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  • Chapter 11: Aircraft Performance › Takeoff and Landing Performance › Runway Surface and Gradient

    such as mud, snow, or standing water reduce the airplane’s acceleration down the runway. Although muddy and wet surface conditions can reduce friction between the runway and the tires, they can also act as obstructions and reduce the landing ... braking effectiveness. Ensure that runways are adequate in length for takeoff acceleration and landing deceleration when less than ideal surface conditions are being reported…

  • Chapter 10: Advanced Flight Maneuvers › Reconnaissance Procedures › Ground Reconnaissance

    takeoff plan are the aircraft load, height of obstacles, the shape of the area, direction of the wind, and surface conditions. Surface conditions can consist of dust, sand and snow, as well as mud and rocks. Dust landings and snow ... condition, which is the loss of the horizon reference. Disorientation may occur, leading to ground contact, often with fatal results. Taking off or landing on uneven terrain, mud, or rocks can cause the tail rotor to strike the surface…

  • Chapter 7. Safety of Flight › Section 6. Potential Flight Hazards › 7-6-8. Use of Runway Half-way Signs at Unimproved Airports

    usable at 70 percent of liftoff airspeed. b. This “rule of thumb” is based on a uniform surface condition. Puddles, soft spots, areas of tall and/or wet grass, loose gravel, etc., may impede acceleration or even cause deceleration. Even ... airspeed by the midpoint, the condition of the remainder of the runway may not allow further acceleration. The entire length of the runway should be inspected prior to takeoff to ensure a usable surface. c. This “rule of thumb” applies…

  • Pilot/Controller Glossary › S

    domestic or international waters or both. SPECIAL VFR CONDITIONS- Meteorological conditions that are less than those required for basic VFR flight in Class B, C, D, or E surface areas and in which some aircraft are permitted flight under visual ... flight cleared by air traffic control to operate within Class B, C, D, and E surface areas in meteorological conditions below VMC. SPECIAL VFR OPERATIONS- Aircraft operating in accordance with clearances within Class B, C, D, and E surface areas…

  • Glossary › Pilot’s Operating Handbook/Airplane Flight Manual

    strategic weather information presented in an integrated manner in the National Airspace System (NAS). Weather depiction chart. Details surface conditions as derived from METAR and other surface observations. Weight. The force exerted by an aircraft from the pull of gravity…