Surface Movement Area Cautions

Pilots instructed RWY 23 taxi via TWY B1 should be aware of the hold short line located immediately after the non-movement ramp area. Pilots should review the taxi clearance before starting to taxi.

• View the From the Flight Deck - Complex Airfield Geometry#7: Hold Short Lines In Unexpected Places for additional information. 
• Pilots taxiing from the ramp instructed RWY 10 taxi via TWY B and TWY C, have missed the turn onto TWY C and continued straight on TWY B entering RWY 10/28 without clearance. Surface painted markings, elevated signage and wig-wag lighting are present to alert pilots of the runway hold position.
• Pilots should review the taxi clearance before starting to taxi. Actively scanning to locate and identify RWY signs, markings, and lighting and deferring all heads down activities until holding short at the appropriate location will help eliminate these errors. 

• Though not listed as a Hot Spot, pilots that have landed RWY 23 have exited onto RWY 10, sometimes even before ATC has issued exiting instructions.

• The same error occurs with aircraft that have landed RWY 5.

• Listen carefully to instructions from the Tower. If you have not received exit instructions, do not just arbitrarily exit onto RWY 10/28. Exit at a taxiway.
• Remember, RWY markings are white. Markings on surfaces not used for takeoff/landing like TWY markings, chevrons, RWY shoulder and RWY turn-on markings etc., are yellow. If you are unsure of your position or instructions, ask the tower.

Wrong Surface Intersection Takeoff

• At LAF, or at any airport where intersection take-offs are authorized, there is the risk that pilots will turn in the wrong direction when entering the RWY.
• Prior to entering the RWY and again when lining up on the RWY, check your Magnetic Compass and your Horizontal Situation Indicator (HSI), if installed, to verify that you are pointed in the correct direction.

General

• Bird and drone activity within the vicinity of the airport. 

Traffic Patterns

• Please request all early turns and non-standard traffic patterns from the controller. 
• During periods of heavy pattern traffic volume, (5+ aircraft in the pattern), expect upwind extensions and potential changes to your pattern traffic direction (left/right pattern). Please read back all control instructions issued to you by the controller to verify that you understand. If you have a question or are unsure, ask the tower. 

Ground Control

• Make all requests for intersection departures with Ground Control.
• Taxiway C1 is the primary entrance/exit to the Purdue Aviation FBO ramp and is a blind spot from the tower due to a line-of-sight issue caused by the hangar.

Runway Crossings

• Please read back all runway crossing and runway hold short instructions with your callsign included in the same transmission. 

Takeoff/Departure

• Please read back all take-off clearances with your callsign included in the same transmission. 

Arrival/Landing

• Grissom Approach Control will normally sequence IFR aircraft to RWY10/28. For IFR aircraft on the Visual Approach, expect pattern entry instructions and sequence on initial contact with LAF TWR.
• VFR aircraft must make two-way radio contact with LAF TWR prior to entering the Class D surface area. Contact LAF TWR 10 NM from the airport if possible. Expect to be issued mileage from the airport to report, along with either left or right traffic to the active runway.
• TWY B is near RWY 5/23 and RWY 10/28 runway intersection. On landing rollout, maintain vigilance to ensure that you exit the runway onto a taxiway rather than onto the intersecting runway. 

Additional Information

• Due to airport layout, it may be necessary for ATC to meter traffic in and out of the ramp utilizing TWY C, TWY D, or TWY B depending on traffic flow. This normally occurs during periods of heavy flight-school traffic. Transient pilots need to be aware of this when arriving or departing LAF.
• TWYs C and B are the primary access routes to the ramp area for arrival aircraft on RWY 10 during periods of heavy traffic.
• Pilots expecting RWY 10 for departure may encounter ramp delays until demand reduces.

• The Purdue University flight school and ATCT have worked out several reporting points to help with traffic flow. These reporting points are not depicted on the Sectional Chart.
• Transient pilots inbound to the field that are issued a reporting point that is not on the chart should advise the TWR that they are not familiar and will be provided with alternate instructions.
• Land and Hold Short Operations: Landing on RWY 10-Hold Short Point RWY 5/23.

Special Traffic (Military / Commercial / Helicopter, etc.)

• Heavy flight training operations within 15NM radius of LAF airport.