airport/documents/Mesquite Master Plan Final.pdf - The City of ...

information to allow category II and III
precision approaches, independent of
any existing ground-based navigational
facilities. In addition to the
navigational benefits, it has been
estimated that GPS equipment will be
much less costly than existing precision
approach landing systems.
Instrument Approaches
Instrument approach procedures (IAP)
are a series of predetermined
maneuvers established by the FAA,
using electronic navigational aids that
assist pilots in locating and landing at
an airport during low visibility and
cloud ceiling conditions. At Mesquite
Metro Airport, there are two published
instrument approaches for Runway 17
and one for Runway 35. The
approaches are approved for use by
aircraft with approach speeds in
Approach Category A, B and C. None of
the airport’s approaches are approved
for D aircraft.
The capability of an instrument
approach is defined by the visibility and
cloud ceiling minimums associated with
the approach. Visibility minimums
define the horizontal distance that the
pilot must be able to see to complete the
approach. Cloud ceilings define the
lowest level a cloud layer (defined as
feet above the ground) can be situated
for a pilot to complete the approach. If
the observed visibility or cloud ceiling is
below the minimums prescribed for the
approach, the pilot cannot complete the
instrument approach.
Future planning considers the increased
use of the airport by corporate aircraft.
3-23
These aircraft users are often
dependent upon instrument approaches.
In fact, some corporate flight
departments are excluded from using
airports without instrument
approaches. Considering these aircraft,
future planning must also consider
improved instrument approach
procedures.
The IAPs for Mesquite Metro Airport
were discussed in detail in the previous
chapter. The ILS Runway 17 approach
affords the lowest cloud ceiling (250'
AGL) and visibility minimums (threequarter
mile). Ultimate planning will
consider the implementation of
approach minimums down to one-half
mile, utilizing the ILS technology such
as the localizer and glideslope antenna.
The possibility of implementing these
approaches will be studied in the next
chapter. Should there be a parallel
runway, GPS approaches with not lower
than one-mile visibility should be
considered.
Weather Reporting Aids
The Automated Weather Observing
System III (AWOS) at the airport
provides critical weather information to
pilots. One of the prime advantages of
an AWOS is that the information is
very specific to the airport environs.
This system should be maintained.
The airport has a lighted wind cone and
segmented circle which provide pilots
with information about wind conditions
and local traffic patterns. These
facilities are required when an airport
is not served by a 24-hour airport traffic