Meanee
Line Up and Wait
About a week ago, I did my required night cross country. A very nice experience, I must say. More stable air, easier to spot planes and airports. Practiced VOR to VOR hopping.
Most of my training is done in uncontrolled airport right under New York's Class B. So, I generally avoid talking to NY Approach.
My 2nd landing (1st was a fuel stop) was at KABE. It's a Class C airport. I flew there few times before with my CFI and things were easy. 20nm outside establish squawk and radar contact, airport in sight - switch to tower (with Approach directing me to). This time it was a little bit different.
About 20nm away, I listened to current ATIS at KABE, and wrote down the information. Switched to approach control, announced myself. Approach gave me a squawk code, and I continued in. While on the same frequency as approach, I heard another aircraft. Callsign was "Charter 1234" (don't remember the numbers, but it's not important. My previous experience with KABE tells me it's probably a CRJ or some sort of a bizjet. So, I heard that Charter requested runway 6. VFR runway 24 was in use and winds were 300/10. Approach had me doing somewhat of a holding pattern, and asked me to report Airbus in sight. That was the charter aircraft. First time I am sharing the same airspace with something of that size. I was asked to switch over to tower, got cleared for the option on 24 and was cautioned about wake turbulence. Did a touch and go, and off I went to my 3rd landing.
So here are the observations, and few questions.
First, approach never told me "Radar Contact". When I asked my CFI if I should give them a polite reminder, he said that it's not necessary. I could assume that radar contact was established and I am ok to enter the Class C. If there was a problem, he would turn me away. Was he correct? I was under assumption that Class C requires permission from approach
The Airbus requested runway 6 and to my knowledge, did not change that intention. Tower cautioned me about wake turbulence. My instructor was certain that Airbus landed on 24. It was hard to see him once he was mixed together with city lights, but I am sure he kept his original intention of landing on 6. But in that case, wake turbulence should not matter much on approach, while CFI told me to stay to the right of the runway, to let the wind push wake turbulence away.
And the last thing. I was told by tower to proceed on course and contact departure when I took off. I thought that it means that I should keep my current course until told otherwise. And my CFI told me that I should go to the left, towards my next checkpoint.
So... any insights? I trust my CFI, but I would like to hear from others.
Most of my training is done in uncontrolled airport right under New York's Class B. So, I generally avoid talking to NY Approach.
My 2nd landing (1st was a fuel stop) was at KABE. It's a Class C airport. I flew there few times before with my CFI and things were easy. 20nm outside establish squawk and radar contact, airport in sight - switch to tower (with Approach directing me to). This time it was a little bit different.
About 20nm away, I listened to current ATIS at KABE, and wrote down the information. Switched to approach control, announced myself. Approach gave me a squawk code, and I continued in. While on the same frequency as approach, I heard another aircraft. Callsign was "Charter 1234" (don't remember the numbers, but it's not important. My previous experience with KABE tells me it's probably a CRJ or some sort of a bizjet. So, I heard that Charter requested runway 6. VFR runway 24 was in use and winds were 300/10. Approach had me doing somewhat of a holding pattern, and asked me to report Airbus in sight. That was the charter aircraft. First time I am sharing the same airspace with something of that size. I was asked to switch over to tower, got cleared for the option on 24 and was cautioned about wake turbulence. Did a touch and go, and off I went to my 3rd landing.
So here are the observations, and few questions.
First, approach never told me "Radar Contact". When I asked my CFI if I should give them a polite reminder, he said that it's not necessary. I could assume that radar contact was established and I am ok to enter the Class C. If there was a problem, he would turn me away. Was he correct? I was under assumption that Class C requires permission from approach
The Airbus requested runway 6 and to my knowledge, did not change that intention. Tower cautioned me about wake turbulence. My instructor was certain that Airbus landed on 24. It was hard to see him once he was mixed together with city lights, but I am sure he kept his original intention of landing on 6. But in that case, wake turbulence should not matter much on approach, while CFI told me to stay to the right of the runway, to let the wind push wake turbulence away.
And the last thing. I was told by tower to proceed on course and contact departure when I took off. I thought that it means that I should keep my current course until told otherwise. And my CFI told me that I should go to the left, towards my next checkpoint.
So... any insights? I trust my CFI, but I would like to hear from others.
