| Terms | Glossary |
|---|
| Activity | Persons age 16 and over were asked to classify themselves by their main activity, i.e., working full or part time, a homemaker, in the armed forces, going to school, or retired. ( American Travel Survey ) |
| Actual Arrival Times | Gate arrival time is the instance when the pilot sets the aircraft parking brake after arriving at the airport gate or passenger unloading area. If the parking brake is not set, record the time for the opening of the passenger door. Also, carriers using a Docking Guidance System (DGS) may record the official gate-arrival time when the aircraft is stopped at the appropriate parking mark. ( Airline On-Time Performance Data ) |
| Actual Departure Times | Gate departure time is the instance when the pilot releases the aircraft parking brake after passengers have loaded and aircraft doors have been closed. In cases where the flight returned to the departure gate before wheels-off time and departed a second time, report the last gate departure time before wheels-off time. In cases of an air return, report the last gate departure time before the gate return. If passengers were boarded without the parking brake being set, record the time that the passenger door was closed. Also, carriers using a Docking Guidance System may record the official gate-departure time based on aircraft movement. For example, one DGS records gate departure time when the aircraft moves more than 1 meter from the appropriate parking mark within 15 seconds. Fifteen seconds is then subtracted from the recorded time to obtain the appropriate out time. ( Airline On-Time Performance Data ) |
| Air Freight | Property, other than express and passenger baggage transported by air. ( Air Carrier Statistics - All Carriers, Small Air Carrier Statistics, Air Carrier Statistics - U.S. Carriers ) |
| Air Taxi | A classification of air carriers established by 14 CFR 298 which operate small aircraft, and do not hold a certificate of public convenience and necessity. ( Small Air Carrier Statistics ) |
| Air Time | The airborne hours of aircraft computed from the moment an aircraft leaves the ground until it touches the ground at the end of a flight stage. ( Air Carrier Statistics - All Carriers, Air Carrier Statistics - U.S. Carriers ) |
| Air Trip | Any trip in which the type of transportation used to cover most of the miles on that trip was either by commercial airplane or a personal or corporate airplane. ( American Travel Survey ) |
| Aircraft Configuration | The type of payload an aircraft was designed to carry: passenger, cargo, or both. ( Air Carrier Statistics - All Carriers, Air Carrier Statistics - U.S. Carriers ) |
| Aircraft Days Assigned | The number of days that aircraft owned or acquired through rental or lease (but not inter-change) are in the possession of the reporting air carrier and are available for service on the reporting carrier's routes plus the number of days such aircraft are in service on routes of others under interchange agreements. Includes days in overhaul, or temporarily out of service due to schedulecancellations. Excludes days that newly acquired aircraft are on hand but not available or formally withdrawn from air transport service. ( Air Carrier Summary Data ) |
| Aircraft Hours | The airborne hours of aircraft computed from the moment an aircraft leaves the ground until it touches the ground at the end of a flight stage. ( Small Air Carrier Statistics ) |
| Airline ID | An identification number assigned by US DOT to identify a unique airline (carrier). A unique airline (carrier) is defined as one holding and reporting under the same DOT certificate regardless of its Code, Name, or holding company/corporation. Use this field for analysis across a range of years. ( Air Carrier Statistics - All Carriers, Air Carrier Statistics - U.S. Carriers, Air Carrier Summary Data, Aviation Support Tables ) |
| Airport Code | A three character alpha-numeric code issued by the U.S. Department of Transportation which is the official designation of the airport. ( Aviation Support Tables, Air Carrier Statistics - All Carriers, Air Carrier Statistics - U.S. Carriers, Small Air Carrier Statistics, Airline Origin and Destination Survey (DB1B) ) |
| Arrival Delay | Arrival delay equals the difference of the actual arrival time minus the scheduled arrival time. A flight is considered on-time when it arrives less than 15 minutes after its published arrival time. ( Airline On-Time Performance Data ) |
| Available Seat Miles | The aircraft miles flown in each inter-airport segment multiplied by the number of seats available for revenue passenger use on that segment. ( Small Air Carrier Statistics ) |
| Bus Crossings | Number of arriving buses at a particular port, whether or not they are carrying passengers. ( Border Crossing Data ) |
| Business Trip | Any trip which the main purpose of the trip is given as business, combined business and pleasure or convention. ( American Travel Survey ) |
| CRS | Computer Reservation System. CRS provide information on airline schedules, fares and seat availability to travel agencies and allow agents to book seats and issue tickets. ( Airline On-Time Performance Data ) |
| Cancelled Flight | A flight that was listed in a carrier's computer reservation system during the seven calendar days prior to scheduled departure but was not operated. ( Airline On-Time Performance Data ) |
| Carrier Code | Code assigned by IATA and commonly used to identify a carrier. As the same code may have been assigned to different carriers over time, the code is not always unique. ( Air Carrier Statistics - All Carriers, Air Carrier Statistics - U.S. Carriers, Small Air Carrier Statistics, Air Carrier Summary Data, Aviation Support Tables ) |
| Census Division | Groupings of states that are subdivisions of the four census regions. There are nine divisions, which the Census Bureau adopted in 1910 for the presentation of data. ( American Travel Survey, Nationwide Personal Transportation Survey ) |
| Census Region | Groupings of states that subdivide the United States for the presentation of data. There are four regions -- Northeast, Midwest, South, and West. Each of the four divisions is divided into two or more census divisions. ( American Travel Survey, Nationwide Personal Transportation Survey ) |
| Certificate Of Public Convenience And Necessity | A certificate issued to an air carrier under 49 U.S.C. 41102, by the Department of Transportation authorizing the carrier to engage in air transportation. ( Airline On-Time Performance Data ) |
