Glossary

Defined airspace managed by a single ATC authority. The fundamental unit of airspace risk assessment.

Official advisory about hazards or changes affecting flight operations. Often the first public signal of airspace disruption.

EASA advisory for airspace over or near conflict zones. Created after MH17 in 2014.

Deliberate broadcast of false GPS signals causing aircraft to show incorrect position. +500% increase in 2024.

Electronic interference that blocks GPS reception entirely. Unlike spoofing, aircraft knows GPS is unavailable.

Aircraft broadcasts position via satellite. Basis for Flightradar24 and modern ATC surveillance.

Onboard system that detects nearby aircraft and issues resolution advisories to prevent mid-air incidents.

Weather advisory for hazards like volcanic ash, severe turbulence, or thunderstorms affecting flight routes.

One of 9 global centers responsible for detecting volcanic ash and issuing aviation warnings.

Specialized insurance covering aircraft loss or damage from hostile acts. Premiums surged 50-500% in 2024-2026.

Certification allowing twin-engine aircraft to fly routes far from diversion airports. Affected by airspace closures.

UN agency setting global aviation standards. 193 member states. Headquartered in Montreal.

EU aviation regulator. Issues CZIBs, airworthiness directives, and conflict zone advisories.

Alerts pilots when aircraft is dangerously close to terrain. GPS spoofing can trigger false GPWS alerts.

Self-contained navigation using accelerometers and gyroscopes. Supposedly spoof-proof — but defeated in 2023 Iraq incidents.

Short-term airspace restriction for security, emergencies, or VIP movements. Issued by national aviation authorities.

Ground-based precision approach system. Fallback when GPS is jammed — used at Beirut since 2023.

Ground-launched weapon capable of reaching civil aviation altitudes. Central risk factor in conflict zone airspace.

Umbrella term for GPS, Galileo, GLONASS, BeiDou. All four constellations vulnerable to interference.

GPS-based navigation allowing any desired flight path. Foundation of modern PBN. GPS spoofing defeats RNAV approaches.

RNAV with onboard monitoring and alerting. RNP AR enables curved approaches. Fails when GPS is denied.

ICAO framework replacing sensor-specific navigation. Encompasses RNAV and RNP. Relies on GPS — vulnerable.

Ground-based radio navigation. Being decommissioned but critical GPS backup when satellite signals are denied.

Transponder-based distance from ground station. DME/DME provides GPS-alternative positioning for en-route navigation.

Oldest radio navigation aid still in use. Last-resort backup when both GPS and VOR fail.

1000ft vertical separation above FL290. GPS spoofing can cause altitude errors in RVSM airspace.

Unilateral security zone requiring aircraft identification. Not ICAO-standardized. China/Taiwan ADIZ overlap creates tension.

Shoulder-fired missiles with ~4-5km altitude range. Threat to aircraft at low altitude near conflict zones.

Military and commercial drones. Airport incursions cause shutdowns. Military UAVs create uncoordinated airspace hazards.

Text messaging between ATC and cockpit replacing voice over HF. Reduces miscommunication in remote airspace.

Hourly aviation weather observation in standard format. Essential for approach planning and volcanic ash detection.

Airport weather forecast covering 24-30 hours. Critical for diversion planning during airspace closures.

Published ATC routing procedures. GPS-based at many airports — interference can make SIDs/STARs unflyable.

Pressure altitude in hundreds of feet (FL350 = 35,000ft). Standard above transition altitude for vertical separation.

Country-specific aviation reference containing airspace structure, procedures, frequencies, and restrictions.

Military electronic attack, defense, and support. The discipline responsible for aviation GPS jamming and spoofing.

ICAO term for drones with pilot-in-loop. Integration into controlled airspace creates new safety challenges.

ICAO-mandated systematic safety framework for airlines, airports, and ANSPs. Formalizes airspace risk management.

Organization providing ATC for a FIR. Capability varies hugely — from Eurocontrol members to Sahel providers with no radar.

Digital datalink for operational messages. Real-time position and weather reporting in GPS-denied environments.

Tone-based alerting for aircraft monitoring HF radio. Essential for oceanic and remote airspace communication.

Long-range voice communication over oceans and remote areas. Primary comm in central Africa and polar routes.

Altimeter setting standard. Accuracy critical for RVSM operations and terrain clearance in mountainous areas.

Silicate particles from eruptions that destroy jet engines. No safe concentration. Eyjafjallajökull 2010 grounded 100,000 flights.

Contamination threats to airspace. Nuclear incidents like Chernobyl establish precedent for airspace restriction.

Black boxes required on commercial aircraft. Critical for post-incident investigation including GPS spoofing events.

Aircraft maintenance industry. Sanctions restrict MRO for Russian airlines — fleet safety concerns as parts dwindle.

Standardized airline safety evaluation and benchmark. Required for IATA membership. Covers SMS implementation.