Witnesses to the recent Black Cat cruise boat accident after it grounded just outside the Akaroa Heads are urged to submit a statement to TAIC immediately.
Federal Aviation Administration, US Department of Transportation
FADEC
Full authority digital engine control
Fail-safe braking system
The train’s braking system that applies the brakes immediately when carriages or wagon’s part and uncouples the train’s brake pipes between the rail vehicles.
Fail-safe mode
If a malfunction occurs, the train control system is designed to activate the flashing lights, bells and barriers by default. This ensures the level crossing – even if it has failed – is ‘safe’.
Fairlead
An opening at the forward and aft ends of a vessel used to guide a rope, usually to a tug or to the shore, keeping it clear of obstructions and preventing it cutting or chafing
Fall arrester
Safety equipment used, when working at heights or over the side of a ship, to stop a downward free fall and prevent serious harm or death of the person
Fall wire
The steel wire rope on a winch used for lowering or lifting a load
False association
A false association occurs when someone mistakenly believes that two events are related or connected. This often arises when there are superficial similarities or shared characteristics between the two events.
Farm airstrip
A strip of ground set aside for the take-off and landing of aircraft
Fatigue cracking
The weakening of a material caused by cyclic loading, which results in progressive and localised structural damage and the growth of cracks.
Fatigue cracks
Cracks in a material caused by cyclic loading.
Fatigue life
The minimum number of stop-start cycles and flight hours that stress (fatigue spectrum loads) can be applied to a component before a failure could occur.
Fatigue spectrum
The fatigue spectrum is developed from in-flight stresses recorded during a ‘standard’ flight profile, which involves the normal manoeuvres expected in air transport, private and training flights, but not in agricultural flying.
FCM-20
Flex Control Module
FCOM
Flight Crew Operations Manual. FCOM lays out the procedures and checklists for every phase of flight.
FCTM
flight crew training manual
FDR
Flight data recorder
FDS
The balloon’s fast deflation system
Feeder Vessel
Smaller ship transporting cargo to and from hub ports
FEU
Forty-foot equivalent unit - a container size measure
Final approach
A flight path in the direction of landing along the extended runway centreline from the base leg to the runway
FIR
Flight Information Region
Firm landing
A firm landing is harder than a normal landing but does not reach the threshold for a hard landing, which has a specific meaning in aviation related to the level of damage sustained by an aircraft.
Fishing lures
Hooked objects attached to a fishing line, designed to move and resemble prey.
Fitters
Workers who install and remove machinery, pipes and other equipment.
Fixed signals
In simplified terms, SLAS fixed signals display three different aspects: red (stop), yellow (proceed, but a warning that the next signal is at stop) or green (proceed). There are other variables that are not relevant to this report.
Fixed-pitch propeller
When the pitch of a propeller is set at the factory where it is made, and cannot be adjusted while in use, the propeller is known as a fixed-pitch propeller.
Flank protection
A means of protecting movements of trains across junctions by the setting of points (either manually or automatically) that prevent any other unauthorised movement coming into contact with them.
Flapping
Movement of a blade in the vertical sense relative to the plane of rotation.
Flaring the aeroplane
Raising the nose of the aeroplane to the landing attitude.
FLARM
FLARM is a lightweight traffic awareness and collision device optimised for light aircraft, including pilotless vehicles.
Flat light
A term used to describe the lighting conditions when the sun has gone behind the mountains and the light is fading. Under flat light conditions, it is hard to distinguish features in the water
Flatbed truck
A truck where the rear load area does not have solid walls or a roof.
Flight controls
The flight controls or control surfaces include the elevator, rudder and ailerons.
Flight envelope
The flight envelope in aviation is defined by various parameters and refers to the limits within which an aircraft can operate safely and efficiently. A flight envelope encompasses both normal and extreme flight conditions and is typically represented graphically.
Flight following
Flight following is carried out by OCC staff as described in the operator’s OCC Manual. It includes monitoring the location of a flight at all times and requires OCC staff to monitor, evaluate and distribute any important information to the flight crew, such as changes in weather at the destination or en-route alternate, with a focus on the EDTO portion of a flight.
Flight information officer
Airways New Zealand provides a flight information service through a flight information officer, who offers limited assistance for pilots operating in uncontrolled airspace. The pilots remain responsible for terrain-conflict avoidance and separation from other aircraft
Flight instruction
Flight instruction provided to a person by an appropriately licensed and rated flight instructor occupying a pilot seat.