| Certificated Air Carrier | An air carrier holding a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity issued by DOT to conduct scheduled services interstate. Nonscheduled or charter operations may also be conducted by these carriers. (same as Certified Air Carrier) ( Airline On-Time Performance Data ) |
| Certified Air Carrier | An air carrier holding a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity issued by DOT to conduct scheduled services interstate. Nonscheduled or charter operations may also be conducted by these carriers. (same as Certificated Air Carrier) ( Airline On-Time Performance Data ) |
| Charter Flight | A commercial passenger vehicle trip not scheduled, but specially arranged. The charter contract normally commits the carrier to furnish the agreed to transportation service at a specified time between designated locations. ( Aviation Support Tables ) |
| City Code | A three character alpha-numeric code issued by the U.S. Department of Transportation to designate the city where the origin or destination airport is located. ( Aviation Support Tables, Small Air Carrier Statistics, Airline Origin and Destination Survey (DB1B) ) |
| Codeshare | An arrangement whereby a marketing carrier's code is used to identify a flight operated by another carrier. The marketing carrier may make reservations and issue tickets for the operating carrier's flights. ( Airline Origin and Destination Survey (DB1B) ) |
| Commuter Air Carrier | An air taxi that provides scheduled passenger service between two points at least 5 days a week. ( Small Air Carrier Statistics ) |
| Commuter Trip | See Journey-to-Work. ( Census Transportation Planning Package ) |
| Completed Departures | Takeoffs made at an airport. (same as Departures Performed) ( Small Air Carrier Statistics ) |
| Consolidated Metropolitan Statistical Area (CMSA) | A CMSA is a metropolitan complex of I million or more population, containing two or more component parts designated as primary metropolitan statistical areas (PMSAs). ( Nationwide Personal Transportation Survey, Nationwide Personal Transportation Survey ) |
| Container | A Container is defined as any conveyance entering the U.S. used for commercial purposes, either full or empty. Includes containers moving in-bond for the port initiating the bonded movements.
Types of Containers
The following are examples of a Container:
Stakebed truck, truck with a car carrier, van, pickup truck/car, flatbed truck, piggyback truck with two linked trailers/containers = 2 containers, straight truck, bobtail truck, railcar, rail flatbed car stacked with four containers = 4 containers
(on each rail car if there is multiple box containers count each container and the flatbed car.), and tri-level boxcar with multiple containers inside = 3 containers ( Border Crossing Data ) |
| Coupon | A piece of paper or series of papers indicating the itinerary of a passenger. An airline ticket includes an auditor's coupon, flight coupons, and a passenger receipt. ( Airline Origin and Destination Survey (DB1B) ) |
| Departure Delay | The difference between the scheduled departure time and the actual departure time from the origin airport gate. ( Airline On-Time Performance Data ) |
| Departures Performed | Takeoffs made at an airport. (same as Completed Departures) ( Air Carrier Statistics - All Carriers, Air Carrier Statistics - U.S. Carriers ) |
| Departures Scheduled | Takeoffs scheduled at an airport, as set forth in published schedules. (same as Scheduled Departures) ( Air Carrier Statistics - All Carriers, Air Carrier Statistics - U.S. Carriers ) |
| Destination | For travel period trips, the destination is the farthest point of travel from the point of origin of a trip of 75 miles or more one-way. For travel day trips, the destination is the point at which there is a break in travel. ( Nationwide Personal Transportation Survey ) |
| Destination Of Trip | The place reported by a respondent as the destination of the trip. If more than one place is visited on the same trip, the place which is the farthest point from the origin is considered the destination of the trip. ( American Travel Survey ) |
| Destination State FIPS | The FIPS code for the destination state. (see FIPS) ( Air Carrier Statistics - All Carriers, Air Carrier Statistics - U.S. Carriers ) |
| Diverted Flight | A flight that is required to land at a destination other than the original scheduled destination for reasons beyond the control of the pilot/company. ( Airline On-Time Performance Data ) |
| Domestic Operations | All air carrier operations having destinations within the 50 United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. ( Small Air Carrier Statistics, Airline On-Time Performance Data ) |
| Driver | A person who operates a motorized vehicle. If more than one person drives on a single trip, the person who drives the most miles is classified as the principal driver. ( Nationwide Personal Transportation Survey ) |
| Duration Of Trip | Number of nights spent away from home on a trip and includes nights spent at the destination, nights spent en route and nights spent on side trips. It is possible for a trip not to involve an overnight stay from home; a traveler could take a trip of 100 miles or more and return on the same day. ( American Travel Survey ) |
| East North Central Division | Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin ( American Travel Survey ) |
| East South Central Division | Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi ( American Travel Survey ) |
| Education Level | The number of years of regular schooling completed in graded public, private, or parochial schools, or in colleges, universities, or professional schools, whether day school or night school. Regular schooling advances a person toward an elementary or high school diploma, or a college, university or professional school degree. ( Nationwide Personal Transportation Survey ) |
| Educational Attainment | The highest grade of school completed as of the date of the first interview determines the educational category of the traveler or household head. ( American Travel Survey ) |
| Elapsed Time | The time computed from gate departure time to gate arrival time. ( Airline On-Time Performance Data ) |
| Employed | A person is considered employed if there is a definite arrangement for regular full-time or part-time work for pay every week or every month. A formal, definite arrangement with one or more employers to work a specified number of hours a week, or days a month, but on an irregular schedule during the work month is also considered employment. A person who is on call to work whenever there is a need for his (her) services is not considered employed. ( Nationwide Personal Transportation Survey ) |
