Radio or radar altimeter. An electronic altimeter that determines the height of an aircraft above the terrain by measuring the time needed for a pulse of radio-frequency energy to travel from the aircraft to the ground and return.
Radio frequency (RF). A term that refers to alternating current (AC) having characteristics such that, if the current is input to antenna, an electromagnetic (EM) field is generated suitable for wireless broadcasting and/or communications.
Radio magnetic indicator (RMI). An electronic navigation instrument that combines a magnetic compass with an ADF or VOR. The card of the RMI acts as a gyro-stabilized magnetic compass, and shows the magnetic heading the aircraft is . ying.
Radio wave. An electromagnetic wave (EM wave) with frequency characteristics useful for radio transmission.
RAIM. See receiver autonomous integrity monitoring.
Random RNAV routes. Direct routes, based on area navigation capability, between waypoints de.ned in terms of latitude/longitude coordinates, degree-distance . xes, or offsets from established routes/airways at a speci. ed distance and direction.
Ranging signals. Transmitted from the GPS satellite, these allow the aircraft’s receiver to determine range (distance) from each satellite.
RB. See relative bearing. RBI. See relative bearing indicator.
RCO. See remote communications outlet.

Receiver autonomous integrity monitoring (RAIM).
A system used to verify the usability of the received GPS signals and warns the pilot of any malfunction in the navigation system. This system is required for IFR-certi. ed GPS units.
Recommended altitude. An altitude depicted on an instrument approach chart with the altitude value neither underscored nor overscored. The depicted value is an advisory value.
Receiver-transmitter (RT). A system that receives and transmits a signal and an indicator.
Reduced vertical separation minimum (RVSM). Reduces the vertical separation between flight level (FL) 290–410 from 2,000 feet to 1,000 feet and makes six additional FLs available for operation. Also see DRVSM.
Reference circle (also, distance circle). The circle depicted in the plan view of an IAP chart that typically has a 10 NM radius, within which chart the elements are drawn to scale.
Regions of command. The “regions of normal and reversed command” refers to the relationship between speed and the power required to maintain or change that speed in . ight.
REIL. See runway end identi. er lights.
Relative bearing (RB). The angular difference between the aircraft heading and the direction to the station, measured clockwise from the nose of the aircraft.
Relative bearing indicator (RBI). Also known as the . xed-card ADF, zero is always indicated at the top of the instrument and the needle indicates the relative bearing to the station.
Relative wind. Direction of the air.ow produced by an object moving through the air. The relative wind for an airplane in . ight .ows in a direction parallel with and opposite to the direction of .ight; therefore, the actual .ight path of the airplane determines the direction of the relative wind.