Glossary of acronyms, terms and phrases used in Delta Consulting publications

A

Administration

the management office of a space station or landing zone, contains one or more commodity terminals and package delivery kiosks.  May also have a physical employee present.

APP CRS- Approach Course.  The compass heading flown on the final approach segment of an instrument approach procedure.

Armistice

Armistice Zone, a zone around a station or landing zone in which weapon use is restricted or prohibited.

Armor

Personal armor (of any type, including undersuits) is available for purchase at a landing zone or space station.  This can include armor shops or refinery decks and cargo centers.

Arrival

A charted procedure for vessels landing at a given landing zone.

ASOP

Terminal interface for storing and recalling ships and ground vehicles.

ATC

Air Traffic Control

ATMO

Atmosphere.  Breathable atmosphere indicated by a (+), non-breathable indicated by a (-).

At

(Altitude instruction) stay at the depicted altitude.

At or above/below

(Altitude instruction) stay at or above/below the depicted altitude.  For example, “maintain at or above 3000”: maintain 3000 or any altitude above 3000.

C

CAT (S/M/L/XL)

Ship category as small/medium/large/extra large based on hangar or pad size used by the ship

Climb/descend and maintain

Climb to/descend to the depicted altitude and then maintain that altitude.

Clinic

Station or landing zone has a clinic, including pharmacy services.

Clothing

Station or landing zone has any type of clothing available for sale.

D

Departure

A charted procedure for vessels departing from a given landing zone.

DME

Distance Measuring Equipment.  A legacy term from Earth’s 20th century for the distance between an aircraft and an airport or navigation aid.

Docking Port

A structure on a space station that allows certain large ships to dock with the station when large enough hangars are unavailable or not present.

E

ELEV

Field elevation.  The height of a landing zone above sea level.

F

FAP

Final Approach Point.  The point at which the final approach segment begins on an instrument approach procedure.

Food

Food and drink of any type is available for purchase at a station or landing zone.  Note that at some locations food and drink is sold at weapon/armor/clothing shops via terminals.

Fuel

Fuel is available at the station or landing zone.

Fly heading

Fly toward the depicted compass heading.

G

GRAV

Gravity on a given planet or moon, expressed in G’s.  On a space station, indicates the presence of artificial gravity.

H

Habitation module

The station or landing zone has facilities for logging in or out at that location, and for storing a player’s imprint.

Hangars

Fully enclosed and pressurized structures for storing spacecraft.

HDG

Heading.  A heading on a compass, expressed in degrees.  North is 360, east is 090, south is 180, west is 270.

Hospital

A full-service medical facility.  These are found at major landing zones.

I

IAF

Initial Approach Fix.  The point at which an instrument approach procedure begins.

IAP

Instrument Approach Procedure.

K

Km

Kilometers.

L

Landing Pads

At a landing zone, a pad for the purpose of landing a spacecraft where all services are available.  On a space station, a pad available to spacecraft but where no services are available.

LAT/LONG

Latitude/Longitude.

LDPE

Landing Pad Elevation.  The height of the landing pad above sea level.

LZC

Landing Zone Chart.

M

m

Meter

m/s

Meters per second

MAP

Missed Approach Point, the point at which a missed approach procedure begins if a landing zone is not in sight.

MSA

Minimum Safe Altitude. The lowest altitude in a given area that provides clearance from terrain or other obstacles.

Minimums

The lowest visibility and cloud ceilings at which an instrument approach can be flown.  If weather conditions are below these values, the approach cannot be safely flown.

Missed approach

A procedure for safely departing a landing zone during an instrument approach procedure when the approach cannot be completed due to weather or other adverse conditions.

 N

NFZ

No Fly Zone.  A zone over a city or other area in which operation of aircraft and spacecraft is not permitted.

O

Obstacle/obstruction

Objects such as antennas, buildings, rocks, etc. that pose hazards to the operation of aircraft and spacecraft.

Of any type

(Referring to items for sale) the type of item is available for sale, though the selection may be limited.  For example, a station may have armor listed even though it only sells one type of armor or undersuit.

OM

Orbital Marker

P

Personal weapons

Hand-held or other man-portable weapons of any type are available for purchase at a station or landing zone.

Proceed direct

Fly directly towards or go directly to a depicted point or location.

Q

QBA

Quantum Beacon Approach. 

QTA

Quantum Travel Altitude.  The lowest altitude on a planet or moon at which quantum travel is possible.

Quantum beacon

A waypoint visible when a ship’s quantum drive is spooled.

Quantum travel

(On a charted procedure) an instruction to travel to a given location via quantum drive.

R

Re-arm

Munitions are available at the station or landing zone.

Repair

Repair services are available at the station or landing zone.

S

Sea level

On Earth, a standard reference point for determining altitude.  This term carries over to other star systems as a reference point for altitudes on planets and moons.

Services

Services such as fuel, repair and re-arm that may be available at a station or landing zone.

SFD

System Facility Directory.

Ship components

Station or landing zone has components for ships/vehicles of any type available for purchase.

Ship rentals

Station or landing zone has ships of any type available for rental.

Ship sales

Station or landing zone has ships of any type available for purchase.

Ship weapons

Station or landing zone has ship/vehicle weapons of any type available for purchase.

T

TAC

Terminal Area Chart.

TEMP

Temperature.  Depicted on landing zone charts as a range of possible temperatures on a planet or moon.

Terminals

Computer terminals used for buying and selling commodities, minerals, etc.

Terrain

Natural features such as mountains, hills, valleys, etc.

TOA

Top of Atmosphere. The highest altitude reading on a planet or moon.

Turn left/right heading

Turn in the indicated direction until reaching the depicted heading.

Type

Type of station or landing zone.

V

Vehicle pad

A pad for the purpose of spawning/storing ground vehicles.