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FAB –> Functional Airspace Block
FAB EC –> Functional Airspace Block
Feet (ft) The standard unit for determining altitude in civil aviation. One foot equals 30.48 cm.
FIC (Flight Information Center) The flight information center provides pilots in skyguide’s airspace with information on air safety, such as the general air traffic situation, weather conditions and the state of ground-based installations.
Final approach The last phase of flight, just before an aircraft lands. Aircraft equipped with the appropriate on-board equipment (–> Navigation instruments) are assisted in this phase by the instrument landing system (–> ILS) or by another guidance system which allows the aircraft to land even in conditions of low visibility.
FIR (Flight Information Region) The airspace of a country, which does not necessarily correspond to national borders, in which flight information as well as search and rescue services are provided for those flights of which ATC has been informed.
Flight calibration Ground-based navigation aids must undergo regular inspections and be recalibrated. Flight calibration is handled by Flight Calibration Services GmbH, a joint venture between Deutsche Flugsicherung (DFS), Austrocontrol and skyguide. (www.flightcalibration.de)
Flight Level (FL) An isobaric area of constant air pressure used for aircraft separation at high altitudes. The flight level shows the altitude above standard air pressure, measured in hundreds of feet. Thus, flight level 200 is approximately 20 000 ft (6000 m) above sea level.
Flight movement A flight segment which is controlled by an air traffic control service. Each flight generates a number of movements. The number of flight movements handled by an ATC service is indicative of that service’s workload, but not necessarily equal to the number of flights or of kilometres travelled in any given airspace. In Switzerland, more than two million flight movements are handled each year for slightly more than one million flights.
Flight Plan (FPL) A form given by the pilot to air traffic control services. The flight plan contains information such as the type of aircraft, the scheduled departure time, the flight level and speed desired, the route envisaged, the airport of destination, the number of passengers on board, the emergency equipment with which the aircraft is equipped, etc. In order for the flight to receive clearance, and for the purpose of informing the search and rescue (–>) service in the event of difficulties, the Aeronautical Information Service (–> AIS) monitors the complete and accurate transmission of flight plan data to all ATC services involved worldwide. (–> Strip, Stripless)
FMS (Flight Management System) On-board computer into which important flight information is programmed, especially for current flight trajectories, flight plans, etc.
FOCA (Federal Office of Civil Aviation) Official Swiss aviation monitoring authority and skyguide regulator. It is part of the Federal Department of the Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications (UVEK, www.uvek.admin.ch). All procedures used by skyguide are subject to preliminary approval from FOCA. (www.aviation.admin.ch)
Free flight An innovative ATC concept for the future in which pilots could use advanced on-board equipment to determine (and keep to) their own route, speed and altitude. The first trials are now taking place in the United States.
Functional Airspace Block (FAB) FABs are larger airspaces structured less along political lines (such as national borders) and more according to users’ operational needs. With the creation of such airspaces in the framework of its Single European Sky programme (–>), the European Commission aims at optimising airspace management and safety. Since November 2006, the air navigation service providers of Switzerland, Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg and the Netherlands have been conducting with Eurocontrol a feasibility study into the creation of a joint functional airspace block or FAB at the heart of Europe (FAB Europe Central, FAB EC). The study should identify the benefits of such an arrangement in terms of airspace capacity, operating efficiency and potential cost savings for both civil and military users.