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Towered Airport
An airport with an operating air traffic control tower that issues taxi, takeoff, and landing clearances. Many towered airports broadcast ATIS; pilots should obtain the current information and notify ATC on initial contact that they have the ATIS code.
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- Traffic PatternThe standard rectangular flight path around an airport used for arrivals, departures, and training. Pattern legs typically include upwind, crosswind, downwind, base, and final. Night training for private pilots requires takeoffs and landings involving flight in the traffic pattern.
- TransponderAn electronic device in the aircraft that transmits a coded signal when interrogated by ground radar. Mode C transponders report altitude. Mode S transponders support ADS-B Out, which is required in most controlled airspace.
- True Airspeed (TAS)The airplane's speed relative to the surrounding air mass after correcting indicated airspeed for temperature and pressure altitude (density). At high density altitude, true airspeed and groundspeed are higher for a given indicated airspeed, which enlarges turn radius and makes the runway appear to move faster beneath the airplane.
- UpdraftAn ascending column or sheet of air, commonly found on the windward side of terrain or in convective currents. Mountain flight planning does not depend on updrafts to clear ridges; routes and crossing altitudes must work with expected climb performance even if lift is absent.