Runway

[eddtr1]

Hi guys i have a question about general flying. I watched a few of these in cockpit videos - about the commercial pilots flying now when they talk about there flight plan - they seem to know which runway they will be landing on.

How do commercial pilots and GA pilots know which runway they will be landing on when there not near their destination? Do they take into account the weather at the destination airport and have a educated guess at which runway will be in use for landing and take off?

Thanks

[Joe M]

Hi eddtr1,

During the flight planning process, one of the things pilots look at is the TAF (terminal aerodrome forecast) for the expected weather at the destination at the expected arrival time.  This will allow the pilot to "guess" at the runway in use and allow the pilot to make sure the expected runway has enough room for landing his/her particular type of aircraft.  However, that can and does change on a regular basis.

All major airports and many others have a service called ATIS (automated terminal information service) that is, according to the FAA, "...the continuous broadcast of recorded non-control information in high activity terminal areas."  This usually becomes available on a discrete frequency at between 75 and 100 miles from the airport depending on your altitude.  During this broadcast, things like airport NOTAMs (notices to airmen) and runways in use are advised.  Also a good pilot will begin to monitor approach control, if it available, long before they need to contact them and then they will be fairly certain of the runway in use.

However, at non-towered fields, this whole discussion is moot. At non-towered fields, the PIC (pilot-in-command), you, make the decision which runway to use based on several factors. Monitoring the CTAF (common traffic advisory frequency) may give an indication of what other pilots are doing.  Some non-towered airfields have an office that monitors the CTAF and can tell you what the conditions at the field are. Some fields have a FSS (flight service station) that will tell you the field operations. But none of them are control information. At a non-towered field the PIC makes all the decisions.

The procedure there would be to overfly the field at approximately 400-500 feet above the pattern altitude (pattern altitude is usually 800-1000 feet above ground level) and look for the wind indicator (either a windsock, a wind "T", or a wind tetrahedron). If there is no wind-indicator the pilot should look for smoke from nearby chimneys, flags, etc.  Based on your observations, choose the proper runway (remember land into the wind with the least crosswind component that meets your aircraft's landing distance specifications), exit the airport environment (4-5 miles away), descend to the pattern altitude and make your 45 degree entry to the proper downwind leg.

I hope this answers your questions. If not, ask away some more.

Joe

[eddtr1]

Thanks a lot for that reply helped a lot

One more for ya lol

I was flying around wales today on fsx

Heading back to Liverpool heading north, I'm cleared to runway 9 now my question is. in real life I won't have a second monitor showing me the ils plan of the runway.

So flying vfr heading to runway 9 how do I know where the runway is? I know it's visual flight rules so is it as simple as looking out of the window and waiting till eggp comes into view?

Thanks again

[tim arnot]

Liverpool has clearly defined entry/exit routes for VFR traffic. if you're coming from the South, you'd most likely enter via the Cheater VRP and join right base for 09.
See http://www.ead.eurocontrol.int/eadbasic/pamslight-5FFA3B6167C1B9183813859756FB5B3D/7FE5QZZF3FXUS/EN/Charts/AD/AIRAC/EG_AD_2_EGGP_4-1_en_2010-05-06.pdf

But yes, you're looking out the window.

[Joe M]

Tim is correct. Many airports do have defined entry/exit patterns for VFR approaches. Those that do not have no legally defined approach but normal custom and advice is that you make a 45 degree entry to the downwind leg (normally left traffic but some airports require right traffic due to obstructions, noise abatement or the like) at traffic pattern altitude (normally 800-1000 feet above ground level). This information is on the chart or in the AIP (Europe) or Airport Facility Directory (AFD) in the US.

Normal traffic pattern is flown as downwind (the direction opposite to the landing direction) until the threshold is approximately 45 degrees behind the aircraft, add your first notch of flaps and begin a descent at between 400 and 600 feet per minute, a turn to base (usually another notch of flaps), then when you are just before the extended runway centerline, a turn to final. When you are established on the runway centerline and your airspeed is at your final approach speed you add the final flap extension. Hold your airspeed with pitch and your descent rate with power.

As to knowing where the runway is, Tim again is correct. You look out the window. You should begin to see the airport approximately 10 nm out on a clear day and certainly by 5 nm out you should be able to easily discern the runways. If you don't have an airport chart electronically, you should have one printed out in front of you oriented to the runway layout.

Happy to help.
Joe