Landing on a Closed Runway, Really?

GFLIGHT

GFLIGHT

Filing Flight Plan
Joined
Jan 2, 2012
Messages
2
Location
New Hampshire
Display Name
Display name:
GFlight
I finished my first totally solo flight, pattern work, then decided to stop by the local pilot shop for the new A/FD. Some background information: my home towered airport, ASH, is building a new runway, parallel to the existing, 300' to the east. Something about not meeting regulation distance from the ramp area, etc.

Anyway, here is the conversation with the owner of the pilot shop. "Did you hear, 3 pilots landed on the new runway this week?" "But it's not open," I said. "You're right." "They must have been transient, totally unfamiliar with what's going on," I replied. "Nope, locals." You must be kidding! The construction has been going on for almost a year! How could this happen? I know I am in total training mode right now, but come on, what were they thinking? Do pilots totally forget the basics over time? Right now the new runway is just a strip of black asphalt, 6000' x 100' with no markings. Oh wait, there are markings, 3 yellow X's!

Goodness knows I have made mistakes, and I will make many more, but I hope I will never put myself in a situation like this. What if there were construction vehicles a couple thousand feet down that pavement? Even worse, some poor construction supervisor checking it out, gets distracted, and, well, you get the picture.

I can't imagine not doing my homework and checking the NOTAMs before every flight, even in the pattern. So, if they did mistake the new runway for an open one, then why wouldn't they go around when they saw the big yellow X staring them in the face on final? I don't want to sound pompous here, I am only a student, but safety and preparation are really important parts of my training and my piloting. I take this pilot in command stuff as a real responsibility, safety for myself and people on the ground. It's a shame that these 3 aren't in the same mindset.

If this is all a misunderstanding and there were 3 engine failures, and, these 3 safely landed on whatever was available, then good for them. Just short of that...

So what happens to them now? Fines, suspensions?

The airport closes for 3 weeks on August 13 to complete the final construction of the taxiways to the new runway. Any bets on how many landings during the closure?

Side note: the flight school planes are moving to class C, MHT for the 3 weeks. I won't be able to solo, but flying out of there with my CFI is going to be pretty cool!

Thanks for listening!
 
Arkansas Airport Operators Association bought trailer mounted self powered upright lighted Xs to rent to members for runway closure. The Xs lying on the pavement are certainly visible but not as visible as one would think from a 3 degree glide slope angle.

We get to try the lighted ones for the first time later this year (crack repair). We have had closed runway landings with regular Xs with the pilot never being aware that he had landed on a close runway.
 
What regulation precludes you from Landing on a closed runway? As far as I know there isn't any. (I'm by no means a reg expert, but have looked into this more than I should have)

The only thing I have ever seen relating to landing on a closed runway was a document that the FAA uses as guidelines for action against infractions. (30 day ticket suspension IIRC)

As far as I can tell there is nothing in the FARs that prevent you from landing on a closed runway, but there's probably a reason WHY it's closed and that reason will probably get you busted on another regulation. 91.13 comes to mind.

So if you land on say a closed runway with a construction crew on it, you're going to get 91.13 + an additional 30 for ignoring the Xs. But if there was no 91.13 or other infraction, there's nothing to bust you with based on the Yellow X's alone.

This above does not apply if you're a senator. In that case you just get a check ride with a CFI and life goes on.
 
Last edited:
I noticed AG planes taking off from a "closed runway" with Xs visible. I asked about it on UNICOM, and was told it was only closed during the weekdays during work hours and the work was being done on the shoulder. Apparently they didn't think it worthwhile removing the Xs after 5:00 pm and on weekends.

During hours when the work was being done, the power equipment (graders and front end loaders) were too close to the runway.
 
bartmc said:
What regulation precludes you from Landing on a closed runway? As far as I know there isn't any. (I'm by no means a reg expert, but have looked into this more than I should have)

The only thing I have ever seen relating to landing on a closed runway was a document that the FAA uses as guidelines for action against infractions. (30 day ticket suspension IIRC)

As far as I can tell there is nothing in the FARs that prevent you from landing on a closed runway, but there's probably a reason WHY it's closed and that reason will probably get you busted on another regulation. 91.13 comes to mind.

So if you land on say a closed runway with a construction crew on it, you're going to get 91.13 + an additional 30 for ignoring the Xs. But if there was no 91.13 or other infraction, there's nothing to bust you with based on the Yellow X's alone.

This above does not apply if you're a senator. In that case you just get a check ride with a CFI and life goes on.
Click to expand...
Oh, really:rolleyes:....
 
I very nearly landed on a closed runway at Deming, NM one time. The airport had not NOTAMed the runway as closed - and the X-es were not visible until about 1 mile final. Went around and landed on the other runway. The folks at the FBO shrugged, and I when I asked FSS on the outbound briefing call, they were concerned but stated to me that there was no NOTAM on file.
 
West Dover VT (Mount Snow) has this note in the AFD.

OLD X MARKINGS DENOTING CLSD RY SHOWING THROUGH ASPH COATING. This is true.

Also says the runway is in poor condition, something else I can confirm.
 
patmike said:
happens here sometimes. just east of khfd is the old rentschler field and the old runways are still there and despite the big X'es on the runway an out of towner will start an approach. luckily the tower people at Brainard are on the ball and will inform them of their error.
Click to expand...

