If felt like a Cirrus last night

BigBadLou

BigBadLou

Final Approach
Joined
Aug 6, 2014
Messages
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Location
TX - the friendliest state
Display Name
Lou
Soooo .... I was coming into Abilene, still a few thousand up and barely penetrated the Charlie airspace when the approach controller hands me off to tower.
I check in and am told "Compassion XYZ, cleared to land 35L, winds 010 at 8".
Shhheeeet what? I don't even have the rwy in sight, guys!
But yeah, I'll take it "Cleared to land 35L, thanks for the winds, Compassion XYZ". Took me at least 5 minutes with the crazy headwinds to even turn final. :)

I got my flying fix in last night, happy to fly again (it's been over a dang week!!), no more itching arms and nervous ticks.

If I ever get cleared to land 10nm out, should I just tell them "I am not a Cirrus"? Or should I just ask for ATITAPA? :D
 
I've never used the compassion call sign. I don't know why, just haven't brought myself to be in a position to explain to clearance delivery if they don't know what it is. Plus I wouldn't know how to explain how CMF translates to "compassion."
 
Timbeck2 said:
I've never used the compassion call sign. I don't know why, just haven't brought myself to be in a position to explain to clearance delivery if they don't know what it is. Plus I wouldn't know how to explain how CMF translates to "compassion."
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So far I have not had to explain the callsign to CD. But I did get called "Charlie Mike Foxtrot XYZ" twice. Usually by military approach controllers who, I guess, aren't exposed to the call sign much.
My explanation is usually very short and simple "CMF stands for compassion flight, similar to angel flights". I usually get "gotcha" or something.
 
Quiet day....

I've gotten immediate landing clearance on initial contact during very quiet times before. And I like to contact Tower early. I've been known to contact Reid just after clearing the pass, for instance (it's 12 miles or so), as Approach has done its thing once I've gotten through the mountains.

Such times tend to be at night, and it's pretty difficult to spot Reid at night from 12 miles away (the lights are quite dim compared to a nearby street, and you can't even look for the dark spot, 'cause there are a bunch of them).
 
I cleared a guy for the VOR approach as soon as he checked in from center, about 35 out. No other traffic, why not?
 
I get that a lot at BHM. Cleared for the visual followed by cleared to land when I'm way out. Not much traffic around this class C. Nice when it happens.
 
mulligan said:
I get that a lot at BHM. Cleared for the visual followed by cleared to land when I'm way out. Not much traffic around this class C. Nice when it happens.
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Controller got to get back to the porn ya know....
 
mulligan said:
I get that a lot at BHM. Cleared for the visual followed by cleared to land when I'm way out. Not much traffic around this class C. Nice when it happens.
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One of the perks of living way out. But I don't think of Bham as "out." But Huntington, WV sure was . . . I was out with a newly-relocated pilot flying instrument approaches, we were 12nm NW of the field, inbound for 30 and were cleared to land. The other guy's eyes almost popped out of his head! :p Sleepy Class Ds are nice; being based near one instead of at one was very, very nice!
 
mulligan said:
I get that a lot at BHM. Cleared for the visual followed by cleared to land when I'm way out. Not much traffic around this class C. Nice when it happens.
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Reminds me of my C-310 freight dog days thru Des Moines; check in with approach maybe 25 miles out, airport in sight. He responds, "cleared for the visual, cleared to land rwy 5, taxi to the ramp. Want your outbound clearance to St Paul?"
 
jbDC9 said:
Reminds me of my C-310 freight dog days thru Des Moines; check in with approach maybe 25 miles out, airport in sight. He responds, "cleared for the visual, cleared to land rwy 5, taxi to the ramp. Want your outbound clearance to St Paul?"
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I have gotten similar things like that in the air ambulance. Usually late at night. Kinda fun to call clearance delivery on departure frequency.

One night going into Albuquerque the approach controller told me to stay with him to parking because the tower guy was in the restroom....:eek::)
 
Hank S said:
:p Sleepy Class Ds are nice; being based near one instead of at one was very, very nice!
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The airport I fly out of is only controlled due to 3 small Delta jets coming in everyday. 80% of the time I fly I am pretty much the only aircraft they're currently dealing with, whether it be on the ground OR in the air. And even when they're communing with someone else, most often they're not a factor so it's still as though I'm the only aircraft that's even there.
 
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