Terms and Definitions A - G
Terms and Definitions H - N
Terms and Definitions O - Z
A - G
Administrator means the Federal Aviation Administrator or any person
to whom he has delegated his authority in the matter concerned.
ADVISORY CIRCULAR (AC) - Federal Aviation Administration Advisory Circular.
This is a FAA document, which provides guidance on aviation issues.
Aerodynamic coefficients means non-dimensional coefficients for aerodynamic
forces and moments.
AGL means above ground level.
Air carrier means a person who undertakes directly by lease, or other
arrangement, to engage in air transportation.
AIR CARRIERS - This includes the commercial system of air transportation
and consists of certified route air carriers, air taxis (including commuters)
supplemental air carriers, commercial operators of large aircraft, and
air travel clubs. Air Carriers are certified under FAA regulations to
carry passengers under FAR Part 121, 127, 135, etc.
Air commerce means interstate, overseas, or foreign air commerce or the
transportation of mail by aircraft or any operation or navigation of aircraft
within the limits of any Federal airway or any operation or navigation
of aircraft which directly affects, or which may endanger safety in, interstate,
overseas, or foreign air commerce.
AIR TAXI - A FAR Part 135 certificated air carrier carrying passengers
and cargo for hire and operating under exemption authority from the Civil
Aeronautics Board; aircraft of 30 seats or less or maximum payloads of
7,500 lbs.
Air traffic clearance means an authorization by air traffic control, for
the purpose of preventing collision between known aircraft, for an aircraft
to proceed under specified traffic conditions within controlled airspace.
Air traffic control means a service operated by appropriate authority
to promote the safe, orderly, and expeditious flow of air traffic.
Air traffic means aircraft operating in the air or on an airport surface,
exclusive of loading ramps and parking areas.
Air transportation means interstate, overseas, or foreign air transportation
or the transportation of mail by aircraft.
Aircraft Accident An occurrence associated with the operation of an aircraft
which takes place between the time any person boards the aircraft with
the intention of flight and all such persons have disembarked, and in
which any person suffers death or serious injury, or in which the aircraft
receives substantial damage.
Aircraft engine means an engine that is used or intended to be used for
propelling aircraft. It includes turbosuperchargers, appurtenances, and
accessories necessary for its functioning, but does not include propellers.
Aircraft Incident An occurrence other than an accident, associated with
the operation of an aircraft, which affects or could affect the safety
of operations.
Aircraft means a device that is used or intended to be used for flight
in the air.
AIRFIELD CAPACITY - Airfield capacity is the maximum number of aircraft
operations that can be accommodated by an airport’s runways and
taxiways over a specified time period (e.g. hourly capacity).
Airframe means the fuselage, booms, nacelles, cowlings, fairings, airfoil
surfaces (including rotors but excluding propellers and rotating airfoils
of engines), and landing gear of an aircraft and their accessories and
controls.
Airplane means an engine-driven fixed-wing aircraft heavier than air,
that is supported in flight by the dynamic reaction of the air against
its wings.
Airport means an area of land or water that is used or intended to be
used for the landing and takeoff of aircraft, and includes its buildings
and facilities, if any.
Airport slots – The number of landings or takeoffs allowed for a
specified time period. Slots are sometimes used at commercial airports
when the hourly demand significantly exceeds hourly capacity. In the United
States, the only airports with slot restrictions are Kennedy and LaGuardia
in New York, National in Washington, DC, and O'Hare in Chicago.
AIRPORT TRAFFIC CONTROL TOWER (ATCT) - A facility providing airport traffic
control service to an airport and its associated airspace area.
Airship means an engine-driven lighter-than-air aircraft that can be steered.
Airspace Conflict A near mid-air collision, intrusion, or violation of
airspace rules.
Alert Area. An alert area is established to inform pilots of a specific
area wherein a high volume of pilot training or an unusual type of aeronautical
activity is conducted.
ALS means approach light system.
