Passenger Pickup - KORD Chicago O'Hare Edition

For PWK, the LTA’s read the RNAV 30 circle to 34 is preferred. But if ORD is departing to the east, you won’t get it. If that’s the case, RNAV 16 circle 34 is your only option, with winds out of the north. It’s sporty, but if you use all the room you’ve got, it can be done smoothly.

Given the option, head to DPA. Longer drive to ORD, but nice airfield. The GA traffic is ample at PWK, and I’ve consistently gotten a “phantom” TA at about 400 AGL on the RNAV 16 at PWK. I call it phantom, because we’ve encountered it about 15 times in the last year…and there’s nothing out there.
 
kep5niner said:
For PWK, the LTA’s read the RNAV 30 circle to 34 is preferred. But if ORD is departing to the east, you won’t get it. If that’s the case, RNAV 16 circle 34 is your only option, with winds out of the north. It’s sporty, but if you use all the room you’ve got, it can be done smoothly.

Given the option, head to DPA. Longer drive to ORD, but nice airfield. The GA traffic is ample at PWK, and I’ve consistently gotten a “phantom” TA at about 400 AGL on the RNAV 16 at PWK. I call it phantom, because we’ve encountered it about 15 times in the last year…and there’s nothing out there.
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I'm taking the advice above to Uber rather than rent a car. I'm coming from the northwest. I get the logic of going someplace that's not as busy (both traffic and airspace) as KPWK. But what would make you pick DPA over 06C Schaumburg?
 
Actually, I’ve been in of it of 06C in my 310, but that was several years back. I’m sure that’s a good option too. I was recently through DPA in my 414 a few times and that’s a nice place. Great FBO. I “get” to go to PWK a couple of times / week in the work plane over the last few years, so I could give you a more current PIREP.
 
Jim K said:
The Palwaukee name predates me even being a pilot, but it's hard to call an airport with the identifier "PWK" anything else. ATC doesn't seem to mind.
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I've been a pilot 33 years now, and PWK has been Chicago Executive for 20 years, but even though my first visit to PWK wasn't until about 15 years ago, I see PWK and my brain says Palwaukee.

Edit: I see I was bamboozed into replying to a resurrected necropost, but it was resurrected by the OP, so I'm leaving it.

Good luck in your travels to Chicago. I was going to suggest MDW if you are staying downtown, but you're coming in from the NW so I think that would probably be a PITA.
 
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I survived the trip. I went with KPWK and filed IFR in and out. I used the Ascension FBO, formerly Hawthorne and still listed as such in Garmin Pilot. Evidently, they kept the legal name Hawthorne but are branding as Ascension, which is probably part of the confusion. Tower knew where I was asking about and got me there without circuitous taxi routes. I was happy with their services, lobby, and friendliness. The street address threw me for a loop at one point, as the same exact address exists in two separate suburbs about 30 minutes apart. Oops.

Coming in, they gave me the RNAV 16 approach in VMC. Departing, they gave me a route mostly up the lakeshore, vectored me with a 120-degree left turn (RWY 16 to heading 040) within 1/2 mile of the departure end of the runway, and then gave shortcuts and one-fix reroutes all day long. I also got climbed up to 11,000 MSL despite filing 10,000, then brought back down to my filed altitude a little later.

I found ATC to be normal throughout the trip. I've flown in some places where they really demand you be on top of your game, and didn't feel that kind of pressure here.
 
See or do anything while you were there?
 
WDD said:
See or do anything while you were there?
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We stayed downtown and enjoyed just walking around without a set agenda. Explored Millennium and Grant Parks and got our obligatory photos with the Buckingham Fountain and Cloud Gate. Rode an electronic pedi-cab (huge rip-off) to the Adler Planetarium, which closed at 4:00 but the last admission was at 3:15 for the people who walked in right in front of us. Walked on the Meigs Field beach. Took a water taxi (way better value and scenery) to Navy Pier. Rode the Centennial Wheel. Walked along the river. Ate a bunch.
 
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