Flight Level
Standardised aviation altitude referenced to a pressure datum
Flight management system
Flight information, including arrival and approach procedures, is loaded into a flight management guidance system that, depending on the modes used, directs the aeroplane’s flight path using the autopilot.
Flight manual
A controlled document kept in the cockpit that provides information about the aircraft, including system descriptions, limitations and normal and emergency procedures.
Flight Safety Foundation
The Flight Safety Foundation is an independent, non-profit international organisation for research, education, advocacy and communications in the field of aviation safety (Flight Safety Foundation, 2016).
Flightcell DZMx
The Flightcell DZMx is a voice, data and tracking system designed and manufactured in New Zealand.
Float
The clearance between the float block on a bogie bolster and the corresponding block on the wagon underframe.
Flood tide
The period between low tide and high tide when the water flows towards the shore
Floor plate
The steel deck on which the winch is installed
Flyaway
When a drone is no longer under the pilot’s control, and it continues to move without pilot input. This is different from a drone that will stop and hold position or return to the operator in the event of a loss of communication.
Flybridge
An additional deck that sits on top of the main superstructure, often used as a viewing point or additional control station.
FMC
flight management computer
FMCG
Fast-moving consumer goods often shipped in containers
FMG
Fatigue Management Guidelines
FOD
foreign object debris or damage
Foot ring
A circular ring secured to a pressure cylinder to keep its bottom surface away from the ground
Foot wire
A foot wire is a wire with one end secured to the vessel’s deck and the other end securing a block used for guiding the wiggle wire then holding it in place.
FOR
Field of regard
Force 2
As indicated on the Beaufort scale, which is mean wind speed of 5 knots or 2.4 metres per second (m/s)
Fore and aft movement
A longitudinal movement towards the bow and stern
Forecastle
The foremost part of a vessel’s deck
Foredeck
The deck at the forward part of the vessel.
Formation
The structured base on which a track is built, usually consisting of impacted earth and ballast. The formation is designed to support the track and prevent it moving.
Forward
Towards the front, or bow, of a vessel
Forward end
Towards the front, or bow, of a vessel.
Forward mooring deck
The forward end of the ship where mooring equipment is located.
Fouling
A rail vehicle in a position that prevents mechanical points moving
Fouling zone
A position at which entry will obstruct or collide with rail traffic on an adjacent line.
FOV
Field of view
Frangible
Easily broken
Free vibration
The type of vibration in which a force is applied once and the structure or component is allowed to vibrate at its natural frequency
Freeboard
Vertical distance from a ship's deck to the waterline
Freeboard deck
The uppermost complete deck exposed to the weather and the sea which has permanent means of closing all openings in it.
Freeze an accident site
Where an investigation is required, the act of retaining all evidence by ensuring nothing is moved or removed from the scene.
Freezerman
A factory worker responsible for freezing, packing, weighing and labelling fish products.
Freezing level
The altitude at which the temperature is at 0°C in a free atmosphere (the freezing point of water).
Freight Wagon
Rail vehicle designed to carry goods
Freight wagons
Rail vehicles that move freight on the rail network.
Friction wedges
Friction wedges perform a similar function to shock absorbers in a car by controlling the bounce when a wagon passes over undulating track. They also hold the bogie bolster perpendicular to the side-frames to provide better steering and a longer wheel life.
Frog
Part of a railway turnout where tracks intersect
ft
feet
Fuel fill cap
A self-venting petrol cap located on top of the transom where fuel is added
Fuel flow fixed mode
A FADEC fail-safe mode in which, in the event of an engine control unit failure, the quantity of fuel being delivered to the engine is fixed at a constant rate until the pilot switches to ‘manual’ mode
Fuel low-pressure light
A light on an instrument panel designed to gain a pilot’s attention and direct them to an area of concern.
Fuel tank sender unit
Component used to gauge level of fuel in fuel tank
Fuel vent
Part of the fuel tank that allows air to enter and exit the fuel tank as the fuel level changes.
Ful-service brake
A full brake application in the normal operating mode, without using the emergency position.
Full cord
The straight-line distance from the leading edge of an aerofoil to the trailing edge.
Full service break application
The maximum train braking force that can be applied through the train’s air brake system
Full stop
A full-stop landing brings the aircraft to taxi speed and then taxis clear of the runway
Full truck load
Transportation of large consignments from any origin to any destination rather than from depot to depot.
