Definition
A numbered line on a government or agency contract that identifies a specific deliverable, service, or quantity being purchased, along with its price and terms. In aviation, CLINs appear on federal contracts covering things like aircraft parts, maintenance services, fuel, training, or research work.
Plain English
A single numbered line on a contract that says exactly what is being bought, how much of it, and at what price.
Context Anchor
Seen in aviation contract paperwork, especially government or company agreements for training, maintenance, equipment, or services.
Derivation
Standard U.S. government contracting term. "Line item" simply means one entry on a list; the contract assigns each one a number so it can be tracked, billed, and audited individually.
Why Pilots Care
Most line pilots will never deal with CLINs directly. It matters for those working in government flying, contract maintenance, or any aviation role tied to federal procurement, where work is paid and tracked CLIN by CLIN.
Intuition Check
Do not read “line item” as a physical item only. A CLIN can refer to a service, task, fee, or block of work listed separately in a contract.
Example Sentence 1
The maintenance contractor billed the FAA under CLIN 0003 for the scheduled inspection of the navigation aid.
Example Sentence 2
Each aircraft part replacement had its own CLIN so the billing stayed separate and clear.