Recent content by Approach_controller

If that's a contract tower like I think it is, that's seriously awesome of your pilot community to hook up the tower guys like that!

I feel your pain. My last visit to STL was to renew an ID, the tower chief having my paperwork. He mentioned the badging office was closed for an hour and invited me up to kill time. I agreed and then he mentioned the elevator was inop. Up was baaaaad. Going down with no escort... took me 15...

FWIW advanced ATC Began life as a CTO mill in Valdosta GA. They skirted CTI requirements on a technicality during the great controller hiring binge. The closest analogy in the pro pilot world would be pay for right seat time. Looks like they're expanding..... greeeeat

Most recent reports are IAH, HOU and Houston TRACON controllers are stranded. Center seems in better shape. TRACON is facing the threat of running out of food before the rains let up. The FAA is attempting to bring emergency food and supplies to HOU. Typically, during say a snow storm of...

One Fusion limitation that irks the heck outta me associated with ADSB. If Im single sensor I'd need 3 miles separation . Now, because I'm running fusion, multiple radar sites means more accuracy right? Yeah not according to fusion if im not receiving your mode c. Without fail, if i don't...

Sounds like flow restrictions. Here is how this goes normally and with wx flow involved. Normally Center provides 10 20 in trail to me depending on request. Our reasoning is 4 arrival streams, 5 in trail, 4/ 5 = 20. 5 in trail btw normally begets min sep over the numbers. TRACONS can and will...

There are also subsets of codes exclusively for VFR that are non NAS codes (ie can't hand off automatically to adjacent sectors) that process MSAW data (terrain and traffic alerts) which are to be used only at pilot request or in the case of a mayday call-up and the appropriate 7xxx code is...

From the North or North East if at or above 3,500 call approach on 124.2 (119.15 if above 5,500). You'll get a clearance to enter, at or above 3,500, direct Cardinal VOR CSX/116.45 with an outbound heading of 220/230. When south of STL you'll be given altitude your discretion, pending traffic...

Methinks you don't understand not so subtle hints. Try not being super pedantic. Allow me to elaborate further. 550 may not have been the speed required to build a hole in front of the LN and fit the slot in front, however any speed required to do so would have been unachievable to fly to a 5...

I had a beauty a few years back. We'd just gotten rid of speed reductions in the STARS 2 weeks prior. traffic is just now starting to build so im busy....ish about to get very busy soon, just not yet. Airliner x (airbus) was slowed to 250 at 11,000 at the boundary by center. Normal check in...

Altitude your discretion I loathe saying to a VFR in Class E as a pilot, but see it from my perspective as a controller. I work Class B that isn't insanely busy by most definitions, but at times it can get hectic and there are a few airports that are located poorly depending on flow. Probably 10...

Ive asked both. Asking destination stems from not having the strip. asking vfr/ifr stems from in the TRACON environment at least from the data block not having a V for VFR, or a slow rate of climb showing the aircraft seemingly at a 500 foot altitude forever. Most often it's not having the...

Probably better staffed Weekdays. Just a guess.

I'll take a 757 for $200 Alex. I've JS in a 757, 320 and E145. 320 was no picnic, E145 was hell, 757 was awesome. I'm sure others are better, but from my perspective the 757 beat the snot out of coach. FAs were stellar all around.

As a pilot I was occasionally chased by jets and turbo props to the home class D after I got my private. I was always taught make 1/10 takeoffs/landings unusual. IE Short or soft field. In that realm my unusual landings were typically ones with flaps, because I always came in hot, chopped the...