Attendees: Bob Adelberg, Robert Barker, Jim Clark, Dorn Crawford, Mary Rose Evans, John Lanning, Ric Light, Norm Nezelkewicz, Bill Schocke, John Sistarenik, Bob Welch, Mike Zanone

The meeting began shortly after 7 PM. After introductions, the chair welcomed Jim Clark, chief of the Louisville air traffic control tower. Clark conducted an extensive informal question-and-answer session for members of the committee on flight procedures and tower controls. Highlights:

Aircraft visual approaches, and associated relaxed flight paths, are used as a matter of local airport policy.

Separation between approaching aircraft must be at least 3 miles. This means, for example, that multiple approaches from the north can form a ‘line’ stretching well into southern Indiana.

The point where an aircraft touches down on the runway may have some effect on noise exposure at either end, but is controlled by the aircraft’s glide path, which is determined in turn by its instruments - not by individual instructions.

‘Tricky’ visual approaches are undesireable, and even risky. The case of Reagan Washington National was raised, where approaching aircraft must follow the Potomac River. A similar procedure using I-65 in Louisville was discouraged.

To expand on the discussion, Bob Welch made a brief presentation on local approach and departure corridors and glide paths. He distributed several graphics illustrating flight directions and angles of ascent and descent used in Louisville, and a glossary of flight procedures terminology. Copies are attached to these notes.

Jim Clark returned to an outline of weather conditions that affect runway use, including wind thresholds, precipitation, and exceptional situations. The committee then explored notional improvements to operational controls. Some ideas raised for further research and discussion:

using tighter schedule management to increase the time allotted to contraflow operations.

using tower logs to document decision points where runway uses are changed due to weather or operational circumstances.

integrating radar tracking data for ongoing monitoring of flight path fidelity.

The meeting adjourned at 9 PM. A date for the next meeting was held pending the arrival of flight tracking analysis from the consulting team.


Click here for meeting handouts.

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