Flying Cloud Airport (FCM)

The airspace at FCM is Class D with a 3400’ MSL ceiling and 3.8nm diameter, underlying Minneapolis/St Paul Class B airspace which starts at 3000’ MSL directly over FCM. (Refer to Sectional Chart)

Class D Airspace Requirements (CFR §91.129 and AIM 3-1-4; 3-2-5)

Class B Airspace Requirements (CFR §91.131 and AIM 3-1-4; 3-2-3)

Hot Spots 

HS 1   Risk of RWY confusion between RWY 28L and RWY 28R and RWY 10L and
           RWY 10R. 
HS 2   RWY 18 approach area proximity to adjacent ramps along TWY A. 
HS 3   Short taxi distance from ramp to RWY hold line.

Departure

• Verify proper heading prior to starting takeoff roll on all departures.
• RWY 10L/28R CLSD when TWR is CLSD.
• You will receive “on course” as soon as traffic permits. Expect RWY heading initially.

Landing

• Wrong surface landing risk.
• Please use all available resources to verify that you are lined up for the surface that you have been cleared to land on. If you are unsure, ask the controller for assistance. 
• RWY 10L/28R CLSD when TWR is CLSD.

Surface Risk – Movement Area

• You need to contact GC before taxiing to the ramp after landing. 

 Additional Cautions

• If ever in doubt about your position or your instructions, ask the TWR.

FCM Tower (TWR) operates from 0600-2200L CDT                                
0600-2100L CST.

When TWR is closed:

• The airspace becomes Class E
• Use CTAF 119.15
• Clearance Delivery 121.7
• Closing Flight Plan 121.7
• Use CTAF to control Runway lighting when TWR is closed.

General

• Line Up and Wait instructions are common.
• Pilots are expected to comply with “do not exceed 250 KTS below 10,000 feet” due to the wide mixed usage aircraft that operate within FCM’s airspace.

Traffic Patterns

• Numerous flight training operations are conducted from the four flight schools that operate at FCM. 
• Traffic pattern direction will be issued by the Tower.
• Opposing base –leg traffic occurs when utilizing both parallel runways. Pilots should maintain vigilance to not overshoot the runways when on base-legs. 

Ground 

• Contact Ground before you start taxiing, most likely there will be aircraft that are moving on the taxiways. 
• Remain on Ground Control frequency until at your assigned runway as you taxi out unless advised to change to Tower frequency.
• 56’ wingspan restriction on TWY Alpha between Premier Jet Center and Thunderbird Aviation. 

Runway Crossings

• Remain on Tower frequency while in between the parallels after landing. 

Takeoff/Departure 

• VFR traffic climb to 3,000ft as soon as practicable. 

Arrival/Landing

• VFR traffic descend to 2,000ft as soon as practicable. With closely spaced parallels, try not to over shoot finals from base turn. There may be traffic landing the other runway at the same time.
• Remain on Tower frequency while in between the parallels after landing.
• If confused, ask the control tower for assistance.

Avoidance Areas

• Contact FCM tower if flying within 8 miles of the airspace. We may have traffic for you. 

Do:

• Refer to the airfield diagram and/or airport moving map while stopped and/or prior to taxiing.
• Keep your eyes outside to observe traffic, potential threats and airport signs and markings.
• Ask the controller to repeat instructions and clearances if you are not sure.
• Ask for progressive taxi instructions if you are unfamiliar or have lost situational awareness.
• Taxi your aircraft to the side of the run-up area to allow other aircraft to taxi around you if you are not ready for departure. 
• Advise TWR on initial contact (ground or air) if you are a student pilot. 
• Using runway and/or taxiway designators to describe your position, and turning on exterior lights will assist the controller in identifying you.
• Acknowledge all ATC instructions and read back all hold short restrictions with your call sign. 
• Always make sure that your aircraft is completely behind all hold- short lines.
• Advise GND/TWR if you want an intersection departure and wait for TWR clearance to take off.  There may be a delay due to wake turbulence or traffic. 
• When using any RWY, verify mag heading and look for the white markings to avoid a wrong surface event.
• Consider backing up a visual approach with an underlying instrument (ILS/LOC/GPS) approach if time and workload allows.
• Remember that you must have a clearance to cross all RWYs, active and not active.
• Reference GPS User Waypoint, or if available, the assigned runway’s instrument approach. If unsure that you are aligned for the assigned runway, announce going around and why.
• Verify proper heading prior to starting takeoff roll on all departures. Consider checking and calling out, Wet compass, runway heading, runway paint/signage for departure runway, and directional gyro shows runway heading.   
• Use caution when taxiing smaller aircraft/helicopters in the vicinity of larger aircraft/helicopters. Controllers may use the words rotor wash, jet blast, or prop wash when issuing cautionary advisories. A general rule of thumb is 100 feet behind a jet aircraft.

Do Not:

• Do not taxi on your own without obtaining taxi instructions from ATC.
• Do not cross an active RWY without specific controller permission to cross that RWY.
• Do not use a RWY as a turn-off during landing unless cleared to do so by TWR.
• Do not wait until you are ready for departure to request an IFR clearance. Making your request to clearance delivery or ground control prior to taxiing will allow time for ATC coordination.
• Do not, on departure, leave TWR frequency while still in TWR airspace unless previously approved. (Note: frequency change outside of TWR airspace is at pilot’s discretion.)

Additional information in the Aeronautical Information Manual (AIM) Chapter 6 - Section 4

• Squawk Transponder Code 7600 if you experience loss of two-way radio capability.
• If you can hear other aircraft but nobody responds to your calls then you should check for proper frequency selection, popped circuit breaker, radio panel setup, or an improperly hooked up intercom.
• Weak batteries in intercoms are often the cause of “radio failure”. Your emergency checklist may come in handy for checking other areas specific to your aircraft.
• If you can’t hear anything on the receiver, check the volume control, squelch, intercom, circuit breaker, or a stuck mike. 
• After you have determined the extent of the radio failure, you can determine how to communicate with the ATC.

• FAR 91.123 (d) states: Each pilot in command who (though not deviating from a rule of this subpart) is given priority by ATC in an emergency and shall submit a detailed report of that emergency within 48 hours to the manager of that ATC facility, if requested by ATC.
• It is extremely rare that a pilot is asked to justify declaring an emergency. In most cases, when a report is needed, it can usually be accomplished with a phone call.
• Additional information is also found in the AIM in Chapter 6 – Emergency Procedures

• Special VFR is primarily intended to offer pilots a way to operate into, out of, and through tower controlled airspace when local weather restricts the visibility or ceiling to below VFR minimums.
• There are times, for instance, when visibility is below three miles due to ground fog or the ceiling is below 1000 feet AGL due to a cold front passage, it may be advantageous to use the Special VFR rules to be able to get to VFR conditions. 
• There are rules and conditions that apply to Special VFR and the one that controllers deal with the most often is the requirement that the pilot must request the clearance. We cannot offer it, as we cannot determine your abilities as a pilot and have no wish to talk you into accepting a clearance that may be beyond your experience level.

The basic requirements for Special VFR are:

• The clearance must be requested by the pilot.
• If it is after sunset and before sunrise the pilot requesting the clearance must be IFR rated and the aircraft must be certified for IFR flight.
• A minimum of 1 mile visibility must exist as reported by the tower.

What you may do with a Special VFR clearance:

• You may depart for another destination
• You may transition
• You may enter and land
• You may do touch and go landings