Aviation Dictionary
On this page you will find a searchable and comprehensive alphabetical list of aviation terms. You can help us make it the most comprehensive list in the world. If we have missed anything, click on the ‘send us your word’ button to send us your word, acronym or definition and we will consider adding it to our dictionary.
Aviation Dictionary: V
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| V1 | The speed beyond which take-off should no longer be aborted. In other words, if V1 is reached, then you as the pilot are committed to the take-off. An aborted take-off after V1 will mean that there is not enough runway available to safely bring the aircraft to a stop |
| Va | Design manoeuvring speed. Below this speed, the aircraft will stall before experiencing any structural failure if full application of any flight controls is experienced. Above Va and the aircraft may experience significant structural damage before stalling. |
| VA | Volcanic Ash |
| Vacate | Leaving the runway and joining a taxi way |
| Variable Pitch Propeller | A propeller which has the ability to change its pitch in flight, either automatically or manually by the pilot, which reduces drag and increases performance |
| VASI | Visual approach slope indicator |
| VC | Vicinity |
| Veering wind | A clockwise change in wind direction |
| Vertical Stabiliser | Used to provide directional stability. The rudder is attached to the vertical stabiliser |
| Vfe | Maximum flap extended speed |
| VFR | Visual Flight Rules. You may only fly when you can actually see where you are going. |
| VFR Transit Lanes | A pathway through a control zone or control area that has specific altitude requirements which aircraft can fly through without obtaining a clearance. |
| Vfto | Final take-off speed |
| VHF | Very high frequency |
| VIS | Visibility |
| Visibility | The ability to clearly see an object at a certain distance. The minimum visibility required for VFR flight is 5km and when obtaining weather reports, either before your flight or via an ATIS, the visibility for a specific period of time will be displayed or given in the weather report. |
| Visual Departure | A departure by an IFR flight when either part or all of an instrument procedure is not completed and the departure is executed based on visual reference to terrain. |
| Visual Reference | Continuous reference to either land or water |
| Vle | Maximum landing gear extended speed |
| Vlo | Maximum landing gear operating speed |
| VMC | Visual meteorological conditions |
| Vmca | Minimum control speed in the air |
| Vmcg | Minimum control speed on the ground |
| Vmo | Maximum operating speed |
| VNAV | Vertical navigation |
| Vne | Never exceed Speed |
| Vno | Normal Operating Speed |
| Volcanic Hazard Zones | Areas of airspace designated around a volcano. These have special conditions and the size of the area can change based on the volcanic alert level. Entering a VHZ has specific requirements. |
| VOLMET | Meteorological information for aircraft in flight |
| VOR | A ground based radio station which is used for navigation by pilots who have a VOR receiver in the aircraft. A VOR transmits radials from the station. |
| Vr | Rotate speed |
| Vso | Stall speed - flaps extended |
| Vs1 | Stall speed - clean |
| VS | Vertical speed |
| VSI | Vertical speed indicator |
| Vso | Stall speed in landing configuration |
| VTC | Visual terminal chart |
| VTOSS | Take-off safety speed |
| Vx | Best angle of climb speed |
| Vy | Best rate of climb speed |
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