Glossary of Terms

ADF	Australian Defence Force
Aerial work	Includes all aerial survey and photography, spotting, aerial stock mustering, search and rescue, ambulance, towing (including glider, target and banner towing) and other aerial wok (including advertising, cloud seeding, fire fighting, parachute dropping and coastal surveillance).
Agriculture Flying	Operations involving the carriage and/or spreading of chemicals, seed, fertiliser or other substances for agricultural purposes, including operations for the purpose of pest and disease control.
Aircraft	The term aircraft refers to fixed wing and rotary wing powered aircraft and balloons.
Aircraft Categories	The categories of aircraft defined in Part 5 of the CAR - that is, aeroplanes, helicopters, balloons, gyroplanes and airships.
Aircraft Movement	A take-off (aircraft departure) or a landing (arrival) is recorded as one aircraft movement. A "touch and go" operations is counted as two movements.
AME	Aircraft Maintenance Engineer
ARN	Aviation Reference Number - the number given to a pilot or engineer by CASA which appears on their licence.
ARCOP	Aircraft Radiotelephone Operator Certificate of Proficiency - radiotelephone certificate often issued to LAMEs to enable them to taxi aircraft.
ATC	Air Traffic Control
ATPL	Air Transport Pilot Licence - issued for aeroplanes and helicopters. Air Transport Pilots may fly an aeroplane as pilot in command or co-pilot in any operation. An ATPL is required to command a large airline type aircraft.
AUF	Australian Ultra-light Federation
BASI	Bureau of Air Safety Investigation
Business Flying	Flying by the aircraft owner, his/her employees or the hirer of the aircraft for business or professional reasons, but not directly for hire or reward.
CAAP	Civil Aviation Advisory Publication
CAO	Civil Aviation Order
CAR	Civil Aviation Regulations
Charter	Carriage of cargo or passengers on non-scheduled operations by the aircraft operator or his/her employees for hire or reward, but excluding Regular Public Transport Operations (scheduled services).
CFI	Chief Flying Instructor
Chief Flying Instructor	Individual who is appointed by a flying school and CASA to supervise the flying training given by the school.
Chief Pilot	Individual who is appointed by an operator and CASA to be in charge of all flight operations for that operator.
CIR	Command instrument rating
CPL	Commercial Pilot Licence. Commercial pilots may fly for hire or reward (with some restrictions).
DAME	Designated Aviation Medical Examiner
Dual Flying	Flying in an aircraft fitted with fully functioning dual controls for the purpose of receiving flying training from a person who is authorised by the Regulations to give training.
Endorsement	An authorisation indicating that a pilot is qualified to fly a particular type or class of aircraft. The authorisation is in the form of a log book entry. (Some operational approvals which require a log book entry are also called endorsements)
FCL	Flight Crew Licence/Licensing
FEL	Flight Engineer Licence
Fixed Wing	Related to aeroplanes as opposed to helicopters, balloons, gyroplanes or airships.
Flight Review	An informal examination of a pilot's aeronautical skill and knowledge conducted biennially (every two years) to see if standards have been maintained. Conducted by a Grade 1 or appropriately qualified Grade 2 instructor.
Flight Time	In the case of heavier-than-air aircraft, the total time from when the aircraft first moves under its own power for the purpose of a flight until the moment at which it comes to rest on completion of the flight.
GA	General Aviation
General Aviation	Defined as all non-scheduled flying activity in aircraft allocated a VH registration by CASA, but excluding VH-registered sailplanes (powered and unpowered). Ultralight aircraft, hang gliders and autogyros are also excluded.
High Capacity Aircraft	An aircraft that is certified as having a maximum seating capacity exceeding 38 seats or maximum payload exceeding 4,200kg.
IFR	Instrument Flight Rules. Required for flight in 'non-visual meteorological conditions'. Rough translation: The weather is so bad you can't see out the windows.
Instrument Rating	A flight crew rating that indicates that a pilot is qualified to fly an aircraft by sole reference to the aircraft's instruments.
Instructor Rating	A flight crew rating that indicates that a pilot is qualified to train other pilots.
Multi-engine Aircraft	An aircraft with more than one engine - not limited to two.
Night Flying	Flight time which accrues during the period between the end of the evening civil twilight and the beginning of morning civil twilight.
Pilot In Command	Pilot responsible for the operation and safety of the aircraft during flight time.
PPL	Private Pilot Licence
Private Flying	Flying for pleasure, sport or recreation, or personal transport not associated with a business or profession.
Regular Public Transport	Flight operations performed for remuneration and conducted to fixed schedules over specific routes, and on which seats and/or cargo space is available to the general public.
RPT	See Regular Public Transport
SFEL	Student Flight Engineer Licence
SPL	Student Pilot Licence
SPLPAX	Student Pilot Licence holder with passenger carrying privileges; ie. has passed general flying progress flight test (GFPT)
VFR	Visual Flight Rules