07/09 - Planning a Cross-Country Flight

07/09 - Planning a Cross-Country Flight - Part 3

By Steve Krog

Preparation and planning are vitally important to a successful cross-country flight. Unlike auto travel, flying doesn’t provide you the luxury of pulling into a rest area to review the map and figure out where you are or where you’re going! Consequently, good preflight planning is essential to making and completing a safe, fun, and successful trip. One of the key items required to plan for a safe cross-country flight is the Airport Facility Directory (AFD), which is sometimes referred to as the “little ugly green book.” Let’s take a look at what the AFD has to offer.

In the last newsletter we planned for a cross-country flight with the destination of Oshkosh, Wisconsin. The Chicago Sectional Chart contained both the topographical and basic information for the Oshkosh airport. Studying the Sectional Chart we were able to determine

the location of the airport in relation to the city,
if the airport had a control tower (which requires two-way radio communication),
the length of the longest runway,
the elevation of the airport above sea level,
the Automated Terminal Information Service (ATIS) radio frequency,
the tower frequency for two-way communication.

All of the above information was found in the print surrounding the airport symbol. However, there is still a lot we do not know about the Oshkosh airport and the AFD is the primary source for finding this information.

The FAA publishes the Airport Facility Directory every 56 days. The official purpose of the AFD is to provide an approved source of airport, facility, and navaid data to supplement aeronautical charting. The Airport Facility Directory contains information you can’t find anywhere else.

The AFD supports:

VFR (sectional chart) and IFR chart systems,
all public and military airports, seaplane bases, and heliports,
NAVAIDS/Restrictions,
communications data,
special notices,
airport sketches and diagrams.

Data entries in the AFD include runway length, lighting, elevation, navaid types with restrictions, frequencies, non-standard traffic patterns, and many more pure flight-planning bits of information. The AIRPORT REMARKS section list the local procedures at the airport.

Let’s look at a standard entry, but first make sure that the AFD you are using for planning your flight is current (this information is found on the front cover and remember, the AFD is published every 56 days). Many changes could have been made at the Oshkosh airport in that time frame such as runway closures.

The AFD clearly states that the effective date of usage begins at 0901Z on July 2, 2009, and remains in effect until 0901Z on August 27, 2009. Next, let’s find the section containing the Wisconsin airport information and locate the page containing the Oshkosh airport date, which in the current issue is page 305.

At first glance you’ll see a lot of numbers, letters, and abbreviations; but don’t become overwhelmed, it is all quite easy to interpret once you become familiar with it. Beginning on page 7 you’ll find the Directory Legend, which clearly explains all of the symbols, abbreviations, and data.

The very first item found on page 305 is the city where the airport is located. The next line begins with WITTMAN RGNL. This is the official name of the airport; in this case it is Wittman Regional Airport. Next is the three-letter designator for the airport (OSH). Every public use airport in the United States is assigned either a three letter or a combination of three letters and digits. For example (C37).

Following the three-letter designator is “2S” which tells you the airport is located approximately two miles south of the city of Oshkosh. Next is the information pertaining to the Universal Time Code (UTC). It reads: UTC-6(-5DT). This will tell you that when filing a flight plan you will need to subtract 6 hours from the current 24-hour time clock to obtain the correct UTC for Oshkosh. During the period of daylight saving time subtract 5 hours. Your flight instructor will explain this in more detail when you begin planning your first cross-country flight.

The next entry found on the first line of text is the latitude and longitude coordinates for Wittman Regional Airport. The last item on this text line is the word CHICAGO, which tells us the airport is located on the Chicago Sectional Chart.

The second line of text and symbols will provide you with the following information:

Field elevation above sea level
B: The field has a rotating beacon
S4: The level of services available on the field
FUEL: Both 100LL aviation fuel and JET A fuel are available
OX: Oxygen is available if you are flying a complex aircraft
TPA: The traffic pattern altitude is 1,808 feet above sea level or 1,000 feet above ground level

The next block of information covers the runways at Wittman Regional Field, including runway direction, surface, length, width, weight bearing capacity, lighting, and slope. The first runway listed is always the longest runway, in this example it is runway (RWY) 18—36. It is a hard surface runway 8002’ long and 150’ wide and the surface is concrete with grooves cut in the concrete. Wittman Regional Airport also has a runway 9—27, which is 6,178 feet long and 150 feet wide, runway 04—22, and runway 13—31.

Next you will find the AIRPORT REMARKS section. Note the airport is attended from 1300-0200Z. Since we are currently observing daylight saving time, subtract 5 from each number to determine the hours of operation under the normal 24-hour clock. In this case it is attended from 8 a.m. until 2100Z or 9 p.m. There is quite a bit more information contained in this section but your instructor will work with you to better understand this information if you’re confused.

Following the AIRPORT REMARKS section there are several additional items that you’ll want to note for your trip planning to Oshkosh. The first of these items is WEATHER DATA SOURCES. Here it states that Oshkosh has an Automated Surface Observing System (ASOS) followed by a phone number. This a system that you can call and get a minute-by-minute recording of the current surface weather conditions at Wittman Regional Airport.

The next line states COMMUNICATIONS and provides you with the Common Traffic Advisory Frequency (CTAF), which is 118.5, followed by the Automatic Terminal Information Service (ATIS) 125.9. Both frequencies will be important as you approach the Oshkosh airport. Monitoring the ATIS frequency will provide you with current surface weather conditions as well as the active runways being used. This information will help you predetermine how best to approach the airport and enter the traffic pattern for landing.

One additional line of information that is important to you is OSHKOSH TOWER. Note that the tower frequency is identical to the CTAF frequency, 118.5. Following the frequency is the time frame that the control tower is operational; in this case 1200—0400Z. Subtracting 5, you will determine that the tower is operational from 7 a.m. until 11 p.m. The last item in this line is Ground Control, which is abbreviated as GND CON, and it has a radio frequency of 121.9. You’ll need this frequency to get instructions and directions for taxiing to your desired location on the airport.

In addition to all of the text information provided for Oshkosh found in the AFD, note the airport diagram accompanying the text. It offers you a detailed visual overview of the airport including runways and taxiways. Not only will this diagram assist you for entering the traffic pattern but it also is of great help once you are on the ground and have exited the active runway.

The Airport Facility Directory is a wealth of information that assists you in planning and flying a safe and fun cross-country flight. Often overlooked by many pilots, it can and will prevent you from “surprises” when reaching your destination. Neither you, nor your passenger(s), will appreciate a pleasant cross-country flight if you find the primary runway at your destination airport closed. No one wants to experience the situation where you are low on fuel, running out of daylight, and nowhere conveniently safe to land.

NOTE: The information contained within this article is somewhat general in nature for the purpose of presenting an overview. Work with your flight instructor when you begin learning to read Sectional Charts and the Airport Facility Directory (AFD) for planning your cross-country flights.