Royal Air Force

Abbreviations And Slang

 

Updated: February 2009

"H"

H2S Airborne radar navigational and target location aid
H2X – American version of H2S
HAAPC – Heavy antiaircraft Practice Camp
HAD – Home Aircraft Depot

"Harbour Master" – Commanding Officer of a Station

"Have Had It" – To have been killed or if said ironically to mean the opposite - NOT to have been killed
(HB) – Heavy Bomber
(HB)CU – (Heavy Bomber) Conversion Unit
HC – Home Command

HCB – Heavy Conversion Base

HCCS – Home Command Communications Squadron
HCEU – Home Command Examining Unit
HCF – Helicopter Communications Flight/Home Communications Flight
HCU – Heavy Conversion Unit
HD – Home Defence
Hdlg Sqn – Handling Squadron
HDU – Helicopter Development Unit
HE – (movements) Home Establishment / Home Embarkation

"Hedge Hoping" – Flying so low that the aircraft appears to be flying over hedges
HFF – Heavy Freight Flight
HFU – Home Ferry Unit
HGCU – Heavy Glider Conversion Unit
HGMU – Heavy Glider Maintenance Unit
HGSU – Heavy Glider Servicing Unit
HGTU – Heavy Glider Training Unit

HKAAF – Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force
HKFS – Hong Kong Fighter Squadron
HKVA – Hong Kong Volunteer Air Force
HMS – His/Her Majesty's Ship
HMT – His/Her Majesty's Transport Ship
HOCF – Helicopter Operational Conversion Flight

“Hocching” – Pub Crawling
Hptm – Hauptman
HQ – Headquarters
HQ AC – Headquarters Air Cadets
HQ ATA – Head Quarters Air Transport Auxiliary
HQ EFT – Headquarters Elementary Flying Training
HQ FPP – Head Quarters Ferry Pilots Pool
HQ P&SS – Headquarters Provost & Security Services – 'Snowdrops'
HQ PTC – Headquarters Personnel & Training Command
HQ STC – Headquarters Strike Command
HQ TAF – Head Quarters Tactical Air Force
HS Flt – High Speed Flight

HSL – High Speed Launch

HST – High Speed Telegraphist
HTCU – Heavy Transport Conversion Unit
(HTS)CU – (Heavy Transport Support) Conversion Unit

"Hughie" – Australian and New Zealand (informal) the god of rain and the god

                of surf especially in the phases "send her down,

                  Hughie!" or "Send 'em up, Hughie"

"I"

(I) – India / Intelligence Officer
IAAD – Inland Area Aircraft Depot
IAAS – Inland Area Aircraft School
IAF – Indian Air Force
IAFVR – Indian Air Force Volunteer Reserve
IANSA - Initial Air Navigation School

IAM - Institute of Aviation Medicine

IAP – Izvidacki Avijacijcki Puk, (Reconnaissance Aviation Regiment)
IAPF – Inland Area Practice Flight
IAvMed – Institution of Aviation Medical CCF Iraq Command Communication Flight
ICF/S – Italy Communication Flight/Squadron
IDF – Iraq Defence Flight
IE – Initial Establishment
IFDU – Intensive Flying Development Unit
IFIS – Irish Flying Instructors School
IFS – Instrument Flying Squadron
IFTS – Initial Flying Training School
IFTU – Instrument Flying Training Unit/Intensive Flying Trials Unit
IGT – Initial Gliding Training (Air Cadets)
ILF – Independent Liaison Flight
Int – Interned
IoM – Isle of Man
I/O – Intelligence Officer
IR – Immediate Reserve
IRF – In dependant Reconnaissance Flight
IRRU – Instant Readiness Reserve Unit
IR&SU – Immediate Reserve & Support Unit
ISF – Internal Security Flight
ITF/S – Instrument Training Flight/Squadron
ITS – Initial Training School
ITW – Initial Training Wing