Airports & Traffic Patterns
Airports & Traffic Patterns
Image: The Wright Brothers Memorial and First Flight airport from a crewed aircraft, Kitty Hawk, NC.
Embedded Files
Runways & Markings
Runways & Markings
Runways are numbered from 1 to 36, designated by their approximate direction in magnetic degrees, rounded to the nearest 10 and with the last digit (a zero) dropped. So a runway that is pointing 90-degrees magnetic will be Runway 9. The opposite end of the runway will be Runway 27 (9+18=27)**. The diagram below illustrates this at Tarboro-Edgecombe (KETC) airport in North Carolina (image from Google Maps). [ Aeronautical chart for KETC ] [ Google Map for KETC ]
Runways are numbered from 1 to 36, designated by their approximate direction in magnetic degrees, rounded to the nearest 10 and with the last digit (a zero) dropped. So a runway that is pointing 90-degrees magnetic will be Runway 9. The opposite end of the runway will be Runway 27 (9+18=27)**. The diagram below illustrates this at Tarboro-Edgecombe (KETC) airport in North Carolina (image from Google Maps). [ Aeronautical chart for KETC ] [ Google Map for KETC ]
Understanding this is important if you are operating near an airport because pilots will reference runway numbers to describe where they are coming from and going during taxi, takeoff, and landing.
Understanding this is important if you are operating near an airport because pilots will reference runway numbers to describe where they are coming from and going during taxi, takeoff, and landing.
** For those interested, notice that the runway does not go perfectly left to right, as you might expect for and E-W runnway. That is because the magnetic pole is not truly north in much of the world. The magnetic declination (variation) from true north in this part of NC is approximately -10 degrees, meaning that magnetic north is approximately 10 degrees less than true north.
The two images below show (a) the Runway 5 end at Wayne Executive Airport (KGWW, Goldsboro, NC), including the approaching taxiway and the holdshort line and (b) a closeup of the holdshort line. (Images from Google Maps) [ Aeronautical chart for KGWW ] [ Google Map for KGWW ]
The two images below show (a) the Runway 5 end at Wayne Executive Airport (KGWW, Goldsboro, NC), including the approaching taxiway and the holdshort line and (b) a closeup of the holdshort line. (Images from Google Maps) [ Aeronautical chart for KGWW ] [ Google Map for KGWW ]
The holdshort line is extremely important for crewed flight because any part of an aircraft that crosses the double solid line from the taxiway is considered to be on the runway (think about the wingspan of incoming aircraft). At an airport with a tower, the pilot cannot cross from the soild side of the lines without clearance to do so from air traffic control. The relevance of all this to a remote pilot is that if you are told to stay off the runway, you must not cross that line or any extension thereof parallel to the runway.
The holdshort line is extremely important for crewed flight because any part of an aircraft that crosses the double solid line from the taxiway is considered to be on the runway (think about the wingspan of incoming aircraft). At an airport with a tower, the pilot cannot cross from the soild side of the lines without clearance to do so from air traffic control. The relevance of all this to a remote pilot is that if you are told to stay off the runway, you must not cross that line or any extension thereof parallel to the runway.
Below is Raleigh Durham Airport (KRDU), NC. RDU has 3 runways ... 5R/25L ... 5L/25R ... and 14/32. You should be able to find them, at least appoximately, without zooming in. Click on it to go to Google maps and look around for all the runway markings, holdshort lines, and so forth. [ Aeronautical chart for KRDU ] [ Google map for KRDU ]
Below is Raleigh Durham Airport (KRDU), NC. RDU has 3 runways ... 5R/25L ... 5L/25R ... and 14/32. You should be able to find them, at least appoximately, without zooming in. Click on it to go to Google maps and look around for all the runway markings, holdshort lines, and so forth. [ Aeronautical chart for KRDU ] [ Google map for KRDU ]
Full details of all the runway markings and signs you'll find at an airport, as well as airport operations, see Chapter 2, Section 3 of the Aeronautical Information Manual and Chapter 14 of the Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge.
Full details of all the runway markings and signs you'll find at an airport, as well as airport operations, see Chapter 2, Section 3 of the Aeronautical Information Manual and Chapter 14 of the Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge.
Airport Traffic Patterns
Airport Traffic Patterns
The diagram above is a simple takeoff and landing traffic pattern as presented in the FAA's Airplane Flying Handbook (Chapter 8). It's important to understand this if you are operating near an airport.
The diagram above is a simple takeoff and landing traffic pattern as presented in the FAA's Airplane Flying Handbook (Chapter 8). It's important to understand this if you are operating near an airport.
In the diagram, the prevailing wind leads aircraft to take off and land on Runway 36 (the other end would be Runway 18), into the wind. Assuming the airport does not have a control tower, you would typically hear the following radio calls from a general aviation aircraft (let's call it Diamond N116CL) coming in for a landing from the west at, let's call it, Dunsel Regional Airport.
In the diagram, the prevailing wind leads aircraft to take off and land on Runway 36 (the other end would be Runway 18), into the wind. Assuming the airport does not have a control tower, you would typically hear the following radio calls from a general aviation aircraft (let's call it Diamond N116CL) coming in for a landing from the west at, let's call it, Dunsel Regional Airport.
