Glossary Flashcards
To terminate an operation prematurely when it is seen that the desired result will not occur.
Abort
In weather, the term used for the horizontal transport of heat by the wind.
Advection
The actual distance between an aircraft and the terrain over which it is flying.
Absolute altitude
AN FAA publication that informs the aviation public, in a systematic way, of nonregulatory material.
Advisory circular (AC)
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. (NTSB 830.2)
Accident
A reference publication for pilots.
Aeronautical Information Manual (AIM)
A regulatory notice sent out by the FAA to the registered owner of an aircraft informing him or her of a condition that prevents the aircraft from meeting its conditions for airworthiness. Compliance requirements will be stated in the AD.
Airworthiness directive (AD)
In weather, the change of the temperature of air without transferring heat. In the __________ __________, compression of the air mass results in the warming of the air; conversely, the expansion of the air mass results in cooling of the air.
Adiabatic process
The FAA __________ or any person to whom he or she has delegated authority in the matter concerned.
Administrator
A person who operates or travels in a balloon or airship.
Aeronaut
A systematic approach to the mental process, used by pilots to consistently determine the best course of action in response to a given set of circumstances.
Aeronautical Decision-Making (ADM)
The branch of science that deals with flight and with the operations of all types of aircraft.
Aeronautics
A device supported in the air by displacing more than its own weight of air.
Aerostat
An air traffic facility that provides pilot briefings and numerous other services.
Automated flight service station (AFSS)
Above ground level.
AGL
A device that is used or intended to be used for flight in the air.
Aircraft
An area of land or water that is used for landing and takeoff of an aircraft.
Airport
A pressure reading device that, when properly calibrated, indicates the height of the aircraft above mean sea level (MSL). An __________ is a required instrument in a balloon, as directed by 14 CFR Park 31, Airworthiness Standards: Manned Free Balloons.
Altimeter
The station pressure (barometric pressure at the location the reading is taken) which has been corrected for the height of the station above sea level.
Altimeter setting
Air surrounding the outside of a balloon envelope.
Ambient air
In weather, a wind that blows up the slope of a hill or mountain due to increased heating along the valley walls.
Anabatic winds
A maintenance team directed by 14 CFR part 91, section 91.409, which states that “no person may operate an aircraft unless, within the preceding 12 calendar months, it has had-(1) annual inspection…and has been approved for return to service…”
Annual inspection
A line attached to the top of most balloons to assist in inflation or deflation. Also called crown line or top handling line.
Apex line
__________ by the FAA Administrator or person authorized by the Administrator.
Approved
The Greek mathematician’s principle of buoyancy, which states than an object (a balloon) immersed in a fluid (the air) loses as much of its own weight as the weight of the fluid it replaces.
Archimedes’ Principle
Air Traffic Control
ATC
The continuous broadcast (by radio or telephone) of recorded non-control, essential but routine information in selected terminal areas.
Automatic Terminal Information Service (ATIS)
Continuous broadcast (by radio or telephone) of weather conditions at selected locations.
Automatic Weather Observing System (AWOS)
Gas ballooning term; used to control buoyancy, and therefore altitude, during flight. __________, usually in the form of sand or water is carried aloft by the gas balloon at launch. As the balloon pilot needs to adjust altitude, a small amount of __________ is jettisoned overboard, thereby reducing the gross weight of the balloon at that point in time. The balloon will then rise to a new pressure altitude, where it will remain until there is another dynamic change in the lift equation.
Ballast
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.
Balloon
A national association for balloon pilots and enthusiasts in the United States, and affiliated with the National Aeronautic Association.
Balloon Federation of America (BFA)
A manual containing operating instructions, limitations, weight, and performance information, which must be available in an aircraft during flight. Portions of the __________ __________ are FAA approved.
Balloon flight manual
That portion of a hot air balloon that carries the pilot, passengers, cargo, fuel, and instruments,.
Basket
The valve on a propane burner that controls the flow of propane burned to produce heat.
Blast valve
Pronounced boh’ lin. A common knot that is easy to tie and until and will not slip.
Bowline knot
A measurement of heat. The amount of heat required to raise 1 pound of water from 60 to 61 °F.
Btu (British thermal unit)
In ballooning, when the balloon is zero weight and is neither climbing or falling.
Buoyancy
A common term meaning to activate the main blast valve and produce a full flame for the purpose of heating the air in the envelope.
Burn
Commonly used to describe a balloon that is permanently anchored to the ground.
Captive balloon
According to Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations: (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 aircraft; and (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 (14 CFR part 1).
Category
The lowest broken or overcast layer of clouds or vertical visibility into an obscuration.
Ceiling
Code of Federal Regulations
CFR
If the pressure of a has is held constant and its absolute temperature is increased the volume of the gas will also increase. This principle is particular relevant in gas ballooning.
Charles’ Law
A tool that is used as a human factors aid in aviation safety. It is a systematic and sequential list of all operations that must be performed to properly accomplish a task.
