Airports

Hold-Short Point

A point on the runway beyond which a landing aircraft with a LAHSO clearance is not authorized to proceed. This point may be located prior to an intersecting runway, taxiway, predetermined point, or approach/departure flight path.

Approach Lighting System (ALS)

An airport lighting facility prior to the runway which provides visual guidance to landing aircraft by radiating light beams in a directional pattern which aids the pilot in aligning the aircraft with the extended centerline of the runway on his/her final approach for landing

Runway Holding Position Sign

red with white characters; is an airport version of a stop sign. This sign or marking indicate where the aircraft should stop when approaching a runway. No part of the aircraft can cross the double solid lines.

This marking is a ten foot wide white bar across the width of the runway, which means a portion of the runway is closed.

relocated threshold

When the threshold is relocated, the closed portion of the runway is not available for use by aircraft for takeoff or landing, but it can be used to do what?

taxi

In-Runway Lighting

1. Runway centerline lighting system (RCLS) 2. Touchdown zone lighting (TDZL) 3. Taxiway lead-off lights Touchdown zone, runway centerline, taxiway centerline lead- on/off, or land and hold short lighting which is embedded in the runway surface. These lights are installed on some runways.

Geographic Position Markings

A circle, comprised of an outer black ring contiguous to a white ring with a pink circle in the middle, painted along a taxiway. When installed on asphalt or other dark‐colored pavements, the white ring and the black ring are reversed, It is designated with either a number or a number and letter. The number corresponds to the consecutive position of the marking on the route. These markings are located at points along low visibility taxi routes designated in the airport's Surface Movement Guidance Control System (SMGCS) plan.

ILS Critical area

A defined area around the localizer or glide path antenna, such that aircraft and other vehicles within the area can cause an out-of-tolerance disturbance to the ILS signal.

Ramp

A defined area on an airport or heliport intended to accommodate aircraft for purposes of loading or unloading passengers or cargo, refueling, parking, or maintenance; apron.

Common Traffic Advisory Frequency (CTAF)

A frequency designed for the purpose of carrying out airport advisory practices while operating to or from an airport without an operating control tower. The CTAF may be a UNICOM, Multicom, FSS, or tower frequency and is identified in appropriate aeronautical publications

Airport Diagram

A graphic depiction of the airport showing the layout of the airport with runways and taxiways. The diagram includes pertinent information, e.g. runway lengths, lighting, airport elevation and obstacles.

Obstruction Light

A light or one of a group of lights, usually red or white, frequently mounted on a surface structure or natural terrain to warn pilots of the presence of an obstruction.

Visual Glideslope Indicators

A light systems which indicate your position in relation to desired glide path to the runway; provide the pilot with glidepath information that can be used for day or night approaches. By maintaining the proper glidepath as provided by the system, a pilot should have adequate obstacle clearance and should touch down within a specified portion of the runway.

Pilot Control of Airport Lighting

A system that allows pilots to turn on specified airport lights using radio signals from the aircraft communication radio. Intensity of the lighting is controlled by keying the mike multiple times in a 5 second interval. Lights are on a 15 minute timer that is reset every time the mike is re-keyed. Commonly used at non-towered airports and when tower is not in operation.

Displaced Threshold

A threshold that is located at a point on the runway other than the designated beginning of the runway.

Aim Point Marking

A visual aiming point for a landing aircraft. These two rectangular markings consist of a broad white stripe located on each side of the runway centerline and approximately 1,000 feet from the landing threshold.

Airport Taxi Charts

Airport diagrams designed to expedite the efficient and safe flow of ground traffic at an airport.

Precision Approach Path Indicator (PAPI)

All white - too high All red - too low Half red/half white - on glideslope An airport lighting facility, similar to VASI, providing vertical approach slope guidance to aircraft during approach to landing.

