What are approach minimums?

Approaching minimums is the decision making altitude or minimum altitude ( Generally 100 feet above the minimum altitude ). Captain callout ‘approaching minimums’ in order to decide that they will land on the runway or they will go around, that depends on the Captain.

What does D mean on approach plate?

A [D] symbol is shown to indicate runway declared distance information available, see appropriate Chart Supplement for distance information.

How tall does a tower have to be to have a light?

200 feet
Any structure that exceeds 200 feet above ground level generally needs to be marked (lighted) according to FAA/ICAO Regulations.

Where is the decision height on an approach plate?

The decision height is the lowest altitude an aircraft performing a precision approach (such as ILS) can go without having the runway in sight, it is also the time to decide whether or not to land. The decision height will be exactly at the same place as MAP if the glideslope is correctly followed.

Are approach minimums in AGL or MSL?

Approach charts (US TPPs) do show AGL below the MSL values. You can always calculate the AGL value from the MSL and field elevation, but having it on the chart gives you a heads-up as to how high above the field you will be if you fly an approach to minimums.

How far out should you contact approach control?

As a side note related to this question, most of us (tower controllers) have our radar zoomed out to only about 12 miles, so a good distance to call us would be about 8-12 miles out from the airport, and I wouldn’t call any earlier than 15 miles out. Calling us from 40 miles out is too early.

What does the black D on an approach plate mean?

Enough with the suspense; the D symbol indicates that there is Declared Distance Information (DDI) available for that airport and that this DDI is not on the airport diagram.

What does the V mean on an approach plate?

If the approach chart has one, what this means is you should not descend below the MDA prior to this point. To be specific, it’s the bold V circled on this chart from Telluride, Colorado.

How high should a front door light be from the ground?

For example, if your front door is eight feet tall, the light should be mounted about 6 feet from the ground. In the case of outside lights, which are usually on for a long period of time, it is better to use compact fluorescent light bulbs as they are more economical and longer lasting.

How do I change the lighting intensity on a runway?

To change the lighting intensity, or to turn lights on or off, simply ask the tower controller. Typically, the rows of lights that mark the ends of a runway are bi-directional.

How high off the ground should a column light be?

When using low lights, the suggested height is one to two feet off the ground. In some cases you may want to light a driveway or path with larger column lights. If this is your goal, the ideal height is 6 to 6-and-a-half feet from the ground.

How far apart should centerline lights be on a runway?

Centerline lights are nearly flush-mounted and, starting 75 feet from the threshold, are spaced in 50-foot intervals in a single line for the length of the runway. Pilots who take off or land precisely on the centerline should expect the slight bumpiness caused by the nose wheel rolling over the protruding lights.