The Airport Diagram

Tuesday, March 21, 2023 at 10:13 AM ET

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Key Takeaways:

Airport diagrams are essential tools for IFR flight planning, offering critical information beyond taxiing, such as LAHSO details, EMAS locations, FBOs, and charted "hot spots."
Pilots must understand the distinction between field elevation and Touch Down Zone Elevation (TDZE), using these details for tasks like altimeter accuracy checks before takeoff.
Decision Heights (DH) and visibility requirements for approaches to the same runway can vary significantly due to factors like terrain, missed approach segment design, and chart revisions.
Ambiguities or discrepancies in charts, particularly regarding night operational limitations or part-time ATC services, necessitate careful study and, at times, clarification.

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For “land” aircraft, all flights start and end at an airport or airstrip, and an important aspect in planning an IFR flight to an unfamiliar airport is to study not only the approach and departure charts, but also the airport diagram to fully understand the big picture. Typically, we think of airport diagrams as useful and important tools like “taxi diagrams,” but they are much more than that. In this Chart Clinic, we will start by dissecting the Airport Diagram for Reading Regional Airport / Carl A Spaatz Field (KRDG) before considering two of its approach charts.

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