Airport Operations (including Runway Incursions)

Airport Operations Recent incidents and accidents demonstrate the need to more clearly identify and solve/avoid these Recent incidents and accidents demonstrate the need to more clearly identify and solve/avoid these Students need to be able to recognize and deal with these problems Students need to be able to recognize and deal with these problems Breaking them down (categorized by the FAA) – Breaking them down (categorized by the FAA) – – NOTAMS –Signs and Markings –Land and Hold Short Operations (LAHSO) –Situational Awareness –Runway Incursions

Airport Operations These high risk areas may carry different lessons for glider pilots – including instructors and students - than for other parts of the general aviation community. These high risk areas may carry different lessons for glider pilots – including instructors and students - than for other parts of the general aviation community. The focus depends on the operating environment – different environments give rise to different requirements. The focus depends on the operating environment – different environments give rise to different requirements. Examples include – Examples include – - Aerotowing from a busy public airport with significant general aviation traffic. - Aerotowing from a busy public airport with significant general aviation traffic. - Aerotowing or ground launching from a dedicated glider field with little or no other traffic. - Aerotowing or ground launching from a dedicated glider field with little or no other traffic.

Airport Operations - Self-launch glider operations when the glider interacts directly in the general aviation environment. - Self-launch glider operations when the glider interacts directly in the general aviation environment. All of the above when sharing the local airspace with other categories of aircraft. All of the above when sharing the local airspace with other categories of aircraft.

NOTAMS Advance planning and knowledge of the airspace environment in which operations are to take place is essential. Advance planning and knowledge of the airspace environment in which operations are to take place is essential. The local situation can change from day-to-day or even hour-to-hour. The local situation can change from day-to-day or even hour-to-hour. All pilots must be aware of such changes, and temporary rules. All pilots must be aware of such changes, and temporary rules. Post 9/11 TFRs and draconian penalties for breach make checking essential. Post 9/11 TFRs and draconian penalties for breach make checking essential. Even if computer access is available, consider obtaining information from FAA Flight Service Stations – WX- BRIEF. Even if computer access is available, consider obtaining information from FAA Flight Service Stations – WX- BRIEF. Online information is detailed on Page 13 of the desert sand FIRC Supplement. Online information is detailed on Page 13 of the desert sand FIRC Supplement.

LAHSO A hot-button item for FAA Practical Test orals. A hot-button item for FAA Practical Test orals. Although of limited application to gliding operations, LAHSO may be applied to landing gliders as well as other traffic at congested controlled airports. Although of limited application to gliding operations, LAHSO may be applied to landing gliders as well as other traffic at congested controlled airports. The important issue is to refuse a LAHSO clearance if the landing glider pilot is in any doubt that he/she can comply. The important issue is to refuse a LAHSO clearance if the landing glider pilot is in any doubt that he/she can comply. If there is a risk of bursting through the clearance, the clearance must be refused. If there is a risk of bursting through the clearance, the clearance must be refused.

Does LAHSO apply to gliders?

Signs and Markings FAAs concern primarily applies to public airports. FAAs concern primarily applies to public airports. Students need to be familiar with the details set out in AIM Chapter 2, Section 3 (Airport Marking Aids and Signs). Students need to be familiar with the details set out in AIM Chapter 2, Section 3 (Airport Marking Aids and Signs). Wider issue isnt restricted to large public airports. Wider issue isnt restricted to large public airports. Any airport or gliderport has the potential to have involuntary incursions arising from failure to have (or observe) proper signs and directions. Any airport or gliderport has the potential to have involuntary incursions arising from failure to have (or observe) proper signs and directions.

Situational Awareness Good situational awareness is a major key to safe airport operations. Good situational awareness is a major key to safe airport operations. Mixed traffic operations require a good understanding of procedures and needs of the other categories of operations and COMMUNICATION between them. Mixed traffic operations require a good understanding of procedures and needs of the other categories of operations and COMMUNICATION between them. Need to know typical operating profiles, limitations and requirements – Need to know typical operating profiles, limitations and requirements – –What to expect. –How to avoid conflicts. Need for predictability – each category of operation must know the normal procedures of the other categories of operators. Need for predictability – each category of operation must know the normal procedures of the other categories of operators.

