Airport Operations

publications receives immediate dissemination by the “Aeronautical Lighting and Other Airport Visual Aids,” of NOTAM system. The NOTAM information could affect your the Aeronautical Information Manual (AIM). decision to make the flight. It includes such information as taxiway and runway closures, construction, communications, Runway Markings and Signs changes in status of navigational aids, and other information Runway markings vary depending on the type of operations essential to planned en route, terminal, or landing operations. conducted at the airport. A basic VFR runway may only Exercise good judgment and common sense by carefully have centerline markings and runway numbers. Refer to regarding the information readily available in NOTAMs. Appendix C of this publication for an example of the most common runway markings that are found at airports. Prior to any flight, pilots should check for any NOTAMs that could affect their intended flight. For more information on Since aircraft are affected by the wind during takeoffs and NOTAMs, refer back to Chapter 1, “Pilot and Aeronautical landings, runways are laid out according to the local prevailing Information” section. winds. Runway numbers are in reference to magnetic north. Certain airports have two or even three runways laid out in the Automated Terminal Information Service (ATIS) same direction. These are referred to as parallel runways and The Automated Terminal Information Service (ATIS) is a are distinguished by a letter added to the runway number (e.g., recording of the local weather conditions and other pertinent runway 36L (left), 36C (center), and 36R (right)). non-control information broadcast on a local frequency in a looped format. It is normally updated once per hour but is Relocated Runway Threshold updated more often when changing local conditions warrant. It is sometimes necessary, due to construction or runway Important information is broadcast on ATIS including maintenance, to close only a portion of a runway. When weather, runways in use, specific ATC procedures, and any a portion of a runway is closed, the runway threshold is airport construction activity that could affect taxi planning. relocated as necessary. It is referred to as a relocated threshold and methods for identifying the relocated threshold vary. A When the ATIS is recorded, it is given a code. This code is common way for the relocated threshold to be marked is changed with every ATIS update. For example, ATIS Alpha a ten foot wide white bar across the width of the runway. is replaced by ATIS Bravo. The next hour, ATIS Charlie is [Figure 14-5A and B] recorded, followed by ATIS Delta and progresses down the alphabet. When the threshold is relocated, the closed portion of the runway is not available for use by aircraft for takeoff or Prior to calling ATC, tune to the ATIS frequency and listen to landing, but it is available for taxi. When a threshold is the recorded broadcast. The broadcast ends with a statement relocated, it closes not only a set portion of the approach containing the ATIS code. For example, “Advise on initial end of a runway, but also shortens the length of the opposite contact, you have information Bravo.” Upon contacting the direction runway. Yellow arrow heads are placed across the tower controller, state information Bravo was received. This width of the runway just prior to the threshold bar. allows the tower controller to verify the pilot has the current local weather and airport information without having to Displaced Threshold state it all to each pilot who calls. This also clears the tower A displaced threshold is a threshold located at a point on frequency from being overtaken by the constant relay of the runway other than the designated beginning of the the same information, which would result without an ATIS runway. Displacement of a threshold reduces the length broadcast. The use of ATIS broadcasts at departure and arrival of runway available for landings. The portion of runway airports is not only a sound practice but a wise decision. behind a displaced threshold is available for takeoffs in either direction, or landings from the opposite direction. A ten feet Airport Markings and Signs wide white threshold bar is located across the width of the There are markings and signs used at airports that provide runway at the displaced threshold, and white arrows are directions and assist pilots in airport operations. It is important located along the centerline in the area between the beginning for you to know the meanings of the signs, markings, and lights of the runway and displaced threshold. White arrow heads that are used on airports as surface navigational aids. All airport are located across the width of the runway just prior to the markings are painted on the surface, whereas some signs are threshold bar. [Figure 14-6A and B] vertical and some are painted on the surface. An overview of the most common signs and markings are described on the following pages. Additional information may be found in Chapter 2, 14-5