Visiting the Tower

ebykowsky

ebykowsky

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What's the best way to go about visiting the control tower at a class C? Was thinking of flying over to KCAK with a friend and a box of donuts in the back for the tower crew and seeing about getting a tour of the facilities--how easy is this to do? Should I call ahead of time or would phoning them via the radio after landing work? Or is a class C facility a bit much to ask for and I should just try a D or the nearby YNG TRACON?
Thoughts and tips appreciated.
 
Used to be you could just buzz them through the intercom at the base of the tower, though I don't think that will work in the post-9/11 era.
 
ebykowsky said:
What's the best way to go about visiting the control tower at a class C? Was thinking of flying over to KCAK with a friend and a box of donuts in the back for the tower crew and seeing about getting a tour of the facilities--how easy is this to do? Should I call ahead of time or would phoning them via the radio after landing work? Or is a class C facility a bit much to ask for and I should just try a D or the nearby YNG TRACON?
Thoughts and tips appreciated.
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Call First to set up an appointment. Skip the donuts. Their general number is (330) 492-3801.
 
Or you could do something mildly stupid but not excessively so, and they may oblige you with a "tour of the tower."

(Meaning, "You're coming up here so I can ***** you out verbally but that's as far as it will go.")
 
Toledo tower you call and you fax them your name/soc security number and then you get "Confirmed" Hopefully you choose a day that there is actually busy.....I asked for the number at the end of a flight following interaction. :)
 
saracelica said:
Toledo tower you call and you fax them your name/soc security number and then you get "Confirmed" Hopefully you choose a day that there is actually busy.....I asked for the number at the end of a flight following interaction. :)
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JAC tower will offer me a tower tour anytime....
Great bunch of guys/gals there...:yes::yes::)

Edit..........

I do it for all the non aviators I take flying... Every one of them gets a BIG kick out of the tower tours..:yes:
 
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Thoughts and tips
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Tower cabs are fun to visit but IMO you won't learn a whole lot that you don't already know. It is interesting to see what they have for radar displays (or not) and to talk to people about how you are handled as VFR, FF, and IFR.

The real meat is in a busy TRACON. Call ahead, tell them you're a pilot, and ask if you can spend a couple of hours "plugged in" with a controller. You will learn a lot by listening to the radio transmissions and watching the radar displays. You'll also learn how much other non-radio communication goes on between sectors and between the controller and the local ARTCC. I spent most of a shift at a TRACON a few years ago and it was great.

Same story, visit an ARTCC if you can and spend an hour or more plugged in. Again, you'll learn a lot.

IMO Center is playing chess and the TRACONs are playing rugby. Very interesting to see the sequencing and handoffs.
 
KDTO and KAFW towers, you can just ask on Ground frequency if you can come up for a visit. Always got a "Sure, just use the phone at the door and tell us it's you and your tail# and we'll let you in."

While we're on the subject, is Operation Raincheck (where we can schedule to visit Center and TRACON) still ongoing? Taking a tour and watching some sector controllers do their thing is high up on my aviation activity list.
 
Got a group tour of ZAB back in 2004. It was prearranged by a retired controller. All we needed for admittance was photo ID which was held by security till we exited the place.
 
Norman said:
Got a group tour of ZAB back in 2004. It was prearranged by a retired controller. All we needed for admittance was photo ID which was held by security till we exited the place.
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Which shows the whole security scam is flawed.....

What could a person in the cab of a tower do to air traffic that a nutjob with a hand held radio sitting in his house can't ?:dunno:..

Geez Louis......:mad2::mad2::rolleyes:
 
KCAK, heck. Visit KPIT. Watching a really busy tower is eye opening. We run sims of KLAX locally (Future Flight Central).

And the local TRACon and ARTCC. Oceanic FIR if you can (those are like ARTCCs, but with no radar and only rudimentary radio).
 
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AggieMike88 said:
KDTO and KAFW towers, you can just ask on Ground frequency if you can come up for a visit. Always got a "Sure, just use the phone at the door and tell us it's you and your tail# and we'll let you in."

While we're on the subject, is Operation Raincheck (where we can schedule to visit Center and TRACON) still ongoing? Taking a tour and watching some sector controllers do their thing is high up on my aviation activity list.
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Same thing at KPGD. In fact, they encourage you to do tours. Since we got a tour I know that the flight schools on the field arrange for tower tours for all their students. I have not been up yet, but one of these days I probably will. The controllers at KPGD seem to be about the nicest bunch of guys and gals around, and handle missed calls, and stupid pilot mistakes with lots of respect and honor. Anyone in the south Florida area looking for some extra radio work practice without any stress can do no better than coming to KPGD.
 
