thresholdQNE
Fixed standard pressureQNH
Local station pressure adjusted to Mean Sea Level
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R
RA
RainRADAR
RAdio Detection And RangingRMK
RemarksRVR
Runway visual rangeRWY
Runway
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S
S
South or southerlySA
Sand (in suspension)SC
StratocumulusSCT
Scattered (3 or 4 oktas)SE
South-east or south-easterlySEA
At seaSEP
SeptemberSEV
SevereSFC
SurfaceSG
Snow grainsSH...
Shower (followed by RA, SN, PL, GR, GS or combinations thereof)SIG
SignificantSKC
Sky clearSN
Snow (flakes)SPECI
Aviation special weather reportSQ
SquallSS
SandstormSSE
South-south-east or south-south-easterlySSW
South-south-west or south-south-westerlyST
StratusSTNR
StationarySW
South-west or south-westerly
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T
T
TemperatureTAF
Terminal aerodrome forecastTCU
Towering cumulusTEMPO
Temporary, temporarilyTL
UntilTOP
Cloud topTROP
TropopauseTS
Thunderstorm (may also be followed by RA, SN, PL, GR, GS or combinations thereof)TURB
Turbulence
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U
U
Upward (tendency in RVR)UP
Unidentified Precipitation (on AUTO METARs only)UTC
Universal Time Constant/ Co-ordinated Universal TimeUV
Ultraviolet
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V
VA
Volcanic ashVAA
Volcanic Ash AdvisoryVAAC
Volcanic Ash Advisory CentreVAAG
Volcanic Ash Advisory GroupVAG
Volcanic Ash GraphicVAL
In valleysVAORG
Volcanic Ash Observations Review GroupVASAG
Volcanic Ash Scientific Advisory GroupVC...
In vicinity of aerodrome (followed by FG, FC, SH, PO, BLDU, BLSA, BLSN)VIS
VisibilityVOLCEX
Volcanic Ash ExerciseVRB
VariableVSP
Vertical speedVT
Validity Time
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W
W
West or westerlyWAFC
World Area Forecast CentreWDSPR
WidespreadWNW
West-north-west or west-north-westerlyWRNG
WarningWS
Wind shearWSPD
Wind speedWSW
West-south-west or west-south-westerlyWX
Weather
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Z
Z
Co-ordinated Universal Time