Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International (BHM) is a small multi-use airport located in the city of Birmingham, Alabama. It has associated Class Charlie airspace and first-time visitors need to be aware of the rules and requirements for Charlie airspace before departing for Birmingham. In addition, due to the proximity to the city, the airport is sometimes difficult to find at night.
0:55 - The traffic mix at BHM.
1:19 - The airport configuration consists of two intersecting runways labeled Runway 6-24 and Runway 18-36. A complex taxiway system provides access to services located around the airport. Observe the location of general aviation services, the large Air National Guard ramp that is off limits to civil aircraft and several weight and wingspan restricted taxiways on the airport.
2:32 - When landing Runways 6 and 36, pilots have become confused at times between the similar sounding runway numbers.
3:06 - The next item is pertinent for all runway exits, but at Birmingham, it is particularly important when exiting Runway 6-24 to the south. Due to the close proximity of Taxiway Alpha to the runway, the hold short lines are located in such a way that aircraft cannot be clear of the runway and clear of Alpha simultaneously. You must be completely across the hold-short lines for the runway behind you to be considered clear of that runway.
3:49 - The taxiway system at the airport is complex, and there are several areas where the transient pilot can easily become confused. The intersection of Taxiway Alpha, Foxtrot and Bravo AND the intersection of Taxiway Alpha, Golf, and November are two of the prime areas of potential confusion.
4:44 - Also related to taxi concerns, pilots should note that pavement markings indicating an ILS Critical Area hold have presented problems for pilots in the past.
5:31 - On Taxiway Alpha northeast of Taxiway Alpha 7 there are markings and signage that look exactly the same as an ILS hold but are actually a Precision Obstacle Free Zone (POFZ). When looking at the Airport Diagram, the ILS hold lines are depicted and the POFZ is not. Pilots encountering this line on Taxiway A have been confused and unsure if they needed to hold or not.
6:10 - The length of the runways at the airport makes the utilization of intersection departures more efficient and expeditious. The tower is vigilant while assigning these departures, but intersection departures do present the risk of a wrong-way departure.
6:36 - A look at the VFR Sectional chart will reveal two very tall television transmitter towers located just southwest of the airport. As a result, aircraft departing IFR from Runways 24 and 18 will not be given on course turns to the south or west until they are above them.
The FAA's From the Flight Deck video series uses aircraft-mounted cameras to capture runway and taxiway footage and combines them with diagrams and visual graphics to clearly identify hot spots and other safety-sensitive items. Learn more at www.faa.gov/go/FromTheFlightDeck.
This video is informational only and does not replace the pilot’s responsibility to conduct required pre-flight planning in accordance with FAR 91.103.
12 июл 2022