Checklist
According to Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations: (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 (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.” (14 CFR part 1)
Class
A thin synthetic added to the surface of balloon fabric to lessen porosity and ultraviolet-light damage.
Coating
In weather, the leading edge of a cold air mass displacing a warmer air mass.
Cold front
Forcing cold air into the envelope, giving it some shape to allow hearing with the heater.
Cold inflation
A person who, for compensation or hire, is certified to fly an aircraft carry passengers or cargo.
Commercial pilot
Airspace designated as Class A, B, C, D, or E within which air traffic control service is provided to some or all aircraft.
Controlled airspace
Generally, the transfer of heat energy in a fluid. As applied to weather, the type of heat transfer occurring in the atmosphere when the found is heated by the sun.
Convection
A vent, in the side or top of the balloon envelope, which opens to release hot air, and that closes after the release of air automatically.
Cooling vent
A crewmember who is assigned the responsibility of organizing and directing other crewmembers.
Crew chief
A line attached to the top of most balloons to assist in the inflation and deflation of the envelope. Sometimes referred to as apex line or top handling line.
Crown line
Common usage for recent flight experience. In order to carry passengers, a pilot must have performed three takeoffs and three landings within the preceding 90 days. In order to carry passengers as night, a pilot must have performed three takeoffs and three landings to a full stope at night (the period beginning 1 hour after sunset and ending 1 hour before sunrise.=).
Currency
The registered trade name for polyester fabric developed by DuPont.
Dacron
A term useful in map reading. __________ is the difference between true north and magnetic north, and is usually defined on an aviation sectional map or a topographical map.
Declination
As defined in the Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge, FAA-H-8083-25, “pressure altitude corrected for nonstandard temperature.” However, a more pertinent definition is that in the Airman’s Information Manual, which explains density altitude as being nothing more than a way to comparatively measure aircraft performance.
Density altitude
A panel at the top of the balloon envelope that is deployed at landing to release all hot air (or other lifting gas) from the envelope. A parachute top is a form of __________ __________.
Deflation panel
A person appointed by the Administrator who may accept application for certificates, administer practical exams, and issue pilot certificates. DPEs are considered to be technically qualified, and must have a good industry reputation for professionalism and integrity.
Designated pilot examiner (DPE)
A gas balloon term used to describe a large, heavy rope, deployed at landing, which orients the balloon (and rip panel) to the wind, and transfers weight from the balloon to the ground, creating a landing flare.
Drag line
Fabric portion of a balloon that contains hot air or gas.
Envelope
The widest diameter of the envelope
Equator
When lift equals gravity, as in level flight. __________ at launch is typically that temperature at which after the balloon has been inflated and is standing up (erect), the ground crew is able to hold the balloon in place by resting their hands lightly on the basket.
Equilibrium
Testing of the envelope fabric for tensile strength, tear strength, and/or porosity. __________ __________ are specified by each balloon manufacturer.
Fabric test
The federal agency responsible to promote aviation safety through regulation and education.
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
The federal agency which regulates radio communication and communication equipment in the United States.
Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
The last flight maneuver by an aircraft in a successful landing, wherein the balloon’s descent is reduced to a path nearly parallel to the landing surface.
Flare
The inadvertent extinguishing of a burner flame.
Flameout
Required for all certified pilots every 24 months in order to retain pilot in command privileges. A __________ __________ consists of at least 1 hour of flight training and 1 hour of ground training.
Flight review
According to Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations, the average forward horizontal distance, 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
Feet per minute
fpm
Field offices of the FAA, which deal with certification and operation of aircraft.
Flight Standards District Office (FSDO)
A device of measuring. Required __________ on a hot air balloon are the envelope temperature __________ (pyrometer) and the fuel quantity __________ for each fuel tank. Most balloons also have fuel pressure __________.
Gauge
Portion of a gas balloon that carries the pilot, passengers, cargo, ballast, and instruments.
Gondola
A vertical section of fabric, often made of two vertical, or numerous horizontal panels, sewn together to make a balloon envelope.
Gore
The __________ __________ __________ is a series (or “constellation”) of satellites circling the Earth, each broadcasting a unique signal. These signals, usually three or more, are detected by electronic units, and, thru triangulation and time delay sensing’s, provide an extremely accurate location readout of the GPS receiver.
Many balloon pilots carry a small GPS unit on board the balloon to determine location, ground track and ground speed.
Global Positioning System (GPS)
Persons who assist in the assembly, inflation, chase, and recovery of a balloon.
Ground crew
According to Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations, prevailing horizontal visibility near the earth’s surface as reported by the United States National Weather Service or an accredited observer.
Ground visibility
A line, usually 1/4-to 1/2-inch diameter rope, attached to a balloon envelope or basket, used by the pilot or ground crew to assist in the ground handling, inflation, landing, and deflation of a balloon.
Handling line
Propane-fueled device to heat air inside the envelope of a balloon, often referred to as a burner.
Heater
A light, inert gaseous chemical element mainly found as a natural gas in the southwestern United States. Used to inflate gas balloons and pilot balloons.
