Aviation glossary
Three FAA glossaries, reproduced word for word, not summarised: the Pilot/Controller Glossary (the language of the radio), 14 CFR § 1.1 (what the regulations mean by a word), and the Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge glossary (the vocabulary of the knowledge test). Search all three below, or read a publication straight through.
“This Glossary was compiled to promote a common understanding of the terms used in the Air Traffic Control system. It includes those terms which are intended for pilot/controller communications.”
FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary, PURPOSE (a) — effective 7/9/26
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Study by certificate
Flashcard decks over a short list of these terms — the ones a certificate’s own ACS uses, cut down by a CFI. The definitions on the cards are the FAA’s, unchanged.
Pilot/Controller Glossary, by letter
Twenty-three pages, A through W. There are no X, Y or Z pages — the FAA’s glossary has none.
- a230 entries
- b24 entries
- c147 entries
- d74 entries
- e42 entries
- f81 entries
- g34 entries
- h42 entries
- i76 entries
- j7 entries
- k1 entries
- l44 entries
- m89 entries
- n48 entries
- o44 entries
- p79 entries
- q7 entries
- r126 entries
- s136 entries
- t133 entries
- u28 entries
- v51 entries
- w19 entries
14 CFR § 1.1 General definitions
The 195 terms the regulations define for themselves — night, pilot in command, category, class, flight level — on one page, from the eCFR at Title 14 issue date 2026-08-31.
PHAK Glossary, by letter
The 864 entries of the Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge glossary (FAA-H-8083-25C (July 2023)), the plain-language vocabulary of the knowledge test, one page per letter.
- c77 entries
- h32 entries
- a100 entries
- b10 entries
- d43 entries
- e25 entries
- f35 entries
- g22 entries
- i35 entries
- j3 entries
- k3 entries
- l35 entries
- m75 entries
- n28 entries
- o14 entries
- p49 entries
- r58 entries
- s74 entries
- t65 entries
- u9 entries
- v46 entries
- w24 entries
- z2 entries
Source. FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary, effective 7/9/26, reproduced verbatim — 1,562 entries across 23 letter pages. Source: https://www.faa.gov/Air_traffic/publications/atpubs/pcg_html/index.html
14 CFR § 1.1 is reproduced from the eCFR (Title 14 issue date 2026-08-31); the PHAK glossary from the FAA’s FAA-H-8083-25C (July 2023) PDF, pages G-1 to G-36. Each page carries its own source line.
Definitions and cross-references are the FAA’s words, carried across unchanged from the artifacts frozen in this repository; the framing around them is ours. All three are United States Government works. Check the current publication before you rely on any entry here.