Definition
HDQ refers to the headquarters of the Federal Aviation Administration, located in Washington, D.C. It is the central office from which the FAA establishes national aviation policy, regulations, and oversight for U.S. civil aviation.
Plain English
HDQ is shorthand for the FAA's main office in Washington, D.C. — the top-level office that runs the FAA nationwide.
Context Anchor
Seen in FAA acronym lists, notices, and administrative references where the source or responsible FAA office is identified.
Derivation
HDQ is a shortened form of 'headquarters.' Headquarters comes from the military term for the place where a commanding officer and their staff are based — the central point from which orders are issued.
Why Pilots Care
If a notice or FAA reference uses HDQ, the pilot should understand it is referring to the FAA’s national office, not a tower, local airport office, or regional contact.
Example Sentence 1
The new policy was issued by FAA HDQ and applies to all regional offices.
Example Sentence 2
NOTAMs originating from HDQ often announce temporary restrictions that apply across multiple regions.