AAI JE ATC key terms

A radar system that sends interrogation pulses to an aircraft transponder and uses the coded reply to obtain identity, altitude and position, unlike primary radar which relies only on reflected energy.

A four-digit octal code set by the pilot in the aircraft transponder so that ground radar displays a discrete identity label for that flight, aiding identification and separation.

The altitude-reporting function of an aircraft transponder that transmits pressure altitude to secondary radar, allowing controllers to verify level and apply vertical separation.

A surveillance technique in which aircraft automatically broadcast position, velocity and identity derived from onboard navigation systems, enabling ground and airborne recipients to build a traffic picture without interrogation.

A method of separating aircraft by requiring specified minimum horizontal distances between radar-identified targets, or specified vertical distances, as displayed on a controller's situation display.

Separation of aircraft achieved through position reports, time intervals, level allocation and route structure when radar or surveillance coverage is unavailable or not used.

A pilot message stating the aircraft's location relative to a reporting point, together with time, level and next estimated point, used by controllers to maintain procedural separation.

A defined area of airspace within which flight information service and alerting service are provided, forming the basic building block of regional air navigation organization.

An authorization for an aircraft to proceed under specified traffic conditions, including route, level, speed or other restrictions, which the pilot must read back and comply with.

The pilot's repetition of safety-critical clearance elements such as route, level, heading and frequency, allowing the controller to detect and correct any misunderstanding before it becomes hazardous.

A published instrument flight procedure that guides departing aircraft from the runway to a defined point on the en-route structure, reducing controller workload and ensuring obstacle clearance.

A published procedure linking the en-route phase to the terminal area, specifying tracks, levels and speed constraints that arriving aircraft follow before approach clearance.

A series of predetermined manoeuvres by reference to instruments that brings an aircraft from the initial approach fix to a point where landing can be made or a missed approach initiated.

A specified altitude in a precision approach at which a missed approach must be initiated if the required visual reference to continue landing has not been established.

A manoeuvre executed when an approach cannot be completed, following a published procedure that climbs the aircraft safely away from obstacles and returns it to the traffic pattern or a holding fix.

A predetermined racetrack manoeuvre flown by aircraft awaiting further clearance, used to absorb delay while keeping traffic within protected airspace.

Minimum spacing applied behind heavier aircraft because wingtip vortices can upset or overpower a following aircraft, with distances varying by weight category and phase of flight.

Any unauthorized presence of an aircraft, vehicle or person on a protected runway area, creating collision risk and requiring immediate controller and pilot action.

The two flight rule regimes: visual flight rules rely on seeing and avoiding traffic under defined weather minima, while instrument flight rules apply to flights conducted largely by reference to cockpit instruments.

A clearance permitting flight under visual flight rules within controlled airspace when weather is below normal VFR minima, subject to controller approval and separation from IFR traffic.

A satellite constellation providing position and time signals worldwide, used for navigation, surveillance and approach guidance, and subject to integrity monitoring against signal degradation.

A ground-based radio navigation aid that transmits signals allowing aircraft to determine the magnetic bearing to or from the station, forming a key part of the en-route airway structure.

A precision approach aid combining a localizer for lateral guidance and a glide path for vertical guidance, enabling aircraft to descend to low decision altitudes in poor visibility.

The three technical pillars supporting air traffic management: voice and data links, position-fixing systems, and systems that monitor aircraft to maintain separation.

Standardized words and sentence patterns used on air-ground frequencies so that instructions are unambiguous across languages and noisy radio channels.

A routine coded weather report for an aerodrome giving wind, visibility, weather, cloud and temperature, used by pilots and controllers to assess operating conditions.

A coded forecast of expected aerodrome weather over a stated period, used for flight planning and for anticipating changes in runway configuration or traffic flow.

An instrumented estimate of the distance a pilot can see along the runway, expressed in metres and used to determine whether low-visibility approach and take-off minima are met.

A notice distributed to flight crews about temporary changes or hazards in the air navigation system, such as closed runways, unserviceable aids or restricted airspace.

A defined volume of airspace around an aerodrome established to protect aircraft operating in the traffic circuit, with entry conditions set by the controlling authority.

The division of an airport into the movement area accessible to aircraft and the public-facing area, with security and access controls regulating passage between them.

The ordering and spacing of arriving aircraft in time rather than distance, used to maximize runway throughput while maintaining safe wake-turbulence intervals.

A deductive reasoning form with two premises and a conclusion, tested in aptitude papers by asking which conclusion necessarily follows from the given statements.

A reasoning question type in which family relationships are described in a chain of statements, and the candidate must deduce how two named people are related.

A reasoning problem requiring the candidate to track a path of turns and distances from a starting point and determine the final bearing or displacement.

An English test component in which candidates read a passage and answer questions on main idea, inference, vocabulary in context and the author's tone.

An English exercise presenting a passage with words removed, requiring selection of the grammatically and contextually correct option for each gap.

Fixed expressions whose meaning cannot be derived from the individual words, commonly tested through sentence completion and synonym matching in aptitude papers.