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Airport Markings and Signs

Airport Operations

There are markings and signs used at airports, which provide directions and assist pilots in airport operations. Some of the most common markings and signs are discussed. Additional information may be found in Chapter 2, Aeronautical Lighting and Other Airport Visual Aids, in the Aeronautical Information Manual (AIM). Runway Markings Runway markings vary depending on [...]

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Sources for Airport Data

Airport Operations

When a pilot flies into a different airport, it is important to review the current data for that airport. This data provides the pilot with information, such as communication frequencies, services available, closed runways, or airport construction. Three common sources of information are: Aeronautical Charts Airport/Facility Directory (A/FD) Notices to Airmen (NOTAMs) Aeronautical Charts Aeronautical [...]

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Types of Airports

Airport Operations

There are two types of airports—towered and nontowered. These types can be further subdivided to: Civil Airports—airports that are open to the general public. Military/Federal Government airports—airports operated by the military, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), or other agencies of the Federal Government. Private airports—airports designated for private or restricted use only, not open to the general public. Towered [...]

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Graphical METARs

Aviation Weather Services

METARs can be displayed on the multi-function display. Each reporting station that has a METAR/TAF available is depicted by a flag from the center of the airport symbol. Each flag is color coded to depict the type of weather that is currently reported at that station. A legend is available to assist users in determining [...]

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AIRMET/SIGMET Display

Aviation Weather Services

AIRMET/SIGMET information is available for the displayed viewing range on the MFD. Some displays are capable of displaying weather information for a 2,000 mile range. AIRMETS/SIGMETS are displayed by dashed lines on the map. [Figure 12-25] The legend box denotes the various colors used to depict the AIRMETs such as icing, turbulence, IFR weather, mountain [...]

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The Next Generation Weather Radar System (NEXRAD)

Aviation Weather Services

The NEXRAD system is comprised of a series of 159 Weather Surveillance Radar–1988 Doppler (WSR-88D) sites situated throughout the United States as well as selected oversees sites. The NEXRAD system is a joint venture between the United States Department of Commerce (DOC), the United States Department of Defense, (DOD) as well as the United States [...]

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Electronic Flight Displays (EFD) / Multi-Function Display (MFD) Weather

Aviation Weather Services

Many aircraft manufacturers now include satellite weather services with new electronic flight display (EFD) systems. EFDs give a pilot access to many of the satellite weather services available. Products available to a pilot on the display pictured in Figure 12-21 are listed as follows. The letters in parentheses indicate the soft key to press in [...]

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ATC Radar Weather Displays

Aviation Weather Services

Although ATC systems cannot always detect the presence or absence of clouds, they can often determine the intensity of a precipitation area, but the specific character of that area (snow, rain, hail, VIRGA, etc.) cannot be determined. For this reason, ATC refers to all weather areas displayed on ATC radar scopes as “precipitation.” ARTCC facilities [...]

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Weather Charts – Significant Weather Prognostic Charts

Aviation Weather Services

Significant weather prognostic charts are available for low-level significant weather from the surface to FL 240 (24,000 feet), also referred to as the 400 mb level, and high-level significant weather from FL 250 to FL 600 (25,000 to 60,000 feet). The primary concern of this discussion is the low-level significant weather prognostic chart. The low-level [...]

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