Air Traffic Control, Clearance and Final Approach

Who is the pilot in command of your aircraft?

Air Facts

FEBRUARY 10, 2025

Thats especially true for instrument pilots, where Air Traffic Control sounds like they are running the show, the avionics seem to direct the flight along predefined routes, and the autopilot actually flies the airplane. But as obvious as this sounds, its surprisingly hard to do in the real world.

Pilot in Command

Pilot in Command Pilot Approach Airplanes

Step-by-Step Guide: How to Land a Piper Seminole Safely

Pilot's Life Blog

JANUARY 5, 2025

Approach speeds typically range from 80 to 90 knots depending on weight and flap settings, while full flaps are often used to provide the necessary lift during landing. The aircrafts landing gear is retractable, which must be extended during the final approach. The final approach is a delicate balance of power, pitch, and speed.

Descent

Descent Final Approach Approach Runway

Drone Lingo Simplified: Acronyms Every Pilot Needs To Know

Pilot Institute

MARCH 6, 2025

FAA Federal Aviation Administration The FAA is the US federal government agency in charge of aviation standards, air traffic control, airspace safety, and the certification of personnel and aircraft. In contrast to a control tower, an FSS is not responsible for giving instructions or clearances to aircraft.

Pilot

Pilot Weather Air Traffic Control NOTAMs

Lithuania releases interim report into DHL cargo crash, confirms human error

Aerotime

APRIL 2, 2025

Moreover, the situation was worsened by communication issues between the crew and air traffic control. After discussing the correct frequency with the co-pilot, the captain switched frequencies and successfully reached Vilnius at 03:10:11 local time, receiving clearance to descend.

Cargo

Cargo Air Traffic Control Final Approach Descent

Experience in the Chair: Guiding a Twin Beech Home

Air Facts

MAY 7, 2025

It was common practice for tower controllers to monitor the area control centre enroute frequency. It was a winter night shift in a Western Ontario air traffic control tower. One controller on duty was the norm on most snowy nights when most of the flying activities had ended for the day.

Weight-Shift-Control

Weight-Shift-Control VOR Runway Distance Measuring Equipment

Quiz: Flying The Traffic Pattern

Flight Training Central

MAY 28, 2024

The recommended entry position to an airport traffic pattern is 45° to the base leg just below traffic pattern altitude. a long straight in final approach to the active runway. to enter 45° at the midpoint of the downwind leg at traffic pattern altitude. Safe obstruction clearance in the approach area.

Crosswind

Crosswind Runway Clearance Air Traffic Control

Keeping One Step Ahead of ATC when flying IFR

Flight Training Central

FEBRUARY 29, 2024

When used strategically you can use this information to gain additional insight into what’s going on in the airspace around you and make more informed decisions on each flight, giving you an edge when dealing with air traffic control. Call the controller or a flight service specialist. How is the weather developing?

Clearance

Clearance Weather Approach Runway

TAA Instrument Approaches: How to Navigate Terminal Arrival Areas

Flight Training Central

OCTOBER 28, 2024

The Terminal Arrival Area (TAA) approach is designed to provide a transition from the IFR enroute segment to the approach environment with little required interaction between the pilot and air traffic control (ATC). A hold-in-lieu-of procedure turn is located at IF/IAF, ULUFA.

Approach

Approach Clearance Air Traffic Control Final Approach

Common Mistakes Pilots Make at Non-Towered Airports

Pilot Institute

DECEMBER 19, 2024

Flying at non-towered airports can feel like stepping into a space where youre both the pilot and air traffic controller. youll need to master the basics of situational awareness, traffic patterns, and CTAF communication can make non-towered operations not only manageable but smooth and predictable.

Pilot

Pilot Runway Air Traffic Control Approach

Sweet Dreams

Photographic Logbook

APRIL 19, 2024

Even though I was likely to be cleared through the outer ring by ATC (air traffic control) while on an instrument flight plan, I filed a route from Sodus to the Williamsport VOR (FQM) that circumvented the TFR entirely. I intercepted the approach course and after a few moments, reached the final approach fix at JUNIA.

Approach

Approach Wind Shear Runway VOR

The Flying Bear Goes to Beantown | Part 3, Three if by Air

Photographic Logbook

JULY 9, 2024

Exactly like NYC, downtown Boston is encircled by restrictive Class Bravo airspace down to the surface that requires explicit clearance to enter. November Four Eight One, continue inbound, you'll get your Bravo clearance from Tower." Boston was busy, but we stayed west of arriving and departing traffic. I was a little nervous.

Clearance

Clearance Runway Approach Stability

Into the Flight Restricted Zone | Part 1, Of PINs and Prop Locks

Photographic Logbook

OCTOBER 10, 2023

When I contacted Rochester Approach, the controller came back with, "Are you looking for your clearance to College Park?" I answered in the affirmative, received my clearance, and was given a climb to 6,000 feet as the rain streaked over my windscreen. My halting readback caught the controller's attention.

