Air traffic control (ATC)
Services that guide aircraft and deconflict airspace
Automatic dependent surveillance - broadcast (ADS-B)
A type of electronic conspicuity device
Civil Aviation Authority (CAA)
The UK's aviation regulator
Class A/B/C/D/E/F/G airspace
Airspace is divided into different classes with different rules on what is and is not permissible. Classes A-E are controlled airspace, classes F and G are uncontrolled airspace
Controlled airspace, uncontrolled airspace
Controlled airspace is airspace that can only be used following instructions from air traffic control. Uncontrolled airspace is open to general aviation to fly in using visual flight rules without air traffic control
Electronic conspicuity (EC)
A class of technologies that make an object such as a drone visible to electronic systems such as air traffic control
Eurocontrol
Intergovernmental agency that oversees and coordinates air traffic control across the continent of Europe
European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA)
European Union agency that oversees aviation safety
Fixed-wing
Drones that gain their lift from wings, like a plane
Hybrid VTOL fixed-wing
Drones that take off vertically using rotors, then fly forward using wings
Multi-rotor
Drones that gain their lift from rotors, like a helicopter
National Air Traffic Services (Nats)
The company that runs the UK's air traffic control system
UAS traffic management system, unmanned traffic management system, urban air traffic management system (UTM)
An air traffic control system for drones. The terms are used interchangeably
Unmanned aerial system, unmanned aerial vehicle (UAS, UAV)
Drone
Vertical take-off and landing (VTOL)
Drones that can take off vertically, like a helicopter, rather than along a runway, like a plane
Visual flight rules, Instrument flight rules (VFR, IFR)
When using visual flight rules, a pilot flies their aircraft based on what they can see. In instrument flight rules, the pilot follows the instrumentation in their cockpit, instructions from air traffic control and follows a flight plan
Visual line of sight, Extended visual line of site, Beyond visual line of sight (VLOS, EVLOS, BVLOS)
There are three broad categories of drone flight: flight within visual line of sight is flying a drone where the pilot controlling the drone is nearby and can see the drone; extended visual line of sight is flying a drone further than the pilot can see, but with another operator able to see it; flying beyond visual line of sight is flying a drone with a pilot who cannot see where the drone is, and relies on the instrumentation on the drone for all situational awareness
Air navigation service provider (ANSP)
Body that provides air navigation services to manage air traffic on behalf of a company, region or country