Lecture 3

Aerodromes
LECTURE 3 : AERODROMES, ACCIDENT-INCIDENT & SAR
1. Aerodromes: Approach and Definitions

2. Aerodromes: Signals

3. Accidents Incidents

4. Search & Rescue

FLIGHT IN THE VICINITY OF AN AERODROME
(Rules of the Air Regulations 2007, regulations 12, 13)

An aircraft shall conform to, or keep clear of, the circuit pattern
All turns to the left unless otherwise indicated

ATC nominated landing order shall be followed

An aircraft on final approach has right of way over other

airborne or ground-based aircraft

Emergency traffic always has right of way and any previous

clearances are cancelled
AERODROME APPROACH

When arriving at an airfield you

should make RT contact and comply
with instructions given

The normal method of joining a circuit

is the standard overhead join more
of which later

Other methods of joining are:

downwind join, base leg join, long
final approach

In the US joining procedures are very different make sure you understand the
procedures for the country you are flying in and for the airfield you are approaching

Information is available direct from each airfield, or use an

airfield guide such as Pooleys
AERODROME APPROACH
NOTIFICATION OF ARRIVAL OR DEPARTURE

If an aerodrome knows you are on your

way and you change your mind or are
going to be more than 45 minutes late you
MUST inform them of this whatever the
reason

You must tell your

departure airfield where
you intend landing
RUNWAY SURFACE CONDITIONS

DAMP
Change in colour due to moisture

WET
Surface soaked but no standing water

WATER PATCHES
Significant standing water visible

FLOODED
Extensive standing water visible
AERODROMES ICAO TERMINOLOGY
TORA, TODA, Clearway

Clearway

Take-off run available

(TORA)

Take-off distance available 1st

significant
(TODA) obstruction
AERODROMES ICAO TERMINOLOGY
Take-off run available
(TORA) No stopway
available

Accelerate-Stop Distance Available

(ASDA)

Take-off run available

Stopway
(TORA)

1st
significant
Accelerate-Stop Distance Available obstruction
(ASDA)
AERODROMES ICAO TERMINOLOGY

50ft

Landing Distance Available

(LDA)
 PRACTICE QUESTION!

What does WET mean when applied to a runways condition?

The surface is soaked but there is no standing water

 PRACTICE QUESTION!

What is the take-off run available plus the clearway also known as?

Take-off distance available

SIGNALS SQUARE
These are becoming rarer each year but this is what you are looking for!
 AERODROME SIGNALS AND MARKINGS SIGNALS SQUARES
(Rules of the Air Regulations 2007, regulations 56-60)

White Signals T
Signifies landing direction land towards the
cross arm parallel to the long section

White Signals T with white ball

Take-off and Landing directions not
necessarily the same
AERODROME SIGNALS AND MARKINGS

WHITE DUMBELL
Movement of aircraft shall be confined to
paved, metalled or hard surfaced areas

WHITE DUMBELL WITH BLACK STRIPES

Landing on a runway but other movement of
aircraft shall NOT be confined to paved,
metalled or hard surfaced areas
AERODROME SIGNALS AND MARKINGS

RED AND YELLOW ARROW

Signifies a right hand circuit is in force

RED SQUARE, YELLOW DIAGONAL

Signifies the state of the manoeuvring
area is poor and pilots should take
precautions
AERODROME SIGNALS AND MARKINGS

RED SQUARE, YELLOW CROSS

Signifies aerodrome is unsafe. Landing prohibited.

WHITE H
Helicopters must only land within the area
specified
AERODROME SIGNALS AND MARKINGS

RED L
Light aircraft may land on the runway or on
another (specified) area

WHITE DOUBLE-CROSS
Gliding is in progress
AERODROME SIGNALS AND MARKINGS

BLACK C ON YELLOW BACKGROUND

Indicates where the person in charge of the aerodrome
and/or ATC can be found. This is where you go to book
in/out of an airfeld and to pay landing fees

BLACK BALL ON MAST

Direction of Landing and take off may not coincide

RED / YELLOW CHEQUERED FLAG

Traffic may only move with permission of ATC

DOUBLE RED BALL

Glider flying is in progress
AERODROME SIGNALS AND MARKINGS TAXIWAY MARKING

DOUBLE WHITE CROSSES (or more)

Section of runway or taxiway marked is
unavailable

DOUBLE YELLOW SOLID, DOUBLE YELLOW

BROKEN LINES
Signify a runway entrance / exit. Do not cross the
solid lines first without permission. Can cross
broken line first to exit runway without permission
AERODROME SIGNALS AND MARKINGS TAXIWAY MARKING

YELLOW LADDER
A holding point that requires permission from
ATC to cross

ORANGE AND WHITE FENCES

Signifies the edge of the usable area.
Beyond this area is unfit for the movement
of aircraft
AERODROME SIGNALS AND MARKINGS TAXIWAY MARKING

ORANGE AND WHITE MARKERS

Signifies the edge of the usable area.
Beyond this area is unfit for the movement
of aircraft. Used on unpaved areas.

