TACAN — Tactical Air Navigation — Aviation Definition

Words for: The National Airspace System & IFR Charts

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NAS — National Airspace System
aeronautical charts
airspace classification
AIM — Aeronautical Information Manual
MSL — mean sea level
Special Use Airspace
FL — flight level
NM — nautical miles
IFR — Instrument Flight Rules
ATC — Air Traffic Control
passenger enplanements
AGL — above ground level
AeroNav Products
FL 600
ATC Clearance
Special VFR
VFR — Visual Flight Rules
statute miles
VFR aircraft separation
VFR Visibility Minimum
VFR Minimum Distance from Clouds
IFR Aircraft
Radar
instrument approaches
nontowered airport
Aeronautical Navigation Products (AeroNav Products)
NOTAM — Notice to Airmen
Controlled Airspace
Federal Airways System
Uncontrolled Airspace
Federal airway
Victor airway
joint-use restricted airspace
VOR — VHF omnidirectional range
low-altitude airway structure
MOAs — military operations areas
collision avoidance
MTRs — Military Training Routes
IR
VR
TFRs — Temporary Flight Restrictions
NAVAID — Navigational Aid
RNAV — Area Navigation
confluence of airways
latitude/longitude coordinates
degree-distance fixes
A/FD — Airport/Facility Directory
FL 450
FL 290
conterminous United States
En Route Charts
Fix
Terminal Area
IFR en route chart
part-time airspace classifications
airport information
Charted IFR Altitudes
ICAO identifiers
ATIS — Automatic Terminal Information Service
obstacle clearance
MEA GAP
DME — Distance Measuring Equipment
MEA — minimum en route altitude
Types of NAVAIDs
NDB — Nondirectional Beacon
TACAN — Tactical Air Navigation
VOR/DME
VHF/UHF
LF/MF
Compass Locator
Identifying Intersections
VORs — very high frequency omnidirectional ranges
NO SVFR
isogonic
GPS/WAAS MEA
VORTAC
FSS — Flight Service Station
ILS — Instrument Landing System
AWOS — Automated Weather Observing System
HIWAS — Hazardous Inflight Weather Advisory Service
NAD 83 — North American Datum of 1983
WGS 84 — World Geodetic System 1984
Localizer
off-route VORs
collocated
feathered arrowhead symbol
ARTCC — Air Route Traffic Control Center
serrations
TWEB — Transcribed Weather Broadcast
Other Route Information
moving map
VOR changeover points
COP — changeover point
multifunction displays
flight deck
SA — Situational Awareness
COPs — VOR changeover points
GPS — Global Positioning System
ARTCC remote sites
SOPs — standard operating procedures
Terminal Procedures Publication
IMC — Instrument Meteorological Conditions
VMC — Visual Meteorological Conditions
DP — departure procedure
STAR — standard terminal arrival route
climb gradient
Flight Plan
DME Fix
FLYOVER POINT
IAP — Instrument Approach Procedure
centerline
Instrument Approach Procedure chart
margin identification
amendment status
Landing Minimums
APP CRS — approach course
Apt Elev — airport elevation
RNP — Required Navigation Performance
DME/DME RNP
GND CON — ground control
CLNC DEL — clearance delivery
UNICOM
FAF — Final Approach FIX
CTAF — Common Traffic Advisory Frequency
ASR — Airport Surveillance Radar
VOR-A
LDA-B
VOR or GPS RWY 15
ILS Z RWY 28
SILVER ILS RWY 28
LOC/DME
nonstandard IFR takeoff minimums
Alternate Minimums
NDB/DME
concentric dashed circles
Altimeter Setting
concentric rings
Visual Flightpath
ADF — Automatic Direction Finder
MSA circle
omnidirectional facility
missed approach waypoint
heavy-lined NAVAID box
GS — glideslope
Maltese cross
MDA — Minimum Descent Altitude
DH — Decision Height
Precision Approach
Nonprecision Approach
Maltese cross symbol
radar vectored
stalling speed
landing configuration
RVR — Runway Visual Range
Transmissometer
slant visual range
COPTER MINIMA
Maneuvering Table
Airport Sketch /Airport Diagram
runway incursion
taxiways
MALSR — Medium Intensity Approach Lighting System with Runway Alignment Indicator Lights
MAP — Missed Approach Point
TAA — Terminal Arrival Area
GPS/RNAV
NoPT — No Procedure Turn
teardrop procedure
teardrop procedure turn
barbed arrow
KIAS — knots indicated airspeed
NoPT
holding airspeed limitations
inbound course
Final Approach Course
procedure turn barbed arrow
outbound course
VNAV — Vertical Navigation
Inoperative Components Table
ALS — approach lighting system
VASI — Visual Approach Slope Indicator
REIL — Runway End Identifier Lights
ALSF-1
ALSF-2
SALS/SALSF
MALSF
ODALS — Omnidirectional Approach Lighting System
TDZ/CL — Touchdown Zone/Centerline Lighting
LPV — Localizer Performance with Vertical Guidance
RNAV Instrument Approach Charts
required navigational performance (RNP)
WAAS — Wide Area Augmentation System
LNAV/VNAV
LP — localizer performance
Glidepath
LAAS — Local Area Augmentation System
runway threshold waypoint
HUD — head-up display
LDA — localizer-type directional aid
SDF/DME
LDA/DME
LP lines of minima
AP — autopilot

202 words in this area · Next word: VOR/DME →

Plain English Meaning

TACAN is a navigation aid used mainly by the military. It tells a pilot two things from one ground station: which direction the station is from the aircraft, and how far away it is.

Full Definition

A military ultra-high frequency (UHF) navigation system that provides an aircraft with both bearing (direction) and slant-range distance to a selected ground station. TACAN ground stations are often co-located with civilian VOR stations to form a VORTAC, allowing civil aircraft to use the distance (DME) portion while military aircraft use the full bearing-and-distance signal.

Context Anchor

You may see TACAN on aeronautical charts, in military flying information, or near facilities where a military navigation station is part of the navigation picture.

TACAN — Tactical Air Navigation

Plain English Meaning

Full Definition

Context Anchor

Derivation

Why Pilots Care

Intuition Check

Example Sentence 1

Example Sentence 2