Glossary
Navigating the complex world of aerospace can be daunting, especially when it comes to deciphering the industry's extensive list of abbreviations and technical terms. But fear not, we've compiled a comprehensive guide to help you make sense of it all.
From A to Z, this list of aerospace abbreviations and terms is your one-stop-shop for understanding the lingo used in this dynamic field. Whether you're an industry professional, a student, or simply curious about the aerospace industry, this resource will equip you with the knowledge you need to communicate effectively and stay ahead of the curve.
Explore this alphabetized guide and unlock the secrets of the aerospace world. With clear explanations and real-world examples, you'll be speaking the language of the skies in no time. Bookmark this page and refer to it whenever you encounter an unfamiliar acronym or technical jargon – your aerospace journey just got a whole lot smoother.
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| C | Celsius or centigrade |
| c/n | construction (or: constructor's) number; manufacturer's serial number |
| C/R | Contra-rotating |
| also: | Counter-rotating |
| C2 | Command and control |
| C3 | Command, control and communications |
| C3CM | Command, control, communications and countermeasures |
| C3I | Command, control, communications and intelligence |
| CAA | Civil Aviation Authority (UK) |
| CAB | Civil Aeronautics Board (US) |
| cabane | Structure to support load above fuselage or wing |
| cabin altitude | Height above S/L at which ambient pressure is identical to the inside of the cabin |
| CAD | Computer aided design |
| CAF | Canadian Armed Forces |
| CAM | Computer aided manufacture |
| CAMS | Computer aided maintenance system |
| canard | Fixed or moveable foreplanes ahead of CG |
| CAP | Combat air patrol |
| CAR | Civil airworthiness regulations |
| CAS | Calibrated airspeed |
| also: | Calculated airspeed |
| also: | Close air support |
| casevac | Casualty evacuation |
| Cat | Category |
| CATAC | Commandement Aérienne Tactique; tactical air command of France |
| CATIC | China National Aero-technology Import and Export Corporation |
| CBLS | Carrier, bomb, light store (RAF) |
| CBR | California bearing ratio |
| also: | Chemical, biological, radiological |
| also: | Common bomb rack |
| CBU | Cluster bomb unit |
| CBW | Chemical & biological warfare |
| CCD | Charge coupled device |
| CCIP | Continuously-computed impact point |
| CCTS | Combat Crew Training Squadron (USAF) |
| CCV | Control configured vehicle |
| CDU | Cockpit display unit |
| CEAA | Commandement des Ecoles de l'Armée de l'Air; air training command of France |
| CEAM | Centre d'Expériences Aériennes Militaires |
| CEAT | Centre d'Essais Aéronautiques de Toulouse |
| Ceconite | Covering material for light aircraft (trade name) |
| CEO | Chief executive officer |
| CEP | Concurrent evaluation phase |
| also: | Circular error probability |
| CEV | Centre d'Essais en Vol |
| CFB | Canadian Forces Base |
| CFE | Conventional Forces in Europe (treaty) |
| also: | Contractor-furnished equipment |
| also: | Central Fighter Establishment (RAF; defunct) |
| CFI | Certified flying instructor |
| CFIT | Controlled flight into terrain |
| CFE | Conventional Forces in Europe |
| CFRP | Composite fibre-reinforced plastics |
| CFS | Central flying school |
| CFT | Conformal fuel tank |
| CG | Centre of gravity |
| CGAS | Coast Guard Air Station (USCG) |
| chord | Width between the leading edge and trailing edge of an aerofoil |
| CIP | Common integrated processor |
| CinC | Commander-in-Chief |
| CIS | Commonwealth of Independent States (loosely: former Soviet-Union) |
| CKD | Component knock-down (parts delivered for assembly) |
| CLCD | Colour liquid-crystal display |
| clean (aircraft) | flight with flaps, slats and undercarriage retracted and no external stores |
| cm | Centimetre |
| CMS | Cockpit management system |
| CNI | Communications, navigation, identification |
| CO | Commanding officer |
| also: | Carbon monoxide |
| coarse pitch | Large angle between propeller blade chord and propeller disc; giving higher speed |
| COC | Command Operations Center |
| COD | Carrier on-board delivery |
| C of A | Certificate of airworthiness |
| COIN | Counter insurgency |
| collective pitch | Primary helicopter flight control; changes pitch of all rotor blades simultaneously; controls vertical speed and direction |
| com or comm | Communications |
| combat SAR | Combat search and rescue |
| combi | Combined passengers and freight |
| COMPG | Composite Group (USAF) |
| comint | Communications intelligence |
| constant speed | Propeller on which pitch is adjusted automatically to maintain desired rpm |
| continuation trainer | Aircraft used by experienced pilots for refresher training |
| contra-rotating | Propellers or rotors turning in different directions on same axis |
| counter-rotating | Propellers or rotors turning in different directions on different axis |
| convertible | Transport aircraft able to carry both passengers and cargo, but not simultaneously |
| COO | Chief operating officer |
| core | Central, gas generator portion, of a turbofan engine |
| CoS | Chief-of-Staff |
| COTAM | Commandement du Transport Aérienne Militaire; air transport command of France |
| COTS | Commercial of the shelf |
| CPL | Commercial Pilot's License |
| CPP | Cost per passenger |
| CPS | Central processing system |
| CPT | Cockpit procedure trainer |
| CPU | Central processing unit |
| CRAF | Civil Reserve Air Fleet (USAF) |
| CRL | Common rail launcher |
| CSA | Command support aircraft (USAF) |
| CSAR | re:Combat SAR |
| CSAS | Command and stability augmentation system |
| CSD | Constant speed drive |
| CSE | Common support equipment |
| CSP | Common signal processor |
| CRT | Cathode ray tube |
| CSW | Conventional stand-off weapon |
| CTOL | Conventional take-off and landing |
| CTP | Chief test pilot |
| CTS | Composite Training Squadron (USAF) |
| also: | Central tactical system |
| CTTO | Central Tactics and Trials Organisation (UK) |
| CTW | Composite Training Wing (USAF) |
| CV | Aircraft carrier (USN) |
| CVA | Aircraft carrier, attack (USN) |
| CVH | Aircraft carrier, helicopter (USN) |
| CVL | Aircraft carrier, light (USN) |
| CVN | Aircraft carrier, nuclear powered (USN) |
| CVR | Cockpit voice recorder |
| CVS | Aircraft carrier, anti-submarine warfare (USN) |
| CVV | Aircraft carrier, medium sized (USN) |
| CVW | Carrier Air Wing (USN) |
| CW | Continuous wave |
| also: | Chemical warfare |
| CWR | Colour weather radar |
| cyclic pitch control | Primary helicopter flight control; rotor disc tilts in desired direction to cause rotation about roll or pitch axis |