ORANGE AND WHITE MARKINGS

ON STRUCTURES
Signifies boundary of aerodrome
AERODROMES - BEACONS

Civil Aerodrome beacons are GREEN

Military Aerodrome beacons are RED

They both flash in Morse code a 2-letter identifier for the airfield

For example, at Wycombe Air Park the green beacon

flashes WP
AERODROME GROUND LIGHTS & MARKINGS

Surface markings are WHITE for runways and YELLOW for taxi-ways and aprons

Runway end
Taxi-way edge lighting lights are
is BLUE unidirectional
and RED

Runway side
Runway start
lights are WHITE
lights are
unidirectional and At large airfields
they colour code to
GREEN indicate approaching
the end
 PRACTICE QUESTION!

What colour are taxi-way markings and what colour are runway markings?

Yellow for taxi-ways and white for runways

 AERODROME SIGNALS LIGHT SIGNALS
(Rules of the Air Regulations 2007, regulation 61)
AERODROME SIGNALS LIGHT SIGNALS
AERODROME SIGNALS LIGHT SIGNALS
AERODROME SIGNALS LIGHT SIGNALS
AERODROME SIGNALS MARSHALLING
There are many marshalling signals used here are the main ones

Straight ahead Turn Left Turn Right

Stop Emergency Stop Brakes on / release

ACCIDENTS AND INCIDENTS

Incident An occurrence other than an accident

which affects or could affect the safety of
aircraft operation

Accident An event in which the aircraft

sustains significant damage or causes
personal injury

Not considered an accident:

Injuries are from natural causes or self-inflicted
Any injury to a stowaway
Engine failure
Damage limited to propellers, wing tips,
antennae, tyres, brakes, fairings, dents
and punctures to aircraft skin
Aircraft is missing (SAR terminated)
ACCIDENTS AND INCIDENTS

In the UK, the aircraft commander must notify:

Chief Inspector of Air Accidents
Local Police
as soon as possible
REPORTING HAZARDOUS CONDITIONS
(Rules of the Air Regulations 2007, regulation 4)

Any aircraft encountering hazardous conditions shall notify the

nearest air traffic control unit as soon as possible

That unit is then responsible for giving the

information to any other traffic that may be affected

Examples of hazardous conditions windshear,

clear air icing, un-forecast electrical storms etc.
 PRACTICE QUESTION!

What does a red square with a yellow diagonal cross in a signals area signify
to an overflying aircraft?

Landing prohibited
FIRE & RESCUE SERVICES
You will soon become familiar with Wycombe Air Parks fire crew because they
are also responsible for Fuelling and Aircraft handling
Hopefully for no other reason!

Their real job, however, is fire-fighting and rescue from aircraft

Our fire crew have to be able to get to any point on the airfield, following
an alarm, within 2 minutes all kitted up and ready to assist
FLIGHT PLANS
Required for flight in
Class A airspace
Controlled airspace IMC / Night
Controlled airspace IFR (IMC or VMC)
Class D IFR or VFR (usually done via RT)
Scottish or London UIRs
Crossing an FIR boundary

Think of a flight plan as a wish list it is

what you want to happen on a flight

ATC may have other ideas!

Now submitted via the internet direct to

Eurocontrol
ALERTING SERVICE

The alerting service is only put into a ready state

if a pilot files a flight plan

When an aircraft gets airborne on a flight plan it is

essential that the parent unit gets the departure time.
This means the alerting service is now armed

If the aircraft fails to arrive within 30 minutes of the

flight-plan arrival time, the alerting service is
activated

An active alert leads to search and rescue

SEARCH AND RESCUE

Alerting service available to all traffic known to Air Traffic Service Units (ATSU)

Action is normally initiated by the ATSU last in communication with the

missing aircraft

All action controlled by a Rescue Coordination Centre (joint civil / military)

The emergency frequency 121.5 MHz is constantly monitored

Auto-triangulation is available on this frequency

SEARCH AND RESCUE
There are 3 phases of an operation:
UNCERTANTY
as soon as action is initiated.
Rescue Coordination Centre begins to coordinate all parties

ALERT
All Search and Rescue Units notified
Any necessary action notified

DISTRESS
SAR units initiate action
Last known position and circle of uncertainty established
operator notified
all adjacent rescue and ATC notified
All local traffic requested early for likely assistance
notify state of registry
notify appropriate accident investigation authorities
SEARCH AND RESCUE
Standard ground-to-air Search and Rescue Visual Signals

V Require assistance

Understood by the
X Require medical assistance aircraft rocking wings
(day time) or flashing
lights (night)
Proceeding in this direction

Y Yes / Affirm

N No / Negative
AIR TRAFFIC SERVICES: EMERGENCIES
URGENCY
The aircraft has an urgent message to transmit concerning the safety of a ship,
aircraft, vehicle or property, or of a person on board or within sight of the aircraft

Pan call should be made on the frequency in use or on 121.5 MHz

Examples: low fuel, pilot unwell, pilot unsure of position (lost)

DISTRESS
The aircraft is in imminent danger and requires immediate help
Mayday call should be made on the frequency in use or on 121.5 MHz

Examples: engine failure, pilot incapacitation, fire

 PRACTICE QUESTION!

What is the transponder code for hijack?

7500