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.
The trade association for the global civil vertical-aviation industry; formerly the Helicopter Association International (HAI), it changed its name to reflect the growth of non-helicopter vertical aviation, including drones.
VAI
Vertical Aviation International
Validate
Confirmation by examination and provision of objective evidence that the particular requirements for a specific intended use are fulfilled.
In terms of a flight plan clearance, a controller will validate a flight plan when the details match what has been filed with the air traffic service, and the plan is ready to be activated.
VDR
Voyage Data Recorder
Vectran
A multifilament yarn spun from liquid crystal polymer and manufactured by Kuraray.
Veer-off
An aircraft departs the side of a runway
VEMD
Vehicle and Engine Multifunction Display
Vent line
A line, normally coloured red and white, used to open a vent at the top of an envelope and increase the rate of descent.
Ventilation damper
A valve that stops or regulates the supply of air to the ventilation fan.
Versine
The distance from the circumference of a circle to the mid-point of a chord of that circle
Vertical load
The downward force on an individual wheel can vary as a wagon travels along a track. When the vertical load is low compared to the lateral force, the wheel can climb the rail, potentially leading to a derailment.
Vertical situation display
A vertical situation display provides a profile view of an aircraft along its programmed descent path, and can include terrain.
Vertical stabilisers
Designed to provide an aerodynamic force to reduce pilot’s pedal input when the helicopter is in forward flight.
Vessel predictor
A line or shape on a vessel’s radar or ECDIS that shows the predicted track of the vessel calculated from external inputs of heading, rate of turn, speed
Vessel's draught
The depth of the hull immersed in the water
Vessel's firefighting plan
A shipyard plan that shows the layout of the vessel and locations of firefighting systems, equipment and control stations and other relevant information.
Vessel's flag state
The country where a ship is registered.
Vessel's trail
A residual radar image that represents a vessel’s past track over a user-defined period of time.
Vessels of opportunity
Nearby commercial and recreational vessels used to assist with a response.
Vessels' arrival draught
How deep a ship sits in the water.
Vestibule
An enclosed area at the end of rail carriages containing a doorway leading to adjoining carriages
VFR
Visual flight rules
VFR flight
A flight conducted in accordance with the visual flight rules, when meteorological conditions expressed in terms of visibility, distance from cloud, and ceiling are equal to or better than specified minima
VHF
Very high frequency
Vigilance system
A system that will directly initiate an emergency brake application if an acknowledgment input is not received within a specified time increment
Virtual aid to navigation
A virtual aid to navigation is a navigational feature or hazard that is displayed on a vessel’s chart plotter, AIS display or other receiving equipment within range.
Visible moisture
Cloud or freezing rain
Visual
A ‘visual’ call provides confirmation that: the pilot is able to maintain continuous visual reference with the terrain ahead: the visibility is equal to or greater than the minima prescribed for the approach; and the pilot is able to make a normal landing.
Visual approach
An approach to a runway at an airport conducted under instrument flight rules, but where the pilot proceeds by visual reference and clear of clouds to the airport
Visual flight conditions
Clear of cloud and in sight of ground or water.
Visual flight rules
Operating requirements that include the flight visibility and clearance from cloud to be above specified minima
Void
An empty, enclosed space on a vessel that is not normally used by the crew.
VOLMET
An aviation weather forecast service for selected airfields, transmitted over a five-minute interval every 30 minutes on specified high-frequency radio channels (AIP GEN 3.5, p. 30).
Voyage charter
When a vessel and crew are hired for a voyage carrying a specified cargo between a load port and a discharge port
Voyage data recorder
Equipment that records information sourced from various on-board systems, including bridge microphone recordings.
VRS
Vortex Ring State
VTS
Vessel Traffic Service providing navigational assistance and monitoring
