Study Guide

Diese Seite dient der Entwicklung der Trainingsdokumente der FIR Wien.

Geplante Dokumente

• Study Guide: Tower
• Study Guide: Radar
• Study Guide: Airport Details

Study Guide: Tower

Introduction

Tower is responsible for all movements on the runways as well as for all movements within the Control Zone (CTR): e.g. LOWW_TWR: 10NM radius, GND to 2500ft MSL).
Tower is also responsible for Ground and Delivery operations if they are not online. Tower also decides which runways are in use.

METAR and TAF

METAR
The word METAR comes from the French phrase "message d’observation météorologique régulière pour l’aviation". It is thought to be a contraction of the French words MÉTéorologique ("Weather") Aviation Régulière ("Routine").
A METAR is a codified observation message indicating airfield weather conditions observed at a given time. Such a message is established every hour, even sometimes every 30 minutes or shorter due to fast and heavy weather changes which affects the traffic flow.

Sample:
LOWW 011220Z 33007KT 280V020 3000 R34/1500 +RASH FEW040 BKN058TCU 16/07 Q1014 RETS WS RWY34 34231091 BECMG -SHRA SCT030CB

Detailed Explaination:

1.) Location Identifier: LOWW
The four-letter ICAO code of the observing location.

2.) Day of Month/Zulu Time: 011220Z

3.) Wind: 33007KT
Wind direction (true heading), rounded to the nearest ten degrees and always expressed as three digits. Direction can be given as VRB if wind direction is variable and wind speed is at most 3 knots.
plus
average wind speed of last 10 minutes in knots.
or
maximum gust wind speed in knots.
If it is calm, the wind is given as 00000KT.

4.) Variable Wind Direction: 280V020
This field is used if the total variation of wind direction during the last 10 minutes is 60 degrees or more and wind speed is more than 3 knots. The direction extrema are given in clockwise order

5.) Horizontal Visibility: 3000
Usually, only the minimum visibility is reported. If the minimum is less than 1500m and the maximum is over 5000m, the maximum visibility and its direction are indicated by a second visibility group following the minimum visibility.

6.) RVR Runway Visual Range: R34/1500
Runway designator and runway visibility in meters.

7.) Significant Weather: +RASH
Intensity is expressed by: + = heavy, - = light, nothing = moderate
Proximity is described by: VC = ViCinity (within 8km)

  BC = Banc - fog bench
  BL = Blowing
  DR = Drifting
  FZ = Freezing
  MI = Mince - thin fog layer
  SH = Shower
  TS = Thunderstorm
  DZ = Drizzle
  GR = Grêle - hail (diameter > 5mm)
  GS = Grêsil - hail (diameter < 5mm)
  IC = Ice Crystal
  PE = Ice Pellets
  RA = Rain
  SG = Snow Grains
  SN = Snow
  BR = Brume - mist (vis 1000 to 3000m)
  DU = Dust
  FG = Fog (vis < 1000m)
  FU = Fumée - smoke (vis < 3000m)
  HZ = Haze
  SA = Sand
  VA = Vulcanic Ashes
  DS = Dust Storm
  FC = Funnel Clouds
  PO = Dust Spins
  SQ = Squall
  SS = Sand Storm

8.) Clouds and Ceiling: FEW040 BKN058TCU

Cloud coverage:

  FEW = few - 1 to 2 octas
  SCT = scattered - 3 to 4 octas
  BKN = broken - 5 to 7 octas
  OVC = overcast - 8 octas

Cloud types:

  CB = cumulunimbus
  TCU = towering cumuli or cumulus congestus

Also common:

  SKC = Sky Clear (no clouds)
  OVC/// = clouds covering the sky and which base is below aerodrome level
  VV/// = sky not visible
  VV002 = vertical visibility is 200ft
  CAVOK = ceiling and visibility is OK (vis > 10km and SKC)

9.) Temperature and Dew Point: 16/07
The difference between temperature and dew pont is called "spread", the smaller the spread the higher the risk of precipitation.

