| NB: The definitions below are for words, or technical vocabulary, specific to Military Air Environment use. |
| Where a word appears in the Oxford English Dictionary (OED), the definition below is specific only to the |
| associated context and OED definitions should be used in all other usages. |
| Term | Abbreviation | Chapter Reference |
| Release to Service | RTS |
| Description |
| The release document that authorizes Service flying on behalf of the Service Chief of Staff. The RTS refers to the |
| Safety Case documentation for the aircraft or equipment, including the limitations and aircraft description, and |
| defines the as-flown standard of the aircraft. For legacy aircraft that have yet to move to the Generic Aircraft |
| Release Process (GARP), it also contains Service Deviations (SD) for the aircraft. The limitations of the RTS are |
| the definitive limits for the aircraft in Service-regulated flying (JSP 553). |
| Release to Service Authority (RTSA) is the authority that issues the RTS. |