AggieMike88
Touchdown! Greaser!
- Joined
- Jan 13, 2010
- Messages
- 20,805
- Location
- Denton, TX
- Display Name
Display name:
The original "I don't know it all" of aviation.
Yesterday (Sunday morning, August 29) my instructor and I took advantage of the good weather to schedule a 3-hr training block to practice more landings in a towered environment. We also worked on the required engine out emergenies that would occur while near an airport.
After about the 10th lap, I asked for a break. Instructor Dan agreed (due to a needed coffee offload). Dan had mentioned he and a student recently were premitted to go up to the tower cab. After I asked for a switch from the option to full stop, Dan asked if it was okay for us to come upstirs to meet the crew and check out the view and what they see. We were given a cheery, "No problem! One of us will meet you downstairs."
We were met at the doors by one of the controllers who escorted us upstairs. The crew this morning were fairly young (late 20's), extremely friendly, and dressed like they were hanging out at the dorm rather than in charge of a significant bit of airspace. It was cool to meet the people on the otherside of the headset. We were shown their radar scopes, how they worked, what information they could bring up depending on if the target was VFR (1200), Flight Following, or IFR. They also explained and showed how they obtain and record the ATIS details. It was all very interesting and very informative.
The view out of the tower was amazing. We could easily see 10 miles in any direction. And the height above the ramp made our DA20 look like a Matchbox Micromachine.
As we left, all three of them asked us to spread the word that they want more flights to come by, especially on Sundays. In the 30 minutes we were there, there was only 2 radio calls, one twin departing, and someone transiting their airspace from the south. We were told that Sundays are pretty dead for them. They felt that if someone needed to work on their IFR approaches, the light traffic load would be perfect for them to accomodate you. VFR traffic is very welcome too.
We got a great resource over there, and a good environment to practice our craft. I hope more of you take advantage of it!
After about the 10th lap, I asked for a break. Instructor Dan agreed (due to a needed coffee offload). Dan had mentioned he and a student recently were premitted to go up to the tower cab. After I asked for a switch from the option to full stop, Dan asked if it was okay for us to come upstirs to meet the crew and check out the view and what they see. We were given a cheery, "No problem! One of us will meet you downstairs."
We were met at the doors by one of the controllers who escorted us upstairs. The crew this morning were fairly young (late 20's), extremely friendly, and dressed like they were hanging out at the dorm rather than in charge of a significant bit of airspace. It was cool to meet the people on the otherside of the headset. We were shown their radar scopes, how they worked, what information they could bring up depending on if the target was VFR (1200), Flight Following, or IFR. They also explained and showed how they obtain and record the ATIS details. It was all very interesting and very informative.
The view out of the tower was amazing. We could easily see 10 miles in any direction. And the height above the ramp made our DA20 look like a Matchbox Micromachine.
As we left, all three of them asked us to spread the word that they want more flights to come by, especially on Sundays. In the 30 minutes we were there, there was only 2 radio calls, one twin departing, and someone transiting their airspace from the south. We were told that Sundays are pretty dead for them. They felt that if someone needed to work on their IFR approaches, the light traffic load would be perfect for them to accomodate you. VFR traffic is very welcome too.
We got a great resource over there, and a good environment to practice our craft. I hope more of you take advantage of it!
Last edited:
).
