Aeronautical Terms beginning with V
Valid Non-Alert
A situation in which the safety logic software correctly determines that an alert is not required, based upon the design specifications and the current set of Safety Logic parameters.
VASI
Visual Approach Slope Indicator
VCOA
Visual Climb Over Airport
VDF
Direction Finder
VDP
Visual Descent Point
Vector
A heading issued to an aircraft to provide navigational guidance by radar.
Verify
Request confirmation of information; e.g., “verify assigned altitude.”
Verify Specific Direction Of Takeoff (Or Turns After Takeoff)
Used by ATC to ascertain an aircraft’s direction of takeoff and/or direction of turn after takeoff. It is normally used for IFR departures from an airport not having a control tower. When direct communication with the pilot is not possible, the request and information may be relayed through an FSS, dispatcher, or by other means.
Vertex
The last fix adapted on the arrival speed segments. Normally, it will be the outer marker of the runway in use. However, it may be the actual threshold or other suitable common point on the approach path for the particular runway configuration.
Vertex Time Of Arrival
A calculated time of aircraft arrival over the adapted vertex for the runway configuration in use. The time is calculated via the optimum flight path using adapted speed segments.
Vertical Navigation (VNAV)
A function of area navigation (RNAV) equipment which calculates, displays, and provides vertical guidance to a profile or path.
Vertical Separation
Separation established by assignment of different altitudes or flight levels.
Vertical Separation [ICAO]
Separation between aircraft expressed in units of vertical distance.
Vertical Takeoff And Landing Aircraft
Aircraft capable of vertical climbs and/or descents and of using very short runways or small areas for takeoff and landings. These aircraft include, but are not limited to, helicopters.
Very High Frequency
The frequency band between 30 and 300 MHz. Portions of this band, 108 to 118 MHz, are used for certain NAVAIDs; 118 to 136 MHz are used for civil air/ground voice communications. Other frequencies in this band are used for purposes not related to air traffic control.
Very High Frequency Omnidirectional Range Station
VOR.
Very Low Frequency
The frequency band between 3 and 30 kHz.
VFR
Visual Flight Rules
VFR Aircraft
An aircraft conducting flight in accordance with visual flight rules.
VFR Conditions
Weather conditions equal to or better than the minimum for flight under visual flight rules. The term may be used as an ATC clearance/instruction only when: a. An IFR aircraft requests a climb/descent in VFR conditions. b. The clearance will result in noise abatement benefits where part of the IFR departure route does not conform to an FAA approved noise abatement route or altitude. c. A pilot has requested a practice instrument approach and is not on an IFR flight plan. Note: All pilots receiving this authorization must comply with the VFR visibility and distance from cloud criteria in 14 CFR Part 91. Use of the term does not relieve controllers of their responsibility to separate aircraft in Class B and Class C airspace or TRSAs as required by FAAO JO 7110.65. When used as an ATC clearance/instruction, the term may be abbreviated “VFR;” e.g., “MAINTAIN VFR,” “CLIMB/DESCEND VFR,” etc.
VFR Flight
VFR Aircraft.
VFR Military Training Routes
Routes used by the Department of Defense and associated Reserve and Air Guard units for the purpose of conducting low-altitude navigation and tactical training under VFR below 10,000 feet MSL at airspeeds in excess of 250 knots IAS.
VFR Not Recommended
An advisory provided by a flight service station to a pilot during a preflight or inflight weather briefing that flight under visual flight rules is not recommended. To be given when the current and/or forecast weather conditions are at or below VFR minimums. It does not abrogate the pilot’s authority to make his/her own decision.
VFR Terminal Area Charts
Aeronautical Chart.
VFR Terminal Area Charts (1:250,000)
Depict Class B airspace which provides for the control or segregation of all the aircraft within Class B airspace. The chart depicts topographic information and aeronautical information which includes visual and radio aids to navigation, airports, controlled airspace, restricted areas, obstructions, and related data.
VFR Waypoint
Waypoint.
VFR-On-Top
ATC authorization for an IFR aircraft to operate in VFR conditions at any appropriate VFR altitude (as specified in 14 CFR and as restricted by ATC). A pilot receiving this authorization must comply with the VFR visibility, distance from cloud criteria, and the minimum IFR altitudes specified in 14 CFR Part 91. The use of this term does not relieve controllers of their responsibility to separate aircraft in Class B and Class C airspace or TRSAs as required by FAAO JO 7110.65.
VHF
Very High Frequency
VHF Omnidirectional Range/Tactical Air Navigation
VORTAC.
Video Map
An electronically displayed map on the radar display that may depict data such as airports, heliports, runway centerline extensions, hospital emergency landing areas, NAVAIDs and fixes, reporting points, airway/route centerlines, boundaries, handoff points, special use tracks, obstructions, prominent geographic features, map alignment indicators, range accuracy marks, minimum vectoring altitudes.
