(complete list found in back of PH)
The really short list of Airbus acronyms and abbreviations:
(before you get to it try to figure out what THS is)
α Stands for ALPHA as in α PROT. Refers to Angle
of Attack.
ACM Air Cycle Machine
ACP Audio Control Panel, allows pilot to select which
radios or interphones to listen to.
ADIRS - Air Data Inertial Reference System, now replaced by
GNADIRS
ADIRU - Air Data Inertial Reference Unit
AMU - Audio Management Unit
ASAP as in LAND ASAP, As Soon As Possible (this really is
listed, I'm not making this up)
A/SKID - Anti-skid
BSCU - Brakes Steering Control Unit (computer)
BTC - Bus Tie Contactor
CFDS - Centralized Fault Display System
CRC Continuous Repetitive Chime, used to be called the
fire bell.
DDRMI Digital Distance and Radio Magnetic Indicator (RMI
with DME)
DMC - Display Management Computer
DU - Display Unit (CRT, or "TV screen")
ECAM - Electronic Centralized Aircraft Monitoring
EIU - Engine Interface Unit
ELAC - Elevator Aileron Computer
EO - Engine Out
E/WD - Engine/Warning Display, upper display for aircraft
systems.
FAC - Flight Augmentation Computer
FOM Flight Ops Manual
FCU - Flight Control Unit (autoflight panel)
FMGC - Flight Management Guidance Envelope Computer, what
actually performs the computations when you type into the MCDU.
FMGS - Flight Management Guidance Envelope System
F-Plan - Flight Plan
FPA - Flight Path Angle
FWC - Flight Warning Computer
FWS - Flight Warning System
GCU - Generator Control Unit
GLC - Generator Line Contactor
GNADIRS Global Navigation Air Data Inertial Reference
System, GPS, Air Data information and Inertial attitude/guidance all in one.
Green Dot Best L/D (lift over drag) speed, normally used
as the target speed at end of takeoff or for single engine climb out.
Technically called VFTO (Final Takeoff Speed). On the Airbus a green dot on the
airspeed scale.
IDG Integrated Drive Generator (the old CSD and generator
all in one unit)
INIT - Initialization
JFA Just Flying Along, used a lot in ground school as
in:
there you are just flying along
when the demodulator quits causing the blah blah ECAM blah blah amber FAULT
blah blah second channel blah blah and thats all there is to it.
L/G - Landing Gear
LGCIU - Landing Gear Control Interface Unit (I think this
one is extra credit, we just called it the linguini)
LSK - Line Select Key (keys used on MCDU screen)
MCDU - Multipurpose Control and Display Unit (this is the
actual box used to enter data into the FMGC, you getting all this?)
MMR Multi Mode Receiver, the GPS receiver for the GNADIRS,
two are installed
ND - Navigation Display (has all those nice little pictures
on it to let you know where you are)
N/W Nose Wheel
pb pushbutton
PF Pilot Flying, the person actually handling the control
or autopilot input. Also the person to blame for the bad landing.
PFD - Primary Flight Display (the display you will look at
the most, has airspeed, altitude, attitude, heading and more)
PH Pilots Handbook
PM Pilot Monitoring, the non-flying pilot, used to be
called PNF (Pilot Not Flying). A politically correct way to say this guy is
just a professional critic, dont blame him for the landing.
PTU Power Transfer Unit, pump that is able to transfer
power (but not fluid) between the green and yellow hydraulic systems
QRH Quick Reference Handbook
RAT - Ram Air Turbine, an air driven backup pump for blue
hydraulic
RMP - Radio Management Panel, allows pilot to select which
radio to tune or transmit on.
SD - System Display, lower display for aircraft systems.
SDAC - System Data Acquisition Concentrator
SEC - Spoiler Elevator Computer
SFCC - Slat/Flap Control Computer
SRS - Speed Reference System
THS - Trimmable Horizontal Stabilizer (did you guess it?)
TLA - Thrust Lever Angle, the TLA indicator is a white
donut on the N1 gauge.
TOGA Takeoff Go Around. Highest selectable thrust level.
Selected by putting thrust levers in TOGA detent. Also a mode for the Flight
Director.
TRU - Transformer Rectifier Unit, also known as TR,
transformer rectifier
UTC - Universal Coordinated Time (a politically correct way
to say Zulu or GMT)
VFTO Final Takeoff Speed, normally called Green Dot,
best lift / drag
WHC Window Heat Computer
WTB Wing Tip Brake
XFR - Transfer
ZFCG - Zero Fuel Center of Gravity
ZFW Zero Fuel Weight
These are just my short list of favorites and there are many
others but for the most part these should get you by.
Bonus what persons names are on the Airbus instrument
panels?
Answer Max, Norm, Rose, Agent 1 & Agent 2, Rat Man
Extra Bonus How do Airbus pilots celebrate their first
line trip? Answer they have a TOGA
party. I know, bad one