Tips to Plan Your Landing at an Unfamiliar Airport

Landings can be tricky for any new or student pilot, especially if you're trying to land in an unfamiliar airport. However, these new environments can serve as great learning opportunities. Not only will you be able to put your flying skills to the test, but you'll also get the chance to add to your mental inventory of airports. Each one is unique, and each will present its own challenges to overcome and characteristics to understand.

Are you ready to hit the runway? Here are just a few tips for executing the perfect landing even in unknown airports.

Utilize All Resources At Your Disposal

You don't want to be like the guy in The Aeronauts who went 23,000 feet into the air without packing an extra jacket. The FAA offers plenty of resources for pilots, including the Chart Supplement, formerly known as the Airport/Facility Directory (A/FD). It's updated every 56 days and can contain crucial information on things like closed taxiways or radio frequency changes at an airport. If you're flying somewhere new, you'll definitely want to know what's happening on the ground before you land.

Get Digital

Satellite imagery can help you get familiar with an airport long before you arrive. Available options include Google Earth, NOAA, and those found within software like Garmin Pilot. You can also download apps like ForeFlight that have dedicated sections to airport navigation, including landing procedures, lighting angles, runway dimensions and patterns, and other relevant A/FD information.

Mind the Weather

As a pilot, you're probably aware that wind speed and direction is one of the key components to a good landing. However, you might not be prepared for the winds of an unfamiliar airport. Literally, its infrastructure might direct and divert wind, rain, ice, and other forms of precipitation in ways that you aren't used to, which makes it critically important that you stay on top of your radar when landing in a new place. Get comfortable with reading the TDWR. Have NOAA bookmarked or downloaded as an app on your phone. Learn how to use the Telephone Information Briefing Service (TIBS) just in case web services are unavailable in a strange place.

 

Experiment With a Flight Simulator

Are you nervous at the thought of landing in an exotic or unexpected place? You can build your confidence by trying it in a flight simulator before attempting it in real life. Today's technology is so advanced that you'll feel like you're really in the cockpit as you navigate things like tower communications, adverse weather conditions, and challenges like blockades or ongoing airport construction. If you're in flight school, there might even be a Flight Training Device (FTD) readily available for students.

Understand Your FBOs

If you're flying non-commercially, you'll need accurate and updated information on the FBOs in the area. The AOPA has a list of FBO apps on its website, including the Multi-Service Aero FBO Locator, but there are plenty of others as well. By detailing everything from fuel prices to runway layouts, they can help you navigate an unknown airport like a local. Some even provide pre-arrival forms that you can fill out in advance.

Summary

You don't have to be Tom Hanks in Sully playing on DIRECTV STREAM to navigate a good landing. This goes for unfamiliar airports as well as regular, well-traveled ones. If you're ready to take the next step in your pilot training program, it's time to test your skills in new environments with new horizons. Good luck!