10.) Pressure, QNH (altimeter setting): Q1014
QNH = 1014 hPa (hectopascals - 1hPa = 1mb - millibar)

11.) Recent Weather: RETS
Recent Thunderstorm
Also:

  RERA = recent rain
  RESN = recent snow
  NOSIG = no significant change

12.) Wind Shear: WS RWY34
Also:

  WS TKOF RWY 16 = windshear when taking of runway 16
  WS LDG RWY 34 = windshear when landing at runway 34
  WS ALL RWYS = windshear all runways

13.) Runway Status: 34231091
34 = runway 34
2 = wet
3 = covering 26 to 50% of runway surface
10 = 10mm thick
91 = braking action poor

Explaination:
1st and 2nd figure = runway designator
3rd figure = type of deposit on the runway

  0 = runway clean and dry
  1 = damp
  2 = wet
  3 = frost
  4 = snow
  5 = wet snow
  6 = slush
  7 = ice
  8 = compacted snow
  9 = snow drift
  / = unknown, removal in progress

4th figure = percentage of runway contamination

  1 = less than 10%
  2 = 11 to 25%
  3 = 26 to 50%
  4 = 51 to 100%
  / = unknown, removal in progress

5th and 6th figure = deposit thickness

  01 to 90 = millimeters
  92 = 10cm
  93 = 15cm
  94 = 20cm
  95 = 25cm
  96 = 30cm
  97 = 35cm
  98 = 40cm
  99 = unknown
  // = unable to measure

7th and 8th figure = braking action

  01 to 90 = coefficient 0.01 to 0.90
  or
  91 = poor
  92 = medium to poor
  93 = medium
  94 = medium to good
  95 = good
  99 = uncertain
  // = unknown

14.) Trend: BECMG -SHRA SCT030CB
Consists of following keywords and other METAR components:

  BECMG: becoming
  TEMPO: temporarily
  NOSIG: no significant change expected within 2 hours
  AT: at
  FM: from
  TL: until

15.) Remarks:
RMK followed by METAR components and miscellaneous abbreviations.


TAF Terminal Aerodrome Forecast
METAR describes the current weather conditions, a TAF message contains forecast information. Many of the elements are similar to those used in METARs. An example of a TAF message:

  LOWW 011400Z 011524 31008KT 9999 FEW040 BKN060 TX16/15Z TN10/24Z 
    TEMPO 1521 32013KT -SHRA BKN045 
    PROB30 
    TEMPO 1520 31015G25KT 6000 SHRA BKN040 FEW045TCU 
    BECMG 2324 CAVOK

The first two groups (LOWW 01140Z) are identical to METAR groups: location identifier and issuing day and time. The third group (011524) tells the period for which the forecast is given. The first two numbers denote day of month. The next four numbers give the validity hours. In this example, the forecast is valid from 15:00 to 24:00. After these code groups, a description of the forecast weather phenomena follows.

Working Tower Positions

ATIS

Bei der ATIS (Automatic Terminal Information Service) handelt es sich um eine automatisch generierte Informationsdurchsage für den Flugverkehr an größeren Flughäfen. Sie wird auf einer eigenen Frequenz in einer Endlosschleife gesendet und soll die aktiven Funkstationen am Flughafen entlasten.
Piloten, die unter IFR an- oder abfliegen, sind verpflichtet, vor dem Erstkontakt mit der zuständigen Flugverkehrskontrollstelle zunächst das ATIS abzuhören. Beim Erstkontakt nennt der Pilot den ATIS-Kennbuchbuchstaben, um dem Controller zu bestätigen, dass er die aktuelle Version abgehört hat.

Bestandteile einer ATIS Meldung:
Name des Flughafens
Laufender ATIS-Kennbuchstabe
Zeit der Beobachtung des Flugplatzwetters
Aktive Landebahn
Übergangshöhe
Windrichtung und -geschwindigkeit
Flugsichten
besondere Wetterlagen (z.B. Regen)
Hauptwolkenuntergrenze
Temperatur und Taupunkt
QNH
Änderungstrend

Die ATIS wird alle 30 Minuten oder bei signifikanten Wetteränderungen erneuert.

Transition Altitude/Transition Level

Die Transition Altitude (TA) beträgt in Wien immer 5000 ft. Der Transition Level (TL) ergibt sich in Abhängigkeit zum aktuellen Luftdruck (QNH):

QNH < 0977: TA + 3000 ft.
QNH 0978 - 1013: TA + 2000 ft.
QNH 1014 - 1050: TA + 1000 ft.
QNH 1051 > : TA = TL

Zwischen der TA und dem TL befindet sich der Transition Layer, der einen Sicherheitsabstand von mindestens 1000 ft. zwischen dem "unteren Bereich" (Airport Elevation bis A5000 ft.) und dem "oberen Bereich" (Standard Luftdruck 1013 hPa bis Untergrenze TL) gewährleistet. Dadurch werden gefährliche Überschneidungen zwischen dem an- und abfliegenden Verkehr vermieden.

