Airports

OBJECTIVE

• To develop the pilot’s understanding of airport operations.
  

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ELEMENTS

• Operations at airports with and without operating control towers 
  
• Adherence to traffic pattern procedures, instructions, and rules 
  
• How to maintain proper spacing from other traffic 
  
• How to maintain the desired ground track 
  
• Wind shear and wake turbulence avoidance procedures 
  
• Orientation with the runway or landing area in use 
  
• How to establish a final approach at an appropriate distance from the runway or landing area 
  
• Identification and proper interpretation of airport, runway and taxiway signs and markings with emphasis on runway incursion avoidance 
  
• Land and Hold Short Operations 
  
• Visual Glideslope Indicators 
  
• Airport/Facilities Directory and other publications 
  
• Controlled Airports 
  
• Uncontrolled (Non-towered) Airports 
  
• Runway Layout 
  
• Airport Visual Aids 
  
• Approach Light Systems 
  
• Pilot-Controlled Lighting 
  
• Ramp Hand Signals 
  

COMPLETION STANDARDS

• Exhibits knowledge of the elements related to traffic patterns. This shall include procedures at airports with and without operating control towers, prevention of runway incursions, collision avoidance, wake turbulence avoidance, and wind shear 
  
• Complies with proper traffic pattern procedures 
  
• Maintains proper spacing from other aircraft 
  
• Corrects for wind drift to maintain the proper ground track 
  
• Maintains orientation with the runway/landing area in use 
  
• Maintains traffic pattern altitude, ±100 feet, and the appropriate airspeed, ±10 knots 
  
• Exhibits knowledge of the elements related to airport, runway, and taxiway operations with emphasis on runway incursion avoidance 
  
• Properly identifies and interprets airport, runway, and taxiway signs, markings, and lighting 
  

COMMON ERRORS

• Failure to comply with traffic pattern instructions, procedures, and rules 
  
• Improper correction for wind drift 
  
• Inadequate spacing from other traffic 
  
• Poor altitude or airspeed control 
  
• Failure to comply with airport, runway and taxiway signs and markings 
  
• Failure to use proper runway incursion avoidance procedures 
  
• Failure to comply with LAHSO Clearance 
  

THINGS TO REMEMBER

• VASIs/PAPIs: 
  
• Red over White, you’re all right. 
  
• White over White, you’ll fly all night! 
  
• Red over Red, you’re dead! 
  
• White over Red, you’re inverted! 
  
• Let big airplanes have the right of way 
  
• Courtesy goes a long way 
  
• If in doubt ask 
  
• Don’t accept a LAHSO unless you KNOW you can comply with it. 
  
• Intersection takeoffs require extra vigilance to determine aircraft performance. Plus, is there someone on the runway behind you and did ATC clear you or the aircraft behind you for departure? 
  
• Rampers can be helpful, but, PIC duty to keep wings clear of obstacles 
  
• Put landing gear down before entering traffic pattern, allows for less workload and distraction while in pattern and dealing with ATC. 
  
• Lesson is mostly ground work, then practice in pattern. 
  
• Have pattern configurations, power settings, and such memorized before spending time working on traffic patterns. Rectangular courses are practice for traffic patterns. 
  
• Patterns are high workload, complete descent and before landing checklists BEFORE entering pattern. Yes, that means the gear will be down early. It beats no gear. 
  
• Clear of Runway: An aircraft is not clear of the runway until all parts of the aircraft, including tailfeathers, are on the other side of the hold short bars, even if that means protruding onto a taxiway. Once clear, stop and complete the after landing checklist, but not until then. 
  

STUDY

• FAA Regulations & Airport/Facilities Directory 
  
• “Aeronautical Information Manual” Ch. 2 & 5 
  
• “Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge” Ch. 13 
  
• Advisory Circular 90-66A 
  
• ASF Airport Markings Flash Cards (available at local FSDO & AOPA)