St Pete-Clearwater International (PIE) is a medium sized, multi-use airport located in Clearwater, Florida, just north of St. Petersburg. The airport is situated nine miles southwest of Tampa International, nine miles northwest of MacDill Air Force Base, and nine miles north-northwest of Albert Whitted airport. The airport’s Class Delta airspace underlies the Tampa Class Bravo. Pilots inbound to St. Pete-Clearwater need to be familiar with the rules and regulations for operating in this diverse airspace environment.
Visit www.faa.gov/pie for supplemental "pilot handbook" information on this airport including airport-specific cautions, information local controllers want pilots to know, airport communications, airspace details and other preflight planning resources.
1:06 - The traffic mix at PIE.
1:32 - The airport consists of two intersecting runways labeled 4-22 and 18-36.
1:50 - Hot spot #1 is located on taxiway Alpha southbound, at the hold short line for runway 4-22.
3:02 - There are a number of airports in close proximity to St. Pete-Clearwater. Similarities in the naming convention of these airports can also contribute to pilot confusion.
3:37 - When arriving from the north and northwest, pay close attention not only to Class Bravo airspace requirements, but to aircraft operating into and out of the uncontrolled Clearwater Air Park, located approximately six miles northwest of St. Pete-Clearwater airport.
3:55 - When arriving from or departing to the south, use extra vigilance for operations into and out of Albert Whitted Field.
4:04 - When St. Pete-Clearwater is landing north, that is, runway 36 and runway 4, pay extra attention to ensure you are aligned on the correct final.
4:20 - When exiting the south FBO ramp, pilots have become confused as to which way to turn upon entering the taxiway.
The FAA's From the Flight Deck video series uses aircraft-mounted cameras to capture runway and taxiway footage and combines them with diagrams and visual graphics to clearly identify hot spots and other safety-sensitive items. Learn more at www.faa.gov/go/FromTheFlightDeck.
This video is informational only and does not replace the pilot’s responsibility to conduct required pre-flight planning in accordance with FAR 91.103.