Aeronautical Knowledge | Flight-Study

Air Traffic Control and the National Airspace System

The primary purpose of the ATC system is to prevent a collision between aircraft operating in the system and to organize and expedite the flow of traffic. In addition to its primary function, the ATC system has the capability to provide (with certain limitations) additional services. The ability to provide additional services is limited by […]

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Airspace

Other Airspace Areas

Aeronautical Knowledge, Flying Training

“Other airspace areas” is a general term referring to the majority of the remaining airspace. It includes: Local airport advisory (LAA) Military training route (MTR) Temporary flight restriction (TFR) Parachute jump aircraft operations Published VFR routes Terminal radar service area (TRSA) National security area (NSA) Air Defense Identification Zones (ADIZ) land and water based and

Special Use Airspace

Aeronautical Knowledge, Flying Training

Special use airspace or special area of operation (SAO) is the designation for airspace in which certain activities must be confined, or where limitations may be imposed on aircraft operations that are not part of those activities. Certain special use airspace areas can create limitations on the mixed use of airspace. The special use airspace

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Airspace

Controlled Airspace and Uncontrolled Airspace

Aeronautical Knowledge, Flying Training

Controlled Airspace Controlled airspace is a generic term that covers the different classifications of airspace and defined dimensions within which air traffic control (ATC) service is provided in accordance with the airspace classification. Controlled airspace consists of: Class A Class B Class C Class D Class E Class A Airspace Class A airspace is generally

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Airspace

Engineered Materials Arresting Systems (EMAS)

Aeronautical Knowledge, Flying Training

Aircraft can and do overrun the ends of runways and sometimes with devastating results. An overrun occurs when an aircraft passes beyond the end of a runway during an aborted takeoff or on landing rollout. To minimize the hazards of overruns, the FAA incorporated the concept of a runway safety area (RSA) beyond the runway

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Airport Operations

Aircraft Collision Avoidance

Aeronautical Knowledge, Flying Training

Title 14 of the CFR part 91 has established right-of-way rules, minimum safe altitudes, and VFR cruising altitudes to enhance flight safety. The pilot can contribute to collision avoidance by being alert and scanning for other aircraft. This is particularly important in the vicinity of an airport. Effective scanning is accomplished with a series of

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Airport Operations

Aircraft Wake Turbulence

Aeronautical Knowledge, Flying Training

All aircraft generate wake turbulence during flight. This disturbance is caused by a pair of counter-rotating vortices trailing from the wingtips. The vortices from larger aircraft pose problems to encountering aircraft. The wake of these aircraft can impose rolling moments exceeding the roll-control authority of the encountering aircraft. Also, the turbulence generated within the vortices

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Airport Operations

Air Traffic Control Services

Aeronautical Knowledge, Flying Training

Besides the services provided by an FSS as discussed in “Aviation Weather Services,” numerous other services are provided by ATC. In many instances a pilot is required to have contact with ATC, but even when not required, a pilot may find their services helpful. Primary Radar Radar is a device that provides information on range,

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Airport Operations

Radio Communications | Airport Operations

Aeronautical Knowledge, Flying Training

Operating in and out of a towered airport, as well as in a good portion of the airspace system, requires that an aircraft have two-way radio communication capability. For this reason, a pilot should be knowledgeable of radio station license requirements and radio communications equipment and procedures. Radio License There is no license requirement for

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Airport Operations

Traffic Patterns | Airport Operations

Aeronautical Knowledge, Flying Training

At airports without an operating control tower, a segmented circle visual indicator system, if installed, is designed to provide traffic pattern information. [Figure 1] Usually located in a position affording maximum visibility to pilots in the air and on the ground and providing a centralized location for other elements of the system, the segmented circle

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Airport Operations