Dual Wheels — Page 24, Lesson 27

I want to walk you through the next set of definitions in the communications glossary. This is a continuation of the alphabetical list of aeronautical abbreviations and acronyms that you will see in charts, flight plans, NOTAMs, and operational messages. We start with Dual Wheels. That's exactly what it sounds like — an aircraft configuration where a landing gear strut has two wheels side by side instead of a single wheel. You'll see this abbreviated in aircraft performance and weight-and-balance data. DZ stands for Drizzle. That's a weather abbreviation for very light, uniform precipitation consisting of fine water droplets. E is the abbreviation for East or Eastern Longitude. When you see it in a position coordinate, it tells you the direction from the Prime Meridian. EAT is Expected Approach Time. This is the time ATC estimates you will be cleared to commence your approach for landing. It's a critical planning figure, especially when holding. EB means Eastbound. ECAC is the European Civil Aviation Conference. This is an intergovernmental organization that coordinates civil aviation policy across European states. You'll see this referenced in regulatory documents. ED stands for Emergency Distance. The excerpt references AD 1.1.1, which is a specific section in the Aerodrome part of the AIP. This is the distance available for an aircraft to stop in an emergency — it's a declared distance used for performance calculations. EDT is Estimated Departure Time. EET is Estimated Elapsed Time. This is the estimated time it will take to fly from one point to another, typically from takeoff to a significant point or to the destination. EFC is Expected Further Clearance. This is the time ATC expects to issue you further clearance, often while you are holding. It tells you when to expect the next instruction. EFIS stands for Electronic Flight Instrument System. This is the glass cockpit display system that replaces traditional analog instruments. It presents flight data — attitude, heading, altitude, airspeed — on electronic screens. EHF is Extremely High Frequency, covering the range from 30,000 to 300,000 MHz. That's the highest band in the radio frequency spectrum used in aviation. These frequencies have very short wavelengths and are used for specialized applications like satellite communications. ELBA is Emergency Location Beacon - Aircraft. This is a beacon that automatically transmits a distress signal on a specific frequency when the aircraft crashes or is in distress. It helps search and rescue locate the wreckage. ELEV is Elevation. This is the vertical distance of a point on the Earth's surface above mean sea level. For an aerodrome, it's the elevation of the highest point on the landing area. ELR means Extra Long Range. This describes aircraft or fuel configurations that allow for extended flight distances. ELT is Emergency Locator Transmitter, referenced to GEN 3.6.6 in the AIP. This is essentially the same concept as ELBA — a transmitter that activates automatically in a crash to help locate the aircraft. The difference is terminology: ELT is the ICAO standard term. EM stands for Emission. This is used in communications to describe the type of radio transmission, such as voice or data. EMBD means Embedded in a Layer. This is used in weather reports to indicate that cumulonimbus clouds are hidden inside layers of other cloud types. It's a significant hazard because you cannot see the thunderstorms visually. EMERG is Emergency. END means Stop End, related to RVR — Runway Visual Range. This is the end of the runway where the landing roll or takeoff roll terminates. RVR measurements at the stop end tell you visibility conditions at that critical point. ENE is East North East — a compass direction halfway between east and northeast. ENG is Engine. ENRT means En Route — the phase of flight between departure and arrival. EOA is Engine Out Allowance. This is the fuel or performance margin calculated for the case of an engine failure, typically used in performance planning for multi-engine aircraft. EOBT is Estimated Off-Block Time. This is the time you expect to start moving from the parking stand, pushing back or taxiing. It's the time you give in your flight plan. EPIRB is Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon. This is a distress beacon, typically carried on aircraft for overwater operations. It transmits a signal that allows search and rescue to pinpoint your position. EQPT is Equipment. ER means Here or Herewith. This is used in message text to indicate that something is attached or included with the transmission. ESE is East South East — a compass direction halfway between east and southeast. EST has three meanings: Estimate, Estimated, or Estimate as a message type designator. In flight plans and position reports, you use EST to indicate a time that is calculated or projected. ETA is Estimated Time of Arrival or Estimating Arrival. This is the time you expect to arrive at a point — typically the destination or a reporting point. ETD is Estimated Time of Departure or Estimating Departure. ETO is Estimated Time Over Significant Point. This is the time you expect to pass over a specific waypoint or navigation fix. ETOPS stands for Extended Twin-jet Operations. This is a set of regulations that allow twin-engine aircraft to fly routes that take them more than a certain distance from a suitable diversion airport. It requires special certification and planning. EV means Every. EXC is Except. EXER means Exercises, Exercising, or To Exercise. This is used in NOTAMs and operational messages to indicate military or training activities. EXP is Expect, Expected, or Expecting. EXTD means Extend or Extending. Then we move to the letter F. F stands for Fixed. This is used in communications to indicate a fixed frequency or a fixed station. FA is Area Forecast, also abbreviated as ARFOR. This is a weather forecast covering a large geographical area, used for flight planning. FAC is Facilities. FAF is Final Approach Fix. This is the fix that marks the beginning of the final approach segment in an instrument approach procedure. It's where you begin the final descent to the runway. FAL is Facilitation of International Air Transport. This refers to the procedures and regulations that simplify customs, immigration, and quarantine processes for international flights. FAP is Final Approach Point. This is similar to FAF but used in some approach procedures, particularly for non-precision approaches. FAT is Final Approach Track. This is the magnetic track you fly on the final approach segment. FATO is Final Approach and Take-off Area. This is a defined area for helicopters and other VTOL aircraft, used for the final phase of approach and for takeoff. FAX is Facsimile Transmission — a fax machine or fax transmission. FBL means Light. This is used to indicate the intensity of weather phenomena, interference, or static reports. For example, FBL RA means Light Rain. It's a qualifier for weather intensity. FBU is Flight Briefing Unit. This is a facility where pilots can obtain pre-flight weather and operational briefings. FC is Funnel Cloud — a tornado or waterspout that has not yet reached the surface. FCST is Forecast. FCT is Friction Coefficient. This is a measurement of the braking action on a runway surface. It's reported when the runway is contaminated with water, snow, or ice. And finally, FEB — that's just the abbreviation for the month of February. These abbreviations will appear constantly in your flight planning documents, weather reports, NOTAMs, and ATC communications. You need to know them instantly, without having to look them up.