Aeronautical Terms beginning with F
Feeder Route
A feeder route is a route depicted on IAP charts to designate courses for aircraft to proceed from the en route structure to the IAF. Feeder routes, also referred to as approach transitions, technically are not considered approach segments but are an integral part of many IAPs.
Field
See Database Field
Final Approach and Takeoff Area (FATO)
The FATO is a defined heliport area over which the final approach to a hover or a departure is made. The touchdown and lift-off area (TLOF) where the helicopter is permitted to land is normally centered in the FATO. A safety area is provided around the FATO.
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. Note:Fix is a generic name for a geographical position and is referred to as a fix, waypoint, intersection, reporting point, etc.
Flight Information Region (FIR)
A FIR is an airspace of defined dimensions within which Flight Information Service and Alerting Service are provided. Flight Information Service (FIS) is a service provided for the purpose of giving advice and information useful for the safe and efficient conduct of flights. Alerting Service is a service provided to notify appropriate organizations regarding aircraft in need of search and rescue aid, and assist such organizations as required.
Flight Level (FL)
A flight level is a level of constant atmospheric pressure related to a reference datum of 29.92 in.Hg. Each flight level is stated in three digits that represents hundreds of feet. For example, FL 250 represents an altimeter indication of 25,000 feet.
Floating Waypoints
Floating waypoints represent airspace fixes at a point in space not directly associated with a conventional airway. In many cases they may be established for such purposes as ATC metering fixes, holding points, RNAV-direct routing, gateway waypoints, STAR origination points leaving the en route structure, and SID terminating points joining the en route structure.
Fly-By (FB) Waypoint
A waypoint that requires the use of turn anticipation to avoid overshooting the next flight segment.
Fly-Over (FO) Waypoint
A waypoint that precludes any turn until the waypoint is overflown, and is followed by either an intercept maneuver of the next flight segment or direct flight to the next waypoint.
Four Corner Post Configuration
An arrangement of air traffic pathways in a terminal area that brings incoming flights over fixes at four corners of the traffic area, while outbound flights depart between the fixes, thus minimizing conflicts between arriving and departing traffic.
False Horizon
An optical illusion where the pilot confuses a row of lights along a road or other straight line as the horizon.
False Start
Hung Start. In gas turbine engines, a condition of normal light off but with r.p.m. remaining at some low value rather than increasing to the normal idle r.p.m. This is often the result of insufficient power to the engine from the starter. In the event of a hung start, the engine should be shut down.
Feathering Propeller (Feathered)
A controllable pitch propeller with a pitch range sufficient to allow the blades to be turned parallel to the line of flight to reduce drag and prevent further damage to an engine that has been shut down after a malfunction.
Fixation
A psychological condition where the pilot fixes attention on a single source of information and ignores all other sources.
Fixed Shaft Turboprop Engine
A turboprop engine where the gas producer spool is directly connected to the output shaft.
Fixed-Pitch Propellers
Propellers with fixed blade angles. Fixed-pitch propellers are designed as climb propellers, cruise propellers, or standard propellers.
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.
Flat Pitch
A propeller configuration when the blade chord is aligned with the direction of rotation.
Flicker Vertigo
A disorientating condition caused from flickering light off the blades of the propeller.
Flight Director
An automatic flight control system in which the commands needed to fly the airplane are electronically computed and displayed on a flight instrument. The commands are followed by the human pilot with manual control inputs or, in the case of an autopilot system, sent to servos that move the flight controls.
Flight Idle
Engine speed, usually in the 70-80 percent range, for minimum flight thrust.
Floating
A condition when landing where the airplane does not settle to the runway due to excessive airspeed.
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 part of parasite drag on a body resulting from the integrated effect of the static pressure acting normal to its surface resolved in the drag direction.
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.
Free Power Turbine Engine
A turboprop engine where the gas producer spool is on a separate shaft from the output shaft. The free power turbine spins independently of the gas producer and drives the output shaft.
Friction Drag
The part of parasitic drag on a body resulting from viscous shearing stresses over its wetted surface.
