Airport Operations Flashcards
What is a civil airport?
Airports that are open to the general
public.
What is a Private Airport?
Airports designated for private or restricted use only, not open to the general public
What are Military/Federal Government airports?
Airports operated by the military, National Aeronautics and
Space Administration (NASA), or other agencies of
the Federal Government.
Sources of Airport Data?
- Aeronautical Charts
- Airport/Facility Directory (AFD)
- Notices to Airmen (NOTAMs)
Towered Airport:
Do you need two-way communication with ATC?
Do you need to comply with all clearances?
In what cases can you deviate from clearances?
What must you ask for to deviate from instruction?
Yes, two-way communication with ATC must be kept.
You do need to comply with all clearances.
If clearances can not be complied you must ask from amended clearance or must be in an emergency. If an emergency occurs notify ATC as soon as possible.
Non-towered Airports:
Who do you speak to?
Speak to traffic on CTAF to indicate
What does CTAF stand for?
Common Traffic Advisory Frequency
What does UNICOM stand for?
Universal Integrated Community
What is UNICOM?
UNICOM is a nongovernment air/ground radio communication station which may provide airport information at public use airports
where there is no tower or FSS.
What does FSS stand for?
Flight Service Station
At Pilot Request UNICOM can provide…
- weather information
- wind direction
- recommended runway
- other necessary information
UNICOM (no tower or FSS):
Frequency Use:
Outbound Communication Procedure:
Inbound Communication Procedure:
Practice Instrument Approach:
Frequncy Use:
Communicate with UNICOM
station on published CTAF
frequency (122.7, 122.8, 122.725, 122.975, or 123.0).
If unable to contact UNICOM station, use self-announce
procedures on CTAF.
Outbound:
Before taxiing and
before taxiing on the
runway for departure.
Inbound: 10 miles out. Entering downwind, base, and final. Leaving the runway
Practice: None
No Tower, Unicom, or FSS:
Frequency Use:
Outbound Communication Procedure:
Inbound Communication Procedure:
Practice Instrument Approach:
Frequency Use:
Self-announce on MULTICOM frequency 122.9.
Outbound Communication:
Before taxiing and
before taxiing on the
runway for departure
Inbound Communication:
Before taxiing and before taxiing on the runway for departure.
Practice Instrument Approach:
Departing final approach fix (name) or on final approach
segment inbound.
No Tower, FSS Open
Frequency Use:
Outbound Communication Procedure:
Inbound Communication Procedure:
Practice Instrument Approach:
Frequency Use:
Communicate with FSS on CTAF
frequency
Outbound Communication:
Before taxiing and
before taxiing on the
runway for departure
Inbound Communication: 10 miles out. Entering downwind, base, and final. Leaving the runway
Practice Instrument Approach:
Approach completed/terminated.
FSS Closed (no tower)
Frequency Use:
Outbound Communication Procedure:
Inbound Communication Procedure:
Practice Instrument Approach:
Frequency Use:
Self-announce on CTAF.
Outbound Communication:
Before taxiing and
before taxiing on the
runway for departure
Inbound Communication: 10 miles out. Entering downwind, base, and final. Leaving the runway
Practice Instrument Approach:
None
Tower of FSS not in operation:
Frequency Use:
Outbound Communication Procedure:
Inbound Communication Procedure:
Practice Instrument Approach:
Frequency Use:
Self-announce on CTAF.
Outbound Communication:
Before taxiing and
before taxiing on the
runway for departure
Inbound Communication: 10 miles out. Entering downwind, base, and final. Leaving the runway
Practice Instrument Approach:
None
Mandatory Instruction Signs
Red background with white inscription.
These signs denote an entrance to a
runway, critical area, or prohibited area.
Co-located with Hold Short Lines
Location Signs
Black with yellow inscription and a
yellow border, no arrows.
They are used to identify a
taxiway or runway location, to identify the boundary
of the runway, or identify an instrument landing
system (ILS) critical area
Direction Signs
Yellow background with black
inscription.
The inscription identifies the designation
of the intersecting taxiway(s) leading out of an
intersection.
Destination Signs
Yellow background with black
inscription and also contain arrows.
These signs
provide information on locating things, such as
runways, terminals, cargo areas, and civil aviation
areas.
Information Signs
Yellow background with black
inscription.
These signs are used to provide the pilot
with information on such things as areas that cannot
be seen from the control tower, applicable radio
frequencies, and noise abatement procedures. The
airport operator determines the need, size, and location
of these signs
Runway Distance Remaining Signs
Black background with white numbers.
The numbers indicate the distance of the remaining runway in thousands of feet.
AIRPORT BEACONS:
What do they do?
When are they operated?
What special circumstances are they turned on?
- Airport beacons help a pilot identify an airport at night.
- The beacons are operated from dusk till dawn.
- Sometimesthey are turned on if the ceiling is less than 1,000 feet and/or the ground visibility is less than 3 statute miles (VFR minimums).
Types of Airports (2)
Controlled – have at least a part time operating control tower
Uncontrolled - no operating control tower
Runways
What color are surface markings?
What identifies runways?
What are the identification markings based on?
All runway surface markings are white
Runways are identified using numbers:
- Based on magnetic heading of runway rounded to the nearest ten
- Position of runways can be further defined by using “L” (Left), “R” (Right), “C” (Center)
- Most runways have specific obstacle clearance requirements
- Runways are stressed to handle the impact of the aircraft touchdown
Types of Runway Markings
Visual Runway Markings:
Non-Precision Markings:
Precision Markings:
CLOSED RUNWAYS
Permanently Closed:
Temporarily Closed:
Permanently Closed:
Yellow “X” placed at each approach end of the runway and at 1000’ intervals
Temporarily Closed:
Yellow “X” placed at each approach end of the runway
-May be lighted
Taxiway Markings
What colors are the taxiway markings?