Been there, done that. It was my long solo X-C. I noticed the X's just as Brainard tower informed me that I was lined up with the closed airport and should return to pattern altitude.
 
I don't think I would attempt to land on a runway with Xs unless I was on super damn short final and needed to land right then and there.
 
flyingron said:
Yes you can. My wife learned to fly at Washington Dulles which is even in a class B airspace.
Click to expand...

What flight school is at Dulles?
One of my instructors told me Dulles is not very friendly to allowing GA planes into the airport. This must not be very accurate?
 
MDeitch1976 said:
What flight school is at Dulles?
One of my instructors told me Dulles is not very friendly to allowing GA planes into the airport. This must not be very accurate?
Click to expand...

IAD used to be a LOT more friendly to GA and at one time had flight schools there. There's a reason that HEF has an FBO and Flight School named "Dulles Aviation" - they used to have a location at IAD many years ago.

IAD is fine with GA planes, just remember that it is a busy Class B and major international hub. That said, having Udvar-Hazy at one end of the airport makes it a destination for some light GA flyers.

I'm based at HEF, but I wouldn't hesitate to file IAD as an alternate or fly in there if circumstances warrant. Just communicate well and keep on your toes.
 
wsuffa said:
That said, having Udvar-Hazy at one end of the airport makes it a destination for some light GA flyers.
Click to expand...

They don't let pilots taxi from the airport to Hazy, do they? Except, of course, on the big family days like Become a Pilot.... Right? I think it would be awesome if they did.
 
jpower said:
They don't let pilots taxi from the airport to Hazy, do they? Except, of course, on the big family days like Become a Pilot.... Right? I think it would be awesome if they did.
Click to expand...

No, they don't. The UH ramp is closed -- with very limited exceptions like you mentioned.

You need to go to one of the FBOs and arrange a ride down too UH. Still beats flying into JYO or HEF.
 
GFlight, Your airport is 61 miles away from mine: LEB. However when you look at Google maps satellite images, you have a crap load more planes at your airstrip.

That's a lot of planes for one runway.
 
wsuffa said:
No, they don't. The UH ramp is closed -- with very limited exceptions like you mentioned.

You need to go to one of the FBOs and arrange a ride down too UH. Still beats flying into JYO or HEF.
Click to expand...

FBOs at Dulles have a typical cost for the day?
For me, taxiing at Dulles may take longer than the flight there. I wonder how many people have taxied for a longer period than their flight.
I would be coming out of GAI, in a Piper Sport flying at a high rate of 100kt.
Maybe, I should drive.
 
MDeitch1976 said:
FBOs at Dulles have a typical cost for the day?
For me, taxiing at Dulles may take longer than the flight there. I wonder how many people have taxied for a longer period than their flight.
I would be coming out of GAI, in a Piper Sport flying at a high rate of 100kt.
Maybe, I should drive.
Click to expand...

Unless the Cabin John bridge is backed up, you'd be time and money ahead to drive from GAI.
 
MDeitch1976 said:
I wonder how many people have taxied for a longer period than their flight.
Click to expand...

This was as a passenger, but I was on the ground longer going from KATL to KWRB then I was in the air.

Still the right choice though, as driving it would have taken forever.
 
Mafoo said:
This was as a passenger, but I was on the ground longer going from KATL to KWRB then I was in the air.

Still the right choice though, as driving it would have taken forever.
Click to expand...

DCA-PHL for a connecting flight.

ORD-MKE, because connecting in ORD from the DC area (probably Dulles but don't remember) was less expensive than a nonstop to MKE.
 
Mafoo said:
This was as a passenger, but I was on the ground longer going from KATL to KWRB then I was in the air.

Still the right choice though, as driving it would have taken forever.
Click to expand...

As a pax, JFK to DCA. More than once. "There are 45 ahead of us for takeoff...."

IIRC, I also had a longer taxi than in the air from LUK to ISZ or vice-versa.
 
wsuffa said:
As a pax, JFK to DCA. More than once. "There are 45 ahead of us for takeoff...."

IIRC, I also had a longer taxi than in the air from LUK to ISZ or vice-versa.
Click to expand...

I'd buy it, I know I have, but it still beat driving!
 
For the centennial celebration of flight I was asked to fly my J3 along with several other pilots flying other classic aircraft into KEWR. With special dispensation from the FAA and freshly memorizing the light Gun singles and some brand new handhelds, We arrived at the appointed time and place, circled east of 29 to be “vectored in” option approach , Was easy to pick out the steady Green and surprisingly the handheld worked. I landed on 29 with a slight cross wind from my left , I was able to land almost directly straight into the wind and remained on the runway. There were about 12 aircraft and they had us on the ground and off on a taxiway in two groups of 6 in maybe 15 minutes , a Continental baggage tug was waiting for us on the taxiway with a big “follow me” sign that escorted us to Signature and the GA area where the aircraft would be on display for the celebration. I averaged 45 miles per hour on the trip from Marlboro, NJ, 2N8 to KEWR. Including wait time on the taxiway to get to Signature at Newark Airport took 50 minutes to complete the taxi.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top