Teaching the Science, Inspiring the Art, Producing Aviation Candidates! Airports And ATC Written for the Notre Dame Pilot Initiative By the Pilots of the

“Teaching the Science, Inspiring the Art, Producing Aviation Candidates!”

Airports And ATCAirports And ATC

Written for the Notre Dame Pilot Initiative By the Pilots of the University of Notre Dame

Written for the Notre Dame Pilot Initiative By the Pilots of the University of Notre Dame


History of AirportsHistory of AirportsHistory of AirportsHistory of Airports

Flying CirclesCircular fieldsAllowed for takeoff and landings in any

directionWhite gravel circle 50 to 100 ft in

diameter marked middle of airfieldDistinguished it from field used for livestock

Airport names painted on the tops of buildings

Flying CirclesCircular fieldsAllowed for takeoff and landings in any

directionWhite gravel circle 50 to 100 ft in

diameter marked middle of airfieldDistinguished it from field used for livestock

Airport names painted on the tops of buildings



Airport LightingAirport LightingAirport LightingAirport Lighting Runway Edge lights

Single row of white lights on either side of runway edge If Instrument Runway

Yellow for last 2,000 feet (or half, whichever is less) Three types:

HIRLs MIRLs LIRLs

Three ways to ID runway at night: Displaced threshold lighting – green lights on either side to

indicate beginning of runway Row of green lights Row of red lights

REILs

Runway Edge lights Single row of white lights on either side of runway edge

If Instrument Runway Yellow for last 2,000 feet (or half, whichever is less)

Three types: HIRLs MIRLs LIRLs

Three ways to ID runway at night: Displaced threshold lighting – green lights on either side to

indicate beginning of runway Row of green lights Row of red lights

REILs


Airport LightingAirport LightingAirport LightingAirport Lighting

In – Runway Lighting Centerline, touchdown zone, and taxiway turnoff

lights Centerline Lights

White until 3,000 ft 3,000 – 1,000 ft. alternating red and white Last 1,000 ft. RED

Taxiway Lighting Blue lights that line both side of taxiway Omni directional Can be green

In – Runway Lighting Centerline, touchdown zone, and taxiway turnoff

lights Centerline Lights

White until 3,000 ft 3,000 – 1,000 ft. alternating red and white Last 1,000 ft. RED

Taxiway Lighting Blue lights that line both side of taxiway Omni directional Can be green


Airport LightingAirport LightingAirport LightingAirport Lighting


Lighting Continued…Lighting Continued…Lighting Continued…Lighting Continued…


Pilot Controlled LightingPilot Controlled LightingPilot Controlled LightingPilot Controlled Lighting

System by which pilot activates airport lighting from aircraft’s PTT switch or mike.

Used at non-controlled airports Keyed mike 7 times – high intensity 5 times - medium 3 times – low

Can control VASI and PAPI systems along with the REILS and the Approach lighting system.

System by which pilot activates airport lighting from aircraft’s PTT switch or mike.

Used at non-controlled airports Keyed mike 7 times – high intensity 5 times - medium 3 times – low

Can control VASI and PAPI systems along with the REILS and the Approach lighting system.


VASI and PAPIVASI and PAPIVASI and PAPIVASI and PAPI

Visual Approach Path Indicator (VASI)

Precision Approach Path Indicator (PAPI)

2 or 3 bar configurations and tri-color

Safe obstruction clearance within 10° of runway centerline and 4 nm from threshold

Visual Approach Path Indicator (VASI)

Precision Approach Path Indicator (PAPI)

2 or 3 bar configurations and tri-color

Safe obstruction clearance within 10° of runway centerline and 4 nm from threshold


Light Gun SignalsLight Gun SignalsLight Gun SignalsLight Gun Signals

Color and Type Aircraft on Surface Aircraft in Flight

Steady Green Cleared for takeoff Cleared to Land

Flashing Green Cleared to taxi Return for Landing

Steady Red StopGive way to other

aircraft and continue circling

Flashing Red Taxi clear of runwayAirport unsafe – do not

land

Flashing WhiteReturn to starting point

on airportN/A

Alternating Red/Green

Exercise Extreme Caution

Exercise Extreme Caution


Airport BeaconsAirport BeaconsAirport BeaconsAirport Beacons

Four Types Civilian Water Military Airport Heliport

Used to ID airports at night

Daylight Operation <1,000 ft. and 3

miles visibility – which is what???

Four Types Civilian Water Military Airport Heliport

Used to ID airports at night

Daylight Operation <1,000 ft. and 3

miles visibility – which is what???