All taxiway markings are yellow
Identified by letters (A, B, C) or by Letter/Number combinations (A1, B2, C3)
Installed at taxiway/runway intersections
What markings are taxiway and which are runway?
- Solid Side – Taxiway
* Dashed Side - Runway
ILS Critical Area
What is it and why is it installed?
When do you hold short of it?
Installed to prevent interference with the operation of the Instrument Landing System (ILS)
Hold short of the line only when instructed to do so by ATC
Airport Signs
Where are they installed?
What do they indicate?
Installed at various points around an airport to indicate •Location on Airport •Location of Runways •Direction •General Information
Airport Beacon Colors and Meanings?
When do beacons show?
Civilian Land Airport: One Green One White
Water Airport: One Yellow One White
Military Airport: Two White One Green
Heliport: One White One Yellow One Green
Beacons show from sunset to sunrise.
Taxiway Edge Lighting color and direction?
Omnidirectional Blue
Taxiway Centerline Lighting Color and direction?
Unidirectional Green
Runway Edge Light Systems
What is their purpose?
Color?
What is the exception and where are these lights located?
•Allow for identification of runway edges
oWhite along the edge
•Exception – for instrument runways where the last 2,000’ are yellow to form a caution zone for landing
oGreen at threshold boundary
oRed at departure end
Runway End Identifier Lights (REIL)
•Flashing lights at the beginning of the runway
In-Runway Lighting
•Runway Centerline Lighting System (RCLS)
oWhite until last 3,000’
•At 3,000’, alternate red and white for the next 2,000 then remaining 1,000’ all red
Touchdown Zone Lights (TDZL) color?
White
Two Bars that run on the 500 foot markers to aid in where to touch down.
Taxiway Lead Off Lights color?
•Alternate green and yellow
Land and Hold Short Lights color?
•Flashing white across the runway intersection
What does provide mean?
Provide means to transition from instrument flight to visual flight for landing
Runway Guard Lights
Where are they and what do they do?
What color are they?
•Flashing yellow lights installed at either side of the taxiway or a row of in-pavement yellow lights installed across the entire taxiway
oInstalled to prevent Taxiway/Runway intersection incursions
Stop Bars
•Row of steady burning red lights and elevated red lights installed at runway holding positions
oStop bar lights are turned off when the aircraft is cleared across
oNever cross a red illuminated stop bar even if an ATC clearance is received
Clearance Bar
oThree in-pavement steady burning yellow lights
•Taxiway intersections
VASI
Visual Approach Slope Indicator
•Provides obstacle clearance within 4 NM of the runway threshold within 10 degrees of centerline
PAPI
Precision Approach Path Indicator
Visual Glide-slope Indicator Types (4)
VASI
PAPI
Tri-Color Systems
Pulsating Systems
AWOS and ASOS
Automated Weather Observation Station
Automated Surface Observation Station
- Automated Weather
- Frequencies found on sectional chart
ATIS
Automatic Terminal Information Service •Available at towered airports oWeather oActive Runways oNOTAMS oFrequency Information oSpecial Information
Pilot Controlled Lighting
Uncontrolled Airports
•Clicking the mic switch on the appropriate frequency
•7 Clicks – highest intensity oIdentify the airport oDo this with other pilots in mind •5 Clicks – medium intensity •3 Clicks – low intensity
Operation Lights On
Turn on landing light during takeoff, either after takeoff clearance is received or when beginning takeoff roll
When operating within 10 miles of any airport
Enhances see and avoid concept
Aircraft Lights 91.209
From sunset to sunrise you must:
- Operate position lights (navigation lights)
- Operate anti-collision lights (strobe lights), unless, in the interest of safety, you determine they should be turned off
What is the direction of the traffic pattern?
STANDARD?
NONSTANDARD? (2)
Where can information be found? (2)
- Standard (LEFT)
- Nonstandard (RIGHT)
•Information can be found
oSectional
oA/FD
Pattern Entry (2)
- Overfly airport if necessary
* Enter 45 degree to the downwind, midfield
Departing
Departing: •Controlled •Uncontrolled •Noise Abatement •Other Established Procedures
91.113 Right of Way Rules
- When able, all pilots must see and avoid other aircraft
- When another aircraft ahs the right of way, you must yield and pass well clear of the other aircraft
- An aircraft in distress has the right of way over all other air traffic
91.113 Right of Way Converging Rules
Aircraft of the same category converging, the aircraft to the other’s right has the right of way.
- Balloon
- Glider
- Airship
- Aircraft towing or re-fueling
When approaching head on, each aircraft shall alter course to the right
91.113 Right of Way Landing Rules
Aircraft landing have the right of way over other aircraft in the air or on the surface
•Two aircraft approach to land, the lower one has the right of way
oDo NOT take advantage of this rule
Land and Hold Short Operations (LAHSO)
LAHSO is a clearance to land and stop prior to a predetermined point (typically a runway)
LAHSO clearances will be offered by ATC without request by the PIC, however the PIC must accept the clearance
Pilots should read back their LAHSO clearance and include the words “HOLD SHORT OF RUNWAY ___”
ATIS will normally indicate if LAHSO is in effect along with runway length for LAHSO runways
Exiting After Landing:
What is expected of you when landing and exiting?
Who will advise you where to turn off and will they always?
If ATC provides runway instruction can you exit another?
What must you cross to be clear of runway?
It is expected that aircraft will exit the runway as soon as practical at the first available taxiway
- ATC will not necessarily advise you at which taxiway to turn off at
- DO NOT exit onto another runway unless directed by ATC
- Taxi past and clear the hold short line. DO NOT cross subsequent taxiways unless directed by ATC.
