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03-A: Communication and Lights

Knowledge

K1: How to obtain appropriate radio frequencies

  • UNICOM frequency
    • usually shared with CTAF frequency (left of the white C in a circle with magenta background in the airport string)
    • very rarely (e.g., KRBD) sometimes separate in the lowest line of the VFR sectional airport string

  • MULTICOM frequency:

    • universally: 122.9
    • to be used at non-towered airports without any published UNICOM and without an FSS

  • VHF Guard / Emergency frequencies: 7

    • 121.5 MHz, to be monitored on the second radio by every pilot
    • 243.0 MHz

K2: Proper radio communication procedures and air traffic control (ATC) phraseology

  • control types

    • center control (Air Route Traffic Control Center, ARTCC)
      • address with "center"
    • flight service station (FSS)
      • address FSS with "radio", e.g. "McAlester Radio, ..."
      • flight plans
        • if VFR flight plan was filed (good idea), FSS will provide search and rescue in case of an emergency
        • flight plans must be explicity closed by the pilot upon landing with the FSS or other FAA facility
      • frequency often extended via Remote communication outlets (RCO) integated into a VORs at non-towered airport
      • services
        • provides assistance during an emergency
        • flight plan processing
        • en-route advisories
        • assistance to lost aircraft
        • search and rescue coordination
        • receiver of near-mid-air-collision (NMAC) reports
    • approach control
      • contacted depending on the section from which it is approached, indicated by multiple approach boxes on the sectional (check supplement t)

  • calls

    • untowered
      • inbound for landing call
        • 10 miles call
      • airport advisory call
        • if no aircraft are on frequency, call nonetheless to reach ground personell and ask for airport advisory
      • clear-of-runway call
    • pilot to approach
      • contact approach prior to entering class C airspace
      • Toledo approach from the southeast:
        • use northeasterly approach
    • pilot to ground
      • requesting radar traffic information during ground operations on initial contact
    • pilot to tower
      • special VFR clearance call in Class D
        • to be performed to tower
      • take-off request call
        • must give position on the airport when departing from a runway intersection
      • minimum fuel advisory call
        • not an emergency call
        • no priority handling guaranteed
        • controller will be alert for any occurence that might delay the aircraft
      • clear of the runway call
        • only clear once the aircraft is completely past the solid lines of the runway safety area boundary marking
    • ATC to pilot
      • line-up-and-wait call
        • ATC should be contacted after 90 seconds if no take-off clerance is received
      • vacate runway instruction and ground transfer
        • each sign will be located on the same side of the runway as each exit
        • can only switch to ground after authorized by tower
      • taxi clearance
        • don't cross runways on the way unless specific cleared to cross that runway
        • controllers are only allowed to issued a single crossing clearance, they can not be stacked
        • taxi up to the beginning (not any intersection) of the runway and hold short

  • ATIS provides noncontrol information in selected high-activity terminal areas.

  • ATC

    • clearances
      • provide authorization to proceed under specified traffic conditions in controlled airspace
      • under VFR, separation from traffic remain in the pilot's responsibility
    • communication requirements
      • from an underlying Class C satellite airport
        • call tower of the primary class C airport after departure, when practical, prior to entering the Class C airspace
      • two-way radio required at all towered controlled airports regardless of weather conditions

  • airport light control

    • light control frequency
      • to set medium intensity
        • click 7 times for high intensity
        • then, click 5 times for medium intensity

  • FAA advisory circulars pertaining to ATC and General Operations are issued under number 90

  • numbers

    • altitudes
      • 4500 MSL: four thousand five hundred
      • 10500 MSL: one zero thousand five hundred

K3: ATC light signal recognition

  • airport beacon
    • operation times
      • at night
      • during day, when weather is below basic VFR weather minimums, i.e.,
        • ground visibility is less than 3 miles or
        • ceiling less than 1000 ft
    • patterns
      • military: dual peaked (two quick) white flashes between green flashes
      • civil land: alternate white and green
  • light gun
    • on the ground
      • flashing green: cleared to taxi
      • white light: return to starting point
      • alternating red and green: exercise extreme caution
      • steady red: stop
    • in flight:
      • steady red: give way and continue circling
      • flashing red: airport unsafe, do not land
      • flashing green: return for landing
      • steady green: cleared to land
      • alternating red and green: exercise extreme caution
    • example
      • on final, receiving alternating green and red light, followed by flashing red light means
        • exercise extreme caution
        • abandon the approach
        • airport is unsafe for landing

K4: Appropriate use of transponders

  • VFR default code
    • 1200:
      • should not use any other code unless authorized
      • code to be used after "radar service is terminated"
  • avoid inadvertent selection of special transponder codes while dialing other codes
    • 7700: emergency
    • 7600: nordo
    • 7500: hijacking

K5: Lost communication procedures

  • set transponder to NORDO (7600)
  • observe traffic flow
  • enter pattern
  • look for a light signal

K6: Equipment issues that could cause loss of communication

K7: Radar assistance

K8: National Transport Safety Board (NTSB) accident/incident reporting

  • NTSB 830.5 and 830.15

    • accidents and a list of incidents must be report immediately [no delay, not even 48 hours or even 7 days] (830.5)
      • substantial damage: damange with adverse effects on the structural strength, performance, or flight characteristics wwhich require major repair or replacement
      • overdue aircraft that is believed to be involved in an accident
      • flight control failures
      • crewmember incapacitations
      • in-flight collisions
      • in-flight fires
      • damage to property, other than aircraft, > 25k USD
      • ACAS Resolution Adivsories (RAs) under IFR
      • no notification needed for
        • blown tires
        • engine-outs in a single-engine aircraft
        • in-flight radio communications failure
        • in-flight generator/alternator failures
        • in-fligh roll upsets
        • flight through a prohibited area
        • damaging the nose gear, wheel, and tire during taxiing by striking ground equipment
    • other accidents must be reported within 10 days (830.15, differnt to 830.5)
    • missing aircraft must be report within 7 days
    • serious injury: at least 48 hours of hospitalization within 7 days after the day of the injury
    • incidents report must be reported upon request
    • emergency reports must be provided upon request
    • aircraft wreckage
      • aircraft wreckage may be moved, but only to proct the wreckage from further damage

  • Emergency-caused deviations

    • must be filed upon request with 48h
    • to the ATC facility

K9: Runway Status Lighting System

other

  • should park the aircraft into the existing or forecast wind
  • stay on the ground until all skydivers have made it to the ground when dkydiving operations are in place and you are on the ground
  • for narrow taxiways (less than 150 ft), runway holding position signs are located on the left (for PIC seat readability)
  • taxiway lights at night:
    • edge: blue omindirectional lights
    • center: green lights
  • right-of-way-rules:
    • airplane towing a glider has right of way over all other engine-driven aircraft