False lift.  See Uncontrolled Lift. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The federal  agency responsible to promote aviation safety through  regulation and education. Federal Communications Commission (FCC). The  federal agency which regulates radio communication and  communication equipment in the United States. Flameout. The inadvertent extinguishing of a burner  flame. Flare.  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. Global Positioning System (GPS).  The Global Positioning  System 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 sensings, 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.  Ground crew.  Persons who assist in the assembly, inflation,  chase, and recovery of a balloon. Ground visibility. 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. Flight review.  Required for all certificated pilots every 24  months in order to retain pilot in command privileges. A  flight review consists of at least 1 hour of flight training and  1 hour of ground training. Handling line.  A line, usually ¼-to ½-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. Flight time.  According to Title 14 of the Code of Federal  Regulations, the time from the moment the aircraft first  moves under its own power for the purpose of flight until the  moment it comes to rest at the next point of landing. Heater.  Propane-fueled device to heat air inside the envelope  of a balloon, often referred to as a burner. Helium. 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. Flight visibility.  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. Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) Weather  Display.  A product of the Aviation Digital Data Service, this  computer program give weather information, both real-time  and forecast, for a 5 kilometer square area nationwide. It can  be viewed and downloaded at www.weather.aero/HEMS fpm.  Feet per minute. Flight Standards District Office (FSDO). Field offices  of the FAA, which deal with certification and operation of  aircraft. Gauge.  A device for measuring. Required gauges on a hot  air balloon are the envelope temperature gauge (pyrometer)  and the fuel quantity gauge for each fuel tank. Most balloons  also have fuel pressure gauges. Gondola. Portion of a gas balloon that carries the pilot,  passengers, cargo, ballast, and instruments.  Gore.  A vertical section of fabric, often made of two vertical,  or numerous horizontal panels, sewn together to make a  balloon envelope. Hypoxia.  An aeromedical term; means “reduced oxygen” or  “not enough oxygen.”  Hydrogen.  The lightest of all gaseous elements. Commonly  used in Europe for inflating gas balloons. Flammable by  itself and explosive when mixed with oxygen. As opposed  to helium, hydrogen is easily manufactured.  G-4