| Navigation Aids | |
| Air Navigation Radio Aids | |
| General | p. 1 |
| Nondirectional Radio Beacon (NDB) | p. 1 |
| Vhf Omni-Directional Range (VOR) | p. 1 |
| Vor Receiver Check | p. 1 |
| Tactical Air Navigation (TACAN) | p. 2 |
| Vhf Omni-Directional Range/Tactical Air Navigation (VORTAC) | p. 2 |
| Distance Measuring Equipment (DME) | p. 3 |
| Navaid Service Volumes | p. 3 |
| Instrument Landing System (ILS) | p. 5 |
| Simplified Directional Facility (SDF) | p. 8 |
| Microwave Landing System (MLS) | p. 10 |
| Navaid Identifier Removal During Maintenance | p. 12 |
| Navaids With Voice | p. 12 |
| User Reports on Navaid Performance | p. 12 |
| Loran | p. 12 |
| Omega and Omega/Vlf Navigation Systems | p. 28 |
| Vhf Direction Finder | p. 28 |
| Inertial Navigation System (INS) | p. 28 |
| Doppler Radar | p. 28 |
| Flight Management System (FMS) | p. 29 |
| Global Positioning System (GPS) | p. 29 |
| Gnss Landing System (GLS) | p. 45 |
| Precision Approach Systems Other Than Ils, Gls, and Mls | p. 45 |
| Area Navigation | p. 45 |
| Radar Services and Procedures | |
| Radar | p. 46 |
| Air Traffic Control Radar Beacon System (ATCRBS) | p. 48 |
| Surveillance Radar | p. 48 |
| Precision Approach Radar (PAR) | p. 48 |
| Aeronautical Lighting and Other Airport Visual Aids | |
| Airport Lighting Aids | |
| Approach Light Systems (ALS) | p. 51 |
| Visual Glideslope Indicators | p. 52 |
| Runway end Identifier Lights (REIL) | p. 53 |
| Runway Edge Light Systems | p. 55 |
| In-Runway Lighting | p. 55 |
| Control of Lighting Systems | p. 55 |
| Pilot Control of Airport Lighting | p. 55 |
| Airport/Heliport Beacons | p. 56 |
| Taxiway Lights | p. 57 |
| Air Navigation and Obstruction Lighting | |
| Aeronautical Light Beacons | p. 57 |
| Code Beacons and Course Lights | p. 58 |
| Obstruction Lights | p. 58 |
| Airport Marking Aids and Signs | |
| General | p. 58 |
| Airport Pavement Markings | p. 59 |
| Runway Markings | p. 59 |
| Taxiway Markings | p. 61 |
| Holding Position Markings | p. 66 |
| Other Markings | p. 69 |
| Airport Signs | p. 74 |
| Mandatory Instruction Signs | p. 74 |
| Location Signs | p. 76 |
| Direction Signs | p. 76 |
| Destination Signs | p. 77 |
| Information Signs | p. 78 |
| Runway Distance Remaining Signs | p. 78 |
| Aircraft Arresting Devices | p. 80 |
| Airspace | |
| General | |
| General | p. 81 |
| General Dimensions of Airspace Segments | p. 81 |
| Hierarchy of Overlapping Airspace Designations | p. 81 |
| Basic VFR Weather Minimums | p. 81 |
| VFR Cruising Altitudes and Flight Levels | p. 81 |
| Controlled Airspace | |
| General | p. 81 |
| Class A Airspace | p. 83 |
| Class B Airspace | p. 83 |
| Class C Airspace | p. 85 |
| Class D Airspace | p. 88 |
| Class E Airspace | p. 89 |
| Class G Airspace | |
| General | p. 89 |
| VFR Requirements | p. 89 |
| IFR Requirements | p. 89 |
| Special Use Airspace | |
| General | p. 90 |
| Prohibited Areas | p. 90 |
| Restricted Areas | p. 90 |
| Warning Areas | p. 90 |
| Military Operations Areas | p. 90 |
| Alert Areas | p. 91 |
| Controlled Firing Areas | p. 91 |
| Other Airspace Areas | |
| Airport Advisory Area | p. 91 |
| Military Training Routes | p. 91 |
| Temporary Flight Restrictions | p. 92 |
| Parachute Jump Aircraft Operations | p. 94 |
| Published VFR Routes | p. 94 |
| Terminal Radar Service Area (TRSA) | p. 96 |
| National Security Areas | p. 96 |
| Air Traffic Control | |
| Services Available to Pilots | |
| Air Route Traffic Control Centers | p. 98 |
| Control Towers | p. 98 |
| Flight Service Stations | p. 98 |
| Recording and Monitoring | p. 98 |
| Communications Release of IFR Aircraft Landing at an Airport Without an Operating Control Tower | p. 98 |
| Pilot Visits to Air Traffic Facilities | p. 98 |
| Operation Take-Off and Operation Raincheck | p. 98 |
| Approach Control Service for VFR Arriving Aircraft | p. 98 |
