Terminal Radar
F1Several terminal radar programs are available to VFR aircraft and include basic service, Terminal Radar Service Area, Class C and Class B service.
F2Basic radar service provides traffic advisories, safety alerts and limited vectoring when ATC workload permits.
F3Terminal Radar Service Area (TRSA) provides sequencing and separation for all participating VFR aircraft in the service area.
F4For VFR aircraft, participation in a terminal radar program is voluntary. Simply contact approach control when inbound.
F5When departing an airport with a terminal radar program, request radar traffic information from ground control on initial contact and include direction of flight.
Transponder Codes
F6A special set of transponder codes has been established to aid ATC. One identifies VFR traffic while the others are used during emergencies.
F7The standard VFR transponder code is 1200. When selected, ATC will recognize your flight as VFR even if two-radio communications has not been established.
F8Except during an emergency, the following codes should be avoided when setting the transponder.
F97500 is the code used for a hijacking.
F107600 is the code used for lost radio communication.
F117700 is the general emergency code.
F127777 is the military intercept code.
Radio Phraseology
F13Pilots and controllers use a phonetic alphabet to ensure there is no confusion between like-sounding letters such as B, C, D, and E.
F14You will need to memorize the phonetic equivalent for each letter.
F15Each letter is also assigned a Morse code, which is used when tuning and identifying navigation stations.
F16When communicating with ATC, civilian aircraft should be identified first by the make or model of the aircraft, for example, Cirrus or Diamond.
F17When the make and model is used, the initial letter in the airplane’s call sign is dropped.
F18The pilot should state each digit of the call sign individually. For example, N611KG would be stated Six, One, One, Kilo, Golf.
F19Altitudes up to but not including 18,000 feet are communicated by stating the separate digits of the thousands followed by the hundreds if necessary.
F20For example, 13,500 feet is communicated as One Three Thousand, Five Hundred. Unless otherwise noted, altitudes are stated in Mean Sea Level.
F21The proper call to a Flight Service Station (FSS) is the station’s name followed by the word ''radio.'' For example: ''New York radio, Cirrus Six, One, One, Kilo, Golf.''
F22When contacting an En Route Flight Advisory Service (EFAS), first state the name of the Air Route Traffic Control Center serving your area followed by “flight watch.”
Traffic Advisories
F23Traffic advisories of nearby aircraft are provided to pilots by radar traffic information services.
F24The position of other aircraft relative to your’s is given based on your ground track not your heading and is expressed in terms of a 12- hour clock.
F2512 o'clock is straight ahead.
F263 o'clock is directly off the right wing.
F276 o'clock is directly behind the airplane.
F289 o'clock is directly off the left wing.
F29Intermediate positions are also used to identify nearby aircraft.
F30In addition to relative position, distance away in miles, direction of flight and altitude are also provided in a traffic advisory.
Light Signals
F31If radio communication between the pilot and the control tower is not possible, the tower can use light signals to communicate to the pilot.
F32The meaning of the light signal is dependent on whether the airplane is on the ground or in the air.
F33A steady green light when on the ground means cleared for takeoff.
F34A steady green light when in the air means cleared to land.
F35A flashing green light when on the ground means cleared to taxi.
F36A flashing green light when in the air means return for landing.
F37A steady red light when on the ground means stop.
F38A steady red light when in the air means give way to other aircraft and continue circling.
F39A flashing red light when on the ground means taxi clear of the landing area (runway) in use.
F40A flashing red light when in the air means airport unsafe, do not land.
F41A flashing white light when on the ground means return to starting point on airport.
F42A flashing white light is not applicable when the airplane is in the air.
F43An alternating red and green light when on the ground or in the air is a general warning signal, exercise extreme caution.
F44A pilot acknowledges light signals by rocking the wings during day and blinking lights during night.
F45If radio failure occurs and a landing at a tower-controlled airport is desired, remain outside or above the airport’s traffic pattern and determine the flow of traffic.
F46Once the traffic pattern is determined, enter the flow of traffic and maintain visual contact with the control tower for light signals.
LAHSO
F47To increase airport capacity and improve the flow of traffic, land and hold short operations (LAHSO) are conducted at some airports with an operating control tower.
F48A LAHSO clearance requires the pilot to land and hold short of an intersecting runway, an intersecting taxiway, or some other designated point on a runway.
F49A pilot may exit the runway prior to reaching the holding point.
F50The pilot-in-command has the final authority in accepting or declining a land and hold short clearance.
F51A pilot is expected to decline a LAHSO clearance if it is determined it will compromise safety.
F52Before accepting a LAHSO clearance, a pilot must determine a landing and full stop can be made safely within the available landing distance (ALD).
F53ALD data is published in the Airport/Facility Directory in the special notices section.
F54ATC can also give you ALD data upon request.
F55Student pilots should not participate in the LAHSO program.
F56LAHSO clearances are only issued when the ceiling is at least 1,000 feet and visibility is at least 3 statue miles.
F57The reason for having at least basic VFR conditions is to allow visual contact with other aircraft and ground vehicles.