Aeronautical Terms beginning with F
FA
Area Forecast (Discontinued, replaced by Graphical Forecasts for Aviation)
FAA
Federal Aviation Administration.
FAASTeam
Federal Aviation Administration Safety Team.
FAASTeam Program Manager
The person who designs, implements, and evaluates the FAASTeam within the FAA flight standards district office (FSDO) area of responsibility.
FAASTeam Representative
A volunteer within the aviation community who shares technical expertise and professional knowledge as a part of the FAASTeam.
FAROS
Final Approach Runway Occupancy Signal
Fast File
A system whereby a pilot files a flight plan via telephone that is tape recorded and then transcribed for transmission to the appropriate air traffic facility. Locations having a fast file capability are contained in the Airport/Facility Directory. (Alaska only.)
FAWP
Final Approach Waypoint
FB
Fly-by
FCC
Federal Communications Commission
FD
Flight Director
FDC
Flight Data Center
FDC NOTAM
Flight Data Center Notice To Airmen
FDE
Fault Detection and Exclusion
Federal airways
Class E airspace areas that extend upward from 1,200 feet to, but not including, 18,000 feet MSL, unless otherwise specified.
Federal Aviation Administration Safety Team (FAASTeam)
An organization promoting safety standards and the reduction of aircraft related accidents. Each of the eight FAA Flight Standards regions have a dedicated FAASTeam office.
Ferry Flight
A flight for the purpose of: a. Returning an aircraft to base. b. Delivering an aircraft from one location to another. c. Moving an aircraft to and from a maintenance base. Ferry flights, under certain conditions, may be conducted under terms of a special flight permit.
FFS
Full Flight Simulator.
Field Elevation
Airport Elevation. The highest point of an airport’s usable runways measured in feet from mean sea level.
Filed
Normally used in conjunction with flight plans, meaning a flight plan has been submitted to ATC.
Filed Flight Plan
The flight plan as filed with an ATS unit by the pilot or his/her designated representative without any subsequent changes or clearances.
Final Approach
A flight path in the direction of landing along the extended runway centerline. The final approach normally extends from the base leg to the runway. An aircraft making a straight-in approach VFR is also considered to be on final approach.
Final Approach Runway Occupancy Signal (FAROS)
The Final Approach Runway Occupancy Signal (FAROS) is an automated safety system designed to notify pilots on approach to land that the runway is occupied or otherwise unsafe for landing. This pilot notification system is an FAA sponsored research and development effort that addresses the high priority safety hazards of runway incursions.
FIR
Flight Information Region
FIS
Flight Information Service
Fix
A geographical position determined by visual reference to the surface, by reference to one or more radio NAVAIDs, by celestial plotting, or by another navigational device.
Fixating
Staring at a single instrument, thereby interrupting the cross-check process.
Flammable
With respect to a fluid or gas, susceptible to igniting readily or to exploding.
Flaps
Hinged portion of the trailing edge between the ailerons and fuselage. In some aircraft ailerons and flaps are interconnected to produce full-span “flaperons.” In either case, flaps change the lift and drag on the wing.
Flight Check
A call-sign prefix used by FAA aircraft engaged in flight inspection/certification of navigational aids and flight procedures. The word “recorded” may be added as a suffix; e.g., “Flight Check 320 recorded” to indicate that an automated flight inspection is in progress in terminal areas.
Flight configurations
Adjusting the aircraft control surfaces (including flaps and landing gear) in a manner that will achieve a specified attitude.
Flight Following
Traffic Advisories.
Flight Information Service
A service provided for the purpose of giving advice and information useful for the safe and efficient conduct of flights.
Flight Level
A level of constant atmospheric pressure related to a reference datum of 29.92 inches of mercury. Each is stated in three digits that represent hundreds of feet. For example, flight level (FL) 250 represents a barometric altimeter indication of 25,000 feet; FL 255, an indication of 25,500 feet.
Flight path
The line, course, or track along which an aircraft is flying or is intended to be flown.
Flight patterns
Basic maneuvers, flown by reference to the instruments rather than outside visual cues, for the purpose of practicing basic attitude flying. The patterns simulate maneuvers encountered on instrument flights such as holding patterns, procedure turns, and approaches.
Flight Plan
Specified information relating to the intended flight of an aircraft that is filed orally or in writing with an FSS or an ATC facility.
Flight Recorder
A general term applied to any instrument or device that records information about the performance of an aircraft in flight or about conditions encountered in flight. Flight recorders may make records of airspeed, outside air temperature, vertical acceleration, engine RPM, manifold pressure, and other pertinent variables for a given flight.
Flight review
A 14 CFR 61.56 requirement designed to assess and update a pilot’s knowledge and skills.
Flight Service Station (FSS)
An air traffic facility which provides pilot briefings, flight plan processing, en route radio communications, search and rescue services, and assistance to lost aircraft and aircraft in emergency situations. FSSs also relay ATC clearances, process Notices to Airmen, broadcast aviation weather and aeronautical information, and notify Customs and Border Protection of transborder flights. In addition, at selected locations, FSSs provide En Route Flight Advisory Service (Flight Watch) and Airport Advisory Service (AAS). In Alaska, designated FSSs also provide TWEB recordings and take weather observations.
