Air Traffic Control, Runway and VOR

The Essential Guide to Runway Markings

Pilot Institute

JUNE 19, 2025

Key Takeaways Runway markings are white and guide takeoff, landing, and alignment. Yellow taxiway and holding markings prevent runway incursions. What Are Runway Markings? Airport markings are a system of symbols, lines, and colors found on runways, taxiways, aprons, and other areas of an airport.

Runway

Runway Threshold Instrument Landing System VOR

Experience in the Chair: Guiding a Twin Beech Home

Air Facts

MAY 7, 2025

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. I was the one lonely controller with the console lights turned down low monitoring the area control centre frequency.

Weight-Shift-Control

Weight-Shift-Control VOR Runway Distance Measuring Equipment

Holding Procedures – Airplane Holding Patterns Easily Explained

Pilot Institute

JUNE 9, 2025

Key Takeaways A holding pattern keeps an aircraft in a controlled area using a racetrack-shaped course. Pilots use holds for traffic delays, weather, emergencies, planning, or runway changes. Traffic Busy airports can only accommodate a certain number of airplanes safely at any one time. The hold over “Kingston” VOR?

Airplanes

Airplanes Crosswind Approach Knot

Understanding a Visual Approach Chart or VAC

Air

JUNE 17, 2025

Its purpose is twofold: on one hand, it provides the pilot with clear guidance, and on the other, it enables the Air Traffic Control service to manage aircraft flows in a predictable and safe manner. Holding patterns: Depicts the specific circuits where an aircraft must orbit if instructed to hold by air traffic control.

Approach

Approach Air Traffic Control Visual Flight Rules NDB

Don’t Stop at Private Pilot—10 Reasons to Get Your Instrument Rating Next

Inflight Pilot Training

MARCH 30, 2025

Youll learn how to navigate, communicate with Air Traffic Control, interpret weather, and conduct instrument approaches to airports, all without relying on whats outside your window. An instrument rating unlocks access to: Airports with IFR approaches (ILS, RNAV, VOR, etc.) A busy Class B airport?

Pilot

Pilot Weather Visual Flight Rules Approach

Flight Instructor Guide: Where to Learn to Fly in Mesa, AZ

Pilot's Life Blog

JUNE 17, 2025

Falcon Field provides a friendly atmosphere, low traffic compared to major airports, and a strong general aviation community. Its history as a World War II training base adds to its charm, with well-maintained runways, modern air traffic control, and a nearby aviation museum that keeps the spirit of flying alive.

Checkride

Checkride Air Traffic Control Weather Cockpit

How to Fly a VOR Approach: Made Easy

Pilot Institute

NOVEMBER 19, 2024

Are you curious about flying a VOR approach? If you’re aiming to master instrument-rated flying, it’d be valuable to learn about VOR approaches. We’ll cover what a VOR approach is, how to fly it step-by-step, and even whether GPS can replace it in today’s navigation. Ready to make VOR approaches easy?

VOR

VOR Approach Descent Final Approach

3 holding scenarios to perfect in a flight simulator

Flight Training Central

FEBRUARY 15, 2024

At that point, you proceed on course as directed by air traffic control. If you take off from Runway 27, you intercept and track the PDZ R-030 radial inbound and make a direct entry tracking the PDZ R-078 radial outbound, using non-standard left turns.

Aeronautical Information Manual

Aeronautical Information Manual VOR Approach Air Traffic Control

Mastering IFR Approach Radio Calls: A Simple Guide for Pilots

Pilot Institute

DECEMBER 12, 2024

Talking to air traffic control (ATC) while flying IFR is challenging in the beginning, but with time and practice, you can master it! You cant rely on visual cues to avoid other traffic – or even navigate accurately. The departure runway and the departure procedure. Cleared ILS runway six approach.

Approach

Approach Clearance Pilot Aeronautical Information Manual

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. The reroute was minimal, an insertion of Yardley VOR (ARD) into my flight plan. Foolish mortal.

Approach

Approach Wind Shear Runway VOR

How to Fly the Perfect Holding Pattern (Entry, Wind Correction, etc.)

Pilot Institute

AUGUST 9, 2024

Air Traffic Control (ATC) uses these procedures to delay aircraft. Most holding fixes are NAVAIDs such as VORs, RNAV (GPS) waypoints, and even ILS markers. When VORs are used as holding fixes, the fix is usually a specific DME distance on a particular radial. You are looking for the RNAV approach into runway 17R.

VOR

VOR Crosswind Pilot Approach

Hot Times in the "Freeze"

Photographic Logbook

JULY 6, 2024

I think this because whenever multiple aircraft depart Sodus bound for the same destination, we almost always pique the curiosity of air traffic control. We were cleared direct to College Park via the Westminster VOR (EMI). While this seems obvious to me, the notion seems rare in aviation. What's going on at X today?"

Pilot

Pilot Flight Plan Air Traffic Control General Aviation

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

Photographic Logbook

OCTOBER 10, 2023

Just north of the Selinsgrove VOR, Harrisburg called with the first change in routing. Normally, when approaching a non-towered airport like Williamson Sodus, air traffic control will instruct the inbound aircraft to "squawk VFR" (i.e., Cherokee Four Eight One is cleared direct Baltimore, then direct destination."

Transponder

Transponder Clearance Approach General Aviation

ATC Communications: What to Say, and When

Plane and Pilot

AUGUST 8, 2024

It seemed to continue this way until we finally rolled onto the runway and got to the good part. Controllers spoke quickly and used unfamiliar words and phrases. Basics of Radio Communications With Air Traffic Control The guiding principle of ATC communications is understanding.

Aeronautical Information Manual

Aeronautical Information Manual Runway Pilot Air Traffic Control

North to Ottawa | Part 3, Caution: Wet Paint

Photographic Logbook

OCTOBER 19, 2023

I taxied to the departure end of runway 27, ran-up the airplane, and broke ground exactly at 3:00 pm as planned. My filed route to Ogdensburg was via YOW (the Ottawa VOR) and IKLAX. I paid for Canadian charts to facilitate planning and navigation and I will pay a quarterly service fee to Nav Canada for air traffic control services.

Approach

Approach Clearance Airplanes Runway

ATC Communications: What to Say, and When

Plane and Pilot

AUGUST 8, 2024

It seemed to continue this way until we finally rolled onto the runway and got to the good part. Controllers spoke quickly and used unfamiliar words and phrases. Basics of Radio Communications With Air Traffic Control The guiding principle of ATC communications is understanding.

Aeronautical Information Manual

Aeronautical Information Manual Runway Pilot Air Traffic Control

Aviator Connection

The Essential Guide to Runway Markings

Experience in the Chair: Guiding a Twin Beech Home

Trending Sources

Holding Procedures – Airplane Holding Patterns Easily Explained

Understanding a Visual Approach Chart or VAC

Don’t Stop at Private Pilot—10 Reasons to Get Your Instrument Rating Next

Flight Instructor Guide: Where to Learn to Fly in Mesa, AZ

How to Fly a VOR Approach: Made Easy

3 holding scenarios to perfect in a flight simulator

Mastering IFR Approach Radio Calls: A Simple Guide for Pilots

Sweet Dreams

How to Fly the Perfect Holding Pattern (Entry, Wind Correction, etc.)

Hot Times in the "Freeze"

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

ATC Communications: What to Say, and When

North to Ottawa | Part 3, Caution: Wet Paint

ATC Communications: What to Say, and When

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