Definition
A public-use general aviation airport located west of Tucson, Arizona, identified by the FAA location identifier RYN. In the Instrument Procedures Handbook, it appears as the example airport for an NDB (Non-Directional Beacon) instrument approach procedure, with the approach chart shown in Figure 4-55.
Plain English
An airport near Tucson, Arizona used in the handbook as a real-world example of how an NDB instrument approach is flown and charted.
Context Anchor
Seen at the top of an instrument approach chart, including the NDB approach example in Figure 4-55.
Derivation
Named for its location near Tucson, Arizona, and for Ryan Field itself — originally a World War II training airfield established in 1942. Knowing it is a real airport (not a fictitious example) helps the reader understand that the chart, fixes, and procedures shown are actual operational data.
Why Pilots Care
A pilot must confirm the correct airport before flying an approach. Tucson has more than one airport, so confusing Ryan Field with another Tucson-area airport could put the aircraft on the wrong procedure.
Intuition Check
Do not read “field” as an ordinary open field here. In this chart name, “Field” means the airport named Ryan Field.
Example Sentence 1
The handbook uses Tucson/Ryan Field to illustrate how a pilot tracks inbound to the NDB and transitions to the final approach course.
Example Sentence 2
Pilots review the published procedure for Tucson/Ryan Field to practice non-directional beacon navigation.