Alternate airport means an airport at which an aircraft may land if a
landing at the intended airport becomes inadvisable.
Altitude engine means a reciprocating aircraft engine having a rated takeoff
power that is producible from sea level to an established higher altitude.
ANNUAL SERVICE VOLUME (ASV) - ASV is a reasonable estimate of an airport's
annual capacity. It accounts for differences in runway use, aircraft mix,
weather conditions, etc., that would be encountered over a year's time.
Appliance means any instrument, mechanism, equipment, part, apparatus,
appurtenance, or accessory, including communications equipment, that is
used or intended to be used in operating or controlling an aircraft in
flight, is installed in or attached to the aircraft, and is not part of
an airframe, engine, or propeller.
APPROACH END OF RUNWAY - The approach end of runway is the near end of
the runway as viewed from the cockpit of a landing airplane.
Approved, unless used with reference to another person, means approved
by the Administrator.
Area navigation (RNAV) means a method of navigation that permits aircraft
operations on any desired course within the coverage of station-referenced
navigation signals or within the limits of self-contained system capability.
Area navigation high route means an area navigation route within the airspace
extending upward from, and including, 18,000 feet MSL to flight level
450.
Area navigation low route means an area navigation route within the airspace
extending upward from 1,200 feet above the surface of the earth to, but
not including, 18,000 feet MSL.
Armed Forces means the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Coast
Guard, including their regular and reserve components and members serving
without component status.
ASR means airport surveillance radar.
ATC - Air traffic control. This is the system under which all aircraft
must operate.
ATC means air traffic control.
Autorotation means a rotorcraft flight condition in which the lifting
rotor is driven entirely by action of the air when the rotorcraft is in
motion.
Auxiliary rotor means a rotor that serves either to counteract the effect
of the main rotor torque on a rotorcraft or to maneuver the rotorcraft
about one or more of its three principal axes.
Availability. The availability of the GPS system is the percentage of
time that the services of the GPS system are usable. Availability is an
indication of the ability of the system to provide usable service within
the specified coverage area. Signal availability is the percentage of
time that navigational signals transmitted from the satellites are available
for use.
Available seat kilometers (ASK) - The number of seats flown multiplied
by the number of kilometers they are flown.
Available seat miles (ASM) - The number of seats available multiplied
by the number of miles flown. This measures an airline's capacity capability.
For example, a transport configured to fly 100 seats that goes 100 miles
would give the carrier 10,000 ASMs for that particular flight.
Available ton kilometers (ATK) - The number of tons capable of being carried,
multiplied by the number of kilometers flown.
Available ton miles (ATMs) - Tons multiplied by miles flown. It is an
international measure of the capacity available for a carrier. It is also
used to measure capacity available for freight carriers.
Average fare - Passenger revenue divided by the number of passengers.
Aviation Hazard Any condition, act, or set of circumstances that exposes
an individual to unnecessary risk or harm during aviation operations.
BACK-TAXI- A term used by air traffic controllers to taxi an aircraft
on the runway opposite to the traffic flow. The aircraft may be instructed
to back-taxi to the beginning of the runway or at some point before reaching
the runway end for the purpose of departure or to exit the runway.
Balloon means a lighter-than-air aircraft that is not engine driven, and
that sustains flight through the use of either gas buoyancy or an airborne
heater.
Barometric Altitude. Altitude in the earth's atmosphere above mean standard
sea level pressure datum, measured by a pressure (barometric) altimeter
and corrected for local barometric pressure setting.
BASED AIRCRAFT - An aircraft permanently stationed at an airport by agreement
between the airport owner (management or FBO) and the aircraft owner.
BEARING- The horizontal direction to or from any point, usually measured
clockwise from true north, magnetic north, or some other reference point
through 360 degrees.
BELOW MINIMUMS- Weather conditions below the minimums prescribed by regulation
for the particular action involved; e.g., landing minimums, takeoff minimums.
Bilateral aviation agreement - An agreement between two countries similar
to a treaty, but concerning only aviation rights.