Frise-Type Aileron
Aileron having the nose portion projecting ahead of the hinge line. When the trailing edge of the aileron moves up, the nose projects below the wing’s lower surface and produces some parasite drag, decreasing the amount of adverse yaw.
Fuel Control Unit
The fuel-metering device used on a turbine engine that meters the proper quantity of fuel to be fed into the burners of the engine. It integrates the parameters of inlet air temperature, compressor speed, compressor discharge pressure, and exhaust gas temperature with the position of the cockpit power control lever.
Fuel Efficiency
Defined as the amount of fuel used to produce a specific thrust or horsepower divided by the total potential power contained in the same amount of fuel.
Fuel Heaters
A radiator-like device which has fuel passing through the core. A heat exchange occurs to keep the fuel temperature above the freezing point of water so that entrained water does not form ice crystals, which could block fuel flow.
Fuel Injection
A fuel metering system used on some aircraft reciprocating engines in which a constant flow of fuel is fed to injection nozzles in the heads of all cylinders just outside of the intake valve. It differs from sequential fuel injection in which a timed charge of high-pressure fuel is sprayed directly into the combustion chamber of the cylinder.
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 Tank Sump
A sampling port in the lowest part of the fuel tank that the pilot can utilize to check for contaminants in the fuel.
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.
False horizon
Inaccurate visual information for aligning the aircraft, caused by various natural and geometric formations that disorient the pilot from the actual horizon.
Federal airways
Class E airspace areas that extend upward from 1,200 feet to, but not including, 18,000 feet MSL, unless otherwise specified.
Feeder facilities
Used by ATC to direct aircraft to intervening fixes between the en route structure and the initial approach fix.
Final approach
Part of an instrument approach procedure in which alignment and descent for landing are accomplished.
Final approach fix (FAF)
The fix from which the IFR final approach to an airport is executed, and which identifies the beginning of the final approach segment. An FAF is designated on government charts by a Maltese cross symbol for nonprecision approaches, and a lightning bolt symbol for precision approaches.
Fixating
Staring at a single instrument, thereby interrupting the cross-check process.
Flight configurations
Adjusting the aircraft control surfaces (including flaps and landing gear) in a manner that will achieve a specified attitude.
Flight director indicator (FDI)
One of the major components of a flight director system, it provides steering commands that the pilot (or the autopilot, if coupled) follows.
Flight level (FL)
A measure of altitude (in hundreds of feet) used by aircraft flying above 18,000 feet with the altimeter set at 29.92" Hg.
Flight management system (FMS)
Provides pilot and crew with highly accurate and automatic long-range navigation capability, blending available inputs from long- and short- range sensors.
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 strips
Paper strips containing instrument flight information, used by ATC when processing flight plans.
Form drag
The drag created because of the shape of a component or the aircraft.
Fundamental skills
Pilot skills of instrument cross-check, instrument interpretation, and aircraft control.
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.
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.
Flight review
A 14 CFR 61.56 requirement designed to assess and update a pilot’s knowledge and skills.
Flight training devices (FTDs)
A full-size replica of the instruments, equipment, panels, and controls of an aircraft, or set of aircraft, in an open flight deck area or in an enclosed cockpit. A force (motion) cueing system or visual system is not required.
Follow-up question
In the guided discussion method, a question used by an instructor to get the discussion back on track or to get the students to explain something more thoroughly.
Formal lecture
An oral presentation where the purpose is to inform, persuade, or entertain with little or no verbal participation by the listeners.
Final approach fix (FAF)
Defines the beginning of the final approach segment and the point where final segment descent may begin.
Final takeoff speed
The speed of the airplane that exists at the end of the takeoff path in the en route configuration with one engine inoperative.
Fireproof
(1) With respect to materials and parts used to confine fire in a designated fire zone, the capacity to withstand at least as well as steel in dimensions appropriate for the purpose for which they are used, the heat produced when there is a severe fire of extended duration in that zone; and
(2) With respect to other materials and parts, the capacity to withstand the heat associated with fire at least as well as steel in dimensions appropriate for the purpose for which they are used.