| Traffic Advisory Practices at Airports Without Operating Control Towers | p. 98 |
| IFR Approaches/Ground Vehicle Operations | p. 101 |
| Designated Unicom/Multicom Frequencies | p. 102 |
| Use of Unicom for Atc Purposes | p. 102 |
| Automatic Terminal Information Service (ATIS) | p. 102 |
| Radar Traffic Information Service | p. 103 |
| Safety Alert | p. 104 |
| Radar Assistance to VFR Aircraft | p. 105 |
| Terminal Radar Services for VFR Aircraft | p. 106 |
| Tower en Route Control (TEC) | p. 108 |
| Transponder Operation | p. 108 |
| Hazardous Area Reporting Service | p. 110 |
| Airport Reservations Operations and Procedures | p. 112 |
| Requests for Waivers and Authorizations from Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) | p. 114 |
| Radio Communications Phraseology and Techniques | |
| General | p. 115 |
| Radio Technique | p. 115 |
| Contact Procedures | p. 116 |
| Aircraft Call Signs | p. 117 |
| Description of Interchange or Leased Aircraft | p. 118 |
| Ground Station Call Signs | p. 118 |
| Phonetic Alphabet | p. 118 |
| Figures | p. 118 |
| Altitudes and Flight Levels | p. 118 |
| Directions | p. 119 |
| Speeds | p. 119 |
| Time | p. 119 |
| Communications with Tower When Aircraft Transmitter or Receiver or Both Are Inoperative | p. 120 |
| Communications for VFR Flights | p. 120 |
| Airport Operations | |
| General | p. 121 |
| Airports with an Operating Control Tower | p. 121 |
| Visual Indicators at Airports Without an Operating Control Tower | p. 122 |
| Traffic Patterns | p. 123 |
| Unexpected Maneuvers in the Airport Traffic Pattern | p. 123 |
| Use of Runways/Declared Distances | p. 125 |
| Low Level Wind Shear Alert System (LLWAS) and Terminal Doppler Weather Radar (TDWR) | p. 125 |
| Braking Action Reports and Advisories | p. 125 |
| Runway Friction Reports and Advisories | p. 126 |
| Intersection Takeoffs | p. 126 |
| Pilot Responsibilities When Conducting Land and Hold Short Operations (LAHSO) | p. 127 |
| Low Approach | p. 128 |
| Traffic Control Light Signals | p. 128 |
| Communications | p. 129 |
| Gate Holding Due to Departure Delays | p. 130 |
| VFR Flights in Terminal Areas | p. 130 |
| VFR Helicopter Operations at Controlled Airports | p. 130 |
| Taxiing | p. 131 |
| Taxi During Low Visibility | p. 133 |
| Exiting The Runway After Landing | p. 133 |
| Practice Instrument Approaches | p. 133 |
| Option Approach | p. 134 |
| Use of Aircraft Lights | p. 134 |
| Flight Inspection/'Flight Check' Aircraft in Terminal Areas | p. 135 |
| Hand Signals | p. 135 |
| Operations at Uncontrolled Airports with Automated Surface Observing System (ASOS) Automated Weather Observation System (AWOS) | p. 139 |
| Atc Clearances/Separations | |
| Clearance | p. 139 |
| Clearance Prefix | p. 139 |
| Clearance Items | p. 139 |
| Amended Clearances | p. 140 |
| Special VFR Clearances | p. 140 |
| Pilot Responsibility Upon Clearance Issuance | p. 140 |
| IFR Clearance VFR-on-Top | p. 142 |
| VFR/IFR Flights | p. 142 |
| Adherence to Clearance | p. 142 |
| IFR Separation Standards | p. 144 |
| Speed Adjustments | p. 144 |
| Runway Separation | p. 145 |
| Visual Separation | p. 145 |
| Use of Visual Clearing Procedures | p. 145 |
| Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance System (TCAS I and II) | p. 146 |
| Air Traffic Procedures | |
| Preflight | |
| Preflight Preparation | p. 147 |
| Follow IFR Procedures Even When Operating VFR | p. 148 |
| Notice to Airmen (Notam) System | p. 148 |
| Flight Plan--VFR Flights | p. 152 |
| Flight Plan--Defense VFR (DVFR) Flights | p. 154 |
| Composite Flight Plan (VFR/IFR Flights) | p. 154 |
| Flight Plan--IFR Flights | p. 154 |
| IFR Operations to High Altitude Destinations | p. 159 |
| Flights Outside the United States and U.S. Territories | p. 159 |
| Change in Flight Plan | p. 160 |
