Order 7110.65P, Air Traffic Control, with changes

Pilot/Controller Glossary 8/5/04CLIMB TO VFR− ATC authorization for an aircraftto climb to VFR conditions within Class B, C, D, andE surface areas when the only weather limitation isrestricted visibility. The aircraft must remain clear ofclouds while climbing to VFR.(See SPECIAL VFR CONDITIONS.)(Refer to AIM.)CLIMBOUT− That portion of flight operation betweentakeoff and the initial cruising altitude.CLOSE PARALLEL RUNWAYS− Two parallelrunways whose extended centerlines are separated byless than 4,300 feet, having a Precision RunwayMonitoring (PRM) system that permits simultaneousindependent ILS approaches.CLOSED RUNWAY− A runway that is unusable foraircraft operations. Only the airport management/military operations office can close a runway.CLOSED TRAFFIC− Successive operations involvingtakeoffs and landings or low approaches wherethe aircraft does not exit the traffic pattern.CLOUD− A cloud is a visible accumulation ofminute water droplets and/or ice particles in theatmosphere above the Earth’s surface. Cloud differsfrom ground fog, fog, or ice fog only in that the latterare, by definition, in contact with the Earth’s surface.CLT−(See CALCULATED LANDING TIME.)CLUTTER− In radar operations, clutter refers to thereception and visual display of radar returns causedby precipitation, chaff, terrain, numerous aircrafttargets, or other phenomena. Such returns may limitor preclude ATC from providing services based onradar.(See CHAFF.)(See GROUND CLUTTER.)(See PRECIPITATION.)(See TARGET.)(See ICAO term RADAR CLUTTER.)CMNPS−(See CANADIAN MINIMUM NAVIGATIONPERFORMANCE SPECIFICATION AIRSPACE.)COASTAL FIX− A navigation aid or intersectionwhere an aircraft transitions between the domesticroute structure and the oceanic route structure.CODES− The number assigned to a particularmultiple pulse reply signal transmitted by a transponder.(See DISCRETE CODE.)COMBINED CENTER-RAPCON− An air trafficfacility which combines the functions of an ARTCCand a radar approach control facility.(See AIR ROUTE TRAFFIC CONTROLCENTER.)(See RADAR APPROACH CONTROLFACILITY.)COMMON POINT− A significant point over whichtwo or more aircraft will report passing or havereported passing before proceeding on the same ordiverging tracks. To establish/maintain longitudinalseparation, a controller may determine a commonpoint not originally in the aircraft’s flight plan andthen clear the aircraft to fly over the point.(See SIGNIFICANT POINT.)COMMON PORTION−(See COMMON ROUTE.)COMMON ROUTE− That segment of a NorthAmerican Route between the inland navigationfacility and the coastal fix.ORCOMMON ROUTE− Typically the portion of aRNAV STAR between the en route transition endpoint and the runway transition start point; however,the common route may only consist of a single pointthat joins the en route and runway transitions.COMMON TRAFFIC ADVISORY FREQUENCY(CTAF)− A frequency designed for the purpose ofcarrying out airport advisory practices while operatingto or from an airport without an operating controltower. The CTAF may be a UNICOM, Multicom,FSS, or tower frequency and is identified in appropriateaeronautical publications.(Refer to AC 90-42, Traffic Advisory Practices atAirports Without Operating Control Towers.)COMPASS LOCATOR− A low power, low ormedium frequency (L/MF) radio beacon installed atthe site of the outer or middle marker of an instrumentlanding system (ILS). It can be used for navigation atdistances of approximately 15 miles or as authorizedin the approach procedure.a. Outer Compass Locator (LOM)− A compasslocator installed at the site of the outer marker of aninstrument landing system.(See OUTER MARKER.)PCG C−4