Fire resistant
(1) With respect to sheet or structural members, the capacity to withstand the heat associated with fire at least as well as aluminum alloy in dimensions appropriate for the purpose for which they are used; and
(2) With respect to fluid-carrying lines, fluid system parts, wiring, air ducts, fittings, and powerplant controls, the capacity to perform the intended functions under the heat and other conditions likely to occur when there is a fire at the place concerned.
Flame resistant
Not susceptible to combustion to the point of propagating a flame, beyond safe limits, after the ignition source is removed.
Flammable
With respect to a fluid or gas, susceptible to igniting readily or to exploding.
Flap extended speed
The highest speed permissible with wing flaps in a prescribed extended position.
Flash resistant
Not susceptible to burning violently when ignited.
Flightcrew member
A pilot, flight engineer, or flight navigator assigned to duty in an aircraft during flight time.
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 250 represents a barometric altimeter indication of 25,000 feet; flight level 255, an indication of 25,500 feet.
Flight plan
Specified information, relating to the intended flight of an aircraft, that is filed orally or in writing with air traffic control.
Flight simulation training device (FSTD)
A flight simulator or a flight training device.
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.
Foreign air carrier
Any person other than a citizen of the United States, who undertakes directly, by lease or other arrangement, to engage in air transportation.
Foreign air commerce
The carriage by aircraft of persons or property for compensation or hire, or the carriage of mail by aircraft, or the operation or navigation of aircraft in the conduct or furtherance of a business or vocation, in commerce between a place in the United States and any place outside thereof; whether such commerce moves wholly by aircraft or partly by aircraft and partly by other forms of transportation.
Foreign air transportation
The carriage by aircraft of persons or property as a common carrier for compensation or hire, or the carriage of mail by aircraft, in commerce between a place in the United States and any place outside of the United States, whether that commerce moves wholly by aircraft or partly by aircraft and partly by other forms of transportation.
Forward wing
A forward lifting surface of a canard configuration or tandem-wing configuration airplane. The surface may be a fixed, movable, or variable geometry surface, with or without control surfaces.
Full flight simulator (FFS)
A replica of a specific type; or make, model, and series aircraft cockpit. It includes the assemblage of equipment and computer programs necessary to represent aircraft operations in ground and flight conditions, a visual system providing an out-of-the-cockpit view, a system that provides cues at least equivalent to those of a three-degree-of-freedom motion system, and has the full range of capabilities of the systems installed in the device as described in part 60 of this chapter and the qualification performance standards (QPS) for a specific FFS qualification level.
Fleet Weight
An average weight accepted by the FAA for aircraft of identical make and model that have the same equipment installed. When a fleet weight control program is in effect, the fleet weight of the aircraft can be used rather than every individual aircraft having to be weighed.
Fuel Jettison System
A fuel subsystem that allows the flight crew to dump fuel in an emergency to lower the weight of an aircraft to the maximum landing weight if a return to landing is required before sufficient fuel is burned off. This system must allow enough fuel to be jettisoned that the aircraft can still meet the climb requirements specified in 14 CFR part 25.
Fulcrum
The point about which a lever balances.
Freezing
The change of liquid water to ice.
Fahrenheit temperature scale (abbreviated F)
A temperature scale with 32 degrees as the melting point of pure ice and 212 degrees as the boiling point of pure water at standard sea level atmospheric pressure (29.92 inches or 1013.2 millibars).
Fall wind
A cold wind blowing downslope. Fall wind differs from foehn in that the air is initially cold enough to remain relatively cold despite compressional heating during descent.
Filling
An increase in the central pressure of a pressure system; opposite of deepening; more commonly applied to a low rather than a high.
First gust
The leading edge of the spreading downdraft, plow wind, from an approaching thunderstorm.
Flow line
A streamline.