| Change in Proposed Departure Time | p. 160 |
| Closing VFR/DVFR Flight Plans | p. 161 |
| Canceling Ifr Flight Plan | p. 161 |
| Departure Procedures | |
| Pre-Taxi Clearance Procedures | p. 161 |
| Taxi Clearance | p. 161 |
| Abbreviated IFR Departure Clearance (Cleared...as Filed) Procedures | p. 162 |
| Departure Restrictions, Clearance Void Times, Hold for Release, and Release Times | p. 163 |
| Departure Control | p. 163 |
| Instrument Departures | p. 163 |
| En Route Procedures | |
| Artcc Communications | p. 165 |
| Position Reporting | p. 166 |
| Additional Reports | p. 167 |
| Airways and Route Systems | p. 167 |
| Airway or Route Course Changes | p. 169 |
| Changeover Points (Cops) | p. 169 |
| Holding | p. 169 |
| Arrival Procedures | |
| Standard Terminal Arrival (Star), Flight Management System Procedures (FMSP) for Arrivals | p. 172 |
| Local Flow Traffic Management Program | p. 173 |
| Approach Control | p. 173 |
| Advance Information on Instrument Approach | p. 174 |
| Instrument Approach Procedure Charts | p. 174 |
| Approach Clearance | p. 181 |
| Instrument Approach Procedures | p. 181 |
| Procedure Turn | p. 182 |
| Timed Approaches from a Holding Fix | p. 183 |
| Radar Approaches | p. 183 |
| Radar Monitoring of Instrument Approaches | p. 185 |
| ILS/MLS Approaches to Parallel Runways | p. 185 |
| Parallel ILS/MLS Approaches (Dependent) | p. 187 |
| Simultaneous Parallel ILS/MLS Approaches (Independent) | p. 188 |
| Simultaneous Close Parallel ILS/MLS Approaches (Independent) | p. 189 |
| Simultaneous Converging Instrument Approaches | p. 190 |
| Side-Step Maneuver | p. 191 |
| Approach and Landing Minimums | p. 191 |
| Missed Approach | p. 192 |
| Visual Approach | p. 193 |
| Charted Visual Flight Procedures (CVFP) | p. 194 |
| Contact Approach | p. 194 |
| Landing Priority | p. 194 |
| Overhead Approach Maneuver | p. 194 |
| Pilot/Controller Roles and Responsibilities | |
| General | p. 195 |
| Air Traffic Clearance | p. 195 |
| Contact Approach | p. 196 |
| Instrument Approach | p. 196 |
| Missed Approach | p. 196 |
| Radar Vectors | p. 197 |
| Safety Alert | p. 197 |
| See and Avoid | p. 197 |
| Speed Adjustments | p. 197 |
| Traffic Advisories (Traffic Information) | p. 198 |
| Visual Approach | p. 198 |
| Visual Separation | p. 198 |
| VFR-on-Top | p. 199 |
| Instrument Departures | p. 199 |
| Minimum Fuel Advisory | p. 199 |
| National Security and Interception Procedures | |
| National Security | p. 200 |
| Interception Procedures | p. 201 |
| Law Enforcement Operations by Civil and Military Organizations | p. 202 |
| Interception Signals | p. 202 |
| Adiz Boundaries and Designated Mountainous Areas | p. 202 |
| Emergency Procedures | |
| General | |
| Pilot Responsibility and Authority | p. 206 |
| Emergency Condition--Request Assistance Immediately | p. 206 |
| Emergency Services Available to Pilots | |
| Radar Service for VFR Aircraft in Difficulty | p. 206 |
| Transponder Emergency Operation | p. 206 |
| Direction Finding Instrument Approach Procedure | p. 207 |
| Intercept and Escort | p. 207 |
| Emergency Locator Transmitters | p. 206 |
| FAA K-9 Explosives Detection Team Program | p. 208 |
| Search and Rescue | p. 208 |
| Distress and Urgency Procedures | |
| Distress and Urgency Communications | p. 215 |
| Obtaining Emergency Assistance | p. 216 |
| Ditching Procedures | p. 216 |
| Special Emergency (Air Piracy) | p. 219 |
| Fuel Dumping | p. 220 |
| Two-Way Radio Communications Failure | |
| Two-Way Radio Communications Failure | p. 220 |
| Transponder Operation During Two-Way Communications Failure | p. 221 |
| Reestablishing Radio Contact | p. 221 |
| Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting Communications | |
| Discrete Emergency Frequency | p. 222 |
| Radio Call Signs | p. 222 |
| Arff Emergency Hand Signals | p. 222 |
