Aero-Terms!

Aero-Terms are designed to be a daily reminder of the terms, names, acronyms and explanations of the unique language that populates the aviation world. Aerospace, sport aviation, fixed wing, helo, you name it... it's all fair game.

Aero-Terms should serve as a quick but intriguing reminder of the terms you may use every day, or an introduction to an aspects of the Aero-World you may not yet be familiar with. ANN also encourages readers to go beyond the FMI link, and further research any intriguing terms.

Suggestions for future Aero-Terms are ALWAYS welcome, as are additions or discussion of the explanations given for each Aero-Term.

AFP (Airspace Flow Program)

AFP Acronym for "Airspace Flow Program." An AFP is a traffic management initiative (TMI) used to control traffic through a particular section of airspace. Basically, a line (called a Flow Constrained Area or FCA) is drawn on a map, where a constraint, such as thunderstorms, is expected to appear. Any traffic crossing that line is measured and, when the constraint warrants it, the line becomes an AFP. The AFP is a computer program that assigns delays to aircraft in the form of EDCTs. These EDCTS ensure that specific aircraft cross the AFP boundary when there is room for them.

FMI: https://www.nbaa.org/ops/airspace/tfm/tools/afp.php