I hate airshows

Timbeck2

Timbeck2

Final Approach
Joined
Nov 4, 2015
Messages
9,423
Location
Vail, Arizona
Display Name
Timbeck2
Home Airfield
KTUS
Yep, you read that right. Here I am on a perfectly good Sunday morning where I'd rather be putting the finishing touches on my ILS installation and test flying my plane but I'm stuck in the tower. Not only stuck but being caught in the middle between some non-ATC Air Boss and a TFR that should be a TFS. (Temporary Flight Suggestion)

Sure we got the cool old war birds flying around but I've seen them every year for the past ten and they don't do anything different than fly formation with F-16s, F-22 and F-35. Big whoop. Meanwhile I have people who call me up saying they are low on fuel and need to land during the TFR and they've "previously coordinated with (insert unknown entity here)" and we know nothing about it. I'm a freakin' mushroom caught in the middle and I'd rather be somewhere else.

fini rant
 
Yup, I always loved when the T-birds would fly and have their own frequency, and wouldn't tell us. I mean all we wanted was to put it in the back up radio and listen. Teah once you've seen a ton of air shows, it gets kinda stale. But, I'll head down to Maxwell AFB when the T-birds are there this year. What can I say.
 
Timbeck2 said:
If my only responsibility was to locate my ass on lawn chair, crack open beer and watch, I'd be fine. Playing middle man to air boss and flying public isn't much fun.
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LOL now that you put it that way, true true!
 
Timbeck2 said:
Yep, you read that right. Here I am on a perfectly good Sunday morning where I'd rather be putting the finishing touches on my ILS installation and test flying my plane but I'm stuck in the tower. Not only stuck but being caught in the middle between some non-ATC Air Boss and a TFR that should be a TFS. (Temporary Flight Suggestion)

Sure we got the cool old war birds flying around but I've seen them every year for the past ten and they don't do anything different than fly formation with F-16s, F-22 and F-35. Big whoop. Meanwhile I have people who call me up saying they are low on fuel and need to land during the TFR and they've "previously coordinated with (insert unknown entity here)" and we know nothing about it. I'm a freakin' mushroom caught in the middle and I'd rather be somewhere else.

fini rant
Click to expand...


Yup same here. I lived near and worked at the airport in Harlingen, TX. (HRL) for many years, before the CAF moved to MAF. I watched Lefty Gardner do the same roll into that same dead engine year after year. But we always ate good during AIRSHOW week!
 
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Controllers aren't invited to eat with the airshow people. I've met several of them but for every four cool ones you meet, there is one who thinks his feces contains no fetor.
 
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A few of the big time air show air bosses have ATC experience. Many have none though. One of the things that came out of the 2011 Reno crash was that NTSB didn't realize there was essentially no FAA qualifications to become an air boss. Not sure if theyve changed the rule on that or not.

Working the arrivals and departures on approach was always fun but during the show was boring. Just sit there and watch the Blues targets zig zag around the scope and make sure no one penetrates the TFR.
 
Velocity173 said:
A few of the big time air show air bosses have ATC experience. Many have none though. One of the things that came out of the 2011 Reno crash was that NTSB didn't realize there was essentially no FAA qualifications to become an air boss. Not sure if theyve changed the rule on that or not.

Working the arrivals and departures on approach was always fun but during the show was boring. Just sit there and watch the Blues targets zig zag around the scope and make sure no one penetrates the TFR.
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Best part of the airshow was when it was over, and as a military controller on an AF base, watching all the static display planes taking off. They all wanted to show their asses off, all wanted unrestricted climbs, etc etc. It was fun watching it!
 
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Other perks during the show is you don't have to deal with the traffic. You always have a good parking spot. The tower catwalk provides a good viewing area and sometimes you can hitch rides with the performers. ;)
 
Airshows are not (typically) my bag either. There are too many similar acts and I've seen 'em all before. Worse is the repetitive announcing (which I realize is aimed at the general public, not the airplane enthusiast).
 
Timbeck2 said:
Yep, you read that right. Here I am on a perfectly good Sunday morning where I'd rather be putting the finishing touches on my ILS installation and test flying my plane but I'm stuck in the tower. Not only stuck but being caught in the middle between some non-ATC Air Boss and a TFR that should be a TFS. (Temporary Flight Suggestion)

Sure we got the cool old war birds flying around but I've seen them every year for the past ten and they don't do anything different than fly formation with F-16s, F-22 and F-35. Big whoop. Meanwhile I have people who call me up saying they are low on fuel and need to land during the TFR and they've "previously coordinated with (insert unknown entity here)" and we know nothing about it. I'm a freakin' mushroom caught in the middle and I'd rather be somewhere else.

fini rant
Click to expand...

Tuscon? We had skirt around a TFR there today due to an airshow.
 
Timbeck2 said:
Yep, you read that right. Here I am on a perfectly good Sunday morning where I'd rather be putting the finishing touches on my ILS installation and test flying my plane but I'm stuck in the tower. Not only stuck but being caught in the middle between some non-ATC Air Boss and a TFR that should be a TFS. (Temporary Flight Suggestion)

Sure we got the cool old war birds flying around but I've seen them every year for the past ten and they don't do anything different than fly formation with F-16s, F-22 and F-35. Big whoop. Meanwhile I have people who call me up saying they are low on fuel and need to land during the TFR and they've "previously coordinated with (insert unknown entity here)" and we know nothing about it. I'm a freakin' mushroom caught in the middle and I'd rather be somewhere else.

fini rant
Click to expand...
The fact that your an air controller makes me like your profile picture that much more :D
 
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