SkyHog
Touchdown! Greaser!
- Joined
- Feb 23, 2005
- Messages
- 18,431
- Location
- Castle Rock, CO
- Display Name
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Everything Offends Me
Los Alamos Airport (KLAM)
Some of the most interesting research in the country is done a little over 50 miles north of Albuquerque (as the crow flies), in a location called "Los Alamos National Labs." It also happens to have some of the most hardcore restricted airspace in the state as well. R-5101 is always active, and covers from surface to 12,000 ft.
This airport is a "one way" airport. All landings happen on runway 27 and all takeoff occur on runway 9. There are 2 reasons for this. The amazing restricted airspace just off the south side of the runway, and the amazing mountains just off the west side of the airport. The landing/takeoff restrictions are not just suggestions, they are requirements. I have included a recording of the AWOS so that you can see what I mean.
The airport is settled on top of a peak, and it looks like a majestic battleship in the middle of the forested mountains around it. There are a few very specific traffic calls that people generally make to announce their position when coming in to the airport from the south. The first is over Cochiti Lake. This is most recognizable by the giant dam along its southern edge. The next is "East of the Radio Telescope" (pictured below). This is a very obvious checkpoint, and it lets others know that you are coming pretty close to the airport.
Next up is "Y-Junction" or "Y-Intersection." This is where the Rio Grande meets another dry river and makes a very obvious Y in the landscape. This is the point where you want to turn towards the runway, as you'll be clear of the restricted airspace at this point. You will sometimes hear people call "Over White Rock" or "Baseball Fields Inbound," but they are all right around the same area as the "Y-Junction" anyways.
Upon landing at Los Alamos, you'll find that there is not much in the way of transient parking spaces available. Many people commute from elsewhere to this airport every day so parking is usually taken most of the day. There is no "FBO" per se, but there is a little lobby where you can meet people if you need to. When I was there today, the doors were all locked and there was no way into the lobby, so I had to hoof it around to the vehicle gate to get out.
This airport is a really neat place to go when you want to see some great landscape and learn some new inbound/outbound procedures, but unless you really have a reason to come here, I would avoid it. There are a lot of hassles to deal with and it is a VERY busy airport during rush hour. There is no fuel available.
Audio:
1) Los Alamos Automated Weather Observation
Videos:
1) Approach and Landing, Runway 27
Pictures:
1) Los Alamos Airport Information Sign
2) My Plane sitting on the ramp at Los Alamos
3) Radio Telescope checkpoint
LOS ALAMOS AIRPORT QUICK FACTS:
Airport Elevation: 7171 Ft
Runways 9/27: 5550'x113ft, Asphalt in good Condition
AWOS: 124.175
UNICOM: 123.0
Nick's NOTAMS: Learn the traffic callouts. Its what everyone uses and it makes it easier to find traffic. USE LANDING LIGHT and RADIO!! ONE WAY IN AND ONE WAY OUT.
Some of the most interesting research in the country is done a little over 50 miles north of Albuquerque (as the crow flies), in a location called "Los Alamos National Labs." It also happens to have some of the most hardcore restricted airspace in the state as well. R-5101 is always active, and covers from surface to 12,000 ft.
This airport is a "one way" airport. All landings happen on runway 27 and all takeoff occur on runway 9. There are 2 reasons for this. The amazing restricted airspace just off the south side of the runway, and the amazing mountains just off the west side of the airport. The landing/takeoff restrictions are not just suggestions, they are requirements. I have included a recording of the AWOS so that you can see what I mean.
The airport is settled on top of a peak, and it looks like a majestic battleship in the middle of the forested mountains around it. There are a few very specific traffic calls that people generally make to announce their position when coming in to the airport from the south. The first is over Cochiti Lake. This is most recognizable by the giant dam along its southern edge. The next is "East of the Radio Telescope" (pictured below). This is a very obvious checkpoint, and it lets others know that you are coming pretty close to the airport.
Next up is "Y-Junction" or "Y-Intersection." This is where the Rio Grande meets another dry river and makes a very obvious Y in the landscape. This is the point where you want to turn towards the runway, as you'll be clear of the restricted airspace at this point. You will sometimes hear people call "Over White Rock" or "Baseball Fields Inbound," but they are all right around the same area as the "Y-Junction" anyways.
Upon landing at Los Alamos, you'll find that there is not much in the way of transient parking spaces available. Many people commute from elsewhere to this airport every day so parking is usually taken most of the day. There is no "FBO" per se, but there is a little lobby where you can meet people if you need to. When I was there today, the doors were all locked and there was no way into the lobby, so I had to hoof it around to the vehicle gate to get out.
This airport is a really neat place to go when you want to see some great landscape and learn some new inbound/outbound procedures, but unless you really have a reason to come here, I would avoid it. There are a lot of hassles to deal with and it is a VERY busy airport during rush hour. There is no fuel available.
Audio:
1) Los Alamos Automated Weather Observation
Videos:
1) Approach and Landing, Runway 27
Pictures:
1) Los Alamos Airport Information Sign
2) My Plane sitting on the ramp at Los Alamos
3) Radio Telescope checkpoint
LOS ALAMOS AIRPORT QUICK FACTS:
Airport Elevation: 7171 Ft
Runways 9/27: 5550'x113ft, Asphalt in good Condition
AWOS: 124.175
UNICOM: 123.0
Nick's NOTAMS: Learn the traffic callouts. Its what everyone uses and it makes it easier to find traffic. USE LANDING LIGHT and RADIO!! ONE WAY IN AND ONE WAY OUT.
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