Glossary
ACE
Airbus Concurrent Engineering; a technology allowing Airbus engineers in widely-separated locations to work together in real-time
Aerochain
An e-marketplace established by ATR with Embraer of Brazil to enhance support services for all areas of airline operation
AEW
Airborne Early Warning
AGS
Airborne Ground Surveillance
ATV
The Automated Transfer Vehicle serving the ISS
BMD
Ballistic Missiles Defence
C3I
Command, Control, Communication and Intelligence Systems
C4ISR
Command, Control, Communication Computers, Surveillance, and Intelligence Systems
CATS
Combined Aerial Target Services – a procurement programme for the UK MoD
CRC
Corporate Research Centre
CSR
Corporate Social Responsibility
COTS
Commercial Off-The-Shelf Technologies (telecommunications)
Deepwater
A comprehensive US Coast Guard modernisation programme for acquiring new aircraft and surveillance systems
EBIT
Earnings Before Interest and Taxes; EADS uses EBIT pre-goodwill amortisation and exceptionals as a key indicator of its economic performance
ESA
European Space Agency
ESOP
Employee Share Ownership Plan
ETAP
European Technology Acquisition Programme
EWC
European Works Council
FAA
Federal Aviation Authority (USA)
FSTA
Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft; a UK programme
Fleet commonality
A feature of the Airbus family, allowing airlines to operate type variants of different sizes while minimising the need for pilot retraining and re-certification
Fly-by-wire
An aircraft control system relying on electronics rather than mechanical linkages
GBAD
Ground Based Air Defence system
Galileo
The European satellite navigation system, now being developed
Hub
A major, strategically-located airport from which ‘spokes’ radiate to carry regional traffic
ICAO
International Civil Aviation Organisation. ‘United Nations’ agency for international civil aviation
ISIN
International Securities Identification Number
ISR
Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance
ISS
The International Space Station
LSI
Large System Integration
MALE
A novel Medium Altitude Long Endurance UAV now being developed by EADS
MoD
Ministry of Defence
MoU
Memorandum of Understanding
MRO
Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul
MRTT
Multi-Role Tanker Transport Aircraft
Mission aircraft
Aircraft designed to fulfil specialised functions (flight refuelling, Border control, ISR, AEW etc.). They are usually adaptations of existing types
Network-centric
Information superiority is becoming ever more important in defence. ‘Network centric’ systems allow armed forces to tackle new tasks in reconnaissance and surveillance, sensor technology, and command and communications
OCCAR
Organisation conjointe de coopération en matière d’armement (‘Organisation for Joint Armament Co-operation’)
Order book
Firm orders received by EADS for delivery in the future. Values quoted are based on catalogue prices for Airbus and do not include options
RAF
Royal Air Force, UK
R&D – Research and Development
All activities related to the evolution of new products and services
R&T – Research and Technology
All activities in the field of research and generic technologies not directly attributable to products and designed to maintain or expand knowledge or the technological base
SOP
Stock Option Plan
SCCOA
Système de Commandement et de Conduite des Operations Aériennes (‘Air Command and Control System’)
System-of-systems
Modern armed forces require the right information at the right time and in the right place. This calls for integrated weapon system solutions linking military aircraft, missiles, defence and communication systems, defence electronics and related services
Warfare
A type of conflict in which advanced data-processing and telecommunications systems allow forces to gather, interpret and use information seamlessly and immediately
P to F conversion
Passenger to Freight conversion; adapting used airliners for cargo-carrying purposes
UAV
Unmanned Aerial Vehicle
White-tail
An airliner produced before a customer has ordered it (and therefore with no airline insignia on the stabiliser). Airbus does not make white-tails