Visual Approach Path Indicator (VASI)

An airport lighting facility providing vertical visual approach slope guidance to aircraft during approach to landing by radiating a directional pattern of high intensity red and white focused light beams which indicate to the pilot that he/she is "on path" if he/she sees red/white, "above path" if white/white, and "below path" if red/red. provides obstruction clearance within 10° of the extended runway centerline and up to four nautical miles (NM) from the runway threshold.

Automated Weather System (AWOS)

Any of the automated weather sensor platforms that collect weather data at airports and disseminate the weather information via radio and/or landline.

Destination Signs

COLOR: Green, with white letters. MEANING: Show the direction and distance to locations. Shown on these types of signs include runways, aprons, terminals, military areas, civil aviation areas, cargo areas, international areas, and fixed-base operators.

What type of airports are open to the general public?

Civil Airports

These lights are installed at HOLDING POSITIONS on taxiways in order to increase the conspicuity of the holding position in low visibility conditions

Clearance Bar lights

Runway Distance Remaining Signs

Show in thousands of feet how much runway is remaining. Black with white lettering. The number on the signs indicates the distance, in thousands of feet, of landing runway remaining. The last sign, which has the numeral "1," is located at least 950 feet from the runway end.

Holding Position Markings for Taxiway/Taxiway

Consist of a single dashed yellow line extending across the width of the taxiway.

This marking reduces the length of the runway available for landings. The portion of runway behind a this threshold is available for takeoffs in either direction, or landings from the opposite direction. runway safety area (RSA).

Displaced Threshold

What color beacon lights are for civilian land airports?

Flashing white and green

What color beacon lights are for a water airport?

Flashing white yellow

What color beacon lights are for a heliport?

Flashing white, yellow, and green

HIRL: High Intensity Runway Lights

High Intensity Runway Lights used to outline the edges of runway

Enhanced Taxiway Centerline Markings

Identifies pilots of upcoming runway; is used to warn you of an upcoming runway. It consists of yellow dashed lines on either side of the normal solid taxiway centerline and the dashes extend up to 150 feet prior to a runway holding position marking.

Hold Position Markings

Indicates where an aircraft on the ground is supposed to stop when approaching a runway. They consist of four yellow lines, two solid and two dashed, spaced six or twelve inches apart, and extending across the width of the taxiway or runway. The solid lines are always on the side where the aircraft is to hold.

Surface-painted sign

Markings used to supplement signs and assist the pilot in confirming the information. located along side of the taxiway centerline.

Medium Intensity Runway Lights (MIRL)

Medium Intensity Runway Lights used to outline the edges of runway

This airport is operated by the military, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), or other agencies of the Federal Government.

Military/Federal Government airports

Is relocated runway thresholds available for takeoff and landings?

NO

Airport Marking Aids

Painted markings used on runway and taxiway surfaces to identify a specific runway, a runway threshold, a centerline, a hold line, etc.

Airport Surface Detection Equipment (ASDE)

Surveillance equipment specifically designed to detect aircraft, vehicular traffic, and other objects, on the surface of an airport, and to present the image on a tower display.

This type of airport is designated for private or restricted use only, not open to the general public.

Private Airports

Non-Movement area

Ramp service roads ETC. not under control of ATCT Taxiways and apron (ramp) areas not under the control of air traffic.

This lights are used to enhance the conspicuity of taxiway/runway intersections during low visibility conditions

Runway Guard lights

Threshold marking

Specific markings painted at the threshold on instrument approach runways that aid pilot in identifying the runway when landing

Fix Distance Marker

Specific markings painted on precision approach runways that aid pilot in determining the distance from the runway threshold

These lights are a row of red lights installed across the entire taxiway at the runway holding position.

Stop Bar lights

Taxiway

Strip of pavement connecting the runway to the ramp area. A defined path on a land aerodrome for the taxiing of aircraft and intended to provide a link between one part of the aerodrome and another.

Runway Touchdown Zone

The portion of a runway, beyond the threshold, where it is intended landing aircraft first contact the runway.