| Express Freight | Property, other than passenger baggage transported by air, with a premium paid over standard freight charges for more rapid delivery. ( Air Carrier Summary Data ) |
| FIPS | Federal Information Processing Standards. Usually referring to a code assigned to any of a variety of geographic entities (e.g. counties, states, metropolitan areas, etc). FIPS codes are intended to simplify the collection, processing, and dissemination of data and resources of the Federal Government. ( Air Carrier Statistics - All Carriers, Air Carrier Statistics - U.S. Carriers, Small Air Carrier Statistics, Airline On-Time Performance Data, Airline Origin and Destination Survey (DB1B), American Travel Survey ) |
| Family | Includes householder and all relatives who are currently members of the household. ( American Travel Survey ) |
| Family Income | The total combined income for the previous 12 months of the householder and all persons related to the householder by blood, marriage, or adoption who were living in the household as of the date of the first interview. Family income includes income from all sources, such as wages and salaries, net income from own business or own farm, social security, pensions, dividends, interest, rent and any other money income. The income of household members not related to the householder is not included in family income. ( American Travel Survey ) |
| Federal Information Processing Standards (FIPS) | Federal Information Processing Standards. Usually referring to a code assigned to any of a variety of geographic entities (e.g. counties, states, metropolitan areas, etc). FIPS codes are intended to simplify the collection, processing, and dissemination of data and resources of the Federal Government. ( Nationwide Personal Transportation Survey ) |
| Flight Number | A one to four character alpha-numeric code for a particular flight. ( Airline On-Time Performance Data ) |
| Gateway | In international travel, the port where customs clearance takes place. ( Airline Airline Origin and Destination Survey (DB1B) ) |
| Group Quarters | Communal housing, such as dormitories, military bases, prisons and nursing homes. Group quarters are distinct from households. ( Census Transportation Planning Package ) |
| Hispanic Origin | Referring to any person whose primary ethnic ancestry is of primarily Spanish-speaking countries. Hispanic origin includes Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, Central or South American, or other Hispanic origin. ( American Travel Survey ) |
| Household | A group of persons whose usual place of residence is a specific housing unit; these persons may or may not be related to each other. The total of all U.S. households represents the total civilian non-institutionalized population. Does not include group quarters (i.e., 10 or more persons living together, none of whom are related). ( Nationwide Personal Transportation Survey, American Travel Survey ) |
| Household Composition | One of any classifications regarding the relationship of household members to each other and the presence or absence of children. ( American Travel Survey ) |
| Household Income | The money income of all family members in a household, including those temporarily absent. Annual income is asked for the 12 months preceding the interview. Includes income from all sources, such as wages and salary, commissions, tips, cash bonuses, income from a business or farm, pensions, dividends, interest, unemployment or work men's compensation, social security, veterans' payments, rent received from owned property (minus the operating costs), public assistance payments, regular gifts of money from friends or relatives not living in the household, alimony, child support, and other kinds of periodic money income other than earnings. Excludes in-kind income such as room and board, insurance payments, lump-sum inheritances, occasional gifts of money from persons not living in the same household, withdrawal of savings from banks, tax refunds, and the proceeds of the sale of one's house, car or other personal property. ( Nationwide Personal Transportation Survey ) |
| Household Members | All people, whether present or temporarily absent, whose usual place of residence is in the sample unit. Includes people staying in the sample unit who have no other usual place of residence elsewhere. ( Nationwide Personal Transportation Survey ) |
| Household Trip | One or more household members traveling together. ( Nationwide Personal Transportation Survey ) |
| Household Type | A classification taking into account the number of household members and their relationship to each other. Household types include family households and non-family households. Family households include married-couple households, female householders, and male householders with and without children in selected age groups. Non-family households include male and female householders living alone or not living alone. ( American Travel Survey ) |
| Household Vehicle | A motorized vehicle that is owned, leased, rented or company owned and available to be used regularly by household members during the travel period. Includes vehicles used solely for business purposes or business-owned vehicles if kept at home and used for the home to work trip, (e.g., taxicabs, police cars, etc.) which may be owned by, or assigned to, household members for their regular use. Includes all vehicles that were owned or available for use by members of the household during the travel period even though a vehicle may have been sold before the interview. Excludes vehicles that were not working and not expected to be working within 60 days, and vehicles that were purchased or received after the designated travel day. ( Nationwide Personal Transportation Survey ) |
| In-Flight Time | The total time an aircraft is in the air between an origin-destination airport pair, i.e. from wheels-off at the origin airport to wheels-down at the destination airport. ( Airline On-Time Performance Data ) |
| Interstate Highway, Freeway, or Expressway | A divided arterial highway for through traffic with full or partial control of access and grade separations at major intersections. ( Nationwide Personal Transportation Survey ) |
| Journey-to-Work (JTW) | The one-way trip from home to work, or a commuter trip. ( Census Transportation Planning Package ) |
