General Aviation question

[AggieDave 6]

Is there an airport that does not except GA flights (besides military bases)? In other words, do all the major international airports have GA coming and going? Does ATC loath you in your C-172 when you fly into one of those? Is it intimidating with all the larger AC around?

--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline."

[tweak 0]

As a private pilot, it's my understanding that unless the airport is marked private it's fair game for landing (unless of course as you stated in your question that is's a military field). You have to be carefull about that though because some airports will charge you ramp fees for landing.

I would think that any airport that has ATC (i.e. government funded) that would make it fair game for GA traffic.

As far as ATC loathing light aircraft, I'm not sure but I would think for the larger airports smaller and slower aircraft entering the pattern would make thing a little more compilcated. But then again I would also have to think the would have to deal with that on a regular basis so maybe they have SOP's for bringing in smaller aircraft in on the smaller cross runways.

I have a friend that used to fly in/out of Memphis from time to time and from his point of view being in the lineup for departure in a small plane amongst all of the commercial and cargo planes can be somewhat imtimidating.
Especially if you're about to go wheels up on departure and you realize the passenger door wasn't secured and flies open and your approach plates fly out causing one of the active runways to be closed down for half an hour while the ground crews walk the runways looking for them.
Long story short they found his approach plates and brought them back to him while he was (back) in line for departure. Apparently one of the other pilots made some remark along the lines of 'What's this guy doing now... Having a pizza delivered'.

[Grips 0]

If you submitted a flight plan, it shouldn't be a problem. However if the airport is particularly busy, you might not get in, and yes there are landing fees.

[itllclear 1]

Smallest plane I've flown into LAX in a Cessna 310.

Ramp fees were much higher than the taxi ride from a smaller airport would have been, but I was picking up someone who had flown into LAX.

Been to McCarren plenty of times in a C-172. Again, ramp fees higher than a taxi ride, but it is walking distance to the strip.

"Harry, why did you land all the way out there? Nobody else landed out there."

"Your statement answered your question."

[Grips 0]

...but it's more fun to fly.

[CSpenceFLY 1]

I've been out of aviation for a few years but back when I was flying they were all fair game. I have been into Atlanta and Washington National in a C-172. Yes it pretty much pisses the controlers off but it's their job.

[HUSHPUPPY 0]

so your the one!

"You made my panties wet!" Skymama (Fitz 09)
"Never argue with an idiot. They will bring you down to their level and beat you with experience."

[CSpenceFLY 1]

[JCulver 0]

DCA is the only GA airport that doesn't accept part 91 or 135 trips. They only accpet 121 carriers.

[Conundrum 1]

As far as I know, yes.

[CanuckInUSA 0]

Several people have already replied, but here is my "no shit" take on the rules and how they apply to smaller general aviation airplanes.

1) If you want to land at a busy Class "B" airport you must be cleared into the Class "B" airspace by the approach ATC controlling this air space.

2) If they clear you into this airspace, you can then request to be cleared to land at the airport. But if they are busy and you are not on a preset flight plan, they could deny you. LOL ... you could always declare an emergency ... but then it better be an emergency.

3) If you are cleared to land at the airport, the ATC is going to request that you fly a fast approach speed since the airplanes behind you can not fly as slow as a general aviation airplane and if you do not feel comfortable flying a fast approach before slowing it down for the landing, then you really shouldn't be attempting to land at such a big airport.

4) Wake turbulence is going to be a real problem for small general aviation airplanes landing or taking off after a heavy larger airplane. So you better know that you need to pay attention to where the aircraft before you touched down and touch down beyond their mark and likewise pay attention to where the aircraft lifted off in front of you and make sure you lift off before their mark. Otherwise wake turbulence could spoil your day/life.

5) If you actually stop at this large airport (ie: not doing a touch n' go) you will most likely need to pay the ramp fee.

When I was flying, I always thought it would be cool to pick up a friend who flew into town on at one of these big airports in a small GA airplane. But with security, ramp fees and not knowing if I would even be cleared into the class "B" airspace and be cleared to land, it remained a fantasy and never came close to becoming a reality. It would be much easier to do at a class "C" airport, but even those can be rather busy at times with all the same hurdles.

Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

[AHoyThere 0]

Some of the larger airports that I've flown small (4 or 6 seaters) planes into include Dusseldorf, Frankfurt, (Germany), Nagoya (Japan), St. Louis, Midway, KC, Oakland (CA), and probably the most often into Minneapolis. Into MSP it usually goes like this...
ATC: "Cessna 345, traffic is at your two oclock and 3 miles".
C-N12345: "looking"
ATC: "Cessna 345, traffic is at your one o'clock and 2 miles".
C-N12345: "looking"
ATC: "Cessna 345, traffic is at your 12 o'clock and 1 mile".
C-N12345: "We have the traffic"
ATC: "Cessna 345, follow the DC-10. Caution wake turbulence. Cleared to land runway 30 left. Keep your speed up."
From my experience with ATC they are just great.

