Updated
Advisory Circular on Nontowered Airport Operations
AC
90-66B- Non-Towered
Airport Flight Operations
In
March of 2018 the FAA
released a revision to the Advisory Circular on Nontowered Airport
Operations,
AC 90-66B. The revisionstandardizes traffic pattern altitudes,
clarifies right
of way authority for straight in final approaches and reinforces
existing
procedures. Some pilots have not reviewed this updated AC so here are
some of
the key takeaways from the document:
1.
Traffic
patterns altitudes at most nontowered airports are now standardized at
1,000
ft. AGL.
2.
Instrument
Procedures/operations
a.
The
AC clarifies that airplanes ternating an instrument procedure with a
straight-in approach do not have the right of way over VFR
traffic in
the pattern, and when circling to land, left-hand turns are standard,
unless the approach procedure explicitly states otherwise.This has been
upheld
by prior FAA legal interpretations of § 91.126(b).
b.
Conducting
any practice instrument approach, regardless of its direction relative
to other
airport operations, does not take priority over other VFR aircraft.
Pilots
should be ready to communicate on CTAF, discontinue the approach, and
enter a
traffic pattern as needed, based on the traffic saturation of the
airport
and/or the current runway in use, to maintain aircraft separation and
aviation
safety.
3.
As
a point of interest, it should be noted that the FAA does not regulate
traffic
pattern entry, only traffic pattern flow. In other words, all turns in
a
traffic patternare to be to the left unless otherwise specified.FAA
rule 91.126
and 91.127 addresses traffic pattern direction.
4.
Collision
avoidance is a high priority-The FAA recommends turning landing lights
ONwhen
approaching the airport and during the final approach phase or during a
straight in approach.
5.
There
are occasions where a pilot can choose to execute a straight-in
approach for
landing when not intending to enter the traffic pattern, such as a
visual
approach executed as part of the termination of an instrument approach.
Pilots
should clearly communicate on the CTAF and coordinate maneuvering for
and
execution of the landing with other traffic so as not to disrupt
the flow of
other aircraft. Pilots operating in the traffic pattern should be
alert at
all times to aircraft executing straight-in landings, particularly when
flying
a base leg prior to turning final. The pilot on the straight in
approach does
not have right of way over aircraft in the traffic pattern.
6.
Aircraft
within a 10-mile radius of a non-towered airport should continuously
monitor
and communicate, as appropriate, on the designated CTAF until leaving
the area
or until clear of the movement area.
a.
Initial
calls should be made about 10 miles out when approaching the airport.
7.
To
help identify one airport from another, the correct airport name should
be
spoken at the beginning and end of each self-announce
transmission.
8.
Self-announce
transmissions may include aircraft type to aid in identification and
detectionbut
pilots should not use paint schemes or color descriptions to replace
the use of
the aircraft call sign.
9.
Aircraft
should always enter the pattern at pattern altitude, especially
when
flying over midfield and entering the downwind directly. A midfield
crossing
alternate pattern entry should not be used when the pattern is
congested.
10.
After
takeoff the FAA recommends making the turn to Crosswind at 700 ft.
AGL(or
300ft. below traffic pattern altitude).
11.
When
departing the traffic pattern, airplanes should continue straight out
or exit
with a 45-degree left turn (right turn for right traffic pattern)
beyond the
departure end of the runway and after reaching
pattern
altitude.
12.
At
a nontowered airport, do not broadcast “Any aircraft in
the traffic
pattern, please advise.” This is specifically discouraged in the
Aeronautical
Information Manual.