Fort Worth Meacham International Airport (FTW)

The airspace at FTW is Class D with a 3200’ MSL ceiling. It underlies DFW Class B airspace which begins at 4000’ MSL over FTW. (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 

• There are No Hot Spots at FTW.

Departure

• Always verify proper heading prior to starting takeoff roll on all intersection departures.

Landing

• Two parallel RWYs, 16/34 and 17/35, increase risk of Wrong Surface Landings due to being closely spaced, parallel and with staggered thresholds. 
• Pilots will see the larger, dominant RWY during straight in and instrument approaches.
• LED lights on RWY 17/35 may cause misidentification issues during nighttime operations. 
• TWY A parallels RWY 16/34 and is wider than most TWYs.
• Do not attempt to land on TWY A.
• TWY A has the word “TAXI” painted on it.

Surface Risk – Movement Area 

• TWY N and Taxi-lane H (on the east side of the airport) have been recently added to eliminate congestion and complexity while transiting to the FBOs and resident hangars.  Because of these recent changes, there are large areas of unused or closed concrete that may lead to a loss of situational awareness while taxiing.
• TWR visibility is limited in certain areas – most notably in the ramp areas from the northeastern FBO to the midfield FBO.  
• TWY visibility is also limited in the area on the eastern-most ramp near the fire station.
• Aircraft located in these areas may not be visible from the TWR.
• Some aircraft, clearing the RWY, are proceeding to parking without contacting air traffic control.  Do not taxi to parking prior to receiving clearance from the TWR or Ground Control.

Additional Cautions

• Underlies DFW Class B Airspace.
• FT. Worth Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base (NFW) is Class D airspace 5 miles to the southwest.  
• Large Helicopter presence on the west side of the airport.
• Several flight schools on the airport.

FTW Tower (TWR) operates continuously 

However, if FTW TWR is NOTAM’d closed:

• Use 118.3 as CTAF Frequency.
• For clearance/services use Regional Departure on 135.97.

Ground 

• TWYs N and H become Taxi-lanes east of TWY A and are not in the movement area.

Arrival/Landing 

• Do not mistake TWY A for RWY 16/34.

Special Traffic (Military / Commercial / Helicopter, etc.)

• Increased helicopter operations on west side of the airport.
• Extensive fight school training may be in progress.
   

• Though not depicted on the Sectional Chart, RWY 17 and RWY 34 use Right Patterns whenever TWR is closed
• Check Chart Supplement for additional remarks: https://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/flight_info/aeronav/digital_products/dafd/search/

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