How to use the runway[PDF]
Contents
Introduction
The runway is the most critical part of an airfield. An accident on a runway will affect the airport availability and any accident on a runway generally causes several reasons of damage and injuries in real life.
Mandatory rules to know as a pilot
A clearance is mandatory
Examples:
ATC: Speed bird 5 4 6, line up runway 13 and wait. Pilot: line-up runway 13 and wait, Speed bird 5 4 6
ATC: Alitalia 1 4 4 5, runway 15, cleared to land, wind 100 degrees 6 knots
Pilot: cleared to land runway 15, Alitalia 1 4 4 5.
Runway using condition for landing and taking-off procedure
Runway use in non-controlled areas
Then, if a second aircraft wants to land, he has to wait or negotiate with the first pilot a new priority in accordance with the current position of all aircraft.
Mandatory rules to know as an air traffic controller
A clearance is mandatory
Runway using condition for landing and taking-off procedure
An air traffic controller shall manage all runways with the best rate of usability. He must follow the basic rule described below:
Runway occupied or runway free
Definition
Whether the aircraft is controlled or not, a runway is considered occupied when:
- An aircraft or a vehicle is on the runway whether rolling, taxiing or waiting
- An aircraft is landing on the runway from runway threshold until the touchdown
- An aircraft is taking-off until the runway limits are left
- An aircraft is making a touch and go or a low pass until the runway limits are left
- An aircraft or a vehicle is between the runway and the holding point bar
For example, a runway is considered occupied if:
A landing clearance is already given to an aircraft whether the aircraft overflies the runway or not. A taking-off clearance is already given to an aircraft on the runway or at the holding point.
A runway crossing clearance is already given to an aircraft until it vacates the runway.
Examples
Below, an example of an aircraft on runway taxiing, crossing, back-tracking, taking-off or landing:
Below, an example of an aircraft in progress of a runway vacation but the holding point bar is not behind the aircraft:
Below, an example of an aircraft which has vacated the runway:
Below, an example of an aircraft which has performed its taking off and has vacated the runway after the opposite threshold:
Below, an example of an aircraft which has performed its taking off and has vacated the runway with an initial turn before the opposite threshold:
Below, an example of an aircraft behind the holding point which has received a take-off clearance or a line-up clearance:
Below, an example of an aircraft flying on final, which has received a landing clearance:
Below, an example of an aircraft which has received a crossing clearance:
Below, an example of an aircraft which has received a back track (back taxi) clearance:
Situation with two aircraft on one runway
Basic situation with a line-up, taking off or landing aircraft
Below, the medium aircraft is holding at the holding point, ATC can give the take-off clearance to heavy aircraft and this aircraft can perform the taking-off.
Below, the medium aircraft is on the runway or overflying the runway, ATC cannot give any take-off clearance to the heavy aircraft and this aircraft cannot perform the taking-off.
Below, the heavy aircraft is landing or taking off and has crossed the position next to the holding point occupied by the medium aircraft, ATC can give the line-up clearance to medium aircraft and this aircraft can enter the runway only for line up operation or taxiing operation via the runway.
Below, the heavy aircraft is on final before the runway threshold, ATC cannot give the line-up clearance to medium aircraft and this aircraft cannot enter the runway.
Go around operation
Below, the medium aircraft is on final before the runway threshold and a heavy aircraft is on the runway taxiing, landing or overflying, ATC cannot give the landing clearance to the medium aircraft and this aircraft cannot land on the runway until the heavy aircraft has vacated the runway.
Multi alignment operation
In the largest airports, many holding points and vacating taxiways are available for each runway. These numerous holding points and taxiways are sometimes necessary to provide enough opportunities to the pilots to choose the best and quickest taxiway to vacate the runway.
- Making homogeneous departure sequence
- Using multi alignment procedure
- Expediting light aircraft departure
Below, this is an example of multi-alignment operation. Both aircraft have received a line-up procedure. As air traffic controller advise the aircraft behind (here the heavy one) about traffic in front of him from another taxiway.
Below, the medium aircraft is holding position on the runway behind the heavy aircraft, ATC can give the take-off clearance to the heavy aircraft and this aircraft can perform the taking-off. The medium aircraft shall maintain his position until the heavy aircraft has vacated the runway.
Below, the heavy aircraft is holding position on the runway behind the medium aircraft lining up, ATC can give the take-off clearance to the medium aircraft and this aircraft can perform the taking-off. This situation can be used by the air traffic controller to expedite a light aircraft departure before a take-off of an heavier aircraft.
Runway crossing operation
At some airfields, a runway crossing clearance is needed in order to let aircraft join an apron area, or a holding point. The runway crossing operation can be used in the same way like multi alignment operation.
Below, the medium aircraft is holding position on the runway and the heavy aircraft needs to cross the runway, ATC can give the crossing clearance to the heavy aircraft and this aircraft can perform the taxi. The medium aircraft shall maintain position and must not perform any take-off operation.
Below, the medium aircraft is moving on the runway (taxiing, landing, taking off or overflying) and the heavy aircraft needs to cross the runway, ATC cannot give the crossing clearance to the heavy aircraft and this aircraft must hold at the holding point. The medium aircraft shall finish its procedure.
Below, the medium aircraft has vacated the crossing taxiways after a landing, taking off or taxiing operation and the heavy aircraft need to cross the runway, ATC can give the crossing clearance to the heavy aircraft and this aircraft can perform the taxi.
Runway back-track operation
Above, the medium aircraft is at the unique holding point of the runway, and the air traffic controller gives the take-off clearance but the aircraft needs the whole runway to take off, then ATC shall give a back-track clearance to the aircraft, followed by the take-off clearance.
For an airfield with only one taxiway at the middle, and with two aircraft involved with the situation, the air traffic controller has already given a taxi clearance to a heavy aircraft to the unique holding point.
The problem is that the heavy aircraft occupies the unique vacating taxiway and the landing medium aircraft will occupy the runway and cancel the take-off.
- The solution is to give a clearance to the medium aircraft to continue to the end of the runway after landing, in order to let the heavy aircraft back-track to the beginning of the runway.
- During this back-tracking procedure, the heavy aircraft will allow the holding point to be free for use by the medium aircraft.
- The medium aircraft will perform a back-track operation after a half turn and vacate the runway using the unique taxiway while the heavy aircraft will wait at the runway threshold. Then, the heavy aircraft can initiate the taking off without risk.
See also
Reference
- none
Author
- VID 150259 - Creation
- VID 150259 - Wiki integration
DATE OF SUBMISSION
- 03:21, 8 March 2022
COPYRIGHT
- This documentation is copyrighted as part of the intellectual property of the International Virtual Aviation Organisation.
DISCLAIMER
- The content of this documentation is intended for aviation simulation only and must not be used for real aviation operations.