| Late Flight | A flight arriving or departing 15 minutes or more after the scheduled time. ( Airline On-Time Performance Data ) |
| Licensed Driver | Any person who holds a valid driver's license from any state. ( Nationwide Personal Transportation Survey ) |
| Lodging | A temporary place to stay (e.g. motel, cabin, domitory, etc). ( American Travel Survey ) |
| Market (Using DB1B Data) | A Market in DB1B data is created by a trip break. Trip Breaks are points in the itinerary at which a passenger is assumed to have stopped for a reason other than changing planes. For example: an itinerary BOS-LAS-BOS would have two markets BOS-LAS and LAS-BOS. The trip break occurred at LAS. ( Airline Origin and Destination Survey (DB1B) ) |
| Market (Using T100 Data) | Market data are passenger, freight, and/or mail that enplane and deplane between two specific points, while the flight number remains the same. If the flight number changes a new market begins. For more details go to Frequently Asked Questions. ( Air Carrier Statistics - All Carriers, Air Carrier Statistics - U.S. Carriers ) |
| Marketing Carrier | An air carrier that issued a flight reservation or ticket under a codeshare agreement. ( Airline Origin and Destination Survey (DB1B) ) |
| Means of Transportation | A mode used for going from one place (origin) to another (destination). Includes private and public modes, as well as walking. For all travel day trips, each change of mode constitutes a separate trip. ( Nationwide Personal Transportation Survey, Nationwide Personal Transportation Survey ) |
| Metropolitan Area | A large population nucleus, together with adjacent communities that have a high degree of economic and social integration with that nucleus. A metropolitan area (MA) may be defined around two or more nuclei. The MA is a statistical standard designated and defined by the Office of Management and Budget, following a set of official published standards. An MA comprises one or more counties except in New England where MAs are composed of cities and towns rather than whole counties. Classifications of MAs include metropolitan statistical area (MSA) and consolidated metropolitan statistical area (CMSA) that is divided into primary metropolitan statistical areas (PMSA). ( American Travel Survey ) |
| Metropolitan Statistical Area | A relatively freestanding metropolitan area (MA) that is not closely associated with other MAs. These areas typically are surrounded by nonmetropolitan counties. A metropolitan statistical area (MSA) comprises one or more counties except in New England where MSAs are composed of cities and towns rather than whole counties. ( American Travel Survey, Census Transportation Planning Package ) |
| Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) | An MSA is a county or group of contiguous counties that contains at least one city with a population of 50,000 or more or a Census Bureau-defined urbanized area of at least 50,000 with a metropolitan population of at least 100,000. In addition to the county or counties that contain all or part of the main city or urbanized area, an MSA may contain other counties that are metropolitan in character and are economically and socially integrated with the main city. ( Nationwide Personal Transportation Survey ) |
| Mid Atlantic Division | New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania ( American Travel Survey ) |
| Mile | A statute mile (5,280 feet). All mileage computations are based on statute miles. ( Air Carrier Statistics - All Carriers, Air Carrier Statistics - U.S. Carriers ) |
| Motorized Vehicle | Includes all vehicles that are licensed for highway driving. Specifically excluded are snow mobiles, minibikes, etc. ( Nationwide Personal Transportation Survey ) |
| Mountain Division | Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, Nevada ( American Travel Survey ) |
| New England Division | Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut ( American Travel Survey ) |
| Nights Away From Home | The number of nights spent away from home on one trip, including nights spent at the destination, on stops to and from the destination and on side trips away from the destination. Nights away from home are broken into categories including nights at the destination, nights at stops and side trips, and nights en route. ( American Travel Survey ) |
| Non-Revenue Traffic | Passengers and cargo transported by air for which no renumeration or token service charges are received by the air carrier. Airline employees, officers and directors, or other persons, except for ministers of religon, who are traveling under reduced rate transportation authorized by 49 U.S.C. 41511(a) and 14CFR part 223, as well as travel agents, cargo agents, and tour conductors traveling at reduced fares are also considered nonrevenue traffic. ( Air Carrier Summary Data ) |
| Non-Scheduled Service | Revenue flights, such as charter flights, that are not operated in regular scheduled service. ( Small Air Carrier Statistics ) |
| OAG | Official Airline Guide ( Aviation Support Tables ) |
| Occupancy | The number of persons, including driver and passenger(s) in a vehicle. NPTS occupancy rates are generally calculated as person miles divided by vehicle miles. ( Nationwide Personal Transportation Survey ) |
| Occupational Class | Occupational categories such as executive, manegerial, administrative, sales, production, and farming. ( Census Transportation Planning Package ) |
| Operating Carrier | An air carrier engaged directly in the operation of aircraft in passenger air transportation. ( Airline Origin and Destination Survey (DB1B) ) |
| Operating Region | One of six regions used to describe the region where an air carrier operates: International (Atlantic, Pacific, and Latin America), System (all regions covered by an air carrier), Domestic (U.S.), Atlantic, Pacific, Latin America. For those carriers with international flights, the operating region is determined by where its flights leave and enter the U.S. (i.e. across the Atlantic, Pacific or Gulf/Mexico) ( Aviation Support Tables ) |
| Origin | Starting point of a trip. ( Nationwide Personal Transportation Survey ) |
| Origin State FIPS | The FIPS code for the origin state. (see FIPS) ( Air Carrier Statistics - All Carriers, Air Carrier Statistics - U.S. Carriers ) |