BLAST FENCE- A barrier that is used to divert or dissipate jet or propeller
blast.
BLIND SPEED- The rate of departure or closing of a target relative to
the radar antenna at which cancellation of the primary radar target by
moving target indicator (MTI) circuits in the radar equipment causes a
reduction or complete loss of signal.
BLIND SPOT- An area from which radio transmissions and/or radar echoes
cannot be received. The term is also used to describe portions of the
airport not visible from the control tower.
BLIND VELOCITY [ICAO]- The radial velocity of a moving target such that
the target is not seen on primary radars fitted with certain forms of
fixed echo suppression.
Block hours - The time between when an aircraft departs the gate and its
arrival at its destination gate.
BLOCKED- Phraseology used to indicate that a radio transmission has been
distorted or interrupted due to multiple simultaneous radio transmissions.
Brake horsepower means the power delivered at the propeller shaft (main
drive or main output) of an aircraft engine.
BRAKING ACTION (GOOD, FAIR, POOR, OR NIL)- A report of conditions on the
airport movement area providing a pilot with a degree/quality of braking
that he/she might expect. Braking action is reported in terms of good,
fair, poor, or nil.
BRAKING ACTION ADVISORIES- When tower controllers have received runway
braking action reports which include the terms "poor" or "nil,"
or whenever weather conditions are conducive to deteriorating or rapidly
changing runway braking conditions, the tower will include on the ATIS
broadcast the statement, "BRAKING ACTION ADVISORIES ARE IN EFFECT."
During the time Braking Action Advisories are in effect, ATC will issue
the latest braking action report for the runway in use to each arriving
and departing aircraft. Pilots should be prepared for deteriorating braking
conditions and should request current runway condition information if
not volunteered by controllers. Pilots should also be prepared to provide
a descriptive runway condition report to controllers after landing.
Breakeven load factor (BELF) - The load factor necessary for the carrier
to financially break even. It is a function of the percentage of seats
filled at a particular yield vs. the airline’s operating costs.
BREAKOUT- A technique to direct aircraft out of the approach stream. In
the context of close parallel operations, a breakout is used to direct
threatened aircraft away from a deviating aircraft.
BROADCAST [ICAO]- A transmission of information relating to air navigation
that is not addressed to a specific station or stations.
Calibrated airspeed means the indicated airspeed of an aircraft, corrected
for position and instrument error. Calibrated airspeed is equal to true
airspeed in standard atmosphere at sea level.
Canard configuration means a configuration in which the span of the forward
wing is substantially less than that of the main wing.
Canard means the forward wing of a canard configuration and may be a fixed,
movable, or variable geometry surface, with or without control surfaces.
CAPACITY - The maximum number of aircraft operations that can be accommodated
by an airport (or airport component) over a specified time period (e.g.
hourly capacity). When the demand exceeds capacity, the level of delay
rapidly increases.
CAPITAL COSTS - Non-recurring or infrequently recurring costs of long-term
assets, such as land, guideways, stations, buildings, and vehicles.
CAS means calibrated airspeed.
CAT II means Category II.
Category (1) As used with respect to the certification, ratings, privileges,
and limitations of airmen, means a broad classification of aircraft. Examples
include: airplane; rotorcraft; glider; and lighter-than-air; and
Category (2) As used with respect to the certification of aircraft, means
a grouping of aircraft based upon intended use or operating limitations.
Examples include: transport, normal, utility, acrobatic, limited, restricted,
and provisional.
Category A, with respect to transport category rotorcraft, means multiengine
rotorcraft designed with engine and system isolation features specified
in Part 29 and utilizing scheduled takeoff and landing operations under
a critical engine failure concept which assures adequate designated surface
area and adequate performance capability for continued safe flight in
the event of engine failure.
Category B, with respect to transport category rotorcraft, means single-engine
or multiengine rotorcraft which do not fully meet all Category A standards.