Runway Incursions Major safety issue and concern of FAA, hence a FIRC core topic. Major safety issue and concern of FAA, hence a FIRC core topic. Flying community has to reduce frequency of runway incursions, and hence collision risk. Flying community has to reduce frequency of runway incursions, and hence collision risk. Plan is to use technology, infrastructure, procedural and training interventions to decrease human error and increase error tolerance of airport surface movement operations. Plan is to use technology, infrastructure, procedural and training interventions to decrease human error and increase error tolerance of airport surface movement operations.

Runway Incursions Instructors play a critical role in attacking the issue. Instructors play a critical role in attacking the issue. Every instructor needs to understand the mechanics leading to runway incursions, and prevention techniques. Every instructor needs to understand the mechanics leading to runway incursions, and prevention techniques. These need to be conveyed to students so they can be vigilant for traps which can hide impending unsafe conditions – very simple example might be a runway with a dip that could hide another aircraft. These need to be conveyed to students so they can be vigilant for traps which can hide impending unsafe conditions – very simple example might be a runway with a dip that could hide another aircraft.

Runway Incursions Strong need to ensure that glider pilots, our students, are prepared for operations from large, public airports. Strong need to ensure that glider pilots, our students, are prepared for operations from large, public airports. Increasing importance with growing number of self-launch sailplanes. Increasing importance with growing number of self-launch sailplanes.

Runway Incursions NOT restricted to large or controlled airports. NOT restricted to large or controlled airports. Very much applicable to gliding operations, and especially at uncontrolled airports. Very much applicable to gliding operations, and especially at uncontrolled airports. Consider the typical uncontrolled gliderport – Consider the typical uncontrolled gliderport – - No physical separation of airside from groundside. - No physical separation of airside from groundside. - Unrestricted access to the gliderport – even welcoming signs to come right in and have a trial flight! - Unrestricted access to the gliderport – even welcoming signs to come right in and have a trial flight! - Lack of perception on the part of the participants involved - dangers to, or caused by, uncontrolled use – cars and people using taxiways and runways – vehicles and towplanes moving, ropes dragging, even steel ground launch cables falling. - Lack of perception on the part of the participants involved - dangers to, or caused by, uncontrolled use – cars and people using taxiways and runways – vehicles and towplanes moving, ropes dragging, even steel ground launch cables falling.

Runway Incursions - Clear need to review signs, visitor procedures, escorting requirements etc. to keep public separate/protected from flight operations, including the associated ground environment. - Clear need to review signs, visitor procedures, escorting requirements etc. to keep public separate/protected from flight operations, including the associated ground environment. - Leaving the visitor problem aside, significant issues exist arising from unbriefed club members or FBO customers. - Leaving the visitor problem aside, significant issues exist arising from unbriefed club members or FBO customers. - Clear need to provide information and education before new club members and FBO customers permitted on field. - Clear need to provide information and education before new club members and FBO customers permitted on field. - The SSF has a powerful training aid for newcomers in the form of the online SSF Wing Runner Course ( On-Line Learning button. - The SSF has a powerful training aid for newcomers in the form of the online SSF Wing Runner Course ( On-Line Learning button.

SSF Wing Runner Course The SSF Wing Runner Course not only covers requirements of glider hookup and dispatch, but moving, parking, rigging etc. of gliders, and general safety issues and responsibilities. The SSF Wing Runner Course not only covers requirements of glider hookup and dispatch, but moving, parking, rigging etc. of gliders, and general safety issues and responsibilities. If runway incursions and other related problems are to be avoided, there needs to be proper supervision of the ground environment – If runway incursions and other related problems are to be avoided, there needs to be proper supervision of the ground environment – - Be observant of potential vehicle/aircraft conflicts and other ground obstructions, especially take-off obstructions. - Be observant of potential vehicle/aircraft conflicts and other ground obstructions, especially take-off obstructions. - Prevent towrope dragging issues - Prevent towrope dragging issues - Maintain good communications amongst all users – use radio appropriately. - Maintain good communications amongst all users – use radio appropriately. Natural task for the conscientious CFIG who ought to be a supervisor when not directly involved instructing! Natural task for the conscientious CFIG who ought to be a supervisor when not directly involved instructing!

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Bad Airport Operations!