| Other Modes | Airplane: Includes commercial airplanes and smaller planes that are available for use by the general public in exchange for a fare. Private planes and helicopters are included under other. Taxi: The use of a taxicab by a driver for hire or by a passenger for fare. Also includes airport limousines. Does not include rental cars if they are privately operated and not picking up passengers in return for fare. Bicycles: Includes bicycles of all speeds and sizes that do not have a motor. The U.S. national passenger railroad service providing intercity train service. Walk: Includes jogging, walking, etc., provided the origin and destination are not the same. School bus: Includes county school buses, private school buses, and buses chartered from private companies for the express purposes of carrying students to or from school and/or school-related activities. MOPED (Motorized Bicycle) : Includes motorized bicycles equipped with a small engine, typically 2 horsepower or less. Also includes minibikes such as dirt bikes and trail bikes. Note that a motorized bicycle may or may not be licensed for highway use. Other. Includes any types of transportation not listed above. ( Nationwide Personal Transportation Survey ) |
| PSU | Primary Sampling Unit ( Nationwide Personal Transportation Survey ) |
| Pacific Division | Washington, Oregon, California, Alaska, Hawaii ( American Travel Survey ) |
| Passenger | Any person on board a flight who is not a member of the flight or cabin crew. ( Air Carrier Statistics - All Carriers, Air Carrier Statistics - U.S. Carriers, Nationwide Personal Transportation Survey ) |
| Passenger Mile | One passenger transported one statute mile. Total passenger miles are computed by summation of the products of the aircraft miles flown on each inter-airport flight stage multiplied by the number of passengers carried on that flight stage. ( Air Carrier Summary Data ) |
| Passenger Revenues | Revenues from the air transportation of passengers. ( Airline On-Time Performance Data ) |
| Passengers Crossing In Buses | Number of persons arriving by bus requiring U.S. Customs processing. ( Border Crossing Data ) |
| Passengers Crossing In Privately Owned Vehicles | Persons entering the United States at a particular port by private automobiles, pick-up trucks, motorcycles, recreational vehicles, taxis, ambulances, hearses, tractors, snowmobiles and other motorized private ground vehicles. ( Border Crossing Data ) |
| Passengers Crossing In Trains | Number of passengers and crew arriving by train and requiring U.S. Customs processing. ( Border Crossing Data ) |
| Payload | Equal to the certificated takeoff weight of an aircraft, less the empty weight, less all justifiable aircraft equipment, and less the operating load (consisting of minimum fuel load, oil, flight crew, steward's supplies, etc). ( Air Carrier Statistics - All Carriers, Air Carrier Statistics - U.S. Carriers ) |
| Peak-period Trip | Any travel day trip that began between 6:30 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. or from 3:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. ( Nationwide Personal Transportation Survey ) |
| Pedestrian Crossings | The number of persons arriving on foot or by certain conveyance (such as bicycles, mopeds, or wheel chairs) requiring U.S. Customs processing. ( Border Crossing Data ) |
| Person Miles of Travel (PMT) | A measure of person travel. When one person travels one mile, one person mile of travel results. Where 2 or more persons travel together in the same vehicle, each person makes the same number of person miles as the vehicle miles. Therefore, four persons traveling 5 miles in the same vehicle, make 4 times 5 or 20 person miles. ( Nationwide Personal Transportation Survey ) |
| Person Trip | A person trip is a trip by one or more persons in any mode of transportation. Each person is considered as making one person trip. For example, four persons traveling together in one auto make four person trips. ( Nationwide Personal Transportation Survey ) |
| Person-Miles | An estimate of the aggregate distances traveled by all persons who took a trip and is based on the estimated transportation network miles traveled on the trip. ( American Travel Survey ) |
| Person-Nights | The aggregate number of nights spent by all persons on a trip. For example, if two people took a trip that involved five nights away from home, a total of 10 person-nights would be counted for that trip. ( American Travel Survey ) |
| Personal Use Vehicle Trip | Any trip in which the main type of transportation used to cover most of the miles on that trip was auto, pickup truck, van, other truck, rental car, truck or van, recreational vehicle, or motorcycle. ( American Travel Survey ) |
| Place | Defined by the Census Bureau as having a population of 2,500 or more. Cities, towns, and villages are all places. ( Census Transportation Planning Package ) |
| Place of Residence | The location at which Census respondents said they lived at the time the Census was taken. Household and economic characteristics are summarized by residence location. ( Census Transportation Planning Package ) |
| Place of Work | The location at which Census respondents said they worked. Worker characteristics summarized by work place location. ( Census Transportation Planning Package ) |
| Pleasure Trip | Any trip where the purpose of the trip is given as to visit friends or relatives, rest or relaxation, school activities, sightseeing, entertainment, outdoor recreation, or shopping. ( American Travel Survey ) |
| Primary Metropolitan Statistical Area (PMSA) | A component area of a consolidated metropolitan statistical area (CMSA). Any metropolitan area having more than one million persons may be divided in to subareas called primary metropolitan statistical areas (PSMAs) based on criteria established by the Office of Management and Budget. PMSAs consist of a large urbanized county or cluster of counties that demonstrates very strong internal economic and social links, in addition to close ties to other portions of the larger area. In New England, PMSAs are composed of cities and towns rather than whole counties. ( American Travel Survey ) |
| Principal Means Of Transportation | The means of transportation used for most of the distance from the origin to the destination. Respondents were asked to report separately the major type of transportation used for going and for returning on the trip. If a different means was used for going and returning, the major means of transportation was the mode used on the going trip. ( American Travel Survey ) |