Category B rotorcraft have no guaranteed stay-up ability in the event
of engine failure and unscheduled landing is assumed.
Category II operations, with respect to the operation of aircraft, means
a straight-in ILS approach to the runway of an airport under a Category
II ILS instrument approach procedure issued by the Administrator or other
appropriate authority.
Category III operations, with respect to the operation of aircraft, means
an ILS approach to, and landing on, the runway of an airport using a Category
III ILS instrument approach procedure issued by the Administrator or other
appropriate authority.
Category IIIa operations, an ILS approach and landing with no decision
height (DH), or a DH below 100 feet (30 meters), and controlling runway
visual range not less than 700 feet (200 meters).
Category IIIb operations, an ILS approach and landing with no DH, or with
a DH below 50 feet (15 meters), and controlling runway visual range less
than 700 feet (200 meters), but not less than 150 feet (50 meters).
Category IIIc operations, an ILS approach and landing with no DH and no
runway visual range limitation.
Ceiling means the height above the earth's surface of the lowest layer
of clouds or obscuring phenomena that is reported as "broken",
"overcast", or "obscuration", and not classified as
"thin" or "partial".
Civil aircraft means aircraft other than public aircraft.
Class (1) As used with respect to the certification, ratings, privileges,
and limitations of airmen, means a classification of aircraft within a
category having similar operating characteristics. Examples include: single
engine; multiengine; land; water; gyroplane; helicopter; airship; and
free balloon; and
Class (2) As used with respect to the certification of aircraft, means
a broad grouping of aircraft having similar characteristics of propulsion,
flight, or landing. Examples include: airplane; rotorcraft; glider; balloon;
landplane; and seaplane.
Clearway (1) For turbine engine powered airplanes certificated after August
29, 1959, an area beyond the runway, not less than 500 feet wide, centrally
located about the extended centerline of the runway, and under the control
of the airport authorities. The clearway is expressed in terms of a clearway
plane, extending from the end of the runway with an upward slope not exceeding
1.25 percent, above which no object nor any terrain protrudes. However,
threshold lights may protrude above the plane if their height above the
end of the runway is 26 inches or less and if they are located to each
side of the runway.
Clearway (2) For turbine engine powered airplanes certificated after September
30, 1958, but before August 30, 1959, an area beyond the takeoff runway
extending no less than 300 feet on either side of the extended centerline
of the runway, at an elevation no higher than the elevation of the end
of the runway, clear of all fixed obstacles, and under the control of
the airport authorities.
Climbout speed, with respect to rotorcraft, means a referenced airspeed
which results in a flight path clear of the height-velocity envelope during
initial climbout.
Code-sharing - A growing practice in which airlines share the same two-letter
designator code on certain flights, as they are presented in the various
computer reservations systems used by airlines and travel agents. Sharing
of the codes permits a travel agent or airline to sell a ticket that will
include routings of both carriers where codes are shared.
Commercial operator means a person who, for compensation or hire, engages
in the carriage by aircraft in air commerce of persons or property, other
than as an air carrier or foreign air carrier or under the authority of
Part 375 of this title. Where it is doubtful that an operation is for
"compensation or hire", the test applied is whether the carriage
by air is merely incidental to the person's other business or is, in itself,
a major enterprise for profit.
COMMERCIAL SERVICE AIRPORT - A public airport, which enplanes 2,500 or
more passengers annually and receives scheduled commercial passenger service.
See “AIR CARRIER” for more information.
COMMUTER AIRLINES - Scheduled commuter air carrier operating with passengers,
cargo, or mail for revenue in accordance with FAR Part 135 or Part 121.
Computer reservations systems - The electronic system that allows travel
agents or airlines to reserve seats on commercial flights.
CONGESTION - The volume of traffic at which a road, airport, or other
transportation facility is no longer operating at an acceptable level
of service.
CONSOL or CONSOLAN means a kind of low or medium frequency long range
navigational aid.