Visibility
The ability, as determined by atmospheric conditions and expressed in units of distance, to see and identify prominent unlighted objects by day and prominent lighted objects by night. Visibility is reported as statute miles, hundreds of feet or meters.
Visibility [ICAO]
The ability, as determined by atmospheric conditions and expressed in units of distance, to see and identify prominent unlighted objects by day and prominent lighted objects by night.
Visual Approach
An approach conducted on an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan which authorizes the pilot to proceed visually and clear of clouds to the airport. The pilot must, at all times, have either the airport or the preceding aircraft in sight. This approach must be authorized and under the control of the appropriate air traffic control facility. Reported weather at the airport must be ceiling at or above 1,000 feet and visibility of 3 miles or greater.
Visual Approach Slope Indicator
Airport Lighting.
Visual Approach Slope Indicator (VASI)
An airport lighting facility providing vertical visual approach slope guidance to aircraft during approach to landing by radiating a directional pattern of high intensity red and white focused light beams which indicate to the pilot that he/she is “on path” if he/she sees red/white, “above path” if white/white, and “below path” if red/red. Some airports serving large aircraft have three-bar VASIs which provide two visual glide paths to the same runway.
Visual Approach [ICAO]
An approach by an IFR flight when either part or all of an instrument approach procedure is not completed and the approach is executed in visual reference to terrain.
Visual Climb Over Airport (VCOA)
A departure option for an IFR aircraft, operating in visual meteorological conditions equal to or greater than the specified visibility and ceiling, to visually conduct climbing turns over the airport to the published “climb-to” altitude from which to proceed with the instrument portion of the departure. VCOA procedures are developed to avoid obstacles greater than 3 statute miles from the departure end of the runway as an alternative to complying with climb gradients greater than 200 feet per nautical mile. These procedures are published in the `Take-Off Minimums and (Obstacle) Departure Procedures’ section of the Terminal Procedures Publications.
Visual Descent Point
A defined point on the final approach course of a nonprecision straight-in approach procedure from which normal descent from the MDA to the runway touchdown point may be commenced, provided the approach threshold of that runway, or approach lights, or other markings identifiable with the approach end of that runway are clearly visible to the pilot.
Visual Flight Rules
Rules that govern the procedures for conducting flight under visual conditions. The term “VFR” is also used in the United States to indicate weather conditions that are equal to or greater than minimum VFR requirements. In addition, it is used by pilots and controllers to indicate type of flight plan.
Visual Holding
The holding of aircraft at selected, prominent geographical fixes which can be easily recognized from the air.
Visual Meteorological Conditions
Meteorological conditions expressed in terms of visibility, distance from cloud, and ceiling equal to or better than specified minima.
Visual Segment
Published Instrument Approach Procedure Visual Segment.
Visual Separation
A means employed by ATC to separate aircraft in terminal areas and en route airspace in the NAS. There are two ways to effect this separation: a. The tower controller sees the aircraft involved and issues instructions, as necessary, to ensure that the aircraft avoid each other. b. A pilot sees the other aircraft involved and upon instructions from the controller provides his/her own separation by maneuvering his/her aircraft as necessary to avoid it. This may involve following another aircraft or keeping it in sight until it is no longer a factor.
VLF
Very Low Frequency
VMC
Visual Meteorological Conditions
Voice Switching And Control System
The VSCS is a computer controlled switching system that provides air traffic controllers with all voice circuits (air to ground and ground to ground) necessary for air traffic control.
VOR
A Ground-Based Electronic Navigation Aid Transmitting Very High Frequency Navigation Signals, 360 Degrees In Azimuth, Oriented From Magnetic North. Used As The Basis For Navigation In The National Airspace System. The VOR Periodically Identifies Itself By Morse Code And May Have An Additional Voice Identification Feature. Voice Features May Be Used By ATC Or FSS For Transmitting Instructions/Information To Pilots
VOR Test Signal
A ground facility which emits a test signal to check VOR receiver accuracy. Some VOTs are available to the user while airborne, and others are limited to ground use only.
VORTAC
A Navigation Aid Providing VOR Azimuth, Tacan Azimuth, And Tacan Distance Measuring Equipment (DME) At One Site
Vortices
Circular patterns of air created by the movement of an airfoil through the air when generating lift. As an airfoil moves through the atmosphere in sustained flight, an area of area of low pressure is created above it. The air flowing from the high pressure area to the low pressure area around and about the tips of the airfoil tends to roll up into two rapidly rotating vortices, cylindrical in shape. These vortices are the most predominant parts of aircraft wake turbulence and their rotational force is dependent upon the wing loading, gross weight, and speed of the generating aircraft. The vortices from medium to heavy aircraft can be of extremely high velocity and hazardous to smaller aircraft.
VOT
A ground facility which emits a test signal to check vor receiver accuracy. Some VOTs are available to the user while airborne, and others are limited to ground use only.
VR
VFR Military Training Routes
VSCS
Voice Switching And Control System
VTA
Vertex Time Of Arrival
VTOL Aircraft
Vertical Takeoff And Landing Aircraft.
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