Flight simulation training device (FSTD)
A flight simulator or a flight training device.
Flight Standards District Office
An FAA field office serving an assigned geographical area and staffed with Flight Standards personnel who serve the aviation industry and the general public on matters relating to the certification and operation of air carrier and general aviation aircraft. Activities include general surveillance of operational safety, certification of airmen and aircraft, accident prevention, investigation, enforcement, etc.
Flight Test
A flight for the purpose of: a. Investigating the operation/flight characteristics of an aircraft or aircraft component. b. Evaluating an applicant for a pilot certificate or rating.
Flight time
(1) Pilot time that commences when an aircraft moves under its own power for the purpose of flight and ends when the aircraft comes to rest after landing; or
(2) For a glider without self-launch capability, pilot time that commences when the glider is towed for the purpose of flight and ends when the glider comes to rest after landing.
Flight training device (FTD)
A replica of aircraft instruments, equipment, panels, and controls in an open flight deck area or an enclosed aircraft cockpit replica. It includes the equipment and computer programs necessary to represent aircraft (or set of aircraft) operations in ground and flight conditions having the full range of capabilities of the systems installed in the device as described in part 60 of this chapter and the qualification performance standard (QPS) for a specific FTD qualification level.
Flight Visibility
The average forward horizontal distance, from the cockpit of an aircraft in flight, at which prominent unlighted objects may be seen and identified by day and prominent lighted objects may be seen and identified by night.
Flight Visibility [ICAO]
The visibility forward from the cockpit of an aircraft in flight.
Flight Watch
A shortened term for use in air-ground contacts to identify the flight service station providing En Route Flight Advisory Service; e.g., “Oakland Flight Watch.”
Floating
A condition when landing where the airplane does not settle to the runway due to excessive airspeed.
Fly Heading (Degrees)
Informs the pilot of the heading he/she should fly. The pilot may have to turn to, or continue on, a specific compass direction in order to comply with the instructions. The pilot is expected to turn in the shorter direction to the heading unless otherwise instructed by ATC.
FM
Fan Marker.
FMSP
Flight Management System Procedure
FOD
Foreign Object Damage.
Fog
Cloud consisting of numerous minute water droplets and based at the surface; droplets are small enough to be suspended in the earth’s atmosphere indefinitely. (Unlike drizzle, it does not fall to the surface. Fog differs from a cloud only in that a cloud is not based at the surface, and is distinguished from haze by its wetness and gray color.).
Force (F)
The energy applied to an object that attempts to cause the object to change its direction, speed, or motion. In aerodynamics, it is expressed as F, T (thrust), L (lift), W (weight), or D (drag), usually in pounds.
Form drag
The drag created because of the shape of a component or the aircraft.
Formation Flight
More than one aircraft which, by prior arrangement between the pilots, operate as a single aircraft with regard to navigation and position reporting. Separation between aircraft within the formation is the responsibility of the flight leader and the pilots of the other aircraft in the flight. This includes transition periods when aircraft within the formation are maneuvering to attain separation from each other to effect individual control and during join-up and breakaway. a. A standard formation is one in which a proximity of no more than 1 mile laterally or longitudinally and within 100 feet vertically from the flight leader is maintained by each wingman. b. Nonstandard formations are those operating under any of the following conditions: 1. When the flight leader has requested and ATC has approved other than standard formation dimensions. 2. When operating within an authorized altitude reservation (ALTRV) or under the provisions of a letter of agreement. 3. When the operations are conducted in airspace specifically designed for a special activity.
Forward Slip
A slip in which the airplane’s direction of motion continues the same as before the slip was begun. In a forward slip, the airplane’s longitudinal axis is at an angle to its flightpath.
FPA
Flight Path Angle
FPV
Flight Path Vector
FSDO
Flight Standards District Office
FSM
Flight Schedule Monitor. A tool used by Air Traffic Management Specialists to monitor air traffic demand at airports.
FSS
Flight Service Station. Air traffic facilities which provide pilot briefing, en route communications and VFR search and rescue services, assist lost aircraft and aircraft in emergency situations, relay ATC clearances, originate Notices to Airmen, broadcast aviation weather and NAS information, receive and process IFR flight plans, and monitor NAVAIDs. In addition, at selected locations, FSSs provide En Route Flight Advisory Service (Flight Watch), take weather observations, issue airport advisories, and advise Customs and Immigration of transborder flights.
FSTD
Flight Simulation Training Device.
FTD
Flight Training Device.
Fuel load
The expendable part of the load of the airplane. It includes only usable fuel, not fuel required to fill the lines or that which remains trapped in the tank sumps.
Fuel Remaining
A phrase used by either pilots or controllers when relating to the fuel remaining on board until actual fuel exhaustion. When transmitting such information in response to either a controller question or pilot initiated cautionary advisory to air traffic control, pilots will state the APPROXIMATE NUMBER OF MINUTES the flight can continue with the fuel remaining. All reserve fuel SHOULD BE INCLUDED in the time stated, as should an allowance for established fuel gauge system error.
Fuel Siphoning
Unintentional release of fuel caused by overflow, puncture, loose cap, etc.
Fuel Venting
Fuel Siphoning.
Fuselage
The section of the airplane that consists of the cabin and/or cockpit, containing seats for the occupants and the controls for the airplane.
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