This is a short, simplified set of brevity terms you may encounter playing combat flight simulators. It is not an exhaustive list of all real world brevity. It is also designed to balance accessibility and real-world accuracy.
ABORT
Terminate action prior to execution, especially terminating an attack prior to weapons release.
Eagle 11 is preparing to execute a close air support attack when the JTAC calls out “Eagle 11, ABORT ABORT ABORT!” Eagle 11 terminates the attack and breaks off without releasing weapons.
ALPHA CHECK
Request for bearing and range from aircraft to a specific point.
Eagle 11 pushes to the strike channel and contacts the controller. “Magic, Eagle 11 checking in as fragged, request alpha check bullseye.” Magic responds with a bearing and range “Eagle 11, contact, alpha check bullseye 144/28.”
ANCHOR
To orbit around a specific point, or to be in a turning fight around a specific point.
The flight lead called out “Eagle flight, anchor rock.” The flight turned to orbit around the ROCK waypoint listed on their kneeboard card.
Eagle 11 merged with the hostile and began a two-circle dogfight. “Eagle 11 anchored bullseye 024/20!” the pilot called out.
ANGELS
Height of a friendly aircraft in thousands of feet above mean sea level. Never used for non-friendly aircraft.
ANYFACE
Substitude for friendly command and control callsign if the callsign is not known.
ARIZONA
Aircraft has no antiradiation missiles remaining.
AS FRAGGED
As planned/briefed/scheduled. Short for “As in the fragmentary order (FRAGO)”
AWAY
Release of quantity and type of weapons.
Eagle 11 released two bombs and calls out “Eagle 11, 2 pigs away, bullseye 232/15.”
AZIMUTH
Direction to threat.
BANDIT
An air contact which has been positively identified as an enemy but engagement is not necessarily authorized under the rules of engagement. Often incorrectly used as a synonym of HOSTILE in video games.
BANZAI
Decision during a Beyond Visual Range (BVR) timeline to maneuver into Within Visual Range (WVR). In other words, decision to charge into a dogfight.
BEAM
Describes a radar contract moving within 60-110 degress angle of trail or 70-120 degrees angle from nose. In other words, a contact facing somewhat perpendicular to you.
BENT
System is inoperative. In other words, synonym for “broken.” Opposite of SWEET.
BINGO
Pre-briefed amount of fuel needed to recover. Typically includes fuel needed to return to base, then divert to an alternate airbase, plus some extra time for safety. However, the exact parameters may vary by mission.
BOGEY
An air contact whose identity is unknown. Often incorrectly used as a synonym of BANDIT or HOSTILE in video games.
BOGEY DOPE
Request for information about nearest or indicated closest group. Response typically includes bearing, range, altitude, aspect, and other fill-ins.
BRAA
Bearing, Range, Altitude, Aspect. Typically communicates direction and distance from a friendly aircraft to a contact.
BREAK
Perform an immediate maximum performance turn in the indicated direction.
_Eagle 12 saw the AAA guns start blasting at the flight lead. “1, BREAK RIGHT!” The lead immediately evaded towards the right.
BREAK AWAY
Instruction from a tanker to a receiving aircraft to immediately separate from the tanker. Typically called out if there is a risk of a collision.
BUDDY LASE
One aircraft using a designating laser to guide weapons or sensors from another aircraft.
BUDDY SPIKE
Radar Warning Receiver (RWR) indication that a friendly aircraft has locked on.
In combat flight simulators, many players prematurely panic when this happens and yell “BUDDY SPIKE” or “BUDDY BUDDY BUDDY”; in real life, locking onto a friend is routinely used to obtain positional and velocity information and make it easier to rejoin a formation.
BULLSEYE
A pre-briefed reference point, or a bearing and range from that reference point to an object.
BUSTER
To fly at maximum sustained speed.
“Eagle 11, we need you to buster over to Mosul, we have troops in contact requesting support.” EAGLE 11’s pilot pushed the throttle up to MIL and turned for Mosul.
CAP
Noun: Combat Air Patrol, i.e. establishment of fighters in a location to monitor for and be preared to engage air threats.
Verb: To establish a Combat Air Patrol over a location.
CHECK
To turn to a new relative heading.
“CHECK 15 LEFT” called the flight lead. The flight turned to a new heading 15 degrees to the left.
CLEAN
No sensor information. Does not imply there are no contacts, just that they do not appear on sensors.
CLEARED
Authorized.
CLEARED HOT
Authorized to attack (CAS type 1 or 2).
CLEARED TO ENGAGE
Authorized to attack (CAS type 3 or air-to-air).
CLOSING
Decreasing separation.
COLD
Facing away.
COMMIT
Intercepting an air contact.
CRANK
Manuever in the given direction while continuing to maintain sensors on target.
DATA
Message or information available on datalink.
DECLARE
Request to identify a contact as FRIENDLY, BOGEY, HOSTILE, NEUTRAL, UNABLE, or FURBALL.
DEFENDING
Aircraft is maneveruing defensively in reaction to a threat.
DEFENSIVE
Aircraft is under attack, defending and unable to support.
DELOUSE
To detect, identify and engage a contact trailing a friendly.
DIRT
Radar Warning Receiver (RWR) indicates a surface threat in search mode.
DIVERT
Proceed to alternate airbase.
DRAG
Contact is moving 0-60 degrees trail angle or 120-180 degrees nose angle. In other words, contact is facing kinda diagonally away from you.