Thanks guys, and thanks Brad for the phone #. Where are numbers for the tower published? I haven't been able to find them online. Would the A/FD have them?
Also, I like the idea of CAK better than PIT because I can fly in myself, plus it gets far more GA traffic. Would picking a busy day be better or would they be less likely to let me in then?
 
MAKG1 said:
KCAK, heck. Visit KPIT. Watching a really busy tower is eye opening. We run sims of KLAX locally (Future Flight Central).
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KPIT isn't all that busy anymore. It's downright deserted compared to how it used to be. I did a tower and TRACON tour there many years ago, before US Air folded up and moved out. I've also been to Class D towers several times. The most interesting ones tended to be facilities that were not so busy, because there was more opportunity to talk with the controllers.


JKG
 
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I've been in the tower at BJC, APA, and HEF (actually the latter two were the same tower), the old and new tower's at IAD, and the new one at DCA. I've even been in the old OSH tower during the EAA. I've also been to ZDC and PCT and the FISK approach facility.
 
saracelica said:
Toledo tower you call and you fax them your name/soc security number and then you get "Confirmed" Hopefully you choose a day that there is actually busy.....I asked for the number at the end of a flight following interaction. :)
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After spending a day at TOL waiting for weather to improve I would agree. You will get to see a few fighter jets practicing which is cool.
 
I got to go into the tower in Merida Mexico. I just asked the line girl if we could go up and she said "Come with me, I take you!" Easy peezy.
 
I'd like to get a couple of Boy Scouts into the Spokane tower (Intl or Felts). Is that possible? :dunno: Does anyone have the phone numbers?
 
garyb said:
I'd like to get a couple of Boy Scouts into the Spokane tower (Intl or Felts). Is that possible? :dunno: Does anyone have the phone numbers?
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There a a couplke ways to get a 'number to call'. One of the less painful ways is just to call FSS (or an FBO) and ask.
 
I got a tour or RAP. I just called and they told me the days when there were 2 people in there or more. I knew two of the controllers bu met the chief while I was there. Was super fun and stayed an hour or so. I plan on going back next time just to bs with them. They were very interested in how I saw things from a pilot perspective.
 
ebykowsky said:
What's the best way to go about visiting the control tower at a class C? Was thinking of flying over to KCAK with a friend and a box of donuts in the back for the tower crew and seeing about getting a tour of the facilities--how easy is this to do? Should I call ahead of time or would phoning them via the radio after landing work? Or is a class C facility a bit much to ask for and I should just try a D or the nearby YNG TRACON?
Thoughts and tips appreciated.
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Ninja outfit and scale the side, second option is non-notamed para drop onto the roof. Gotta keep the tower workers on their toes :wink2:
 
Z06_Mir said:
..... They were very interested in how I saw things from a pilot perspective.
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I go one step further.... Every new controller that comes to the Jackson Hole Tower, I make it a point to take them flying so they can see our perspective. I also make sure to fly them over the VFR check in points so they can see what the sight picture is.. Everyone of them REALLY appreciate it... All are great guys/gals.. I am so lucky to have such a professional group working the tower here...:yes:
 
At HYI I would just ring the buzzer and tell them I had cake (And I did).........silence........"Come on up Dave!"
 
N801BH said:
Which shows the whole security scam is flawed.....

What could a person in the cab of a tower do to air traffic that a nutjob with a hand held radio sitting in his house can't ?:dunno:..

Geez Louis......:mad2::mad2::rolleyes:
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Die Hard 2. Although they did a bit more than just take over the radio.
 
BTW, I ended up doing the tour a month or two ago and it was great! They really did a nice job of taking me around, showing me the approach control and tower, and giving an idea of how it all works from a controller's perspective. Spent around an hour in total. I called 3 days in advance and it worked out great.
 
garyb said:
I'd like to get a couple of Boy Scouts into the Spokane tower (Intl or Felts). Is that possible? :dunno: Does anyone have the phone numbers?
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I taught an aviation merit badge class a few years ago...called the tower at KTKI (Collin County Regional) and they were very friendly and accomodating. We made an appointment for a Saturday and got a tour of the facility. The boys were impressed and had a good time.
 
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