TRocket
Line Up and Wait
Decided to visit my brother in DC a couple weeks ago for lunch (thought about flying into Potomac but realized the whole DC 3 thing might be more effort than I was interested in putting in at the time).
There are 2 FBO's at IAD, looked into it ahead of time, costs are NOT the same.
Anyway, was a very nice VFR day but figured going IFR might make the process a little easier. Stopped to get fuel at a field a little south of IAD (Avgas is VERY expensive at Dulles)
After my fuel stop (very friendly little GA airport), I my clearance and off I go, a good ways out Potomac approach asks me what FBO I am going to and tells me to expect runway 1C (most convenient to where I am going, score!). Probably 20 miles or so out, get a vector to intercept 1C localizer and eventually get handed off to tower, clear land and all that jazz.
So here I come all by my lonesome in a little 172, staring down an 11,500 foot runway (never asked to keep my speed up), slow it down and land...just about on the numbers...on an 11,500 foot runway, with my destination all the way down at the far end of the runway. So I open the window and enjoy my nearly 2 mile taxi to the FBO.
The FBO is filled with nice jets, the line guys are very friendly and don't treat the guy in the 50 year cessna any different than fancy jet guys, "how are you, how was the flight, what can we do for you?".
When it's time to leave, get a clearance right away and taxi another 2 miles to rwy 30. Things are A LOT busier at this point in the day, big iron everywhere. Despite this, no delays, cleared for take off right behind a Lufthansa Heavy (caution wake turbulence but get your ass rolling because I got traffic on a 3 mile final for 1C) and I am headed home.
Really good experience. Controllers were great to work with, every one of them, treated me just like anyone else. The FBO was really great too. This was my first class bravo, seemed pretty painless.
There are 2 FBO's at IAD, looked into it ahead of time, costs are NOT the same.
Anyway, was a very nice VFR day but figured going IFR might make the process a little easier. Stopped to get fuel at a field a little south of IAD (Avgas is VERY expensive at Dulles)
After my fuel stop (very friendly little GA airport), I my clearance and off I go, a good ways out Potomac approach asks me what FBO I am going to and tells me to expect runway 1C (most convenient to where I am going, score!). Probably 20 miles or so out, get a vector to intercept 1C localizer and eventually get handed off to tower, clear land and all that jazz.
So here I come all by my lonesome in a little 172, staring down an 11,500 foot runway (never asked to keep my speed up), slow it down and land...just about on the numbers...on an 11,500 foot runway, with my destination all the way down at the far end of the runway. So I open the window and enjoy my nearly 2 mile taxi to the FBO.
The FBO is filled with nice jets, the line guys are very friendly and don't treat the guy in the 50 year cessna any different than fancy jet guys, "how are you, how was the flight, what can we do for you?".
When it's time to leave, get a clearance right away and taxi another 2 miles to rwy 30. Things are A LOT busier at this point in the day, big iron everywhere. Despite this, no delays, cleared for take off right behind a Lufthansa Heavy (caution wake turbulence but get your ass rolling because I got traffic on a 3 mile final for 1C) and I am headed home.
Really good experience. Controllers were great to work with, every one of them, treated me just like anyone else. The FBO was really great too. This was my first class bravo, seemed pretty painless.