| Safety of Flight | |
| Meteorology | |
| National Weather Service Aviation Products | p. 223 |
| Faa Weather Services | p. 223 |
| Preflight Briefing | p. 225 |
| En Route Flight Advisory Service (EFAS) | p. 226 |
| Inflight Weather Advisories | p. 227 |
| Categorical Outlooks | p. 228 |
| Telephone Information Briefing Service (TIBS) | p. 229 |
| Transcribed Weather Broadcast (TWEB) | p. 229 |
| Inflight Weather Broadcasts | p. 229 |
| Flight Information Services Data Link (FISDL) | p. 230 |
| Weather Observing Programs | p. 232 |
| Weather Radar Services | p. 237 |
| Atc Inflight Weather Avoidance Assistance | p. 238 |
| Runway Visual Range (RVR) | p. 242 |
| Reporting of Cloud Heights | p. 243 |
| Reporting Prevailing Visibility | p. 243 |
| Estimating Intensity of Rain and Ice Pellets | p. 244 |
| Estimating Intensity of Snow or Drizzle (Based on Visibility) | p. 244 |
| Pilot Weather Reports (PIREPS) | p. 244 |
| Pireps Relating to Airframe Icing | p. 245 |
| Pireps Relating to Turbulence | p. 245 |
| Wind Shear Pireps | p. 246 |
| Clear Air Turbulence (CAT) Pireps | p. 247 |
| Microbursts | p. 247 |
| Pireps Relating to Volcanic Ash Activity | p. 254 |
| Thunderstorms | p. 255 |
| Thunderstorm Flying | p. 255 |
| Key to Aerodrome Forecasts (TAF) and Aviation Routine Weather Report (METAR) | p. 256 |
| International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Weather Formats | p. 257 |
| Altimeter Setting Procedures | |
| General | p. 264 |
| Procedures | p. 264 |
| Altimeter Errors | p. 265 |
| High Barometric Pressure | p. 266 |
| Low Barometric Pressure | p. 266 |
| Wake Turbulence | |
| General | p. 266 |
| Vortex Generation | p. 266 |
| Vortex Strength | p. 266 |
| Vortex Behavior | p. 267 |
| Operations Problem Areas | p. 268 |
| Vortex Avoidance Procedures | p. 268 |
| Helicopters | p. 269 |
| Pilot Responsibility | p. 269 |
| Air Traffic Wake Turbulence Separations | p. 270 |
| Bird Hazards and Flight Over National Refuges, Parks, and Forests | |
| Migratory Bird Activity | p. 270 |
| Reducing Bird Strike Risks | p. 271 |
| Reporting Bird Strikes | p. 271 |
| Reporting Bird and Other Wildlife Activities | p. 271 |
| Pilot Advisories on Bird and Other Wildlife Hazards | p. 271 |
| Flights Over Charted U.S. Wildlife Refuges, Parks, and Forest Service Areas | p. 271 |
| Potential Flight Hazards | |
| Accident Cause Factors | p. 274 |
| VFR in Congested Areas | p. 274 |
| Obstructions to Flight | p. 274 |
| Avoid Flight Beneath Unmanned Balloons | p. 275 |
| Mountain Flying | p. 275 |
| Use of Runway Half-Way Signs at Unimproved Airports | p. 276 |
| Seaplane Safety | p. 277 |
| Flight Operations in Volcanic Ash | p. 278 |
| Emergency Airborne Inspection of Other Aircraft | p. 278 |
| Precipitation Static | p. 280 |
| Light Amplification by Stimulated Emissions of Radiation (LASER) Operations | p. 280 |
| Safety, Accident, and Hazard Reports | |
| Aviation Safety Reporting Program | p. 281 |
| Aircraft Accident and Incident Reporting | p. 281 |
| Near Midair Collision Reporting | p. 282 |
| Medical Facts for Pilots | |
| Fitness for Flight | |
| Fitness for Flight | p. 284 |
| Effects of Altitude | p. 285 |
| Hyperventilation in Flight | p. 286 |
| Carbon Monoxide Poisoning in Flight | p. 287 |
| Illusions in Flight | p. 287 |
| Vision in Flight | p. 288 |
| Aerobatic Flight | p. 289 |
| Judgment Aspects of Collision Avoidance | p. 289 |
| Aeronautical Charts and Related Publications | |
| Types of Charts Available | |
| General | p. 291 |
| Obtaining Civil Aeronautical Charts | p. 291 |
| Selected Charts and Products Available | p. 291 |
| General Description of Each Chart Series | p. 291 |
| Where and How to Get Charts of Foreign Areas | p. 299 |
| Pilot/Controller Glossary | p. 302 |
| Table of Contents provided by Syndetics. All Rights Reserved. |