Controlled airspace means an airspace of defined dimensions within which
air traffic control service is provided to IFR flights and to VFR flights
in accordance with the airspace classification.
Controlled Airspace Note: Controlled airspace is a generic term that covers
Class A, Class B, Class C, Class D, and Class E airspace.
Controlled Firing Area. A controlled firing area is established to contain
activities, which if not conducted in a controlled environment, would
be hazardous to nonparticipating aircraft.
Cost per available seat mile (CASM) - The unit operating cost of a carrier,
also known as unit cost. The cost expressed in cents to operate each seat
mile offered. Determined by dividing operating costs by ASMs.
Crewmember means a person assigned to perform duty in an aircraft during
flight time.
Critical altitude (1) The maximum continuous power, in the case of engines
for which this power rating is the same at sea level and at the rated
altitude.
Critical altitude (2) The maximum continuous rated manifold pressure,
in the case of engines, the maximum continuous power of which is governed
by a constant manifold pressure.
Critical altitude means the maximum altitude at which, in standard atmosphere,
it is possible to maintain, at a specified rotational speed, a specified
power or a specified manifold pressure. Unless otherwise stated, the critical
altitude is the maximum altitude at which it is possible to maintain,
at the maximum continuous rotational speed, one of the following:
Critical engine means the engine whose failure would most adversely affect
the performance or handling qualities of an aircraft.
Decision height, with respect to the operation of aircraft, means the
height at which a decision must be made, during an ILS or PAR instrument
approach, to either continue the approach or to execute a missed approach.
DELAY – The difference between constrained and unconstrained operating
time for an aircraft.
DEMAND MANAGEMENT - a method of controlling airport access by promoting
more effective or economically efficient use of existing facilities. The
two most prevalent methods are differential pricing and auctioning of
landing rights.
DESIGN AIRCRAFT - The Design Aircraft is an aircraft whose dimensions
and/or other requirements make it the most demanding aircraft for an airport’s
facilities (i.e. runways and taxiways). The Design Aircraft is used as
the basis for airport planning and design; because if the airport’s
facilities are designed to accommodate the Design Aircraft, they can accommodate
less demanding aircraft as well. An aircraft can be utilized as the Design
Aircraft for an airport if it has or is expected to conduct 500 or more
annual operations (250 landings) at that airport.
DH means decision height.
Differential GPS. A technique used to improve GPS system accuracy by determining
positioning error from the GPS satellites at a known fixed location and
subsequently transmitting the determined error, or corrective factors,
to GPS users operating in the same area.
DISPOSABLE PERSONAL INCOME - personal income less personal tax and non-tax
payments. It is the income available to persons for spending or saving.
Distance Root Mean Square (drms). The root-mean-square value of the distances
between the measured and true location in a collection of measurements.
The two dimensional circular error distribution, where 95 percent of the
position solutions must lie within the defined radius of the circle, is
represented by two times the DRMS (2 DRMS).
DME means distance measuring equipment compatible with TACAN.
EAS means equivalent airspeed.
ENHANCEMENT PROJECTS - Various scenic, historic and environmental activities
eligible for project funding under the Surface Transportation Program
(STP) element of Federal Transportation funding resources.
Enroute Domestic. The phase of flight between departure and arrival terminal
phases, with departure and arrival points within the U.S. National Airspace
System (NAS).
Enroute Oceanic and Remote. The phase of flight between the departure
and arrival terminal phases, with an extended flight path over an ocean.
Enroute Operations. The phase of navigation covering operations between
departure and arrival terminal phases. The enroute phase of navigation
has two subcategories: enroute domestic and enroute oceanic/remote.
Equivalent airspeed means the calibrated airspeed of an aircraft corrected
for adiabatic compressible flow for the particular altitude. Equivalent
airspeed is equal to calibrated airspeed in standard atmosphere at sea
level.
Extended over-water operation means -- (2) With respect to helicopters,
an operation over water at a horizontal distance of more than 50 nautical
miles from the nearest shoreline and more than 50 nautical miles from
an off-shore heliport structure.
