Local Area Operations
vAMC MAJCOM Training | Home base procedures, local airspace, traffic patterns
OBJECTIVE
Develop familiarity with your vAMC home base operations, including airfield procedures, local airspace structure, departure/arrival routes, traffic patterns for heavy aircraft, and common operating areas per vAFMAN 11-206 §1.2.3 standards.
CONTENT
Home Base Familiarity
Know your home airfield's layout, procedures, and unique characteristics.
- • Airfield layout: Runway configurations, taxiways, parking areas, hot spots
- • ATIS/D-ATIS: Information retrieval, current conditions, NOTAMs
- • Ground operations: Taxi routes for heavy aircraft, hold short points, crossing procedures
- • Frequencies: Clearance, ground, tower, approach/departure, ATIS
- • Special procedures: Noise abatement, preferential runways, military-specific procedures
AIRFIELD STUDY CHECKLIST
Local Airspace Structure
Understand the airspace surrounding your home base and common operating areas.
- • Airspace class: Class B, C, D, or E boundaries and requirements
- • Special use airspace: MOAs, restricted areas, warning areas in the local area
- • AR tracks: Air refueling tracks/areas if applicable to your unit
- • Drop zones: Local DZs for airdrop training if applicable
- • Transition routes: Common routes to/from training areas
Tip: Review sectional and IFR enroute charts for your local area. Identify common waypoints, navaids, and reporting points used in daily operations.
Traffic Patterns for Heavy Aircraft
Heavy aircraft use modified traffic patterns due to their size and performance characteristics.
HEAVY AIRCRAFT PATTERN CONSIDERATIONS
Pattern Altitude
Typically 1,500 ft AGL (higher than light aircraft at 1,000 ft)
Pattern Speed
Varies by aircraft; typically 200-250 KIAS downwind
Turn Radius
Larger turns require wider patterns; plan accordingly
Approach Speed
Vref + wind correction; varies significantly by weight
VISUAL PATTERN LEGS
- • Departure: Climb runway heading or as assigned
- • Crosswind: Turn 90° after reaching pattern altitude
- • Downwind: Parallel to runway, 1-2 nm abeam; configure (gear, flaps)
- • Base: Turn base at 45° from threshold; continue descent and configuration
- • Final: Stabilized by 500-1,000 ft AGL; on glidepath, on speed, configured
Common Departure & Arrival Routes
Familiarize yourself with standard departure procedures (SIDs) and arrival routes (STARs) commonly used at your base.
- • SIDs: Review commonly assigned departure procedures; know the routing, altitudes, and speed restrictions
- • STARs: Review commonly used arrival procedures; understand crossing restrictions
- • Instrument approaches: Know available approaches (ILS, RNAV, VOR) and their minimums
- • Alternate airports: Identify suitable alternates within range for your aircraft
Note: Your unit may have specific "local patterns" or procedures not published in public charts. Consult unit SOPs for any local-specific procedures.
COMPLETION STANDARDS
Upon completion of this lesson, you should be able to:
- • Describe the airfield layout including runways, taxiways, and hot spots
- • State all relevant ATC frequencies for your home base
- • Identify local airspace classes and special use airspace
- • Describe the traffic pattern procedures for heavy aircraft
- • Identify common SIDs, STARs, and approaches at your home base
Completion: Self-study review; knowledge verified during A1101 flight