Image: Solomon203 · CC BY-SA 3.0 · via Wikimedia Commons
Flight School Reveals Risks of Multiple Airports in One City Through Real-World Training
A private pilot applicant's mock check ride exposes how multiple airports with similar names near one metropolitan area can cause dangerous confusion during flight planning and approach.
The gist
Training reveals pilots can confuse close airports in the same city, highlighting the need for detailed planning and situational awareness.
A private pilot applicant undergoing a mock check ride at a flight school encountered a critical learning experience when asked to plan a VFR cross-country flight from Crest Airpark south of Seattle to Spokane, Washington. The applicant’s instructor had him create a detailed navlog, focusing on precise timing and route details, aiming to instill commercial-level performance standards from the outset of training. The applicant chose Spokane International Airport (KGEG), based on personal experience, but the examiner requested Felts Field (KSFF), highlighting a common confusion when multiple airports serve a single metropolitan area.
Spokane, Washington, hosts three major airports: Fairchild Air Force Base, Spokane International Airport, and Felts Field. This triad creates scenario complexities for pilots, especially when planning flights without clear airport designation communication. The applicant’s mix-up between KGEG and KSFF offered an excellent lesson on the importance of clarifying destination airports, especially in regions with multiple viable airfields.
This issue is not isolated to Spokane. The Seattle region is home to numerous airports identified by city name, causing potential for misunderstanding. For instance, AirNav.com returns 14 airports when searching 'Seattle,' including three primary airplane airports: King County International-Boeing Field (KBFI), Seattle-Tacoma International (KSEA), and Paine Field (KPAE). The close proximity—just over five nautical miles—between Boeing Field and Sea-Tac can leave pilots with little time to recover from misidentification during approaches.
To mitigate confusion, the FAA develops differentiation strategies such as splitting the automatic terminal information service (ATIS) identifiers alphabetically: Sea-Tac's ATIS uses letters Alpha to Mike, whereas Boeing Field uses November to Zulu. This alphabet split aids pilots in receiving accurate, location-specific weather and operational information, which is critical when airports are close enough to appear as one from the air.
Runway alignment adds another layer of difficulty in distinguishing airports. Airports typically orient runways based on prevailing winds, and similar alignments have led to mix-ups like those seen in Wisconsin, where pilots confused Oshkosh’s Wittman Regional Airport (KOSH) with Fond du Lac County Airport (KFLD), just 13 miles apart, as both share runway orientations of 18/36 and 09/27. Even experienced pilots can mistake nearby airports with similar runway layouts for each other.
An incident near the Seattle area in 2004 highlighted this risk with a corporate pilot lining up for Runway 31 at Boeing Field but inadvertently aligned with Runway 34 at Renton Municipal Airport (KRNT), only four nautical miles away. The approach confusion was compounded by geography, proximity, and flat lighting conditions, even though both pilots were in communication with the tower. The situation was resolved when the controller clarified the intended destination, guiding the jet correctly.
Pilots are advised to double-check airport codes rather than relying solely on city names when filing flight plans or conducting navigation briefs. Consulting the FAA Chart Supplement provides essential information on runway lengths, lighting, communication frequencies, and other critical details that can prevent navigational errors. This is especially vital at night or in unfamiliar regions where visual cues may mislead.
Moreover, pilots should include the full airport name and identifier when communicating at nontowered fields to prevent radio miscommunications. Adding specific phrases such as 'Seattle Boeing Field' or 'Spokane Felts Field' helps air traffic services and other pilots maintain situational awareness and reduce potential misrouting.
The flight school’s experience with their student pilot underscores the complex realities of real-world flying where multiple airports in a single city demand acute attention to detail, communication, and thorough planning. Such training scenarios prepare pilots to handle operational ambiguities and minimize risk as they progress in their aviation careers.
Frequently asked questions
- Why did the private pilot applicant confuse which airport to plan for in Spokane?
- The applicant planned for Spokane International Airport based on prior experience, but the examiner requested Felts Field, showing that multiple airports with overlapping city names can confuse flight planning without explicit clarification.
- How does the FAA help pilots distinguish between closely located airports in busy metropolitan areas like Seattle?
- The FAA differentiates automatic terminal information service (ATIS) identifiers alphabetically to separate airports; for example, Sea-Tac uses Alpha to Mike, while Boeing Field uses November to Zulu to prevent confusion during flight operations.
- What advice is given to pilots to avoid airport confusion when planning flights?
- Pilots are advised to confirm airport identifiers instead of relying solely on city names, consult FAA Chart Supplement details on runways and frequencies, and include full airport names in communications, especially at nontowered airports, to reduce misidentification risks.
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