Transponder

Transponder Clearance Approach General Aviation

Seventh Time is the Charm: The Skyline Route

Photographic Logbook

JULY 21, 2024

Manhattan was his white whale and it was finally going to happen for him on July 21. I think he was anxious about the air traffic control communications, but he planned to follow me in trail so that he could see how the radio work went. answered New York Approach brightly. Scott followed in Eight One Six.

Weight-Shift-Control

Weight-Shift-Control Clearance Approach Airplanes

Unstable approaches

Professional Pilot

AUGUST 8, 2024

Challenger 604, G-IV Contributing Writer Pilatus PC-12 on approach at ORL. Air traffic control instructions often lead to unstable approaches. The request to make a short approach or maintain a higher-than-normal speed to the final approach fix is the most common reason pilots don’t meet stable approach criteria.

Approach

Approach Descent Visual Meteorological Conditions (VMC) Final Approach

ATC Communications: What to Say, and When

Plane and Pilot

AUGUST 8, 2024

Basics of Radio Communications With Air Traffic Control The guiding principle of ATC communications is understanding. Make those practice calls even more realistic by utilizing live air traffic controllers who can help simulate real interactions. ASA Airplane Flying Handbook can be a great resource.

Aeronautical Information Manual

Aeronautical Information Manual Runway Pilot Air Traffic Control

Alton Bay's "Excellent Water"

Photographic Logbook

JANUARY 25, 2025

Rolling out on final approach, I was surprised to see another airplane stopped right at the runway threshold. Usually, Alton Bay volunteers hold departure traffic significantly farther back from the threshold when other aircraft are about to land. It was only half full of parked aircraft. Like our friend that morning.)

Runway

Runway Threshold Airplanes Approach

ATC Communications: What to Say, and When

Plane and Pilot

AUGUST 8, 2024

Basics of Radio Communications With Air Traffic Control The guiding principle of ATC communications is understanding. Make those practice calls even more realistic by utilizing live air traffic controllers who can help simulate real interactions. ASA Airplane Flying Handbook can be a great resource.

Aeronautical Information Manual

Aeronautical Information Manual Runway Pilot Air Traffic Control

Bears in Blue Ridge | Part 1, Easy Pickens

Photographic Logbook

AUGUST 5, 2023

A ragged cloud layer hung low over the Williamson Sodus Airport, but we climbed VFR through sizable gaps over Lake Ontario before turning on course above the clouds and picking up our IFR clearance with Rochester Approach. To some, negotiating the clouds VFR and going IFR in severe clear weather might seem like a backward strategy.

Weather

Weather Runway Approach Clearance

Adventures in the Mitten | Part 1, Up North to Mackinac

Photographic Logbook

AUGUST 3, 2024

We departed from Sodus VFR, picked up our IFR clearances in the air, and proceeded direct to St Clair County Airport (KPHN) just on the Michigan side of the border with Canada. Climbing away from Harry Browne Airport, I contacted Great Lakes Approach for flight following to Mackinac.

Airplanes

Airplanes Runway Weather Approach

Update: DHL Boeing 737 accident in Vilnius, Lithuania – what we know so far

Aerotime

NOVEMBER 25, 2024

2024, a Boeing 737-400 freighter operated by Swift Air of Spain on behalf of global logistics giant DHL crashed on final approach into Vilnius Airport (VNO) in Lithuania, the aircraft’s intended destination. However, while ATC had transmitted a landing clearance to the crew of BCS18D, no meaningful response was received.

Final Approach

Final Approach Approach Instrument Landing System Runway

Speak Like an #AvGeek: A Glossary For Enthusiasts

NYC Aviation

JUNE 17, 2020

EDCT – Expected Departure Clearance Time. The runway release time assigned to an aircraft operating in traffic management programs. Go Around – An aborted landing by an aircraft that is on final approach. Can be initiated by either the pilots or air traffic control.

Air Traffic Control

Air Traffic Control Runway Approach NOTAMs

Aviator Connection

Who is the pilot in command of your aircraft?

Step-by-Step Guide: How to Land a Piper Seminole Safely

Trending Sources

Drone Lingo Simplified: Acronyms Every Pilot Needs To Know

Lithuania releases interim report into DHL cargo crash, confirms human error

Experience in the Chair: Guiding a Twin Beech Home

Quiz: Flying The Traffic Pattern

Keeping One Step Ahead of ATC when flying IFR

TAA Instrument Approaches: How to Navigate Terminal Arrival Areas

Common Mistakes Pilots Make at Non-Towered Airports

Sweet Dreams

The Flying Bear Goes to Beantown | Part 3, Three if by Air

Into the Flight Restricted Zone | Part 1, Of PINs and Prop Locks

Seventh Time is the Charm: The Skyline Route

Unstable approaches

ATC Communications: What to Say, and When

Alton Bay's "Excellent Water"

ATC Communications: What to Say, and When

Bears in Blue Ridge | Part 1, Easy Pickens

Adventures in the Mitten | Part 1, Up North to Mackinac

Update: DHL Boeing 737 accident in Vilnius, Lithuania – what we know so far

Speak Like an #AvGeek: A Glossary For Enthusiasts

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