Airport Operations; …Arrival;
...Radio log; ...Airport Information;
...Weather Information; ...Crosswind
Information;
Airport
Operations
1. Have an airport diagram
2. Check light systems available
3. Readback all crossing and holding instructions
4. Check NOTAMS before arrival
5. Get progressive taxi instructions when in doubt.
6. Check all ways for traffic
7. Use lights
8. Clear runway immediately.
9. Use standard phraseology
Don't takeoff until you know as much as possible about where you are going. A part of your preflight that may not be a part of your early training is preparation for your arrival. Statistics show that inadequate preflight combined with landings, comprise the highest cause and place factors for accidents. An arrival produces unexpected situations and conditions that can confuse even experienced pilots. The risk of any arrival can only be reduced by adequate research and information.
Regardless of density altitude you always fly approach speeds according to the POH. True airspeed and your apparent speed will be higher the higher the density altitude. If you are a lowland pilot, this effect can be quite disconcerting. Lean your mixture for best performance. Landing on any unfamiliar runway of less than 150% of the obstacle clearance distance for your aircraft is indicative of poor judgment. The additional distance is needed for any mistakes in judgment or performance.
You need to make an arrival information checklist to supplement the information available from the charts and airport guides. Abbreviate the following information on an airport card. A concise form 2x2 inches will contain most of the information and the other side should have a simple diagram of the airport, patterns and beacon. Airports and their surroundings are easier to locate when we know where to look.
Radio log
Com Nav
FSS VOR/code/radials
RADAR NDB/code
Tower
Ground
Unicom
CTAF
Name
Frequencies
Arrival call-up points/common/familiar/likely
Pattern entry/easy/efficient/likely
Altitude/Pattern altitude
Runway numbers available/Runway number probable
Density altitude
Wind favored runway
Runway elevation and length/required length
Lighting
Surface winds
Ceiling
Temperature
Based on expected runway and expected wind
Crosswind component Headwind component
to 30deg; off runway 1/2 velocity 3/4 velocity
to 60deg; off runway 3/4 velocity 1/2 velocity
to 90deg; off runway full velocity zero
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