User manual GAMES PC FLIGHT SIMULATOR 2002-GROUND SCHOOL

[. . . ] ROD MACHADO'S GROUND SCHOOL CONTENTS Rod Machado's Ground School . . . . . . . . . . 5 Meet Your Instructor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Class 1: How the Airplane Remains Airborne . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Flight Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [. . . ] It's also a good idea to broadcast your intentions on something known as the Common Traffic Advisory Frequency (CTAF) when no tower is in operation. This lets other pilots in the traffic pattern know what you're doing. Another way to identify where the runway begins is with a white-on-red sign located next to the dashed and solid double yellow lines (Figure 7-7). These informational billboards are called runway-holding signs, though they don't actually hold anything. They exist to inform you when Rod Machado's Ground School | 86 CLASS 7: TAXIING THE AIRCRAFT you're about to enter an active runway. They also indicate the runway direction. In Figure 7-7, 30-12 indicates Runway 30 is to the left and Runway 12 is to the right (in other words, go to the left to find the beginning of Runway 30, and so on. ). At controlled airports, these signs are your cue to hold your position unless a clearance has been given to enter or cross the runway. Figure 7-8 shows a single runway-holding sign indicating that the taxiway intersects the beginning of the takeoff runway. On reverse side of this sign At uncontrolled airports, the runway-hold signs indicate that you can proceed across or onto the runway when you've assured yourself no traffic conflict exists (an airplane preparing to take off or land is most definitely a conflict). At a towercontrolled airport, these signs are coupled with the double solid and dashed taxiway-hold lines, providing ample warning that you're crossing into the action area. Some airports may have taxiways that interfere with the runway safety area, as shown in Figure 7-8. Taxiway Delta is located directly behind the beginning of Runway 15. Airplanes landing on Runway 15 could approach low enough to present a problem to both the approaching and taxiing airplanes. This is more likely to be a problem for big airplanes, but the rules take into account the worstcase scenario. Holding-position signs for this peripheral runway are shown by white-on-red lettering. The term 15APCH next to the solid double yellow lines indicates a mandatory hold point at tower-controlled airports (this means any Holding position sign for Rwy 15 Runway Safety Area D 15APCH 15APCH D A 15 15 A Taxiway hold lines Adapted from Rod Machado's Private Pilot Handbook Figure 7-8 Taxiway Lighting. Rod Machado's Ground School | 87 CLASS 7: TAXIING THE AIRCRAFT aircraft on the following taxiway might affect aircraft on approach to Runway 15). On the opposite side of the runway, on Taxiway Delta, on the back side of the runway-hold sign, is a runway safety area sign (normally found only at tower-controlled airports). This consists of the same markings shown on the taxiway (double solid and dashed lines). These signs can be used as a guide in deciding when to report back to a controller that you are clear of the runway. Remember, at uncontrolled airports, pilots must decide for themselves whether to enter or cross a runway. It's difficult, but not impossible, for pilots to accidentally taxi onto an active runway at a tower-controlled airport. One pilot at a busy airport once taxied right into the middle of an active runway and just sat there (probably waiting for one of those yellow trucks to bring him a sandwich). [. . . ] In a standard holding pattern, you make all turns to the right (nonstandard patterns, therefore, have left turns). Long enough so that flying the inbound leg will take about one minute. Wind will affect the leg length--so if there's wind, you need to adjust the length of the outbound leg so the next inbound leg will also take a minute. Adapted from Rod Machado's Private Pilot Handbook Figure 18-1 Hold That Pattern! A standard holding pattern looks like an oval racetrack anchored at a holding fix (a VOR, nondirectional radio beacon [NDB], or intersection), as shown in Figure 18-1. The two straight legs are called the inbound and outbound legs. Actually, flying a holding pattern is pretty easy, but figuring out how to enter one is something most pilots dread. [. . . ]