[PsychoBob 0]

***From my experience with ATC they are just great.

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Thanks!

"I'm not a gynecologist but I will take a look at it"
RB #1295, Smokey Sister #1, HellFish #658, Dirty Sanchez #194, Muff Brothers #3834, POPS #9614, Orfun Foster-Parent?"

[squirrel 0]

I fly a weight shift trike, which I just converted to an E-LSA. I can now fly into airports that are funded by the FAA, under the limits of sport pilot...VFR, daytime, minimum visibility requirements. My understading also is that for me to fly into an airspace, I need to be rated for that airspace, and, to fly in certain areas, I have to have a transponder.

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Where is Darwin when you need him?

[CanuckInUSA 0]

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I have to have a transponder.

Good point, something I forgot to mention in my original post. The aircraft must be equiped with a mode-c transponder (if my memory serves me correct) in order to fly into class "B", "C" and "D" airspace.

Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

[JSBIRD 1]

In late 1991 when I retired the 'first' time, I took two months to fly my highly modified and polished 1954 Cessna 170B all over the US. On my way back down the west coast in December, I decided to land at San Francisco International (KSFO). After approach control asking several times what I was flying, and was I sure I wanted to land there, I was cleared to land on runway 28L. I was asked by the tower to keep my speed up on final, so I decended with power at around 140mph, which had me nearly flying formation with a Boeing 737 landing on 28R. The looks on the pax faces was priceless!
I only used the last 500 feet of the runway, and was guided to GA parking by ground control, where I paid a $28 landing fee.

BASE359

"Now I've settled down,
in a quiet little town,
and forgot about everything"

[davedlg 0]

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Good point, something I forgot to mention in my original post. The aircraft must be equiped with a mode-c transponder (if my memory serves me correct) in order to fly into class "B", "C" and "D" airspace.

I don't think you need a transponder to get in and out of Class D airspace, just establish 2-way radio communications. You need a transponder for Class C airspace, and you need a transponder if you are within 30 miles of a class B tower regardless of what airspace you are in.

[squirrel 0]

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Good point, something I forgot to mention in my original post. The aircraft must be equiped with a mode-c transponder (if my memory serves me correct) in order to fly into class "B", "C" and "D" airspace.

I don't think you need a transponder to get in and out of Class D airspace, just establish 2-way radio communications. You need a transponder for Class C airspace, and you need a transponder if you are within 30 miles of a class B tower regardless of what airspace you are in.

what if you are flying an older plane, not originally equiped with a transponder...are you grandfathered in, or are you simply not allowed in Class C? Maybe you have to file a preflight plan?

________________________________
Where is Darwin when you need him?

[davedlg 0]

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what if you are flying an older plane, not originally equiped with a transponder...are you grandfathered in, or are you simply not allowed in Class C? Maybe you have to file a preflight plan?

Transponders for part 91 use are governed by FAR 91.215 I don't think there is any 'grandfather' clause allowing older aircraft unequipped for transponders in. Class C tends to be pretty congested airspace and I would think it would be pretty dangerous to have a plane up there without a transponder.

[ACMESkydiver 0]

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***From my experience with ATC they are just great.

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Thanks!

I think they suck.





















j/k! I loved my tour of Seattle ARTCC...

~Jaye
Do not believe that possibly you can escape the reward of your action.

[squirrel 0]

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what if you are flying an older plane, not originally equiped with a transponder...are you grandfathered in, or are you simply not allowed in Class C? Maybe you have to file a preflight plan?

Transponders for part 91 use are governed by FAR 91.215 I don't think there is any 'grandfather' clause allowing older aircraft unequipped for transponders in. Class C tends to be pretty congested airspace and I would think it would be pretty dangerous to have a plane up there without a transponder.

Oh, i agree. I just remember somewhere in my training that older planes are not required ot have certain things on board, if not originally equip as such.

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Where is Darwin when you need him?

[AggieDave 6]

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Oh, i agree. I just remember somewhere in my training that older planes are not required ot have certain things on board, if not originally equip as such.

From my experience it does seem they're required to have a crotchity old pilot, though.

Thanks everyone for your responses! This is one of those things I just thought of as I was looking at google maps at some of the bigger airports and the size of everything involved. I was laughing to myself about landing in a Champ at something like that. You know, I need to get off my butt and get my license.

--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline."

[squirrel 0]

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Oh, i agree. I just remember somewhere in my training that older planes are not required ot have certain things on board, if not originally equip as such.

From my experience it does seem they're required to have a crotchity old pilot, though.

Thanks everyone for your responses! This is one of those things I just thought of as I was looking at google maps at some of the bigger airports and the size of everything involved. I was laughing to myself about landing in a Champ at something like that. You know, I need to get off my butt and get my license.

check out the new Sport Pilot license. Created by the FAA as an easier and less expensive way to get into flying, but also, to regulate non conforming ultralights (like me) into getting some offical instruction. its cool now that i can land my trike in small airports, and i even flew in an airshow!

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Where is Darwin when you need him?