AERODROME OPERATIONS1. Aerodrome Licensing

• The IAA may licence any aerodrome• This will specify what activities can go on there

e.g. Coonagh, training and private flying but no commercial flying of any description (including taking on or dropping off paying passengers)

• All aircraft must abide by the terms and conditions of use of the aerodrome

• Planes may only take off from or land at• An aerodrome licensed under SI 334/2000 or SI 216/2005• A State aerodrome available for civil use• An aerodrome approved by the IAA• A military aerodrome when authorised by the C/O• Private transport flight by balloon or helicopter – anywhere with landowners

permission providing there is no hazard to persons or property• Gliders operating with IAA approval, – anywhere with landowners permission

providing there is no hazard to persons or property

Emergency landings to ensure an aircrafts safety are exempt from the above

When operating at or above an aerodrome all VFR aircraft MUST:

• Maintain visual separation from other traffic

• Fly the standard joining/approach patterns for that aerodrome

• Fly left-hand circuits unless there are local considerations*- pilot has best view of airfield and traffic on/around it

*e.g. Coonagh – right hand circuit for runway 10 to avoid housing N of the field

• If transiting the area, stay well clear of circuit traffic and defined airfield entry/exit routes (normally fly at least 1500 ft above the runway)

• Land as close into wind as runways will allow

Note: Helicopters (don’t need runway) should stay well clear of aeroplane circuit

AERODROME OPERATIONS2. General Rules - 1

AERODROME OPERATIONS2. General Rules - 2

At active tower-controlled airports

• Tune radio to Tower frequency and maintain listening watch (Shannon 118.7)

• If no two-way radio contact, look out for light signals and check information in the signals square

• Request and obtain ATC clearance for start-up, taxi, takeoff and landing

• NEVER enter Aerodrome Control Zone (CTR) without ATC clearance (unless in emergency – MAYDAY call (see later)

AERODROME OPERATIONS3. Right of Way Rules

These rules apply to aircraft and vehicles on aprons, taxiways and runways (Movement Area of airports/airfields) . It is the pilots responsibility to avoid collisions with other aircraft or vehicles.

• Aircraft taking off or landing have right of way over any other aircraft or vehicles• Vehicles towing aircraft have right of way over other vehicles and taxiing aircraft• Taxiing aircraft have right of way over vehicles NOT towing aircraft

Where two aircraft are taxiing• If head on, both alter course to the right• If converging, the aircraft on the left shall give way• If overtaking, the overtaking aircraft shall pass to the left and stay well clear of the

slower aircraft, and shall not cut in until well clear

Where two vehicles are approaching head on, both will keep to the left

When overtaking, the faster vehicle will keep the slower one on its LEFT

AERODROME OPERATIONS4. Light Signals at Tower Controlled Airports - 1

If an RT failure occurs when an aircraft is in a CTR, on the ground or in the air, the pilot may get instructions by light signals from the Tower (see next slide)

To acknowledge a signal in flight BY DAY

• Rock wings of aircraft

To acknowledge a signal on the ground BY DAY

• Move ailerons or rudder

To acknowledge a signal in flight or on the ground AT NIGHT

• Flash the landing light or nav lights on and off TWICE

AERODROME OPERATIONS4. Light Signals at Tower Controlled Airports - 2

Light Signal to aircraft Aircraft in flight Aircraft on the ground

Steady Green Cleared to land Cleared to take off

Green Flashes Return for landing Cleared to taxi

(clearance to land will follow)

Steady Red Give way to other aircraft Stop

and continue circling

Red Flashes Airport unsafe, do not land Taxi clear of landing area

White flashes Land and proceed to apron Return to starting point on (clearance to land will follow) the airport

Red Pyrotechnic Do not land at this time

(Over-rules any previous clearance)

AERODROME OPERATIONS5. Ground Signals -1

Landing Prohibited Manoeuvring area in bad

state of repair/wet

Landing Area Boundary marker

Movement restricted to runways and taxiways only

Take-off and land using runways only. Other ground movements unrestricted

Runways or taxiways between two white crosses are CLOSED and unfit for ANY aircraft movements

AERODROME OPERATIONS5. Ground Signals - 2

Right-hand circuits in use Helicopter pad

or Land parallel to the shaft Reporting Point

and towards the crossarm (Admin. Building (may be replaced by runway or Terminal)

no.)

Gliding in progress

G

AERODROME OPERATIONS6. Marshalling Signals – 1

(Facing the pilot. Often bats are used and lightsticks at night)

STOP. Arms crossed repeatedly over the head, the faster the action, the more urgent the response required

THIS STAND. Both arms straight up, palms

facing in.

LEFT TURN. Right arm held down, LEFT arm repeatedly moved up and back, the faster the action the tighter the turn

STOP ENGINE(S) One forearm held in front of throat, palm down, and moved with a sawing action across it.

AERODROME OPERATIONS6. Marshalling Signals – 2

(Facing the pilot)

RIGHT TURN. Left arm held down. RIGHT arm repeatedly moved up and back, the faster the action the tighter the turn

SLOW DOWN. Arms held at an angle tothe body and moved up and down with the palmsfacing down

ALL CLEAR. Lower part of right arm vertical, thumb pointing up

AERODROME OPERATIONS7. Aerodrome Lights

The larger aerodromes will probably have one or more of the following light

systems:Aerodrome Beacon. A strobe (flashing light) white or green or both. Switched on at night

if aerodrome is open and by day if the weather is below minimum VFR conditions.

Precision Approach Path Indicator (PAPI) lights. Four lights in a line perpendicular to

the runway, usually positioned about 300m from the threshold, designed to inform the

pilot whether he is on the correct glideslope (usually 3⁰).

On glideslope A little below glideslope A little above glideslope Well below glideslope Well above glideslope

Visual Approach Slope Indicators (VASI) lights. Two pairs of lights, one pair about 30m behind the other (virtually superseded by PAPI system) On glideslope Below glideslope Above glideslope

AERODROME OPERATIONS8. Runway components (ideal runway)

Runwaymarkings

Runwaymarkings

Runway. Take-off run or landing distance available - TORA /LDA)

Clearway. Clear space at the end of the runway for initial stageof an aircrafts climb-out

Emergency Distance is the TORA /LDA plus the Stopway

Take-off distance available (TODA) is usually the length of the Runway plus Stopwayplus Clearway

Stopway. Extension of runway for aircraft to stop after aborted take-off.Threshold. Length of runway before the runway markings as viewedfrom an aircraft about to land