| Private Vehicle | Automobile: A privately owned and/or operated licensed motorized vehicle including cars, jeeps and station wagons. Also includes leased and rented cars if they are privately operated and not picking up passengers in return for fare. Van: Privately owned and/or operated vans and mini vans designed to carry from 5 to 13 passengers or to haul cargo.Pickup Truck: A motorized vehicle, privately owned and/or operated, with an enclosed cab that usually accommodates 2-3 passengers and an open cargo area in the rear. Pickup trucks usually have about the some wheelbase as a full-size station wagon.Other Truck: All trucks other than pickups, i.e., dump trucks, trailer trucks, etc.RV or Motor Home: Includes self-powered recreational vehicles that are operated as a unit without being towed by another vehicle (e.g., a Winnebago motor home).Motorcycle: Includes large, medium, and small motorcycles. Does not include minibikes, which cannot be licensed for highway use. ( Nationwide Personal Transportation Survey ) |
| Privately Owned Vehicle Crossings | Number of privately owned vehicles (POVs) arriving at a particular port. Includes pick-up trucks, motorcycles, recreational vehicles, taxis, snowmobiles, ambulances, hearses, and other motorized private ground vehicles. ( Border Crossing Data ) |
| Public Transportation | Bus: Includes intercity buses, mass transit systems, and shuttle buses that are available to the general public. Also includes Dial-A-Bus and Senior Citizen buses that are available to the public. Does not include shuttle buses operated by a government agency or private industry for the convenience of employees, contracted or chartered buses or school buses. Commuter Trains: Includes commuter trains and passenger trains other than elevated trains and subways. Includes local and commuter train service. Does not include intercity service by Amtrak.Streetcar/Trolley: Includes trolleys, streetcars, and cable cars.Elevated Rail/Subway: Includes elevated and subway trains in a city. ( Nationwide Personal Transportation Survey ) |
| Race | The race with which the respondent and other household members most closely identify. Choices include: White, Black, American Indian, Eskimo, Or Aleut, Asian Or Pacific Islander, and Other Race. ( American Travel Survey ) |
| Rail Container Crossings (loaded and empty) | A container is any conveyance entering the U.S. used for commercial purposes, full or empty. In this case, it is the number of full or empty rail containers arriving at a port. This series includes containers moving as inbound shipments. ( Border Crossing Data ) |
| Ramp To Ramp Time | The time computed from the moment an aircraft first moves under its own power for purposes of flight, until it comes to rest at the next point of landing. ( Air Carrier Statistics - All Carriers, Air Carrier Statistics - U.S. Carriers ) |
| Reporting Carrier | The carrier that submitted data to the Office of Airline Information for a given passenger segment. ( Airline Origin and Destination Survey (DB1B) ) |
| Respondent | The person who reported the information about the trip. Survey procedures specified that persons 15 years old or older be interviewed personally about any trips they took during the reference period. Household trips taken by more than one household member were reported by the first member interviewed who went on the trip. Trips taken by household members under 15 years of age were reported by a knowledgeable adult household member. Procedures were established to ensure that a household trip taken by more than one household member was reported only once with an indication of each of the household members on the trip. ( American Travel Survey ) |
| Revenue | Pertaining to activities for which remuneration is received by the carrier. ( Air Carrier Statistics - All Carriers, Small Air Carrier Statistics, Air Carrier Summary Data, Air Carrier Statistics - U.S. Carriers ) |
| Revenue Passenger Mile | One revenue passenger transported one mile in revenue service. Revenue passenger miles are computed by summation of the products of the revenue aircraft miles on each interairport segment multiplied by the number of revenue passengers carried on that segment. ( Small Air Carrier Statistics ) |
| Revenue Ton Mile | One revenue ton (2,000 pounds) transported one statute mile. ( Small Air Carrier Statistics ) |
| Round Trip Distance | Estimated transportation network miles traveled from the residence of the household at the time of the trip to the destination and back. Miles are calculated separately from origin to destination and destination to origin and added together to allow for differences in routes traveled each way. ( American Travel Survey ) |
| Scheduled Departure Time | The scheduled time that an aircraft should lift off from the origin airport. ( Airline On-Time Performance Data ) |
| Scheduled Departures | Takeoffs scheduled at an airport, as set forth in published schedules. (same as Departures Scheduled) ( Small Air Carrier Statistics ) |
| Scheduled Service | Transport service operated persuant to published flight schedules, including extra sections and related nonrevenue flights. ( Small Air Carrier Statistics ) |
| Scheduled Time Of Arrival | The scheduled time that an aircraft should cross a certain point (landing or metering fix). ( Airline On-Time Performance Data ) |
| Seat Mile | The aircraft miles flown in each inter-airport segment multiplied by the number of seats available on that segment for revenue passenger use. ( Small Air Carrier Statistics, Air Carrier Summary Data ) |
| Seats Available | Installed seats in an aircraft (including seats in lounges) exclusive of any seats not offered for sale to the public by the carrier; provided that in no instance shall any seat sold be excluded from the count of available seats. ( Air Carrier Statistics - All Carriers, Air Carrier Statistics - U.S. Carriers ) |
| Segment | A pair of points served or scheduled to be served by a single stage of at least one flight at any given time. ( Air Carrier Statistics - All Carriers, Air Carrier Statistics - U.S. Carriers ) |
| Segmented Trip | A trip that includes at least one transfer. ( Nationwide Personal Transportation Survey ) |
| Small Aircraft | Aircraft originally designed to have a maximum passenger capacity of 60 seats or less or a maximum payload capacity of 18,000 pounds or less. ( Small Air Carrier Statistics ) |
| Small Certificated Air Carrier | An air carrier which operates small aircraft, and holds a certificate of public convenience and necessity. ( Small Air Carrier Statistics ) |
| South Atlantic Division | Delaware, Maryland, District of Columbia, Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida ( American Travel Survey ) |