The radio calls follow a prescribed format, which is ...
The radio calls follow a prescribed format, which is ...
- Say who you're calling (Dunsel Regional)
- Say who you are (Diamond N116CL, which is the type and tail number of the aircraft)
- Deliver your message
- Say who you're calling (Dunsel Regional)
So in this case, you would hear – on the portable radio you are carrying!! – something like this. Notice the use of a phonetic alphabet for letters.
So in this case, you would hear – on the portable radio you are carrying!! – something like this. Notice the use of a phonetic alphabet for letters.
- Dunsel Regional, Diamond November-one-one-six-Charlie-Lima is 10 miles west for a 45-degree entry to left downwind, Runway three-six, Dunsel Regional.
- Dunsel Regional, Diamond November-one-one-six-Charlie-Lima is five miles west for a 45-degree entry to left downwind, Runway three-six, Dunsel Regional.
- Dunsel Regional, Diamond six-Charlie-Lima entering left downwind, Runway three-six, Dunsel Regional.
- Dunsel Regional, Diamond six-Charlie-Lima turning left base, Runway three-six, Dunsel Regional.
- Dunsel Regional, Diamond six-Charlie-Lima turning final, Runway three-six, full stop, Dunsel Regional.
- Dunsel Regional, Diamond six-Charlie-Lima is clear the runway on Alpha-two, taxiing to the fuel tanks.
Understanding this pattern and these radio calls gives you information about where crewed aircraft are so you can take appropriate action if you are flying your drone in the area. It's part of your situational awareness. You would also almost certainly want one or more visual observers were you flying your drone anywhere near an airport.
Understanding this pattern and these radio calls gives you information about where crewed aircraft are so you can take appropriate action if you are flying your drone in the area. It's part of your situational awareness. You would also almost certainly want one or more visual observers were you flying your drone anywhere near an airport.
You should also know that "pattern altitude" is 1,000 feet above ground level, particularly on the downind leg. Altitude varies (and could be lower) on the other legs because the aircraft is climbing or descending.
You should also know that "pattern altitude" is 1,000 feet above ground level, particularly on the downind leg. Altitude varies (and could be lower) on the other legs because the aircraft is climbing or descending.
And the bigger the airport, the more complex all of this becomes. Class B, C, & D airports also have control towers that tell aircraft what to do. Class E (to the ground) & G airports typically do not.
And the bigger the airport, the more complex all of this becomes. Class B, C, & D airports also have control towers that tell aircraft what to do. Class E (to the ground) & G airports typically do not.
Airport Information
Airport Information
You can find airport information in at least two reliable places. As a remote pilot, you will be interested in contact information for the airport manager and the CTAF (Common Traffic Advisory Frequency) for the airport - that's the frequency crewed pilots will be usign to communicate. You'll also want to study the airport layout to have a better understanding of how crewed air traffic will use the surrounding airspace. The Remarks field often contains useful information about conditions at the airport (e.g., wildlife and birds in the vicinity).
You can find airport information in at least two reliable places. As a remote pilot, you will be interested in contact information for the airport manager and the CTAF (Common Traffic Advisory Frequency) for the airport - that's the frequency crewed pilots will be usign to communicate. You'll also want to study the airport layout to have a better understanding of how crewed air traffic will use the surrounding airspace. The Remarks field often contains useful information about conditions at the airport (e.g., wildlife and birds in the vicinity).
Chart Supplements. The FAA publishes something called Chart Supplements that contain information about US airfields in a prescribed format. To access the information you need to know the airfield code, which you can read from the aeronautical charts. For example, the code for Raleigh Executive Jetport in Sanford (which we will visit) is KTTA and it's page in the Chart Supplements is here (as of May 2025 - will change). Chart supplements are updated every two months, so be sure to check each time you need to work near an airport. [ To find the most current detailed legend for the Chart Supplement, you need to download a digital copy of one of the actual books from the bottom of this page. I've excerpted one below (as of 2022.09.13).]
Chart Supplements. The FAA publishes something called Chart Supplements that contain information about US airfields in a prescribed format. To access the information you need to know the airfield code, which you can read from the aeronautical charts. For example, the code for Raleigh Executive Jetport in Sanford (which we will visit) is KTTA and it's page in the Chart Supplements is here (as of May 2025 - will change). Chart supplements are updated every two months, so be sure to check each time you need to work near an airport. [ To find the most current detailed legend for the Chart Supplement, you need to download a digital copy of one of the actual books from the bottom of this page. I've excerpted one below (as of 2022.09.13).]
AirNav.com provides information about airports and navigation aids. It allows you to search by city name as well as airport code. Here is the AirNav page for Raleigh Executive Jetport. Notice that the AirNav page provides a link to the appropriate digital aeronautical chart through VFRMap.
AirNav.com provides information about airports and navigation aids. It allows you to search by city name as well as airport code. Here is the AirNav page for Raleigh Executive Jetport. Notice that the AirNav page provides a link to the appropriate digital aeronautical chart through VFRMap.
Chart Supplement(formerly Airport/Facility Directory) Legend
Chart Supplement(formerly Airport/Facility Directory) Legend
CS_SE_20220908.pdfPage updated
Report abuse