Airport Traffic PatternAirport Traffic PatternAirport Traffic PatternAirport Traffic Pattern

Established to ensure proper traffic flow in and out of the airport

Standard Pattern5 legsAlways left hand traffic pattern – unless

stated otherwise

Established to ensure proper traffic flow in and out of the airport

Standard Pattern5 legsAlways left hand traffic pattern – unless

stated otherwise


Traffic PatternTraffic Pattern


Wind Direction IndicatorsWind Direction Indicators Calm Wind RunwayCalm Wind Runway

Preferred runway when wind less than 5 ktsPreferred runway when wind less than 5 kts Wind SockWind Sock

Most common wind indicatorMost common wind indicator Wind intensity indicated by straightness of sockWind intensity indicated by straightness of sock

Wind TeeWind Tee Sometimes locked in place to show active runwaySometimes locked in place to show active runway Unable to indicate wind intensityUnable to indicate wind intensity

TetrahedronTetrahedron Sometimes locked in place to show active runwaySometimes locked in place to show active runway Unable to indicate wind intensityUnable to indicate wind intensity


Wind Direction IndicatorsWind Direction Indicators


Segmented CircleSegmented Circle

Base

Final

Left Trafficfor runway 23

Right Trafficfor runway 5

Base

Final

5 23

Elephant Path Airport, Perkasie, PA (PS03)


Segmented CircleSegmented CircleSegmented CircleSegmented Circle


Land and Hold Short Operations Land and Hold Short Operations (LAHSO)(LAHSO)

Land and Hold Short Operations Land and Hold Short Operations (LAHSO)(LAHSO)

Includes landings and holding short of intersecting runways, taxiways, or some other designated point on a runway.

Controlled AirportsClearance given by ATCCan decline LAHSO clearance

SAFETY FIRST

Includes landings and holding short of intersecting runways, taxiways, or some other designated point on a runway.

Controlled AirportsClearance given by ATCCan decline LAHSO clearance

SAFETY FIRST


LAHSOLAHSOLAHSOLAHSO

18

36

279


LAHSOLAHSOLAHSOLAHSO


Wake TurbulenceWake TurbulenceWake TurbulenceWake Turbulence

Wingtip vortices are created only when an airplane develops lift

Greatest strength: heavy, clean & slow

Wingtip vortices are created only when an airplane develops lift

Greatest strength: heavy, clean & slow



Tend to sink and drift with windFly above and upwind of flight path of large

jet/aircraft Most dangerous is light, quartering tailwind

Tend to sink and drift with windFly above and upwind of flight path of large

jet/aircraft Most dangerous is light, quartering tailwind




Taxiing in the WindTaxiing in the WindTaxiing in the WindTaxiing in the Wind

Proper use of aileron and elevators helps maintain control of airplane

Taxiing in quarter headwind Aileron up on side from which wind is blowing,

neutral elevator

Taxiing in quartering tailwind Hold aileron down on the side from which the wind

is blowing, and hold elevator down Most critical for tail wheel aircraft

Proper use of aileron and elevators helps maintain control of airplane

Taxiing in quarter headwind Aileron up on side from which wind is blowing,

neutral elevator

Taxiing in quartering tailwind Hold aileron down on the side from which the wind

is blowing, and hold elevator down Most critical for tail wheel aircraft


Taxing in the WindTaxing in the WindTaxing in the WindTaxing in the Wind


Taxiing in WindTaxiing in Wind


Collision AvoidanceCollision AvoidanceCollision AvoidanceCollision Avoidance

Risk of collision exists for all pilots – MUST TAKE PRECAUTIONS

Most mid-air collisions take place when? 5NM airport on clear VFR days

Scanning techniques Short 10° spaced sectored eye movements Clock positions

Aircraft lighting (day/night)Aircraft blind spots

High wing Low wing

Risk of collision exists for all pilots – MUST TAKE PRECAUTIONS

Most mid-air collisions take place when? 5NM airport on clear VFR days

Scanning techniques Short 10° spaced sectored eye movements Clock positions

Aircraft lighting (day/night)Aircraft blind spots

High wing Low wing


Aircraft LightingAircraft LightingAircraft LightingAircraft Lighting

Navigation LightsRed – Left WingGreen – Right WingWhite – Tail

Anti-Collision LightsRed rotating beacon - FuselageWhite strobe lights – Wings

Navigation LightsRed – Left WingGreen – Right WingWhite – Tail

Anti-Collision LightsRed rotating beacon - FuselageWhite strobe lights – Wings


Aircraft LightingAircraft LightingAircraft LightingAircraft Lighting

*Note: cannot see green/red nav lights from rear


Airplane Blind SpotsAirplane Blind Spots


Other Blind SpotsOther Blind SpotsOther Blind SpotsOther Blind Spots


Collision AvoidanceCollision AvoidanceCollision AvoidanceCollision Avoidance

ATC ServicesFlight following

Airport OperationsOperation Lights On –FAA

Landing lights on for DEP and ARR Operating within 10 nm day and night

Clearing Turns

ATC ServicesFlight following

Airport OperationsOperation Lights On –FAA

Landing lights on for DEP and ARR Operating within 10 nm day and night

Clearing Turns

Documents

Teaching the Science, Inspiring the Art, Producing Aviation Candidates! Airports And ATC Written for the Notre Dame Pilot Initiative By the Pilots of the