| T-100 | A section of Form 41, which includes non-stop segment and on-flight market data. Air carriers are required to periodically file Form 41 with the Bureau of Transportation Statistics. ( Aviation Support Tables ) |
| Taxi-In Time | The time elapsed between wheels down and arrival at the destination airport gate. ( Airline On-Time Performance Data ) |
| Taxi-Out Time | The time elapsed between departure from the origin airport gate and wheels off. ( Airline On-Time Performance Data ) |
| Ton Mile | One ton (2,000 pounds) transported one statue mile. Ton-miles are computed by multiplying the aircraft miles flown on each inter-airport segment by the number of tons carried on that segment. ( Small Air Carrier Statistics, Air Carrier Summary Data ) |
| Total Itinerary Yield | Itinerary fare per itinerary miles flown. The itinerary includes all segements of a journey from origin to destination. ( Airline Origin and Destination Survey (DB1B) ) |
| Track | The actual flight path of an aircraft over the surface of the earth. ( Airline Origin and Destination Survey (DB1B) ) |
| Traffic Accident | An accident that involved a motor vehicle that occurred on a public highway or road in the United States and that resulted in property damage or personal injury. Does not include accidents that happened in a parking lot, in a driveway, on a private road, or in a foreign country. ( Nationwide Personal Transportation Survey ) |
| Traffic Analysis Zone (TAZ) | Level of geographic detail used in most transportation planning applications to summarize socio-economic characteristics and travel data. TAZs vary in size depending on density and homogeneity of land uses, and are defined by local agencies. ( Census Transportation Planning Package ) |
| Train Crossings | Number of arriving trains at a particular port. ( Border Crossing Data ) |
| Transfer | To change vehicles or means of transportation while traveling between origin and destination. ( Nationwide Personal Transportation Survey ) |
| Travel Day | A 24-hour period from 4:00 a.m. to 3:59 a.m. designated as the reference period for studying trips and travel by members of a sampled household. ( Nationwide Personal Transportation Survey ) |
| Travel Day Trip | A travel day trip is defined as any one-way travel from one address (place) to another by any means of transportation (e.g., private motor vehicle, public transportation, bicycle, or walking). When travel is to more than one destination, a separate trip exists each time one or both of the following criteria is satisfied: the travel time between two destinations exceeds 5 minutes, and/or the purpose for travel to one destination is different from the purpose for travel to another. The one exception is travel within a shopping center or mall. It is to be considered travel to one destination, regardless of the number of stores visited. ( Nationwide Personal Transportation Survey ) |
| Travel Party Size | Any of three groups depending on whether household and/or non-household members were on the trip. Travel Party is the total number of household and non-household members on the trip. Household Travel Party is the total number of household members on the trip. Non-Household Travel Party is the total number of non-household members on the trip. ( American Travel Survey ) |
| Travel Party Type | Any of eight categories describing the number of adults and children in the group. ( American Travel Survey ) |
| Travel Period | The 13 days immediately preceding the travel day and the designated travel day for a sampled household, for a total of 14 days. ( Nationwide Personal Transportation Survey ) |
| Travel Period Trip | A travel period trip is one-way to a destination, which is 75 miles-or-more from home with a return home trip during the 14-day travel period. Travel to the destination is counted as one trip and travel to return home is counted as another trip. For example, a person living in Denver flies to San Francisco, stays one week, and returns to Denver during the 14-day travel period. This would be counted as two travel period trips - one outgoing and one return. The only time a travel period trip would not have a return trip collected is when the respondent moves his/her residence. ( Nationwide Personal Transportation Survey ) |
| Trip | Each time a person goes to a place at least 100 miles away from home and returns. Respondents were asked to report trips of 75 miles or more as a means of reducing possible failure in reporting trips of 100 miles or more due to a misconception by the respondent of the actual miles traveled. Trips subsequently calculated to be less than 100 miles were excluded from the estimates. A household trip refers to a trip in which one or more members of a household traveled together. A person trip refers to a trip taken by an individual. For example, if three persons from the same household go together on a trip, the trip is counted as one household trip and three person trips. If persons goes alone on two trips, the trips are counted as two household trips and two person trips. ( American Travel Survey ) |
| Trip Break | Trip Breaks are points in the itinerary at which a passenger is assumed to have stopped for a reason other than changing planes. A break in the passenger's trip creates a market. For example: An itinerary BOS-LAS-BOS would have two markets BOS-LAS and LAS-BOS. The trip break occurred at LAS. ( Airline Origin and Destination Survey (DB1B) ) |
| Trip Chaining | A term used to refer to the phenomenon of making intermediate stops as part of a longer trip. For example, stopping at a convenience store or day care center as part of the trip from home to work. Chained trips were not reported in the 1990 Census data. ( Census Transportation Planning Package ) |
