Airport and Traffic Pattern Operations Flashcards
When conducting flight operations into an airport with an operating control tower, when should initial contact be established?
When operating at an airport where traffic control is being exercised by a control tower, pilots are required to maintain two-way radio contact with the tower while operating within Class B, Class C, and Class D surface areas unless the tower authorizes otherwise. Initial call-up should be made about 15 miles from the airport.
When departing a Class D surface area, what communication procedures are recommended?
Unless there is good reason to leave the tower frequency before exiting the Class B, Class C and Class D surface areas, it is good operating practice to remain on the tower frequency for the purpose of receiving traffic information. In the interest of reducing tower frequency congestion, pilots are reminded that it is not necessary to request permission to leave the tower frequency once outside of Class B, Class C, and Class D surface areas.
You discover that both the transmitter and receiver in your aircraft have become inoperative. What procedures should be used when attempting to enter a traffic pattern and land at a tower controlled airport?
a. Remain outside or above Class D surface area. b. Determine direction and flow of traffic. c. Join the traffic pattern and wait for light gun signals. d. Daytime, acknowledge by rocking wings. Nighttime, acknowledge by flashing landing light or navigation lights.
When a control tower located at an airport within Class D airspace ceases operation for the day, what happens to the lower limit of the controlled airspace?
During the hours the tower is not in operation, Class E surface area rules or a combination of Class E rules down to 700 feet AGL and Class G rules to the surface will become applicable. Check the A/FD for specifics.
If the rotating beacon is on at an airport during daylight hours, what significance does this have?
In Class B, Class C, Class D, and Class E surface areas, operation of the airport beacon during the hours of daylight often indicates that the ground visibility is less than 3 miles and/or the ceiling is less than 1,000 feet. ATC clearance in accordance with Part 91 is required for landing, takeoff and flight in the traffic pattern. Pilots should not rely solely on the operation of the airport beacon to indicate if weather conditions are IFR or VFR. There is no regulatory requirement for daylight operation, and it is the pilot’s responsibility to comply with proper preflight planning as required by 14 CFR Part 91.
What are the various types of runway markings (precision instrument runway) and what do they consist of?
a. Runway designators
b. Runway centerline marking
c. Runway aiming point marking
d. Runway touchdown zone markers
e. Runway side stripe markings
f. Runway shoulder marking
g. Runway threshold markings
What does the “star” indicate in the airport data legend?
Star indicates operation part-time. See tower frequencies tabulation in AF/D for hours of operation.
What are the various types of taxiway markings and what do they consist of?
a. Taxiway centerline
b. Taxiway edge
c. Taxiway shoulder
d. Surface painted taxiway direction
e. Surface painted location signs
f. Geographic position markings
Decode the following Airport Data: 285 *L 72
285 = runway elevation in feet *L = lighting limitations exist; refer to A/FD. 72 = length of longest runway in hundreds of feet
