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TRAFFIC PATTERNS AND NOISE ABATEMENT PROCEDURES

Carson City Airport is situated at 4,697 feet (MSL). The traffic pattern altitude for Runway 9-27 is 800 feet above the airfield elevation (5,457 feet MSL). Runway 9 utilizes a right-hand traffic pattern. Runway 27 utilizes a left hand traffic pattern. In this manner, aircraft approach the desired runway end following a series of either right-hand or left-hand turns. Utilizing these traffic patterns ensures all aircraft remain south of the airport when conducting training operations or arriving to the airport.

Flights at Carson City Airport are conducted under visual flight rules (VFR) since there are no established instrument approach procedures to the airport. VFR conditions exist at Carson City Airport when the visibility is at least 3 statute miles and the pilot can maintain 500 feet below, 1,000 feet above, and 2,000 feet horizontally from any cloud.

The voluntary use of noise abatement procedures is encouraged for all pilots utilizing Carson City Airport. Noise abatement procedures for Carson City Airport are as follows:

Runway 9: Aircraft are requested to turn to a heading of 085 after takeoff and maintain that heading until crossing Highway 50.

Runway 27: Aircraft are requested to turn to a heading of 230 after takeoff and maintain that heading until crossing Highway 395. Runway use is dictated by wind conditions. Ideally, it is desirable for aircraft to land directly into the wind. Prevailing wind flow is from the west-southwest leading to a greater use of Runway 27. Runway 27 is the designated runway during calm wind conditions.

INSTRUMENT APPROACH PROCEDURES

Instrument approach procedures are a series of predetermined maneuvers established by the FAA using electronic navigational aids that assist pilots in locating and landing at an airport during low visibility and cloud ceiling conditions. Presently, the airport is not served by an instrument approach procedures.

The FAA has examined the possibility of establishing a GPS approach to Runway 27. In a letter from the FAA Safety and Standards Section in Burlingame, California, the FAA determined that the airport does not quality for this instrument approach for the following reasons:

• There are two penetrations to the Obstacle Free Zone (OFZ) for Runway 9-27 (the OFZ is a two-dimensional imaginary surface centered on the runway centerline extending 200 feet beyond each runway end and 200 feet laterally each side of the runway centerline). The first obstruction is parallel taxiway A which is located oflly 175 feet from the Runway 9-27 centerline. The second obstruction is the large hill located near the Runway 27 end.
   

• The existing aircraft hold markings are located 125 feet from the Runway 9-27 centerline. These are required to be at a distance of 200 feet from the runway centerline. Additionally, there are no hold signs.

AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL

Carson City Airport does not have an airport traffic control tower; therefore, no formal terminal air traffic control services are available. Aircraft operating in the vicinity of the airport are not required to file any type of flight plan or to contact any air traffic control facility unless they are entering airspace where contact is mandatory. Air traffic advisories and certain weather information can be obtained using the airport unicorn. Enroute air traffic control services are provided through the Oakland Air Route Traffic Control Facility (ARTCC), which controls aircraft in a large multi-state area.