Extended over-water operation means --(1) With respect to aircraft other
than helicopters, an operation over water at a horizontal distance of
more than 50 nautical miles from the nearest shoreline; and
External load means a load that is carried, or extends, outside of the
aircraft fuselage.
External-load attaching means means the structural components used to
attach an external load to an aircraft, including external-load containers,
the backup structure at the attachment points, and any quick-release device
used to jettison the external load.
FAA means Federal Aviation Administration.
Fatal Injury Any injury which results in death within 30 days of the accident.
FEDERAL AVIATION REGULATION (FAR) - Regulations developed by the FAA in
order to maintain safety, define standards, and institute uniform practices
throughout the industry.
FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION (FHWA) - Division of the U.S. Department
of Transportation which administers the funds for highway planning and
capital programs.
FEDERAL TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION (FTA) - Division of the U.S. Department
of Transportation that administers the funds for transit planning and
capital/operating programs.
Final takeoff speed means the speed of the airplane that exists at the
end of the takeoff path in the en route configuration with one engine
inoperative.
Financing (or Dry) lease - Lease in which the service provided by the
lessor to the lessee is limited to financial equipment. All other responsibilities
related to the possession of equipment, such as maintenance, insurance,
and taxes, are borne by the lessee. A financial lease is usually non-cancellable,
and is fully paid out
Fire resistant -- (1) With respect to sheet or structural members means
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
Fire resistant -- (2) With respect to fluid-carrying lines, fluid system
parts, wiring, air ducts, fittings, and powerplant controls, means 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.
Fireproof -- (1) With respect to materials and parts used to confine fire
in a designated fire zone, means 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
Fireproof -- (2) With respect to other materials and parts, means 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.
First Aid Any medical attention that involves no medical bill. If a physician
prescribes medical treatment for less than serious injury and makes a
charge for this service, that injury becomes "medical attention."
FIXED BASE OPERATION OR FIXED BASE OPERATOR (FBO) - A sales and/or service
facility located at an airport, or the person who operates such a facility.
Flame resistant means 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, means susceptible to igniting
readily or to exploding.
Flap extended speed means the highest speed permissible with wing flaps
in a prescribed extended position.
Flash resistant means not susceptible to burning violently when ignited.
Flight level means 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 means specified information, relating to the intended flight
of an aircraft, that is filed orally or in writing with air traffic control.
Flight Technical Error (FTE). Navigation error introduced by the pilot's
(or autopilot's) capability to utilize displayed guidance information
to track the desired flight path.
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
Flight time (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 time means:
Flight visibility means 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.
Flightcrew member means a pilot, flight engineer, or flight navigator
assigned to duty in an aircraft during flight time.
FM means fan marker.
Forced Landing A landing necessitated by failure of engines, systems,
or components which makes continued flight impossible, and which may or
may not result in damage.
Foreign air carrier means 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 means 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 (1) As used with respect to the certification,
ratings, privileges, and limitations of airmen, means a specific make
and basic model of aircraft, including modifications thereto that do not
change its handling or flight characteristics. Examples include: DC-7,
1049, and F-27; and
Foreign air transportation (2) As used with respect to the certification
of aircraft, means those aircraft which are similar in design. Examples
include: DC-7 and DC-7C; 1049G and 1049H; and F-27 and F-27F.
Foreign air transportation (3) As used with respect to the certification
of aircraft engines means those engines which are similar in design. For
example, JT8D and JT8D-7 are engines of the same type, and JT9D-3A and
JT9D-7 are engines of the same type.
Foreign air transportation means 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.
FRACTIONAL OWNERSHIP – An aircraft ownership concept whereby multiple
companies can partially own an aircraft. A common aircraft management
company is used to maintain the aircraft and administer the leasing of
the aircraft among the owners. The aircraft owners participating in the
program agree not only to share their aircraft with others having an ownership
interest in that aircraft, but also to lease their aircraft to other owners
in the program.