| Trip Purpose | The main reason that motivated the trip. For purposes of this survey, there are 11 trip reasons. For travel day trips, if there was more than one reason, and the reasons do not involve different destinations, then only the main reason is chosen. If there are two or more reasons, and they each involve different destinations, then each reason is classified as a separate trip. For travel period trips, if there was more than one reason, the primary reason was collected. The 11 trip reasons are defined as follows: To or from Work: Includes travel to a place where one reports for work. Does not include any other work-related travel. Work-related Business: Trips related to business activities except travel to the place of work; for example, a plumber drives to a wholesale dealer to purchase supplies for his business or a company executive travels from his office to another firm to attend a business meeting. Business, out- of-town trips, and professional conventions are also included. Shopping: Includes window-shopping and purchase of commodities such as groceries, furniture, clothing, etc. for use or consumption elsewhere. Doctor/Dentist: Trips made for medical, dental, or psychiatric treatment or other related professional services. Other family or personal business: Includes the purchase of services such as cleaning garments, servicing an automobile, haircuts, banking, legal services, etc. School/Church: Trips to school, college or university for class(es), to PTA meetings, seminars, etc., to church services or to participate in other religious activities. Social activities that take place at a church or school but cannot be classified as religious or educational are not included in this category. Vacation: Trips reported by the respondent as vacation. Visit friends or relatives: Trips made to visit friends or relatives. Pleasure driving: Driving trips made with no other purpose listed but to go for a drive with no destination in mind. Other social or recreational: Trips taken to enjoy some form of social activity involving friends or acquaintances. Includes trips for general entertainment or recreation (both as observer or as participant).Other social or recreational: Trips taken to enjoy some form of social activity involving friends or acquaintances. Includes trips for general entertainment or recreation (both as observer or as participant). Other: For trips that do not fit in any of the other categories. ( Nationwide Personal Transportation Survey ) |
| Truck Container Crossings (loaded and empty) | A container is any conveyance entering the U.S. used for commercial purposes, full or empty. In this case, it is the number of full or empty truck containers arriving at a port. This series includes containers moving as inbound shipments. ( Border Crossing Data ) |
| Truck Crossings | Number of arriving trucks; does not include privately owned pick-up trucks. ( Border Crossing Data ) |
| USPS Codes | United States Postal Service (USPS) codes for States are used in all American Travel Survey (ATS) data products. The codes are two-character alphabetic abbreviations. These codes are the same as the FIPS two-character alphabetic abbreviations. ( American Travel Survey ) |
| Unique Carrier | Unique Carrier Code. It is the Carrier Code most recently used by a carrier. A numeric suffix is used to distinguish duplicate codes, for example, PA, PA (1), PA (2). Use this field to perform analysis of data reported by one and only one carrier. ( Air Carrier Statistics - All Carriers, Air Carrier Statistics - U.S. Carriers, Air Carrier Summary Data, Aviation Support Tables ) |
| Unique Carrier Entity | Unique Carrier Entity. This field distinguishes entities used by two or more carriers with a numeric suffix, for example, 06038 and 06038 (1). ( Air Carrier Statistics - All Carriers, Air Carrier Statistics - U.S. Carriers, Air Carrier Summary Data, Aviation Support Tables ) |
| Unique Carrier Name | Unique Carrier Name. It is the name most recently used by a carrier. If two or more carriers have the same most recent name, a numeric suffix is used to distinguish them, for example, Air Caribbean, Air Caribbean (1). ( Air Carrier Statistics - All Carriers, Air Carrier Statistics - U.S. Carriers, Air Carrier Summary Data, Aviation Support Tables ) |
| Urbanized Area | An approximate classification of sample households as belonging to an urbanized area. Those classified as belonging to an urbanized area were either in a central city of an MSA, or in a MSA but outside the central city, and within a zip code area with a population density of at least 500 people per square mile in 1990. ( Nationwide Personal Transportation Survey, Census Transportation Planning Package ) |
| Vacation Trip | Not listed as a main purpose of travel for the American Travel Survey. Respondents were asked whether or not a specific trip taken was considered as a vacation trip. Respondents were also asked the main purpose of a trip (e.g. sightseeing, outdoor recreation, entertainment, business, etc). ( American Travel Survey ) |
| Vehicle Mile of Travel (VMT) | A unit to measure vehicle travel made by a private vehicle, such as an automobile, van, pickup truck, or motorcycle. Each mile traveled is counted as one vehicle mile regardless of the number of persons in the vehicle. ( Nationwide Personal Transportation Survey ) |
| Vehicle Occupancy | The number of persons, including driver and passenger(s) in a vehicle; also includes persons who did not complete a whole trip. NPTS occupancy rates are generally calculated as person miles divided by vehicle miles. ( Nationwide Personal Transportation Survey ) |
| Vehicle Trip | A trip by a single vehicle regardless of the number of persons in the vehicle. ( Nationwide Personal Transportation Survey ) |
| Vehicle Type | For purposes of the 1990 NPTS, nine vehicle types are: Automobile (including station wagon) Passenger Van Cargo Van Pickup Truck (including pickup with camper) Other Truck RV or Motor Home Motorcycle Moped (Motorized Bicycle) Other (Specify). See Means of Transportation for definitions of these vehicle types. ( Nationwide Personal Transportation Survey ) |
| Vehicles | Includes cars, trucks, vans, recreational vehicles (RVs), and motorcycles. The number and type of vehicles owned or available for use by the household. ( American Travel Survey ) |
| Weekend Trip | A trip including an overnight stay on a Friday or a Saturday night. Travelers who stay one or two nights away including a Friday or Saturday night are defined as regular weekend travelers. Those who stay three to five nights away including a Friday and/or Saturday night stay are defined as long weekend travelers. ( American Travel Survey ) |
| West North Central Division | Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas ( American Travel Survey ) |
| West South Central Division | Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Texas ( American Travel Survey ) |
| World Area Code (WAC) | Numeric codes used to identify geopolitical areas such as countries, states (U.S.), provinces (Canada), and territories or possessions of certain countries. The codes are used within the various data banks maintained by the Office of Airline Information (OAI) and are created by OAI. ( Aviation Support Tables, Air Carrier Statistics - All Carriers, Air Carrier Statistics - U.S. Carriers, Small Air Carrier Statistics, Airline Origin and Destination Survey (DB1B) ) |
