FBO
Abbreviation with 3 meanings
| Stands for | Fixed-base operator |
|---|---|
| Meanings | 3 |
| Categories | Transportation & Travel, Law & Legal, Texting & Internet Slang |
FBO has three meanings. The most common are Fixed-base operator (aviation) and For the benefit of (estate and family law); it can also stand for Facebook official.
Meanings of FBO at a glance
| # | FBO stands for | Context |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fixed-base operator | Transportation & Travel › Aviation |
| 2 | For the benefit of | Law & Legal › Estate and Family Law |
| 3 | Facebook official | Texting & Internet Slang › Dating and Relationship |
1. Fixed-base operator
Transportation & Travel · Aviation Abbreviations
Business at an airport that serves general aviation and private jets with fuel, parking, hangars, maintenance, pilot lounges and private passenger terminals. Large chains include Signature Aviation, Atlantic Aviation and Million Air.
Example: Have the FBO top off the tanks and arrange a rental car before we land in Aspen.
The name dates from the 1920s, when itinerant barnstormers gave way to operators with a permanent, fixed base at one airport. Private jet passengers typically board at the FBO rather than the airline terminal and skip standard airline security. FBO charges, such as ramp and handling fees, are often waived or reduced with a fuel purchase.
2. For the benefit of
Law & Legal · Estate and Family Law Abbreviations
Notation in account titles, checks and wire instructions identifying the person whose interest an account or payment serves when someone else, such as a custodian or trustee, holds legal title. It is common with inherited IRAs, trusts and retirement rollovers.
Example: Make the rollover check payable to "Custodian Trust Co. FBO Ann Rivera" so it is not taxed as a distribution.
Inherited IRAs are titled along the lines of "John Smith, deceased, FBO Mary Smith, beneficiary". Since the SECURE Act of 2019, most non-spouse beneficiaries must empty inherited IRAs within ten years. In aviation, FBO means fixed-base operator.
3. Facebook official
Texting & Internet Slang · Dating and Relationship Abbreviations
Describes a relationship made public by changing one's Facebook relationship status to "In a relationship," as in "we're FBO now." For years it marked the moment a couple became officially recognized among friends.
Example: We finally went FBO after a year of dating, my mom commented within seconds.
The phrase peaked in the late 2000s and early 2010s, when Facebook relationship statuses carried real social weight and "It's complicated" became a joke in itself. Younger couples now speak of going "Instagram official" or doing a "soft launch," posting hints of a partner without showing their face.
Related abbreviations
More aviation abbreviations
- eVTOL – Electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft
- FA – Flight attendant
- FAF – Final approach fix
- FAR – Federal Aviation Regulations
- FD – Flight director
- FDR – Flight data recorder
- FE – Flight engineer
- FIR – Flight information region
See all 142 aviation abbreviations →
More estate and family law abbreviations
- DPOA – Durable power of attorney
- DVRO – Domestic violence restraining order
- EPA – Enduring power of attorney
- EPO – Emergency protective order
- FOC – Friend of the Court
- GAL – Guardian ad litem
- GRAT – Grantor retained annuity trust
- GST – Generation-skipping transfer tax
See all 50 estate and family law abbreviations →
This entry is for general education and is not legal advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.