Basic Principles of Airmanship Airfields

1. Basic Principles of AirmanshipAirfields

2. Objectives Understand Airfield Layouts Know how runways are numbered Know how runways & taxiways are marked – by day and night Know how approach lights guide an aircraft into land

3. Types of Airfield Grass Triangle Pattern Main Instrument Runway Landing Direction It is important for aircraft to land into wind or as close as possible to into wind to ensure the aircraft touches down and stops within the length of the runway. If an aircraft lands with a tail wind it will be travelling faster over the ground than it’s airspeed and may not be able to stop in the runway length.

4. Wind Speed 20 Knots Airspeed 80 Knots Ground Speed = 60 Knots

5. Grass Airfield

6. Triangle Pattern Airfield

7. Types of Airfield What are the advantages and disadvantages of: Grass airfields? Advantages: Cheap to build. No designated runway so can take-off in any direction. Disadvantages: Susceptible to wet weather, aircraft can bog down. Would not normally support large aircraft. Triangle pattern airfields? Advantages: Built to a stronger datum, so large aircraft can use it. Has three runway directions, so into wind is no problem. Easier to control aircraft on the ground as there are designated taxiways. Disadvantages: More costly to build. Harder to repair if attacked.

8. Modern Main Instrument Runway

9. Major Airport Logan International Boston, USA.

10. Modern Main Instrument Runway Runway Threshold

11. Modern Main Instrument Runway Usually the longest runaway on the airfield with instrument and radar approaches available.

12. Modern Main Instrument Runway Runway Threshold

13. Secondary Runway A secondary runway will normally be shorter than the Main runway and have limited approach aids.

14. Modern Main Instrument Runway Runway Threshold

15. Control Tower A building centrally located on the airfield with good visibility of the whole airfield and the airspace around the airfield. The control tower houses various controllers who control all aircraft, vehicular and pedestrian traffic. It also houses the communications and radar equipment used by the airfield.

16. Modern Main Instrument Runway Runway Threshold

17. Aerodrome Identification Symbol This is a 2 or 3 letter identifier for the airfield which is marked on the ground in large letters. Each airfield has it’s own identifier. Aerodrome Identification Beacon This is a red signal light that flashes vertically the morse code for the aerodrome identification symbol. Normally only used at night. Both allow an aircraft flying overhead to identify the airfield.

18. Modern Main Instrument Runway Runway Threshold

19. Runway Threshold The area at the beginning of a runway that the pilot of an aircraft aims at to touch down safely.

20. Modern Main Instrument Runway Runway Threshold

21. Holding Points A line across the taxyway either side of the runway threshold which aircraft are not allowed to cross without ATC permission.

22. Modern Main Instrument Runway Runway Threshold

23. Operational Readiness Platform An area by the runway threshold where Quick Readiness Aircraft (QRA) can be parked to give the shortest time available from scramble to Take-Off. ORP’s RAF Leuchars

24. Modern Main Instrument Runway Runway Threshold

25. Windsock A visual aid to pilots to allow them to see what direction the wind is coming from and to give an idea of the strength of the wind. Most windsocks when the wind has blown them horizontal indicate that the wind is 25 knots or greater.

26. Modern Main Instrument Runway Runway Threshold

27. Barrier A large wire net that can be raised to arrest the forward motion of an aircraft that has landed with brake failure.

28. Modern Main Instrument Runway Runway Threshold

29. Arrestor Gear This is a heavy duty wire which stretches across the runway and is supported by rubber doughnut shaped rings which hold the wire clear of the ground. The ends of the wire are attached to hydraulic pistons which give resistance to movement if the wire is pulled. Some fighter aircraft are equipped with an arrestor hook attached to the rear of the fuselage. In the case of brake failure the hook can be lowered and will collect the wire of the arrestor and so brake the aircraft to a halt.

30. Modern Main Instrument Runway Runway Threshold

31. Sterile Area If there is an obstruction near the threshold of a runway which cannot be moved. Like the railway line on our airfield Then a new threshold is designated further down the runway which allows the new Glidepath to give adequate clearance from the train. The area between the normal threshold and the displaced threshold is known as a sterile area and is marked with large white inverted ‘V’s. Displaced Threshold Glidepath To Displaced Threshold Sterile Area RUNWAY Train On Railway Line Causing Obstruction Normal Glidepath Normal Threshold

32. Sterile Area

33. Aircraft are vulnerable to attack if lined up!

34. Aircraft Dispersal (Battle of Britain 1940)

35. Hardened Aircraft Shelter (HAS) 2004

36. Exterior of Hardened Aircraft Shelter

37. Damaged HAS in Iraq 2003 Modern weapons can penetrate concrete before exploding.

38. QRA Take Off Quick Readiness Aircraft.

39. Runways numbered by Magnetic Compass Bearing

40. Runway 22 heading South West Runway 04 (Reciprocal) heading North East

41. Runways numbered by Magnetic Compass Bearing

42. Runway 22 is between heading 216° and 225 °

43. Air Traffic Control

45. Runway & Taxiway Markings Runways marked in white Taxiways marked in yellow

46. Taxi way Markings - Yellow

48. Runway Threshold

50. Threshold Markings Displacement Markings Sterile Area Taxiway