Movement Area

The runways, taxiways, and other areas of an airport/heliport which are utilized for taxiing/hover taxiing, air taxiing, takeoff, and landing of aircraft, exclusive of loading ramps and parking areas. At those airports/heliports with a tower, specific approval for entry onto the movement area must be obtained from ATC

Airport beacon

This helps a pilot identify an airport at night.

wind sock/wind vane

This indicator allows the pilot to estimate the wind velocity and/or gust factor.

runway number

This number is determined by the whole number nearest one-tenth the magnetic azimuth of the centerline of the runway, measured clockwise from the magnetic north.

Runway Safety Area Boundary Sign

This sign is intended to provide you with another visual cue that is used to a guide to determine when you are clear of the runway safety boundary area.

Runway End Identifier Lights (REIL)

Two synchronized flashing lights, one on each side of the runway threshold, which provide rapid and positive identification of the approach end of a particular runway.

This airport have an operating control tower. Pilots are required to maintain two-way radio communication with ATC and to acknowledge and comply with their instructions.

towered airport

Two types of Airports

Towered and non-towered

Parallel runways

Two or more runways at the same airport whose centerlines are parallel. In addition to runway number, parallel runways are designated as L (left) and R (right) or, if three parallel runways exist, L (left), C (center), and R (right)

Intersecting runways

Two or more runways which cross or meet within their lengths.

What lights identifying a military airport?

Two quick white flashes alternating with a green flash

What color are the lights used to outline the edges of RUNWAYS at night?

white

Markings

With respect to airports, standardized symbols painted on runways and taxiways surfaces to convey information (see airport marking aids)

Closed Runway Marking

Yellow crosses (X), are placed at each end of the runway, to provide a visual indication to pilots that a runway is temporarily closed.

Taxiway Markings

Yellow painted markings that denote the edges, centerline, or shoulders of taxiways.

Temporarily Closed Runways and Taxiways

a visual indication is often provided with yellow "Xs" or raised lighted yellow "Xs" placed at each end of the runway.

Taxiway Lights

blue lights installed at taxiway edges; Blue lights that denote the edges of the taxiway. Green lights, if used, are for taxiway centerline

Certain airports have two or even three runways laid out in the same direction. These are referred to as ___________ runways and are distinguished by a letter added to the runway number (e.g., runway 36L (left), 36C (center), and 36R (right)).

parallel

Since runways are affected by the wind during takeoffs and landings, runways are laid out according to what?

prevailing winds

Land and Hold Short Operations (LAHSO)

describes landing and then holding short of an intersecting runway, taxiway, or predetermined point. Sign has a white inscription with black border around the numbers on a red background and is installed adjacent to the holding position markings.

Transponder

electrical device designed to receive a specific signal and automatically transmit a specific reply; This code consists of four numbers from 0 to 7, the word "squawk" may be used.

Taxiway Markings and Signs

have a yellow background and black characters, which identifies the designation or intersecting taxiways. Arrows indicate the direction of turn that would place the aircraft on the designated taxiway.

runway safety area (RSA)

is a defined surface surrounding the runway prepared, or suitable, for reducing the risk of damage to airplanes in the event of an undershoot, overshoot, or excursion from the runway.

Runway numbers are in reference to _________north.

magnetic

This type of airport does not have an operating control tower. Two-way radio communications are not required, although it is a good operating practice for pilots to transmit their intentions on the specified frequency for the benefit of other traffic in the area.

non-towered airport

Data that provides pilots with information, such as communication frequencies, services available, closed runways, or airport construction.

• Aeronautical Charts• Chart Supplement U.S. (formerly Airport/Facility Directory)• Notices to Airmen (NOTAMs)• Automated Terminal Information Service (ATIS)

What are the four source documents that informs pilots about communication frequencies, services available, closed runways, or airport construction.

• Aeronautical Charts• Chart Supplement U.S. (formerly Airport/Facility Directory)• Notices to Airmen (NOTAMs)• Automated Terminal Information Service (ATIS)