Contributor - Accidents and Regulations

Contributor - Accidents and Regulations

Gordon Gilbert

The FAA has updated its <a href="https://www.faa.gov/documentLibrary/media/Advisory_Circular/AC_90-66C.pdf">advisory circular</a>&nbsp;(AC) on operations near and at&nbsp;non-towered airports.&nbsp;Revised AC 90-66C&nbsp;calls attention to regulations, recommended operations, and communications procedures for operating at an airport without a control tower or with a part-time control tower. The AC&nbsp;provides guidance for safe operations by all types of aircraft and related activities, such as parachuting.
A major portion of the AC is devoted to pilots continually transmitting position information and&nbsp;traffic pattern procedures. According to the document, “The FAA does not regulate traffic pattern entry, only traffic pattern flow.” This means that when entering the traffic pattern at an uncontrolled airport, inbound pilots are expected to observe other aircraft already in the pattern and to conform to the traffic pattern in use. Aircraft flying under IFR and on the final approach course should “follow the requirements dictated by the approach procedure.”
While the FAA doesn’t recommend straight-in approaches when there are other aircraft in the traffic pattern, if a pilot chooses to execute a straight-in approach for landing without entering the pattern, “the pilot should self-announce their position on the designated CTAF [common traffic advisory frequenc]y between eight and approximately 10 miles from the airport&nbsp;and coordinate their straight-in approach and landing with other airport traffic.” The circular&nbsp;emphasizes that pilots shooting a straight-in approach “do not have priority over other aircraft in the traffic pattern.”

News and information on safety procedures and concerns.

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News and issues relating to international air transport and cargo carriers, national airlines and regional airlines, including aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

Essential news and analysis on the defense aerospace business. Your trusted source for new and ongoing programs and requirements in military aircraft (manned and unmanned), engines, avionics, weapons and associated systems, including ground-based air defense.

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News about significant aircraft accidents and information from accident reports.

News and issues regarding all manner of civil and military rotorcraft and their powerplants, including helicopters, tilt rotors and unmanned air vehicles.

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News about environmental issues relating to aircraft operations, including noise issues, emissisions, and regulations. See Fuel for biofuel.

News and issues relating to the aerospace industry that are related to the science, engineering and business of flight in space involving civil, industrial and military applications, and similar topics related to flight in the atmosphere of the Earth that are not covered more directly by other AINonline subject channels. In other words, both astronautical and aeronautical subjects, except for those aeronautical topics that are specifically covered elsewhere on this website.

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