Runway Separation

The runway utilization concept for LOWW is based on the fact that the airport layout with its crossing runways normally does *not allow simultaneous approaches* to both runways. Whenever possible, runways 11/29 and 16/34 will be used independently to allow departures on one runway (normally 16 or 29) while using the other runway for landing aircraft (independent runway configuration).

Possible runway configurations are: ARR 11, DEP 16: SE winds, if no sim. apps possible* ARR 34, DEP 34: calm/NW winds ARR 16, DEP 29: calm/SW winds ARR 11/16 sim, DEP 16: calm/SE winds, if sim apps possible* * Simultaneous approaches to runways 11 and 16 are possible only at tower's discretion during certain weather conditions (visual reduction of separation). Aircrews are advised to show landing lights as soon as possible. In case of technical uncertainties during final approach that might possibly lead to a missed approach, aircrews are asked to inform ATC immediately.

Merging Departing and Arriving Traffic

• Wake Turbulence Separation
• Conditional Clearances

Study Guide: Airport Details

LOWW

WIEN SCHWECHAT
The airport of the Austrian capital Vienna is located south-east of the city and is connected by a train (called CAT – City Airport Train) as well as a motorway to the viennese city center. The airport is famous as a east-west junction with over 15.9 Million passengers a year. The profitable Eastern Europe routes are provided by the homecarrier Austrian.

In the year 2005 the “Flughafen Wien AG” started to build the so called SKYLINK, an additional terminal in the eastern part of the airport which offers space for 91 check-in counters as well as 51 additional gates (5 of them are A380-approved). In the year 2006 the new air traffic control tower was opened. With it’s height of 109 meters, it’s the tallest control tower in Europe. It can be seen from far away, so it got a landmark for the airport.

Terminal 1 offers space for the carriers of Star Alliance, Aeroflot and Emirates. Terminal 1A is located right opposite of Terminal 1 and is a temporarily building to bridge the capacity constraint until the new SKYLINK Terminal will be finished in 2008. In this Terminal there are mainly located no-frill airlines, such as NIKI, Air Berlin, Germanwings and so on.
The airport offers 2 asphalt runways with orientations 11/29 (3.500 meters) and 16/34 (3.600 meters). All of them are equipped with a ILS system, 2 of them offer CAT IIIb.

LOWL

LINZ HOERSCHING
Originally, Linz airport was located at the industrial harbour, where today’s gliding airfield is located at. In 1938 the airport was relocated to its present position “Hoersching” due to the construction of “Chemie Linz”, a big chemical industry factory. During world war 2 it was used as air force base. In 1956 the civilian passenger traffic started. Until the terminal building was erected in 1976 all flights from and to Linz airport were handled on the military apron which wasn’t very comfortable.

Today’s airport equipment is state-of-the-art and offers a 3000 meters long and 60 meters wide asphalt runway which is equipped for an ILS CAT IIIb approach on RWY27 and an ILS CAT I approach on RWY09. Due to this fact, the airport is open and certified for all type of aircrafts. Until 1989 Linz was able to welcome the supersonic aircraft Concorde several times. Furthermore a 600 meters long grass runway is available mostly for general aviation aircrafts.

In the southern part of the airport the air base “Vogler” is located which is the home base for two Hercules C130 aircraft of the Austrian military. In the year 2006 the airport was used by 762.000 passengers. Cargo plays an important role in Linz as 32.000 tons of cargo was handeld. The yearly number of movements varies between 13.500 and 14.500.

In the past years Linz was found as an ideal airport for no-frills airlines like Ryanair, Niki, HLX, especially for their holiday flights. The newest route is offered by Air Berlin and Fly Niki and connects Linz to Nuremberg. The network carriers Austrian and Lufthansa also operate out of Linz.

LOWS

SALZBURG MAXGLAN
Welcome to Salzburg. Salzburg – W.A. Mozart has become Austria´s second largest airport since the days when there was only a grass runway and some wooden barracks around 1926; the airport is named after the famous composer. The airport, located in the Maxglan district is nowadays not only a great destination for low-cost carriers, but also a destination for some well known companies from all over the world. Salzburg is having its peak time during the winter-charter season.