FREE FLOW - Roadway conditions in which vehicles are almost completely
unimpeded in their ability to maneuver within the traffic stream.
FUNCTIONAL CLASSIFICATION - The grouping of streets and highways into
classes, or systems, according to the character of service they are intended
to provide. Basic to this process is the recognition that roads do not
function independently, but rather as a system-wide network of roads.
GENERAL AVIATION (GA) - All civil aircraft and aviation activity except
that of the certified air carriers and military operations. GA includes
corporate flying and private flying (recreation or personal).
General Aviation That portion of civil aviation that encompasses all facets
of aviation except air carriers.
Geometric Altitude. Altitude above the surface of the WGS-84 ellipsoid.
Geometric Dilution of Precision (GDOP). A measure of the satellite geometric
effects that degrade a user's position determination.
Go-around power or thrust setting means the maximum allowable in-flight
power or thrust setting identified in the performance data.
GPS Equipment Classes A(), B(), and C(). GPS equipment is categorized
into the following classes (ref. TSO-C129): a. Class A(). Equipment incorporating
both the GPS sensor and navigation capability. This equipment incorporates
receiver autonomous integrity monitoring (RAIM). Class A1 equipment includes
enroute, terminal, and nonprecision approach navigation capability. Class
A2 equipment includes enroute and terminal navigation capability only.
b. Class B(). Equipment consisting of a GPS sensor that provides data
to an integrated navigation system (that is, flight management system,
multisensor navigation system, etc.). Class B1 equipment includes RAIM
and provides enroute, terminal, and nonprecision approach capability.
Class B2 equipment includes RAIM and provides enroute and terminal capability
only. Class B3 equipment requires the integrated navigation system to
provide a level of GPS integrity equivalent to RAIM and provides enroute,
terminal, and nonprecision approach capability. Class B4 equipment requires
the integrated navigation system to provide a level of GPS integrity equivalent
to RAIM and provides enroute and terminal capability only. c. Class C().
Equipment consisting of a GPS sensor that provides data to an integrated
navigation system (that is, flight management system, multisensor navigation
system, etc.), which provides enhanced guidance to an autopilot or flight
director in order to reduce flight technical error. Installation of Class
C() equipment is limited to aircraft approved under 14 CFR part 121 or
equivalent criteria. Class C1 equipment includes RAIM and provides enroute,
terminal, and nonprecision approach capability. Class C2 equipment includes
RAIM and provides enroute and terminal capability only. Class C3 equipment
needs the integrated navigation system to provide a level of GPS integrity
equivalent to RAIM and provides enroute, terminal, and nonprecision approach
capability. Class C4 equipment requires the integrated navigation system
to provide a level of GPS integrity equivalent to RAIM and provides enroute
and terminal capability only.
GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT (GDP) - the featured measure of U.S. output, is
the market value of the goods and services produced by labor and property
located in the United States. Because the labor and property are located
in the United States, the suppliers (that is, the workers and, for property,
the owners) may be either U.S. residents or residents of the rest of the
world.
GROSS NATIONAL PRODUCT (GNP) - the market value of the goods and services
produced by labor and property supplied by U.S. residents. Because the
labor and property are supplied by U.S. residents, they may be located
either in the United States or abroad. The difference between GDP and
GNP is net receipts of income from the rest of the world.
Ground visibility means prevailing horizontal visibility near the earth's
surface as reported by the United States National Weather Service or an
accredited observer.
GS means glide slope.
Gyrodyne means a rotorcraft whose rotors are normally engine-driven for
takeoff, hovering, and landing, and for forward flight through part of
its speed range, and whose means of propulsion, consisting usually of
conventional propellers, is independent of the rotor system.
Gyroplane means a rotorcraft whose rotors are not engine-driven, except
for initial starting, but are made to rotate by action of the air when
the rotorcraft is moving; and whose means of propulsion, consisting usually
of conventional propellers, is independent of the rotor system.
