Airport Communications Flashcards
Air Traffic Control Towers (ATCT)
Established at Controlled Airports
Provide for the safe, orderly, and expeditious flow of traffic on and in the vicinity of an airport
Control air traffic operating on and in the immediate vicinity of the runway
Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON)
Provides radar services to a specific terminal area
Approach/Departure Control
Military Controllers refer to this service as RAPCON (Radar Approach Control)
•Grand Forks Approach/Departure
Air Route Traffic Control Centers (ARTCC)
ARTCC Facilities are referred to as “Center” on the radio
Center is the controlling agency for all controlled airspace not controlled by a local facility (ATCT, TRACON)
Flight Service Station (FSS)
When are they used?
What does EFAS stand for?
What EFAS can they provide?
Pilot Weather Briefings
- Preflight
- Enroute Flight Advisory Services (EFAS)
- Relay ATC Clearances
- Flight Plan Filing
- Enroute Communications
- VFR Search and Rescue Services
NOTAMS
UNICOM/MULTICOM
Established as a common set of frequencies to provide airport information at places where control towers do not exist
Self Announce
Request Wind/Runway Information
Radio Detection and Ranging (RADAR)
Primary and Secondary
Primary Radar
•Radio waves are reflected off of the aircraft surface to the RADAR antenna and seen by the controller as a target
Secondary Radar
•ATC assigns a squawk code which is entered into the transponder and is used to track aircraft
Transponder
Modes of operation (4) Discrete Codes (4)
Modes of Operation •OFF – unit is off •STANDBY – prepares unit for use •ON – Position Only •ALT – Position and Altitude (Mode C)
Discrete Codes •1200 – VFR •7500 – Hijacking •7600 – Radio Failure •7700 - Emergency
91.215 (3)
ATC transponder and altitude reporting equipment and use.
•You must have a transponder with altitude reporting capability when operating in
oClass A, B, and C airspace
oAbove and below Class B and C airspace
oWithin 30 NM radius from the primary airport within Class B airspace form the surface to 10,000’ MSL
oAbove 10,000’ MSL
- You must turn your transponder on if one is installed when flying in controlled airspace
- If your transponder fails enroute, ATC may allow you to continue to your destination
Transponder Phraseology:
Squawk (number) Squawk Standby Squawk Altitude IDENT Squawk VFR
“Squawk (number)” – operate transponder on designated code
“Squawk Standby” – set transponder to standby mode
“Squawk Altitude” – set transponder to ALT mode
“IDENT” – press ident to make target brighter
“Squawk VFR” – set transponder to 1200
Radio Ettiquette:
LISTEN
THINK
MONITOR
LISTEN before you transmit
•Avoid overlapping another radio call
•Allow for readbacks
THINK before keying the transmitter
•Know what you are going to say
MONITOR the radio
•Situational/Positional awareness
General Radio Phraseology:
Initial Call
Subsequent Calls
Initial Call •Who you are calling •Who you are •Where you are •What you want
Subsequent Calls •Repeat back pertinent information and end with your callsign oRunway Assignment oHold Short Instructions oHeadings oAltitudes
General Radio Phraseology: Altitudes
Example: Say... 500 10,000 15,200 4,900
Altitudes
•500 – “fife hundred”
•4,900 – “four thousand, niner hundred”
oNOT “four point nine” or “forty nine hundred”
•10,000 – “one zero thousand”
•13,500 – “one tree thousand, fife hundred”
General Radio Phraseology: Speed and Direction
Speed
•120 knots – “one two zero knots”
Direction
•Magnetic Heading 070 – “heading zero seven zero”
•Wind Direction 220 – “wind two two zero”
Uncontrolled Airports:
Always Self-announce position and intentions:
Departure (4)
Arrival (5)
Departure •Before taxiing •Before taxiing onto runway •Takeoff •Direction of departure from the area
Arrival •Monitor Frequency •Initial Call at 10 NM from the airport •Entering downwind •Report base •Report final •Leaving the runway
Frequency Congestion
UNICOM
NORDO
UNICOM frequencies serve many uncontrolled airports.
During busy times limit radio use to the extent possible
No Radio Aircraft (NORDO) – aircraft are not required to listen to or make traffic advisories
- While on downwind look to see if any aircraft are taxiing to the runway
- While on base look to see if any aircraft are on final
