polaris
Pre-takeoff checklist
- Joined
- Oct 6, 2013
- Messages
- 132
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polaris
I was doing touch-and-goes at my class D airport pretty late last night, around 11:30 p.m. - midnight. The tower had already closed.
In my 0.7 hours that I was up there, I only ran into two other airplanes. They were both sloppy on the radio. One was a jet and another was a Caravan. Both surprised me with their lack of radio communications.
First, the jet. By chance, I saw the jet taxiing while I was on the upwind. I called my crosswind and downwind on the CTAF. Jet was at the hold short line when I called my downwind. Not a peep. As I announced my base turn, I had to ask, "Jet holding short, are you on?" and he was like "???? Oh yeah, yeah, we are taking the runway" quite oblivious (or intentionally ignoring) the fact that I was on my base leg. That wasn't that big of a deal because I slowed it down and he got out.
But then the Caravan. I announced my downwind, and I announced my base, and I announced turning base to final on runway 16. As I am about 3/4 miles out to runway 16, I hear for the first time: "CTAF, Caravan is 4 mile final runway 34." A little more heads up would've been nice, assuming, that is, you are actually 4 miles out. About 30 seconds later, I start seeing the landing lights of opposing traffic coming up real fast.
"Caravan on final to 34, say position," I say. "2 miles out." Yeah, bull****, buddy. You did not just travel 2 miles in 30 seconds. You are also not 2 miles out. You are SHORT FINAL.
I tell him I AM short final for 16. No response. But I see the Caravan doing massive S turns on final, which I interpret as him realizing I am in his way. I land and I get off at the first turn off, and literally just as I am ready to key the mic to tell him that I am off the runway, I see him over the numbers.
Is this typical of late night operations? People tired? Assuming no one is using the airport? Ready to get home?
In my 0.7 hours that I was up there, I only ran into two other airplanes. They were both sloppy on the radio. One was a jet and another was a Caravan. Both surprised me with their lack of radio communications.
First, the jet. By chance, I saw the jet taxiing while I was on the upwind. I called my crosswind and downwind on the CTAF. Jet was at the hold short line when I called my downwind. Not a peep. As I announced my base turn, I had to ask, "Jet holding short, are you on?" and he was like "???? Oh yeah, yeah, we are taking the runway" quite oblivious (or intentionally ignoring) the fact that I was on my base leg. That wasn't that big of a deal because I slowed it down and he got out.
But then the Caravan. I announced my downwind, and I announced my base, and I announced turning base to final on runway 16. As I am about 3/4 miles out to runway 16, I hear for the first time: "CTAF, Caravan is 4 mile final runway 34." A little more heads up would've been nice, assuming, that is, you are actually 4 miles out. About 30 seconds later, I start seeing the landing lights of opposing traffic coming up real fast.
"Caravan on final to 34, say position," I say. "2 miles out." Yeah, bull****, buddy. You did not just travel 2 miles in 30 seconds. You are also not 2 miles out. You are SHORT FINAL.
I tell him I AM short final for 16. No response. But I see the Caravan doing massive S turns on final, which I interpret as him realizing I am in his way. I land and I get off at the first turn off, and literally just as I am ready to key the mic to tell him that I am off the runway, I see him over the numbers.
Is this typical of late night operations? People tired? Assuming no one is using the airport? Ready to get home?