Chapter 3: Airports, Air Traffic Control, and Airspace
A. RUNWAY MARKINGS
1) The number at the end of each runway indicates its magnetic
alignment divided by 10°; e.g., runway 26 indicates 260°
magnetic; runway 9 indicates 090° magnetic.
2) A displaced threshold is a threshold (marked as a broad solid
line across the runway) that is not at the beginning of the full-
strength runway pavement. The remainder of the runway,
following the displaced threshold, is the landing portion of the
runway.
i. The paved area before the displaced threshold (marked by arrows)
is available for taxiing, the landing rollout, and takeoff of aircraft.
3) Chevrons mark any surface or area extending beyond the
usable runway which appears usable but which, due to the
nature of its structure, is unusable runway.
i. This area is not available for any use, not even taxiing.
4) Closed runways are marked by an "X" on each runway end that
is closed.
B. BEACONS AND TAXIWAY LIGHTS
1) Operation of the green and white rotating beacon at an airport located in Class
D airspace during the day indicates that the weather is not VFR, i.e.,
i. The visibility is less than 3 SM, or
ii. The ceiling is less than 1,000 ft.
2) A lighted heliport may be identified by a green, yellow, and white rotating
beacon.
, 4) Airport taxiways are lighted with blue edge lights.
5) To operate pilot-controlled lighting (PCL), you should first click the mike seven
times, which turns everything on. For high-intensity lights, leave it alone. For
medium-intensity lights, key it five times. For low-intensity lights, key it three
times.
C. AIRPORT TRAFFIC PATTERNS
1) The segmented circle system provides traffic pattern information at airports
without operating control towers. It consists of the (Refer to Fig. 50):
i. Segmented circle – located in a position affording maximum visibility
to pilots in the air and on the ground, and providing a centralized
point for the other elements of the system
ii. Landing strip indicators – showing the alignment of landing runways
(legs sticking out of the segmented circle)
iii. Traffic pattern indicators – indicators at right angles to the landing
strip indicator showing the direction of turn from base to final
1. In the example below, runways 22 and 36 use left traffic, while
runways 4 and 18 use right traffic.
2. The "X" indicates that runways 4 and 22 are closed.
3. The area behind the displaced thresholds of runways 18 and 36
(marked by arrows) can be used for taxiing and takeoff, but not
for landing.
iv. Wind direction indicator – a wind cone, wind sock, or wind tee
installed near the runways to indicate wind direction
1. The large end of the wind cone/wind sock points into the wind
as does the large end (cross bar) of the wind tree.
A. RUNWAY MARKINGS
1) The number at the end of each runway indicates its magnetic
alignment divided by 10°; e.g., runway 26 indicates 260°
magnetic; runway 9 indicates 090° magnetic.
2) A displaced threshold is a threshold (marked as a broad solid
line across the runway) that is not at the beginning of the full-
strength runway pavement. The remainder of the runway,
following the displaced threshold, is the landing portion of the
runway.
i. The paved area before the displaced threshold (marked by arrows)
is available for taxiing, the landing rollout, and takeoff of aircraft.
3) Chevrons mark any surface or area extending beyond the
usable runway which appears usable but which, due to the
nature of its structure, is unusable runway.
i. This area is not available for any use, not even taxiing.
4) Closed runways are marked by an "X" on each runway end that
is closed.
B. BEACONS AND TAXIWAY LIGHTS
1) Operation of the green and white rotating beacon at an airport located in Class
D airspace during the day indicates that the weather is not VFR, i.e.,
i. The visibility is less than 3 SM, or
ii. The ceiling is less than 1,000 ft.
2) A lighted heliport may be identified by a green, yellow, and white rotating
beacon.
, 4) Airport taxiways are lighted with blue edge lights.
5) To operate pilot-controlled lighting (PCL), you should first click the mike seven
times, which turns everything on. For high-intensity lights, leave it alone. For
medium-intensity lights, key it five times. For low-intensity lights, key it three
times.
C. AIRPORT TRAFFIC PATTERNS
1) The segmented circle system provides traffic pattern information at airports
without operating control towers. It consists of the (Refer to Fig. 50):
i. Segmented circle – located in a position affording maximum visibility
to pilots in the air and on the ground, and providing a centralized
point for the other elements of the system
ii. Landing strip indicators – showing the alignment of landing runways
(legs sticking out of the segmented circle)
iii. Traffic pattern indicators – indicators at right angles to the landing
strip indicator showing the direction of turn from base to final
1. In the example below, runways 22 and 36 use left traffic, while
runways 4 and 18 use right traffic.
2. The "X" indicates that runways 4 and 22 are closed.
3. The area behind the displaced thresholds of runways 18 and 36
(marked by arrows) can be used for taxiing and takeoff, but not
for landing.
iv. Wind direction indicator – a wind cone, wind sock, or wind tee
installed near the runways to indicate wind direction
1. The large end of the wind cone/wind sock points into the wind
as does the large end (cross bar) of the wind tree.
