How does a pilot know which runway to use at an uncontrolled airport?

The traffic pattern altitude is usually 1,000 feet above the elevation of the airport surface. If there are no other aircraft present, the pilot should check traffic indicators on the ground and wind indicators to determine which runway and traffic pattern direction to use.

Can a pilot land at any airport?

Yes, the benefit of flying private is that you have the option to land anywhere including both large commercial airports and smaller private ones. As a general rule, private travelers often prefer smaller private airports for the time and cost saving benefits that come along with them.

What does Unicom mean in aviation?

UNICOM is a nongovernment air/ground radio communication station which may provide airport information at public use airports where there is no tower or FSS. On pilot request, UNICOM stations may provide pilots with weather information, wind direction, the recommended runway, or other necessary information.

What are the criteria for making an approach to the runway?

This criteria varies from approach to approach, runway to runway and aircraft to aircraft. There are two elements to the approach: the visibility and the Minimum Descent Altitude (MDA)/ Decision Altitude (DA).

What is the minimum distance between aircraft landing on the same runway?

The super or heavy to aircraft landing behind a departing/arriving super or heavy on the same or parallel runways separated by less than 2,500 feet. The B757/large aircraft to a small aircraft landing behind a departing/arriving B757/large aircraft on the same or parallel runways separated by less than 2,500 feet.

How do airplanes know where to land on the runway?

The first signal is the localizer, radiating from antennae which sit at the end of the runway. This shows the pilots where the aircraft is in relation to the centerline. The second signal comes from antennae to the side of the runway, around 1,000 feet in from the threshold abeam the touchdown zone.

What is an ILS approach to a runway?

Developed to give greater accuracy when approaching the runway, the best ILS approaches allow pilots to fly their aircraft all the way to runway, without even needing to see the ground outside. The ILS consists of two radio beams which project up from the area around the runway up into the approach path.