The technical equipment of the airport is state of the art and the arrival as well as the departure procedures can be quite challenging for some pilots. Salzburg has a CAT I ILS DME approach procedure. Because of its unique proximity to Mount Untersberg, runway 34 offers the possibility for a circling approach.

With the beginning of the year 2000, besides many other GA companies, Red Bull bought the eastern part of the airfield and built two huge hangars - made entirely of glass – for its own airplanes. These hangars are better known today as hangars 7+8 – the aircrafts and the hangar parked there are not only a visitor attraction but they’re also the home of Red Bulls air race group showing jets, choppers and long gone oldtimers.

LOWI

INNSBRUCK KRANEBITTEN
The airport was opened 1925 and is located on the west side of Innsbruck near the river Inn just about 3.5km away from the centre. Innsbruck became famous of his difficult west approach and was a long time one of the five most dangerous airports in the world. Since 29 February 1964, when an Bristol Brittania 312 (British Eagle Airlines) crashed into a southern mountain Glungezer (2610m), only special trained pilots are allowed to land in Innsbruck.

Also specialities in Innsbruck are the 2 LOC/DME approaches. The OEV locator from the east has a 5 degrees offset to the runway, compared to the OEJ locator from the west which is leading the aircraft north over the airport. Both instrument approaches end latest at AB (Absam NDB) where the visual part begins.

Innsbruck is the base of Austrian Arrows (former Tyrolean Airways), Tyrolean Jet Services and Welcome Air. In the year 2005 the airport handled 40.389 movements and 738.296 passengers. That’s an increase of 2.57% for movements and 1.40% for passengers compared to the year 2004.

In winter time the traffic is increasing significantly (more than 100 movements/day), mostly on Saturdays, as a result of the charter flights from Europe and Russia to the great ski region Tyrol in the middle of the Alps in Austria.

LOWK

KLAGENFURT WOERTHERSEE
Klagenfurt Airport is located a couple of miles NE of Lake Wörthersee right in the heart of Carinthia in Austria. Like many other major airports in Austria in the 1950s, Klagenfurt had only one grass runway. In 1958 the concrete runway was built. During the Seventies, years with a strong economy, Carinthia became a more important holiday destination, thought flying wasn’t the first choice of travel of people then. Nevertheless it became necessary to build the first passenger terminal, in 1981 the runway was extended to its current length and in 2003 a CAT II/III landing system was added.

At the beginning Klagenfurt was only serviced by Austrias home carrier Austrian Airlines. Today Klagenfurt/Alpe-Adria-Airport, as it is called, is the destination of many low-cost carriers such as Ryanair, Hapag Lloyd Express and Thomsonfly.

South of the airport the Karawanken mountains are located which give the airport a unique location. Klagenfurt is also home of a lot of General Aviation companies as well as flying schools and Parachuters Clubs since the old grass runway still exists.

During the yearly Beach Volleyball Grand Slam Klagenfurt is also a seasonal destination of well known airlines from all over Europe.

LOWG

GRAZ THALERHOF
The airport of the styrian capital Graz, which is located south of the city, is operated by Graz public service „Grazer Stadtwerke“ and was used by nearly 893.000 passengers on 18.000 flights. The second-largest city of Austria with a population of about 250.000 is famous as a student city.

Furthermore, Graz is location for companies like DaimlerChrysler, Infineon, Roche, Siemens, T-Mobile, Heineken, Magna Steyr and many more. Many visitors have also been attracted by the nomination as cultural capital of Europe 2003. As place of birth (Thal near Graz) of the actor Arnold Schwarzenegger, Graz got famous in the USA as well.

Airlines like Austrian, Lufthansa, Ryanair, InterSky, WelcomeAir and Rheinair connect the airport with other Austrian, as well as German, Swiss and British cities. Additionally Graz can count on many charterflights from all over the world. In the end of the year 2005 the new, light-flooded and modern passenger terminal was opened and offers now a capacity of 1.5 million passengers a year.

Graz is popular for the general aviation and is homebase for flight-schools as well. The airport offers a 3.000 meters long asphalt runway which is equipped with a CAT III ILS system to offer flight-service during all weather conditions.