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PART 1

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LEARNING OUTCOMES

LO1: Know the features of an airfield.

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  • Describe types of runway layouts found on airfields.

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THE GRASS AIRFIELD

  • Normally used for light aircraft like gliders.

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  • What do you think are the pros and cons of an airfield like this?

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Resource Book

Page 54

Pros

Cons

Cheap to build.

No designated runway.

Aircraft can take of in any direction.

Susceptible to wet weather.

Rough terrain = bumpy landings!

Would not normally support large aircraft.

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THE GRASS AIRFIELD

Resource Book

Page 54

Barton Aerodrome, Greater Manchester.

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THE TRIANGULAR PATTERN RUNWAY

  • These are for heavier and faster aircraft that need hard runways.

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  • What do you think are the pros and cons of a runway like this?

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Resource Book

Page 55

Pros

Cons

Longer runway – for heavy or large aircraft.

Three runway directions.

Aircraft easier to control on the ground – designated taxiways.

More difficult to attack.

More costly to build.

Harder to repair if attacked.

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THE TRIANGULAR PATTERN RUNWAY

Resource Book

Page 55

RAF Little Rissington, Gloucestershire

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THE MAIN INSTRUMENT RUNWAY

Resource Book

Page 56

  • These are for very heavy aircraft that require fast take off speeds.

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  • What do you think are the pros and cons of a runway like this?

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Pros

Cons

Length suitable for modern high performance aircraft.

Has many landing aids.

Faster approach speeds mean that cross wind has less effect.

Only for large or high performance aircraft and instrument landing.

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THE MAIN INSTRUMENT RUNWAY

Resource Book

Page 56

Bristol Airport

Attribution: Tomcoll at the English language Wikipedia

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ANY QUESTIONS?

  • Are there any final questions?

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LEARNING OUTCOMES

LO1: Know the features of an airfield.

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  • Describe types of runway layouts found on airfields.

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AIRFIELD FEATURES TASK 1

In your logbook name three types of runway layout and list an advantage and disadvantage for each one.

When this is complete your instructor should check and sign page 8 of your First Class Logbook.

Logbook

Page 8

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LEARNING OUTCOMES

LO1: Know the features of an airfield.

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  • Describe the main features of airfields.

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LAYOUT OF AN AIRFIELD

Click on a number for a more detailed description of each feature.

Resource Book

Page 57

ASG

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DISPERSAL HARD STANDING

  • Used for parking aircraft.

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  • The aim is to spread the aircraft around the airfield, to make it more difficult for enemy aircraft to damage or destroy all the aircraft in one go.

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  • Some airfields may have hardened aircraft shelters, which protect the aircrews and ground crews as well as aircraft.

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Resource Book

Page 58

Click to return to the airfield

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OPERATIONAL READINESS PLATFORM

  • Special Areas for fighter of strike aircraft on the end of the runway.

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  • Parking for aircraft to take off rapidly with little warning.

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  • Often has space for essential ground equipment.

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Resource Book

Page 58

Click to return to the airfield

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BARRIER

  • A large net designed to slow down an aircraft in case of brake failure.

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  • They can be raised and lowered by the airfield controller by remote control.

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Resource Book

Page 58

Click to return to the airfield

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MAIN INSTRUMENT RUNWAY

  • An RAF main instrument runway will normally be 45m wide and 1,800m or more long.

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  • Secondary runways are normally the same width, but not necessarily as long.

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  • For transport aircraft, the main runway is normally 60m wide and 2,700m or more long.

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Resource Book

Page 58

Click to return to the airfield

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HANGER

  • Where aircraft and associated equipment is stored.

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  • Protect aircraft from the weather and direct sunlight.

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  • Used for maintenance and repair of aircraft.

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Resource Book

Page 58

Click to return to the airfield

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AIRCRAFT SERVICING PLATFORM

  • Large paved areas for the servicing and turn-round of aircraft.

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  • Help handle passengers and freight quickly.

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Resource Book

Page 58

Click to return to the airfield

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TERMINAL BUILDING

  • A building for personnel or passengers allowing them to board or leave an aircraft.

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  • Tickets, luggage and security are all dealt with in the terminal building.

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Resource Book

Page 58

Click to return to the airfield

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HANGER

  • Where aircraft and associated equipment is stored.

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  • Protect aircraft from the weather and direct sunlight.

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  • Used for maintenance and repair of aircraft.

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Resource Book

Page 59

Click to return to the airfield

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STERILE AREA

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Resource Book

Page 59

  • An area on the runway that shouldn’t be used if there is an obstruction before the start of the runway, like a railway line.

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  • This prevents accidents by moving the start of the runway further forward.

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SECOND RUNWAY

  • Usually shorter than the primary runway.

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  • Used if the main runway is out of service or because of wind direction.

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Resource Book

Page 59

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BARRIER

  • A large net designed to slow down an aircraft in case of brake failure.

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  • They can be raised and lowered by the airfield controller by remote control.

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Resource Book

Page 59

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ARRESTER GEAR

  • Military airfields sometimes use this to stop aircraft quickly.

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  • Aircraft hook onto a cable suspended across the runway, releasing a cable slowly to stop the aircraft.

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Resource Book

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HOLDING POINTS

  • A line on the taxiway either side of the runway.

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  • Aircraft cannot pass without permission from Air Traffic Control.

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Resource Book

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AERODROME ID BEACON

  • Was used at night.

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  • Flashed the airfield identification letters in Morse code using a high-intensity red light.

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  • Not now normally used, due to improvements in aircraft navigation.

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Resource Book

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AERODROME IDENTIFICATION

  • This is a 2 or 3 letter identifier for the airfield which is marked on the ground in large letters. Each airfield has it’s own identifier.

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  • Not now normally used, due to improvements in aircraft navigation.

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Resource Book

Page 60

Click to return to the airfield

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WINDSOCK

  • Allows pilots to see what direction and strength of the wind.

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  • When horizontal, wind is 25 knots or greater.

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Resource Book

Page 60

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ARRESTER GEAR

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Resource Book

Page 60

  • Military airfields sometimes use this to stop aircraft quickly.

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  • Aircraft hook onto a cable suspended across the runway, releasing a cable slowly to stop the aircraft.

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CONTROL TOWER

  • This building is centrally located on the airfield with good visibility of the whole airfield and the airspace around.
  • The Control Tower houses various controllers who control all aircraft, vehicular and pedestrian traffic.

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  • It also houses the communications and radar equipment used by the airfield.

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Resource Book

Page 60

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ANY QUESTIONS?

  • Are there any final questions?

?

Click to return to the airfield

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LEARNING OUTCOMES

LO1: Know the features of an airfield.

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  • Describe the main features of airfields.

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AIRFIELD FEATURES TASK 2

List the features of a typical military airfield.

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Use your First Class Resource Book to help you.

When this is complete your instructor should check and sign page 9 of your First Class Logbook.

Logbook

Page 9

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INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION

  • This presentation is provided free of charge with the 1st class cadet training system with no warranty or support.
  • Every effort has been made to ensure the information is correct, but the author accepts no responsibility for any errors or omissions.
  • Official information on Ultilearn or Bader SharePoint should be checked before using these presentations.
  • These presentations may be distributed to other Air Cadet squadrons free of charge, but do not place them on the internet.
  • For best results, use with the 1st class resource book and 1st class instructor handbook, available from cadetdirect.com.

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Version 19/04

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