base
In airport traffic patterns, a pattern leg at right angles to the landing runway. Base leg connects the downwind leg to the extended runway centerline.

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Vectors

Directions given by a controller to pilots to position them for an approach or to avoid other aircraft. The directions include the direction in which pilots should turn (left or right) and the new compass heading they should fly.

"Cessna 28T, turn right heading 270."

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Visual meteorological conditions. [VMC]

Meteorological conditions expressed in terms of visibility, distance from cloud, and ceiling, equal to or better than specified minima.

*Not equal to VFR.
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Go-Around

A go-around is a procedure that is performed if a pilot is not completely satisfied that the requirements are in place for a safe landing.

A go-around is a safe, standard aircraft manoeuvre which simply discontinues an approach to landing. Go-arounds ensure passengers and aircraft are not placed in potentially dangerous situations.

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Downwind

The downwind leg is a course flown parallel to the landing runway, but in a direction opposite to the intended landing direction.

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ATIS

Automatic terminal information service, or ATIS, is a continuous broadcast of recorded aeronautical information in busier terminal areas, i.e. airports and their immediate surroundings. ATIS broadcasts contain essential information, such as current weather information, active runways, available approaches, and any other information required by the pilots, such as important NOTAMs. Pilots usually listen to an available ATIS broadcast before contacting the local control unit, which reduces the controllers' workload and relieves frequency congestion.

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Correction

phraseology which indicates that an error has been made by the person making the transmission and that correct information will follow: climb to reach Flight Level 290 at time 58. Correction at time 55.

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Expedite

The word “expedite” is used when a higher-than-normal rate of climb or descent is required. ... Another example for the use of the word “expedite” in a time-critical situation is when an aircraft is requested to vacate (or to cross) a runway and to do so without delay.

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Squawk

SQUAWK refers to the communication that comes from an aircraft's transponder — or the radio equipment that a plane has that allows it to communicate with the radar system of air traffic control on the ground.

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Affirm

Means “Yes” and usually comes after a question with “Confirm”.

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Traffic

Traffic information is information issued by an air traffic services unit to alert a pilot of other known or observed air traffic which may be in proximity to the position or intended route of flight and to help the pilot avoid a collision.

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Wilco

“Wilco” is shorthand for “will comply.” It has the same meaning when used by the military as when used by pilots or anyone with a radio. In fact, the phrase was likely created for military use.

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Direct

In the shortest possible way

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Radar contact

Radar contact means the situation which exists when the radar position of a particular aircraft is seen and identified on a situation display. ... Terrain/obstruction clearance is not provided by ATC until the controller begins to provide navigational guidance in the form of radar vectors.

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Contact and monitor — what’s the difference?

Contact: Pilot comes first on the freq

Monitor: You listen until they call you.

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Orbit

There is also a procedure known as an "orbit", where an aircraft flies a 360° loop either clockwise or anticlockwise. This is usually to allow greater separation with other traffic ahead in the pattern. ... To practice take off and landing, a pilot would often fly many patterns, one after another, from the same runway.

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RTO
Rejected Takeoff Roll

In aviation terminology, a rejected takeoff (RTO) or aborted takeoff is the situation in which it is decided to abort the takeoff of an airplane.

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RVR

In aviation, the runway visual range (RVR) is the distance over which a pilot of an aircraft on the centreline of the runway can see the runway surface markings delineating the runway or identifying its centre line. RVR is normally expressed in meters or feet. RVR is used to determine the landing and takeoff conditions for aircraft pilots, as well as the type of operational visual aids used at the airport.

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Pilot discretion

The phrases ‘AT PILOTS DISCRETION’ and ‘WHEN READY’ are also included in PANS ATM Appendix 5 – Controller-Pilot Datalink Communications (CPDLC) message set. The meanings in CPDLC are synonymous in that they are both used to indicate execution when the pilot is prepared to do so.

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Holding point:

By ICAO Annex 14:

Runway-holding position: “A designated position intended to protect a runway, an obstacle limitation surface, or an ILS/MLS critical/sensitive area at which taxiing aircraft and vehicles shall stop and hold, unless otherwise authorized by the aerodrome control tower”.

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