F Foxtrot

FA (Area Forecast) - A forecast of VFR clouds and weather condition over an area as large as the size of several states.

FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) - Created by the Act that established the Department of Transportation, this government agency oversees all aviation within the United States. The FAA controls, for example, airport safety, air traffic control, licensing of pilots, inspection of aircraft, and investigates aviation mishaps.

facility - A structure or building that houses an operation.

FAF (Final Approach Fix) - The 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, from which the final approach (IFR) to an airport is executed and which identifies the beginning of the final approach segment.

FARS (Federal Aviation RegulationS) - The regulations that govern all aspects of aviation in the United States. These regulations are broken up into separate parts (1-187) for ease of reference.

FAST (Final Approach Spacing Tool) - A computer software program that gives air traffic controllers a picture on how to most efficiently space aircraft for an approach to an airport as well as alternate solutions for air traffic control problems.

FBO (Fixed Base Operations) - A commercial operation supplying fuel, maintenance, aircraft sales, rental, flight training, handling and other general aviation services at an airport.

FD (Winds and Temperatures Aloft Forecast) - Computer prepared forecast containing wind direction and speed as well as temperatures at predetermined altitudes.

Federal Airway Routes - Also known as Victor (V) routes, this airspace (below FL 180) established in the form of a corridor, the center line of which is defined by particular radials off radio navigational aids.

Federal Aviation Administration - see FAA

fin - Another word for the vertical stabilizer.

final approach - The point in an aircraft's flight when the pilot has been directed to a flight path and trajectory in preparation for landing

final approach fix - see FAF

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. Or, a certain point through which an aircraft is directed to fly by an air traffic controller.

FL (Flight Level) - A level of constant atmospheric pressure related to a reference datum of 29.92 inches of mercury. Each is stated in 3 digits that represent hundreds of feet. For example, FL250 (flight level two-five-zero) represents a barometric altimeter indication of 25,000 feet. Flight Levels are FL180 and above. Below 180, aircraft altimeters are set to the closest ground station altimeter reading and altitudes are in thousands of feet. e.g.; 170 (one seven thousand, 17,000 feet).

flaps - Moveable parts of the trailing edge of a wing that are used to increase lift at slower air speeds. Flaps increase lift by changing the shape of the airfoil. A pilot will extend the flaps when the airplane is landing. By extending the flaps, the pilot is increasing the camber of the wing, the size of the wing and the wing's angle of attack. All of these actions will cause lift to decrease so the airplane can land more slowly.

fleet - A group of aircraft under one control, such as an airline.

flight characteristic - In aviation, a distinguishing feature of a flight vehicle relating to its predisposition to stall or yaw, or its ability to remain stable or controllable at a given speed.

Flight computer - A manual slide rule or electronic calculator used to determine wind correction, fuel consumption, airspeed, and other performance calculations during flight planning.

Flight data controller - An air traffic control position located in Local Control (airport control tower) whose job is to review flight plans, issue approval to pilots and generate the flight data strip before handing the pilot off to Local Control for pushback and taxiing instructions.

flight log - A flight planning document in which a pilot calculates factors such as speed, course, altitude, and fuel consumption for an upcoming flight.

flight plan - A pilot's intended routing and schedule for a flight, giving the pilot and aircraft identification; course, speed, and altitude to be flown; and estimated times of arrival at intermediate stops and the destination; submitted, orally or in writing, to air traffic control or a flight service station.

flight planning - Determining the route and proper method of navigation which the aircraft will use before the actual flight.

flight profile - The phases of a typical flight that usually consists of the following: preflight, takeoff, departure, en route, descent, approach and landing.

flight progress strips - See flight tracking strip

flight simulation - A Tool of Aeronautics in which a flight simulator on the ground is used to create an environment where a pilot sees, hears and feels like he or she is in a real aircraft. Flight simulation is used to investigate how an aircraft responds to a pilot's movement of the controls.

flight test - A Tool of Aeronautics in which a real aircraft is flown to gather data which will accurately describe the capabilities of that aircraft. Flight test is used to investigate how fast, how far and how high an aircraft can go, and how it handles and performs.

flight route - The path or course taken by the aircraft in order to reach its destination.

flight time - The time from the moment an aircraft first moves under its own power for the purpose of flight until the moment it comes to rest at the next point of landing.

flight tracking strip - A strip of paper which contains a computer print-out of an aircraft's abbreviated flight plan that is used by air traffic controllers to monitor an aircraft's flight.

fluid dynamics - The study of how fluids move. Fluids include water and gases (such as air).

fog - Numerous minute water droplets small enough to be suspended in the Earth's atmosphere indefinitely, based at the surface. A cloud that forms just above the ground.

forecasts - A statement of expected future occurrences. Weather forecasting includes the use of objective models based on certain atmospheric parameters, along with the skill and experience of a meteorologist.

force - A push or a pull in a certain direction, that can be measured. Examples of forces are your hand pushing on a doorknob, and a propeller pulling an airplane through the air.

forward sweep wing - A wing that is swept toward the front of the airplane, unlike most fast airplanes which have wings that are swept toward the back of the airplane. The X-29 aircraft is an example of a supersonic jet that has forward sweep wings.

Foxtrot - Designator for the letter "F" in the International Phonetic Alphabet.

Freeflight - A change in the airspace system being instituted by the FAA. In this system, flights would fly directly to the destination airport without having to use federal airways.

freight - Cargo or other goods being transported.

frequency - The number of periodic oscillation, vibrations or waves per unit of time; usually expressed in hertz.

friction - In meteorology, it is the turbulent resistance of the Earth on the atmosphere. Considered as the resistance of fluids (air and water) to the relative motion of a solid body. The amount is dependent on the size and shape of the body.

front - The boundary between two different air masses.

frost - Ice crystal deposits formed of gaseous water when temperature and dew point are below freezing.

FSS (Flight Service Station) - Air traffic service facilities that provide a variety of services to pilots, including weather briefings, opening and closing flight plans, and search and rescue operations.

FT (Terminal Forecast) - Predictions of future weather (up to 24 hours) at a particular airport.

fuselage - The part of the airplane to which the empennage and wings are attached. The fuselage is where the passengers and cargo are located. It is streamlined so that it produces the least possible drag.

FutureFlight Central - A full-scale, one-of-a-kind air traffic control simulation facility located at NASA's Ames Research Center. A real-time environment where air traffic controllers and pilots can test and evaluate safety and operational procedures. The facility is dedicated to solving the present and emerging capacity problems of the nation's airports.