Each airport in the National Airspace System has unique and distinct characteristics,
which can sometimes lead pilots to use the wrong surface in taxi
takeoff or landing operations. Let's take a look at some of these tricky areas
from the flight deck. Bowman Field is a medium-sized primarily general
and corporate aviation airport located on the eastern end of the City of Louisville, Kentucky.
It is just three miles northeast of the larger Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport.
Even with the size difference in dissimilar runway configurations,
pilots sometimes confuse the two airports. It has irregular shaped
Class Delta airspace due to its proximity to SDF and underlies the Louisville Class Charlie.
The irregular shape demands extra attention especially when landing runway six. [Music]
For this reason, pilots can expect the tower to be more specific when issuing downwind to base turns
than they ordinarily may expect.
First-time visitors especially those arriving from the west need to be intimately familiar
with the restrictions and requirements to operate in this type of complex airspace.
Several flight schools and flying clubs make bowman field their home
and this makes up the majority of the airport's traffic.
The rest is made up of everything from home built to antique military aircraft.
The diverse mix of pilots and aircraft make this airport an interesting place to fly and work. The
airport configuration consists of two intersecting runways labeled Runway 6-2-4 and Runway 1-5-3-3.
A straightforward system of taxiways provides access to services and facilities found
southeast of Runway 6-2-4. When arriving at the airport for the first time, visitors need to
be aware of the location of hot spot number one. [Music] Found at the intersection of Runways 6-2-4
and 1-5-3-3, and Taxiways Bravo and Alpha 2. There are two areas of concern at this location.
The first and the reason for the hot spot designation concerns aircraft landing Runway 6-2-4
and clearing at either Taxiway Bravo or Alpha 2 and then turning on Taxiway Alpha towards
their destination on the airport and crossing runway 1-5-3-3 without authorization. Remember,
you must have ATC clearance to cross any runway, active or not. The second area concerns aircraft
landing the same Runway 6-2-4 and clearing the runway by turning onto Runway 1-5-3-3.
Do not turn on to Runway 1-5-3-3 unless specifically directed to do so by the tower.
Two other areas not listed as hot spots can be found at the west ramp taxing to Runway 6 or
2-4. Aircraft cleared Runway 6 taxi via Alpha 1 have crossed the whole short line for the runway.
This may be in part due to the short distance from the ramp to the hold short line.
The other concerns aircraft cleared Runway 2-4 taxi via Alpha.
Again, there is a notable short distance from the ramp to the taxiway. [Music]
Close attention outside the aircraft, scanning for markings, and signage will help pilots
avoid both these types of mistakes. When departing Bowman on an IFR flight plan,
being familiar with the air devil departure procedure can help you avoid possible delays due
to conflicts with the other IFR aircraft departing the larger Louisville International Airport.
This procedure is found in the southeast chart supplement in the special notes section.
As with any instruction or clearance, if you are ever in doubt the easiest way is to ask the tower.
Being aware of the hot spots and other configuration issues at LOU will help pilots
make better decisions and along with the ATC tower, keep the operation safe and efficient. We
hope this short video helps you prepare for your trip to the Bowman Field in Louisville, Kentucky.
It's always better to know before you go.
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