Registration — Page 46, Lesson 36

I want to walk you through a set of aviation abbreviations that all start with the letter R. These are the kind of shorthand you'll see on flight plans, in NOTAMs, on charts, and in radio messages — so knowing exactly what each one means is part of professional communication. Let's start with runway lighting. RENL stands for Runway End Light(s) — those are the lights marking the very end of the runway. RTHL is Runway Threshold Light(s) — the lights at the threshold, where the landing area begins. RTZL is Runway Touchdown Zone Light(s) — the lights in the touchdown zone to help you judge your flare and landing point. And RLLS is Runway Lead-in Lighting System — a system of lights that leads you visually from the approach path onto the runway alignment. Now, runway geometry and safety areas. RESA is Runway End Safety Area — a cleared, graded area beyond the runway end to stop an aircraft that overruns or undershoots. RET is Rapid Exit Taxiway — a high-speed turnoff designed to let you clear the runway quickly after landing. RTOAA is Rejected Take-off Area Available — the length available for a rejected take-off, measured from the start of the take-off roll to the point where you can safely stop. RTODA is Rejected Take-off Distance Available — the distance declared available for a rejected take-off, which is a performance calculation value. Moving to navigation and airspace. RNAV — pronounced 'AR-NAV' — is Area Navigation. That means you can navigate directly between waypoints without needing to fly over ground-based navaids. RNP is Required Navigation Performance — a statement of the navigation accuracy required for a given airspace or procedure. RNG is Radio Range — the distance over which a radio signal is usable. RSR is En Route Surveillance Radar — the radar used to track aircraft on the airway structure. RIS is Radar Information Service — a service where radar provides traffic information but not separation. RPS is Radar Position Symbol — the symbol on a radar display representing an aircraft's position. RTR is Radar Termination Range — the range at which radar service ends. Flight plan and message types. RPL is Repetitive Flight Plan — a flight plan filed for a series of identical, regularly scheduled flights. RQP is the message type designator for Request flight plan. RQS is Request supplementary flight plan. RIF is Reclearance in Flight — a change to the flight plan clearance issued while airborne. RLCE is Request Level Change En route — a request to change altitude during the en route phase. RLNA is Requested Level Not Available — the reply you get when your requested altitude cannot be assigned. RTE is Route. RERTE is Reroute — a change to the planned route. Meteorological abbreviations. ROBEX is Regional OPMET Bulletin Exchange (Scheme) — the system for exchanging operational meteorological information regionally. ROFOR is Route Forecast in aeronautical meteorological code. RRA — or RRB, RRC, etc., in sequence — is the message type designator for a Delayed meteorological message. RTD is also Delayed, used to indicate a delayed meteorological message. Reporting and communication. REP stands for Report, Reporting, or Reporting Point — a defined geographical point you report passing. REQ is Request or Requested. RL is Report Leaving — you report when you leave a point or area. RR is Report Reaching — you report when you arrive at a point. RLA is Relay to — pass this message on to someone else. RMK is Remark — a free-text note. RTF is Radiotelephone — voice communication by radio. RTG is Radiotelegraph — Morse code or data communication by radio. RTT is Radio Teletypewriter — a teleprinter link over radio. RSP is Responder beacon — a beacon that responds to interrogation. Direction and position. RHS is Right Hand Side. RITE is Right — used for direction of turn. RG is Range (lights) — the distance at which a light is visible. Emergency and rescue. RFF is Fire and Rescue Equipment. RIV is Rapid Intervention Vehicle — a fast fire/rescue vehicle for immediate response. RSC is Rescue Sub-Centre — a subordinate rescue coordination centre. RSCD is Runway Surface Condition — the state of the runway surface, reported for braking action. Other abbreviations. RN is Royal Navy. RON is Receiving Only — a station that can receive but not transmit. RPLC is Replace or Replaced. RQMNT is Requirements. RSS is Route Sum Square — a mathematical term used in navigation error calculations. RTN is Return, Returned, or Returning. RTS is Return to Service — an item that has been repaired and is back in use. RUT is not expanded here, but it's a standard abbreviation you'll encounter. That covers the full set of R-coded abbreviations from this section. Each one has a precise meaning in flight operations, so take your time to become familiar with them.