Airport Operations, Airspace, Radar Services

Objective:

Identify common airport signage, lighting, light gun signals, and other operations within the vicinity of the airport. Define the National Airspace System including airspace classification, visibility, cloud clearance requirements, and locate different airspaces on aeronautical charts. Formulate a working knowledge of where to find this and other useful airport operation information.

Attention:

Imagine what would happen if all of a sudden, over night, all the traffic lights signals and all signs were taken off the roads—chaos? Same if you forget what they mean.

Motivation:

How do you get from the ramp to the runway safely and effectively?
How do you ensure you’re taking off the right runway?
What happens when I lose my radios?

Overview:

Scenario of a cross-country flight from the ramp, to the runway, through every airspace (except A), radio procedures, landing at night at the destination airport, and taxiing to ramp.

Log Ground Training:

  • 61.105(b)(5) Radio communication procedures;

Development:

Common errors (teach all airports and include the WHY)

  • Get in the air and don’t realize what to expect at the destination airport or don’t realize that you’ll need to fly through Class B airspace.

Airports (Day)

  • Towered vs. non-towered
  1. Airport/Facility Directory
  2. NOTAMS
  3. Signs and Markings (AIM 2-3-7) AIM Pgs 572-579 PHAK Pgs 13-4
  • Taxiway markings
  • Taxiway Direction signs
  • Location signs
  • ILS Critical Area Boundary
  • Taxiway/Runway Hold Position signs
  • Etc. as listed in AIM and PHAK

Airspace

  1. Boundaries
    • Class A
    • Class B
    • Class C
    • Class D
    • Class E
    • Class G—uncontrolled
  2. Special Use Airspace (AIM 3-4-1)
    • Prohibited
    • Restricted
    • Warning
    • Military Operation Areas (MOAs)
    • Alert
    • Controlled Firing Areas (CFAs)
  3. Other Airspace Areas
    • Airport Advisory Area: Airspace within 10sm of an airport where a FSS is located and there is no control tower
    • Military Training Routes (MTRs)
    • Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFR)
    • Parachute Jump Aircraft Operations
    • Published VFR Routes
    • Terminal Radar Service Areas (TRSAs)
    • National Security Areas (NSAs)
    • Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFR)
    Airspace Operating Rules Pilot Certification Equipment Requirements
    Class A Must be on IFR Flight plan, IFR clearance required Current Instrument Rating
    1. Altitude reporting 4096 Mode C Transponder Equipment for IFR
    Class B 91.131 Must be cleared to enter Class B airspace At least Private or lesser with endorsement 91.131
    1. VOR/TACAN or RNAV if IFR
    2. Transponder with Mode C
    3. 2-way radio
    Class C 91.130
    1. 2 way radio communication (Radio communication strongly encouraged in the shelf area)
    2. Tower clearance for landing, taxiing, take-off
    		 Any pilot certificate
    1. 2-way radio
    2. Transponder with Mode C
    Class D 91.129 2-way radio communication establish & maintain,Tower clearance for landing, taxiing, take-off Any pilot certificate 2-way radio
    Class E 91.127 Two way radio for IFR General Part 91 Any pilot certificate
    1. Transponder with Mode C above 10,000 MSL, but not at or below 2,500 AGL
    Class G 91.126 General Part 91 Any pilot certificate Something that flies..or falls with style!

    Air Traffic Control Services

    • Radar and services
      • Primary radar
      • Secondary radar
    • Transponder
    • Radar traffic advisories
    • Wake turbulence advisories

    Cloud Clearance and Flight Visibility

    § 103.23 Flight visibility and cloud clearance requirements

    Airspace Flight visibility Distance from clouds
    Class A Not applicable Not Applicable.
    Class B 3 statute miles Clear of Clouds.
    Class C 3 statute miles 500 feet below.
    1,000 feet above.
    2,000 feet horizontal.
    Class D 3 statute miles 500 feet below.
    1,000 feet above.
    2,000 feet horizontal.
    Class E:
    Less than 10,000 feet MSL 3 statute miles 500 feet below.
    1,000 feet above.
    2,000 feet horizontal.
    At or above 10,000 feet MSL 5 statute miles 1,000 feet below.
    1,000 feet above.
    1 statute mile horizontal.
    Class G:
    1,200 feet or less above the surface (regardless of MSL altitude) 1 statute mile Clear of clouds.
    More than 1,200 feet above the surface but less than 10,000 feet MSL 1 statute mile 500 feet below.
    1,000 feet above.
    2,000 feet horizontal.
    More than 1,200 feet above the surface and at or above 10,000 feet MSL 5 statute miles 1,000 feet below.
    1,000 feet above.
    1 statute mile horizontal.

    Airport Lighting

    • Approach light systems
    • Visual Glideslope indicators
    • Runway lighting
      • REIL
      • Runway edge lights
      • In runway lighting
      • Control of airport lighting
      • Taxiway lights
      • Obstruction lights

    Wind Direction Indicators

    • Segmented circles
    • Traffic patterns
      • Entry Requirements—Communication & Equipment
      • Safety standpoint, for collision avoidance

    Radio Communications

    • (see Pilot/Controller Glossary)
    • Lost communication procedures
    • Light signals
    • Standard phraseology
    • PIC responsibility over what ATC tells you for collision avoidance

    Airport Special Operations

    • Land And Hold Short Operations(LAHSO)

    Remember to always look and perform clearing turns before maneuvers.

    Conclusion and Evaluation:

    Understanding airport operations is critical to operating safely in the airport environment. Applying rules of airspace will prevent legal action and provide a margin of safety. Radar services, understood, help pilots do their duty.