Helium
A product of the Aviation Digital Data Service, this computer program five weather information, both real-time and forecast, for a 5 kilometer square area nationwide. It can be viewed and downloaded at https://aviationweather.gov/gfa/#obs.
Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) Weather Display
The lightest if all gaseous elements. Commonly used in Europe for inflating gas balloons. Flammable by itself and explosive when mixed with oxygen. As opposed to helium, __________ is easily manufactured.
Hydrogen
An aeromedical term; means “reduced oxygen” or “not enough oxygen.”
Hypoxia
An agency of the United Nations, which has codified principles and techniques of international air navigation and fostered the planning and development of international air transport to ensure safe and orderly growth. __________ has produced many international treaties to standardize aviation; the United States is a member of the __________, and as such, has agreed to many of the standardized efforts, most notably in the area of airspace nomenclature.
International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)
A welding striker, piezo sparkler, matches, or other means used to ignite the balloon pilot flame.
Igniter
An occurrence other than an accident, associated with the operation of an aircraft, which affects or could affect the safety of operations.
Incident
The altitude shown on a properly calibrated altimeter.
Indicated altitude
Not functioning of working properly.
Inoperative
A manual published by an aircraft manufacturer specifying procedures for inspection, maintenance, repair, and mandatory replacement times for life-limited parts.
Instructions for Continued Airworthiness
An online application system that allows for the issuance of student, private and commercial pilot certificates without generating paperwork; all certificate application and approved is performed through the use of electronic “signatures.”
Integrated Airman Certification and Rating Application (IACRA)
According to Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations, A device using an internal mechanism to show visually or aurally the attitude, altitude, or operation of an aircraft or aircraft part. There are only two instruments required in a hot air balloon: vertical speed indicator (VSI) and altimeter.
Instrument
A wind produced by the flow of cold, dense air down a slope in an area subject to radiational cooling. Mountain winds are the most common form of __________ __________.
Katabatic winds
A registered trademark for a DuPont Corporation product, a synthetic fiber created in 1965 which has a strength factor 5 times that of steel. Frequently used in balloon systems for suspension cables and control lines of various types. Generally, __________ is used for the core of a suspension line, and will have a cover or sheath over the core as __________ is ultraviolet light sensitive.
Kevlar
An aircraft part whose service is limited to a specified number of operating hours or cycles. For example, some balloon manufacturers require that fuel hoses be replaced after a certain number of years.
Life-Limited
Any aircraft with a maximum takeoff weight of less than 12,500 pounds. All presently FAA-certified balloons are __________ __________.
Light AircraftRestrictio
Restrictions placed on a balloon by its manufacturer. Examples are maximum envelope temperature and maximum gross weight.
Limitations
A record of activities: flight, instruction, inspection, and maintenance.
Log
Lighter-Than-Air
LTA
The unkeep of equipment, including preservation, repair, overhaul, and the replacement of parts.
Maintenance
A set of detailed instructions issued by manufacturer of an aircraft, engine, or component that describes the way maintenance should be performed.
Maintenance Manual
A release, signed by an authorized inspector, repairman, mechanic, or pilot after work has been performed, stating that an aircraft or aircraft part has been approved for return to service. The person releasing the aircraft must have the authority appropriate to the work being signed off.
Maintenance Release
The propane tank, usually tank number one, that offers all appropriate services, such as liquid, vapor, and backup system.
Master tank
The maximum amount of weight that a balloon may lift under standard conditions. Usually part of the balloon’s design criteria, and may be found on the type Certificate Data Sheet for that particular balloon.
Maximum allowable gross lift
A valve on a balloon heater that can be set to allow propane to pass through at a specific rate.
Metering valve
A type of alcohol, usually fermented from wood, required by most balloon manufacturers to be introduced into propane tanks annually to adsorb, and thus eliminate, small quantities of water from the fuel.
Methanol
A grey or white parasite fungus which, under warm, most conditions, can live on organic dirt found on balloon envelopes. The fungus waste materials attack the coating on the fabric.
Mildew
Operation of an unmanned balloon secured to the ground by lines or controlled by anything touching the ground.
Mooring
The bottom, open end of a hot air balloon envelope. Also called the “throat.”
Mouth
Mean sea level.
MSL
A condition where a balloon is weightless and it neither ascending nor descending.
Neutral buoyancy
A technique of adding nitrogen gas to propane tanks to increase fuel pressure. Used in place of temperature to control propane pressure in hot air balloons during cold weather.
Nitrogen charging
Technically, a calculating chart with scales that contain values of three or more mathematical variables, widely used in engineering. In ballooning, a balloon’s performance chart is a __________.
Nomogram
The state of having no pores or openings which will not allow gas to pass through. New hot air balloon fabric is nearly __________.
Nonporous
A notice containing information concerning facilities, services, or procedures, the timely knowledge of which is essential to personnel concerned with flight operations.
Notice to Airmen (NOTAM)
The registered name for a polymetric fabric,. Most balloon envelopes are made of __________.
Nylon
