Turning While Taking Off or Landing: Ensuring Safety and Compliance

When it comes to aviation, the rules and procedures are designed to ensure not only the safety of the passengers and crew but also to prevent any mid-air collisions. This article will delve into the specifics of when and how one can safely make turns during takeoff and landing operations.

Takeoff Operations: No Major Turns Until Stable Climb

During the initial stages of takeoff, aircraft should maintain a straight course along the runway until they are airborne and stable. This ensures that the plane is gaining sufficient altitude and speed to safely transition from the ground to the air.

For safety, pilots should avoid initiating any substantial turns while still on the runway, unless there are very minor adjustments for staying on the centerline. Once the plane has taken off and the landing gear is retracted, significant turns should be avoided until the aircraft reaches a stabilized climb. This often means not initiating turns until after the plane has gained about 500 to 700 feet of altitude.

There have been instances, particularly during noise-reducing departures, where pilots might need to make a turn at a relatively low altitude, perhaps around 500–700 feet, as is the case with noise abatement departures at airports like LaGuardia. However, such maneuvers are rare and typically occur under specific procedural guidelines.

It’s also important to avoid immediate turns if there are other runways in operation nearby that could pose a conflict with aircraft from those runways.

Landing Procedures: Turning to Avoid Conflicts

While landing, the typical process is to maintain a straight approach until it is necessary to maneuver to avoid a mid-air conflict. This might involve making a slight turn to offset onto a parallel runway or to clear the runway for another aircraft that was slow to initiate its departure.

For example, if a plane is taking off but is slow to initiate the process, the pilot might be directed to go around. In such a situation, the tower might instruct the plane to clear the runway by making a slight turn, allowing for a safer transition. The tower might also direct a plane to offset and follow a parallel track to keep the departing traffic in sight.

Published Turns and Control Instructions

Despite the general rules, turns can sometimes be mandated by the departure chart or air traffic control instructions. For instance, pilots departing from JFK might receive instructions to turn at a specific altitude to cross over a certain point.

It is not uncommon for pilots to respond with "negative unable at the specified altitude," as the aircraft may not be at a suitable altitude for a turn due to factors like weight, weather conditions, or altitude limitations. In such cases, they are instructed to maintain the runway heading to a higher altitude and execute the turn at that point.

For example, a pilot might receive instructions to turn at 400 feet, to which they would answer, "negative, unable at 400 feet." Air traffic control might then instruct the pilot to maintain the runway heading until reaching 1000 feet, and then execute the turn to the specified heading.

In conclusion, while minor adjustments for alignment on the runway are acceptable during takeoff and landing, significant turns should be avoided until the aircraft is in a stable climb phase or the runway is clear of conflicting traffic. Adhering to these rules and following air traffic control instructions is crucial for maintaining safety and preventing mid-air collisions.