Foehn
A warm, dry downslope wind; the warmness and dryness being due to adiabatic compression upon descent; characteristic of mountainous regions. Also known as a Chinook in the Rockies and Santa Ana winds in Southern California and Northern Baja.
Fog
A hydrometeor 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 driv:.le, it does not fall to the surface; differs from cloud only in that a cloud is not based at the surface; distinguished from haze by its wetness and gray color.)
Fractus
Clouds in the form of irregular shreds, appearing as if torn; have a clearly ragged appearance; applies only to stratus and cumulus, i.e., cumulus fractus and stratus fractus.
Freezing level
A level in the atmosphere at which the temperature is 0° C (32° F).
Front
A surface, interface, or transition zone of discontinuity between two adjacent air masses of different densities; more simply the boundary between two different air masses.
Frontal zone
A front or zone with a marked increase of density gradient; used to denote that fronts are not truly a “surface” of discontinuity but rather a “zone” of rapid transition of meteorological elements.
Frontogenesis
The initial formation of a front or frontal zone.
Frontolysis
The dissipation of a front.
Frost (also hoarfrost)
Ice crystal deposits formed by sublimation when temperature and dew point are below freezing.
Funnel cloud
A tornado cloud or vortex cloud extending downward from the parent cloud but not reaching the ground.
False horizon
Inaccurate visual information for aligning the aircraft, caused by various natural and geometric formations that disorient the pilot from the actual horizon.
Federal airways
Class E airspace areas that extend upward from 1,200 feet to, but not including, 18,000 feet MSL, unless otherwise specified.
Feeder facilities
Used by ATC to direct aircraft to intervening fixes between the en route structure and the initial approach fix.
Final approach
Part of an instrument approach procedure in which alignment and descent for landing are accomplished.
Final approach fix (FAF)
The fix from which the IFR final approach to an airport is executed, and which identifies the beginning of the final approach segment. An FAF is designated on government charts by a Maltese cross symbol for nonprecision approaches, and a lightning bolt symbol for precision approaches.
Fixating
Staring at a single instrument, thereby interrupting the cross-check process.
Fixed-pitch propellers
Propellers with fixed blade angles. Fixed-pitch propellers are designed as climb propellers, cruise propellers, or standard propellers.
Fixed slot
A fixed, nozzle shaped opening near the leading edge of a wing that ducts air onto the top surface of the wing. Its purpose is to increase lift at higher angles of attack.
Flameout
A condition in the operation of a gas turbine engine in which the fire in the engine goes out due to either too much or too little fuel sprayed into the combustors.
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.
Floor load limit
The maximum weight the floor can sustain per square inch/foot as provided by the manufacturer.
Flight configurations
Adjusting the aircraft control surfaces (including flaps and landing gear) in a manner that will achieve a specified attitude.
Flight director indicator(FDI)
One of the major components of a flight director system, it provides steering commands that the pilot (or the autopilot, if coupled) follows.
Flight level (FL)
A measure of altitude (in hundreds of feet) used by aircraft flying above 18,000 feet with the altimeter set at 29.92 "Hg.
Flight management system (FMS)
Provides pilot and crew with highly accurate and automatic long-range navigation capability, blending available inputs from long- and short- range sensors.
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 strips
Paper strips containing instrument flight information, used by ATC when processing flight plans.
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.
Foreign object damage (FOD)
Damage to a gas turbine engine caused by some object being sucked into the engine while it is running. Debris from runways or taxiways can cause foreign object damage during ground operations, and the ingestion of ice and birds can cause FOD in flight.
Form drag
The drag created because of the shape of a component or the aircraft.
Frise-type aileron
Aileron having the nose portion projecting ahead of the hinge line. When the trailing edge of the aileron moves up,the nose projects below the wing’s lower surface and produces some parasite drag, decreasing the amount of adverse yaw.
Front
The boundary between two different air masses.
Frost
Ice crystal deposits formed by sublimation when temperature and dewpoint are below freezing.
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.
Fundamental skills
Pilot skills of instrument cross-check, instrument interpretation, and aircraft control.
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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